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50 of 54 found the following review helpful:
 small and light, many mounting options, wide angle of visibilityMay 09, 2006
By K. Yasuhara
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.
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Good battery life but...Jan 16, 2008
By Celeste
"book geek"
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.
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Best brightness for small size, but mount not secure.Apr 05, 2008
By Lorax
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.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Well designed and good valueDec 02, 2009
By chuanha1
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.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
GreatMar 18, 2009
By LuWeGeeeeeee
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.
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