Cateye Nano Shot EL620

Cateye's nano shot rechargeable front light is the answer to a svelte commuter/ winter road bikes' prayers. No hefty batteries to induce premature bottle cage fatigue, or contaminate a sportier bikes' clean lines, its slender fig biscuit profile and textbook build quality delivers a scorching 250 lumens, charges from the computer's USB in a matter of three hours all in exchange for £100!

Paired with a helmet lamp, there's enough oomph for moderate green laning/similar forest short cuts on the cross bike too. Taking things to their logical conclusion, you could buy a pair of nano shots and have a trail ready 500 lumen lightset for £200 and a serious weight advantage into the bargain.

Three time-honoured settings (high, low and flashing) are easily engaged via a quick prod of the recessed 'Broad bean' thumb-switch, which requires a deliberate action, so won't change or engage unexpectedly. There's some trade off in terms of run-time in high beam but thankfully the low battery indicator gives ample warning, allowing you time to toggle down and potter safely home in low or flashing. However, though it's undeniably powerful, some form of side window would be an improvement.

Measuring 86x50x32 the nano shot is remarkably compact for a design that will trump old school single lamp, ten-watt commuter models on every level while still matching and in some cases, exceeding operating times. Thanks to Cat-eye's serrated bracket it breezes aboard any bar in seconds and won't budge a millimetre unless you need it to but from the box the li-on battery needs a good three hours fuelling before you vanish into the night.

Said port lives on its belly and can prove tricky to locate with the bracket attached but emits a warm pulsing glow, turning green having reached its optimum charge. The charge indicator nagged me after an hour and three quarters on full beam; more than the stated hour and a half whereas it was dead faithful to the three hours (low) and twelve hours (flashing) quoted for the other modes.

Longevity, compact sizing and indifference to temperature has always been the attraction for this type of cell, although after three hundred charges, this type of battery drops to seventy-five percent of original capacity but without any detrimental effect upon lighting performance.

There's enough power from the pure white beam in the highest setting to navigate back roads at 20+ mph, oncoming vehicles dipping their headlights from around five hundred yards. Low strikes just the right balance between performance and economy through town and suburbs and while strobe was the obvious choice in misty/overcast conditions, it also rapidly became my preferred option through congested areas, quickly warning pedestrians of my approach. Arguably there's sufficient projection to negate the need for side windows in some situations, but it's a missed opportunity.

Verdict

Powerful and extremely versatile design. Loses a mark on the grounds of peripheral illumination but I'm contemplating buying a pair for some fast-blast 500 lumen fun on the 'cross bike.