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TECH NEWS

The Blincc Hex 360 degree reflector tape for bikes has smashed its Kickstarter goal in just two days

Raising over 200% of the £2,157 target in less than 48 hours, what’s all the fuss about? Isn’t it just some tape?

From the makers of the “first self–blinking super bright cycling reflector” that hangs on the saddle or any bags attached with the included universal string, comes Blincc’s Hex. The Singapore brand has raised over £6000 on Kickstarter for its 360 degree reflective tape that provides 360 degree visibility and is designed to fit virtually any bike.

2021 Blincc Cycling Hex 5

This isn't the first sticky reflective solution for your bike and its components that we've seen, with Flectr's Zero Aero Wheel Reflectors receiving a good review but mixed reception on road.cc back in 2017. Blincc says its solution is made from super thin 3M material, is lightweight and offers all-round visibility. 

> 18 of the best cycling reflectives — get seen after dark

The brand claims its reflective decals are also super durable thanks to the included “enhanced protective layer” that shields it from dust, gravel, debris, and more.

Looking to stick some on your helmet? The tape seems to easily follow the contours often found in helmets.

2021 Blincc Cycling Hex 2

For those who like mix rides up with muckier off-road sections, Blincc says the Hex is easy to wipe clean too.

The Hex packs include a mix of smaller pieces that measure 51 x 18 mm and bigger pieces that are 94 x 18mm. The former weighs just 0.3 grams and the latter 0.6 grams.

If these sizes don’t quite work for you, each piece can also be trimmed to fit smaller areas, says Blincc.

The Singapore brand is already known for its simple but effective cycling visibility solutions. Blincc Cycling’s first Kickstarter campaign raised a total of 450% of its original target for its under-the-saddle reflector that blinks without using batteries. Now, they've stepped things up to 360 degree coverage.

2021 Blincc Cycling Hex 3

So yep, it is just reflective tape that you can buy in packs that’s designed to cover and fit most areas of your bike for visibility from all angles. Simple and effective, and it’s not too pricey either…

Starting at around £6, a Single Hex pack consists of 12 Short and 4 Long Hex’s for two rims, the fork and seatstay. Fork out about £12 and you’ll also get enough to cover your cranks and helmet too.

2021 Blincc Cycling Hex 4

Blincc Cycling says that it expects the shipment process to start on 4 December 2021. If like Blincc you happen to be from Singapore and end up backing, just be sure to show your Hex reflectors off in a group of five riders or less...

You can find and back Blincc’s Hex on its Kickstarter page over here.

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17 comments

Avatar
chrisonabike | 2 years ago
3 likes

360 degree reflector tape? So they've discovered how to adjust the translucency level on materials? No wonder there's a fuss!

Avatar
OnYerBike | 2 years ago
0 likes

I've been thinking about getting some additional reflective tape for my commuting bike (not sure how much difference it will make in practice but that's beside the point). What I would like to see is a mixed pack of different colours (red/white/amber) to use in different locations - all of the options I have seen are sheets/rolls of a single colour, and I don't want to buy three different ones just to use only a tiny bit of each.

Avatar
nniff | 2 years ago
9 likes

I've been using black/reflects white Scotchlite tape on bikes for years.  Barely visible on a black bike/forks in daylight, but lights up in headlights

3M Scotchlite 580 Reflective Tape - Full Colour Range inc Black / White UK (680)

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141424356578

Avatar
Sriracha replied to nniff | 2 years ago
0 likes

I have some black retroreflective on my Altura hi-viz. It does work, but not as effective as the regular variety. I find I have to be looking directly on the light's axis to get any effect, and even then it's not as strong. Not sure if the same applies to the proper 3M tape.

Avatar
RoubaixCube replied to nniff | 2 years ago
1 like

I use some cheap yellow reflective tape bought off amazon. £4 for a 2.5m roll.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M04O8R9

 

The adhesive is pretty good although probably not as good as 3M and I have cut into smaller strips for the bike and my helmet. 

The tape on my helmet is flaking off a little due to repeated washes over but its been on there since i bought the tape earlier in the year this January.

I might give your 3M tape a go.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

Someone care to explain how this "blinks" or is it marketing BS?

Avatar
OnYerBike replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

I think the "blinking" refers to their original product the "Blincclip" which (supposedly) appears to blink as a result of being free-swinging from the saddle and so sways between more- and less-reflective angles as you are riding.

That's not to say there isn't also a lot of marketing BS in there...

Avatar
Sriracha replied to OnYerBike | 2 years ago
1 like

Hmm, thus stuff is not a mirror, it's retroreflective, so the variation in angle should make little enough difference. That's kind of the point.

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quiff replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

I think the blinking relates to their previous product, not this one. As it is mounted on the saddle rails, it swings back and forth and appears to 'blink' as it swings into and out of a light source - have a look at the footage on the kickstarter. 

Avatar
Sriracha replied to quiff | 2 years ago
2 likes

Yes, I know - I presume it's that yellow thing hanging from the saddle in the picture above. It's not going to move in and out of the beam, it is only going to sway a bit. So it should continue to reflect back to source regardless of the precise angle it's at. Maybe they just made a virtue out of inferior retro-reflectives!

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quiff replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
0 likes

I don't know how retroreflectives behave / are supposed to behave. I'm just saying that in the short video on their kickstarter, it appears to reflect different amounts of light as it swings, which gives an appearance which could be described as blinking, if you thought that was good marketing. Whether one wants a blinking reflector is another matter.   

Avatar
Bmblbzzz replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
2 likes

I was hoping for an explanation of that, and of how it can reflect through 360 degrees. Perhaps even a video demonstrating these properties. But none. A very disappointing "article" from road.cc, which seems to have taken to regurgitating press releases with no testing or even critical reflection (sorry) on the claims.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Bmblbzzz | 2 years ago
3 likes

Bmblbzzz wrote:

I was hoping for an explanation of that, and of how it can reflect through 360 degrees. Perhaps even a video demonstrating these properties. But none. A very disappointing "article" from road.cc, which seems to have taken to regurgitating press releases with no testing or even critical reflection (sorry) on the claims.

The review tried to throw some light on this but it just went in all directions...

I suspect 360 degrees is just a cool name for "wide angle" but if they really had done this you'd need to wrap your whole bike and yourself and be using some of this.

Avatar
mdavidford replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
0 likes

I think the 360 degrees bit is a bit of 'creative language' hiding the assumption that you install it on at least two opposite points on the wheel, as directed - i.e. between them the two sections should provide reflection in any given direction.

Avatar
Bmblbzzz replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
1 like

chrisonatrike wrote:

Bmblbzzz wrote:

I was hoping for an explanation of that, and of how it can reflect through 360 degrees. Perhaps even a video demonstrating these properties. But none. A very disappointing "article" from road.cc, which seems to have taken to regurgitating press releases with no testing or even critical reflection (sorry) on the claims.

The review tried to throw some light on this but it just went in all directions...

I suspect 360 degrees is just a cool name for "wide angle" but if they really had done this you'd need to wrap your whole bike and yourself and be using some of this.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Bmblbzzz | 2 years ago
0 likes

Thank you! That's doubled my audience...yes

Avatar
sean1 | 2 years ago
3 likes

I have been using these types of cheap spoke reflectors for years.  Very effective, light weight, easy to fit.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363589356470

 

 

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