Knog 2014 front lights – first look

New Blinder ARC series and Road 3 turn up the brightness

David Rome/Future Publishing

Published: November 29, 2013 at 10:00 pm

BikeRadar just received a handful of new 2014 Hi-power front lights from Australian brand Knog. The latest are the ARC 1.7 and 5.5, which will be available from January, and the Road 3, which is out now.

All the models feature waterproof construction, tool-free silicone mounts, battery indicators and an integrated USB plug for simple recharging.

The ARC 1.7 has a claimed 170 peak lumens with just over an hour’s runtime. Featuring an elliptical beam from a single CREE XB-D LED in a 103g package, it's expected to be priced at US$64.95 / AU$69.95 / £TBC.

The ARC 5.5 sits at the top of the range, boosting 550 lumens for a claimed 1-hour 45-minute runtime; runtimes extend to as long as 17 hours in flash mode. The elliptical beam is produced from a single CREE XM-L2 LED. Included in the package are two sizes of bar mounts, helmet mount and a USB extension cord. Expect to pay US$119.95 / AU$129.95 / £TBC for this 153g punchy light.

The blinder road 3 and arc 5.5 both include a basic, but functional helmet mount: - David Rome/Future Publishing

The Knog Blinder ARC 5.5 sitting on its helmet mount

The Blinder Road 3 uses a twin-bulb design that offers a peak output of 300 lumens and weighs 102g. Claimed runtime is one hour at full blast. With both a narrow and wide beam, the Blinder should be an effective attention seeker.

The Road 3 is designed with ultimate visibility in mind. Like the ARC 5.5, the Road 3 includes two different bar mounts, a helmet mount and a USB extension cord. The Blinder Road 3 is available now, priced at US$94.95 / AU$99.95 / £TBC.

From left to right - the knog blinder road 3, arc 1.7 and arc 5.5. the arc series feature a neat magnetic clasp: - David Rome/Future Publishing

The ARC 1.7 and 5.5 (the two on the right) feature a new magnetic clasp for further holding security

Expect full tests on all these lights in the near future.