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Lights - front
Knog Gekko 3LED Front Light Knog Gekko.

Knog Gekko 3LED Front Light

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Oct 29, 2011

0
£20.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Effective backup light but expensive considering its component parts
Weight: 
50g
Contact: 
www.todayscyclist.co.uk
How we test

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The Knog Gekko is a delightfully simple, yet bright and economical LED light fuelled by two AAA batteries and encased in a super tactile silicone shell. Our white samples allowed the bright beam to bleed through the casing as a ghostly glow that most traffic seemed to spot a good distance away in flashing modes when mounted around the bars. These are welcome get-you-homes should the swanky Uber lumen rechargeable systems do the unthinkable or as a cute dynamo companion, peripheral presence can prove a little hit and miss. They definitely fall in to the be seen rather than the see by type of light and if your after dark riding is all under urban street lighting you could get away with them on their own, althoug I'd stil opt for using them paired with something brighter.

Playing devil's advocate; peeling away the big silicone duvet we're left with a battery tray, three bulbs and a switch...Not very much for your twenty quid but it all comes together very nicely and is well sealed from mother nature. That said; a quick lick of silicone grease or Vaseline on the battery contacts doesn't do any harm. Silicone straps work wonders on most bar diameters and thicker gauge fork blades, although oversized head tubes proved one stretch beyond.

Positioning is very important since the gekko can get lost peripherally when placed on the tops-less of a problem when used in a complimentary capacity but not so good when relying upon them to shepherd you safely home. Fixers of a minimalist persuasion could always mount them on the fork blades and tourists might like to know strapping them to space-saver type extension brackets overcomes this problem.

Thirsty in constant mode, I've managed 26 hours and 43 mins from the OEM cells, but on the other hand it's secondary cum emergency illumination so in practice flashing is likely to be the default mode. Two hundred and twenty hours might sound a little too good to be true but we've cruised to 175 using premium cells without any tell-tale dimming or glimmer

Verdict

Effective backup light but expensive considering its component parts

 

road.cc test report

Make and model: Knog Gekko 3LED Front Light

Size tested: White

Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"Water-resistant, superslim, flexible silicone body, integrated clipping feature, quick-release mounting, directional LEDs. Low battery warning indicator. Visible up to 600 metres. Note: Safety light only" Great get-you-home or secondary light for all occasions.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?

BURN TIME 30 hrs (constant) 220 hrs (flashing)

DIMENSIONS 38 x 53 x 41 mm

WEIGHT 53 grams (including batteries)

BATTERIES 2 x AAA included

LED SPECS Super-bright 3 LED light

LIGHT OUTPUT 45,000 millicandelas

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
7/10
Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
7/10
Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
8/10

Passsed the garden hose test but a trace of vaseline on the contacts between battery changes adds peace of mind.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10
Rate the light for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the light for durability:
 
7/10

Huge silicone casing insulates the internals from mother nature and everyday vibration extremely well.

Rate the light for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the light for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Delightfully simple to use.

Rate the light for value:
 
6/10

Nice but pricey for what it is.

Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall I really like the Gekko. It's frugal, bright and well-sealed frrom the elements so makes an extremely practical dynamo companion. However, peripheral visibility was easily compromised when riding on the hoods so consider it's positioning carefully if you're relying on it in emergencies or as as a "bobby dodger".

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Quirky user-friendly design with low running costs in flashing mode.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Nothing, aside from the usual Knog price vice.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes

Would you consider buying the light? Despite some reservations concerning value for money, yes.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

LED commuter light
Knog Gekko
Knog
Commuter light
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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