Customer Reviews

Planet Bike Blinky "7" 7-Led Rear Bicycle Light

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

LEDs generally have very focused beams, so you have to be looking straight at them to see their full brightness. This light cleverly orients seven LEDs in five different directions to cover a pretty wide angle of visibility, horizontally. (Planet Bike claims 220 degrees of visibility.) Three are directed straight back and through lens sections of the transparent red casing for maximum brightness in that direction. The remaining four are directed left, right, and partway between straight back and left/right. Brightness is lower in these side and intermediate directions, but many cheaper blinkers aren't visible at all from the side, so it's a start. (I sometimes put another blinker on my pannier side for better side visibility.)

One important consideration is that, as with most LED blinkers, the vertical angle of visibility is very narrow. I recommend mounting this light rigidly and precisely, e.g., on your seatpost or seatstay and not your helmet back or on a seat wedge bag. Adjust the mount and step back from your bike with the blinker running to make sure the LEDs are as bright as possible from the height of an average car driver.

I really like the mount design for this light. The clip is built into the light and does not have to be removed to slide it onto the quick-release bracket, which comes with hardware for mounting on a seatpost or a seatstay. (It's nice to have the seatstay option, but I don't do this, since I usually have panniers and prefer mounting the light higher.) The included elastic, velcro band makes it easy to pop the light off your bike and clip it on the back of your upper arm for a nighttime jog. I guess I've also seen cyclists with lights strapped to the back of their calves or ankles. Anyway, being able to pop it off the bike mount and clip it to a bag, belt or whatever without messing with a screwdriver or otherwise adding/removing parts is very handy.

The overall package is surprisingly small and light, especially compared to those hefty, five-LED, 2xAA blinkers that seem very popular. The case is easy to open with a coin or key and seems decently sealed with a rubber gasket. Planet Bike claims this light to be "weatherproof", and I've definitely had no trouble riding with it in the rain. The switch design is pretty clever, with a button directly under the bottom section of the transparent plastic case. That section of the case is thin enough to flex when you push on it, letting you operate the button, which stays safely sealed away from the elements. You don't get a satisfying click, but I think this is a great, inexpensive design for a weatherproof switch.

I'm very happy with this purchase, especially since Planet Bike donates 25% of profits to bike advocacy.

p.s. Check out Planet Bike's new Blinky Superflash, which is a more expensive, brighter light that's similar to this one.

I have been using this light for a few years now. The clerk at my LBS talked me away from another light and to this one. He thought the light was sufficient and the main selling point was the long battery life. The batteries last so long in this I can forget about them. It is not bright enough to use on an overcast day. I can't even tell if mine is off or on unless it is pitch black. I live in an urban area where roads are traffic heavy, bicyclist and motorist tensions tend to run high and visibility is often very poor and days very dark. I am switching to a brighter light, even if it means changing the batteries more often.

There are several clever things about this light. Most important is the way the LEDs are oriented to deliver the light all around to the sides as well as a concentrated beam to the back. Another nice touch is that you switch it on or off by just pressing the case on the bottom, which means there's no worries over water intrusion from a switch.

But it doesn't stay on very well. I have it mounted on my seatpost above the rear rack. Almost every time I put my yoga matt on the rack, it knocks the blinky7 off its mount. The mount requires just a little bit of upward pressure on the light for it to fall off. When it hits the pavement, the lense falls off and the batteries fall out, and it can be a pain to find everything and put it all back together.

Even just turning it on/off by pressing the button on the bottom will pop it out of the mount if you don't use your other hand to hold it in place. This makes it very dangerous to turn it on/off while riding.

I'm about to solve this problem by putting a screw into the mount so it's permanently secured.

This light is well designed in that it is small enough to pocket, shines light to the sides as well as the back, and has many mounting options. I was even able to use the included arm band to mount it on my helmet (through the air vents).

The LEDs are not as bright as the 1/2 watt strobe LED on the Planet Blinky Superflash, but that would only matter from far away. The light is much brighter with fresh batteries, so put in some rechargeable AAAs and recharge them regularly.

I agree with the other reviewers in that it is a great tail light. Seems to be of nice quality and has a good company behind it. I got this light most because of it's larger area of visibility from all sides (180 degrees). It is easily visible at night. If you are looking for more daytime visibility I would stick to the Planet Bike Superflash.

Love the feeling of being seen with this light. It is versatile and easily visible.

I've been using this bike light for about a month and I've had no problems. It's highly visible, especially when it's blinking. Good purchase.

This little light is well designed, installs easily, comes off the bike easily, lasts a long time, is bright, and it's easy to replace the battery.

I've had this one for almost a year on two different bikes (both mountain bikes). It shines bright enough, I think, so you should feel safe with it. Now, many people said the mount was not secure which caused me to double think before buying. I can say the following: yes, it does feel not secure and I can't understand why anyone would come up with such a design. However, have I ever lost it? Only once, on a plain road - not sure how that happened. I've biked on pretty rough roads and one of my bikes did not even have a suspension, but never have I lost this light.
Bottom line: for the price, you can allow for the tiny bit of risk of losing this otherwise perfect light.

I've been using this light as part of my night riding gear on my xtracycle-which is a cargo bike. It's a really bright light. It has pretty decent side visibility too when you have fresh batteries in it. Used it a number of times in the rain and it works like a charm. costs a little more than other blinkies but i think it's worth it. Has pretty good side visibility for a blinky. Most blinkies that I've used to don't flash very bright from the side. I like that planet bike gives 25% of it's profits back to the biking community too.

I also use the down low glow Down Low Glow Lighting Kit - Two Tubes -Ice(blue)for side visibility as well as Planet Bike headlights Planet Bike Beamer 5 LED Bicycle Light with Quick Cam Bracket Mount and illuminite arm & leg warmers Performance illumiNITE Leg Warmers for my night riding gear.