Moon Gem 2.0 LED front light

Moon Gem’s imaginatively monikered 2.0 is a very capable emergency light, perfect for getting home safely from late summer/early autumn evening’s race meets/training runs. Reasonable output means it’s a great complement to dynamo and high power rechargeable systems too. However, while the power to weight ratio is impressive, burn times between charges are likely to frustrate tourists and long-haul audax aficionados.

Prised from the packaging, our seductive black test sample accentuated the design's clean lines and sharp angular styling, which suggests quiet homage to Blackburn’s tiny Flea system. Hardy aluminium/plastic construction feels reassuringly solid and the charge port is sensibly positioned away from rain and the possibility of any ingress by road spray and muck. An integrated rubberised ladder-type bracket wins brownie points for simple, secure fit aboard most handlebar diameters-although ours initially took some persuading to stay put around the Univega’s oversized mtb drops.

The power/toggle switch is something of a mixed blessing, firm enough to prevent those infuriating accidental engagements in the bottom of bags, panniers and jersey pockets but tricky to operate on the fly wearing full-finger gloves. Once powered up, there’s technically a choice of four settings- high, low, strobe and flashing.

Three LEDs deliver a claimed 16-19 Lumens depending on mode and a handy charge window blinks red when you’re down to the last thirty minutes of power and solid blue when fully juiced. Run times seem broadly accurate and from a full fuel-up, we’ve managed three hours in high, five in standard, six in strobe and six and a quarter in flashing. In practice, this has proved very reliable, never once dimming or plunging me into darkness, neither has the port cap allowed water to enter the unit despite riding through a two hour torrential downpour.

Real world output is surprisingly good, the pure white light providing a very natural hue giving accurate account of conditions ahead- even along unlit rural lanes up to about fifteen mph. Similarly, trickling through town where humble blinkys frequently blend into the neon sprawl, the moon gem grabs driver attention. Peripheral illumination is good proportional to its size, although used alone without high power/dynamo system, I felt more vulnerable negotiating darker junctions and roundabouts.

Verdict

Good emergency light or complement to high power/dynamo systems