RSP Evolve rear light

Oh my, the RSP Evolve rear light and the Cateye TL LD600 look as if they were separated at birth. Same cigar-shaped profiles that's bang on for trailers, tag alongs, identical number of LEDs, fuel source - interchangeable mounting hardware to boot!

Ok, so we've established some uncanny similarities but before we get side tracked with the rights n' wrongs of badge engineering, let's get some facts straight. First and foremost, the internals are genuinely very different.

Two half watt LEDs are sandwiched between three tiddlers providing some helpful percussion and are conducted by an easy to spot, sensibly positive grey switch of the sort that doesn't feel vague or misbehave in panniers. High quality plastics inspire confidence and there's only access to the battery tray, which also explains why it's withstood full on saltwater submersion and similar cruelty without incident.

Smaller riders with compact geometry bikes will be pleased to note it also mounts vertically, offering a 180-degree arc without spoiling the aesthetics - ours occasionally caught my inner thigh when assuming the lowest possible horizontal position. While I think of it, the supple post clip is perfect for the contours of low-slung trailer tubing but has demanded some custom shimming on larger diameter posts. The clothing clip by contrast gets top marks, gripping most fabrics from heavy-duty cotton duck through to elasticated loops.

Overall performance has given much to smile about- we're talking visibility to 750 metres, 600 in constant on clear nights, dropping to 450 through suburbs and town. However, in a trailer context, it lacks knockout punch, and middle of the road pricing doesn't compensate for so-so economy.

On that note, we've returned a consistent thirteen and twenty three hours (constant/flashing) respectively from premium grade AAA cells, dropping to ten and eighteen using rechargeables.

Verdict

Good light and well suited to trailers but loses out to longer lasting, more powerful models.