Market / Eurobike 2017: The big highlight at the Knog stand at Eurobike 2017 was the new PWR series - a modular design of lamp heads and batteries allows them to be used as headlights, power banks or other outdoor accessories.
The Australians from Knog have become well known in this country for their small, bright and at the same time stylish bicycle lamps. The Australians also have locks, a speedometer and the innovative Oi bell in their range. At first glance, the new PWR product range appears to be just another addition to an already well-stocked lighting portfolio. Only at second glance does it become clear: It is more than that and should in future also make Knog interesting for those who had previously - often wrongly - dismissed the accessories as unnecessary style accessories.
With five PWR headlights, Knog will come onto the market in this country later this year. The special feature is their double function, as they can also be used as a power bank to charge a cell phone or Garmin. The connection is quite obvious: Why not use the integrated battery to supply other everyday helpers with electricity in an emergency? In the case of the three top models PWR Road, PWR Trail and PWR Mountain, the range of use can be expanded even further thanks to their modular design.
Knog PWR commuter and PWR Rider: bright lighting and power bank in one - in Germany only as a helmet lamp
Like all products, the two "smallest" representatives of the Knog PWR series come in a high-quality and robust CNC finish with a metal housing. A cap can be removed on the back, under which, in addition to the usual micro-USB charging connection, there is also a normal USB port, through which the integrated battery can be tapped, for example to supply the smartphone with power. While this makes sense with the 122mm long and slightly over 100g heavy PWR Rider thanks to the 2200mAh battery, the 850mAh small battery of the compact commuter version is really only enough to charge a few percent in an emergency. Simultaneous use as a headlight and power bank is possible without any problems.
Both headlights emit a bright 450 lumens, producing a wide, elliptical beam of light to provide roadside illumination. The housing is of course waterproof and also shows the charge status of the battery via LED lights. At full power, the battery of the small commuter lamp lasts around 40 minutes, the PWR Rider should still light up after two hours. If you reduce the luminosity to a still very bright 190 lumens, the runtime is extended accordingly: on the Commuter to 2 1/2 hours, on the Rider to around 5 hours.
A small drop of bitterness for the bike fans in this country: Both lamps are not approved by the StVZO and are therefore also officially sold as helmet lamps by the German distributor Cosmic Sports. Appropriate mounts (which are GoPro compatible, by the way) are included in the scope of delivery – just like a silicone handlebar mount, by the way. Just in case...
Knog PWR Road, Trail and Mountain: The Wonderful World of Modularity
Well, bike lamp and power bank in one, that's practical and beautifully implemented, but it's also not a groundbreaking new product. Things are a bit different with the three top variants Road, Trail and Mountain, which with a modular structure consisting of lamp head, power bank and other outdoor accessories offer a great solution for all those who like to be outdoors a lot and a practical one Find a solution for the electronic helpers.
But let's stay with the basic functions for a moment: The power bank and lamp head become a headlight, which will also be available as a set in this country. The small pwr Road brings 600 lumens to the road and comes with a 3350mAh battery, the slightly larger Trail version is really bright with 1000 lumens and has a corresponding power supply with the 5000mAh battery, and the more than 300g heavy Mountain version provides 1800 lumens also in the forest for a large illumination and the 10.000mAh battery fully charges the smartphone more than once.
The real highlight of the matter, however, is that any lamp head can be combined with any battery. This ultimately saves space and money and is simply a practical and clean solution for those who want their bike headlight to serve more than one purpose. A possible scenario: The small lamp head with 600 lumens serves as a companion on the way to work, when you switch to the MTB in the evening, it is sufficient to attach the mountain head and you are prepared for the night ride. Also interesting: Each lamp head is not only different in brightness, but also creates a light field that is tailored to the area of application.
The big but: As with the two small lights, there is no StVZO approval: Officially only a helmet lamp or as an additional light on the handlebars. That's really a shame, because the clever handlebar mount also allows it to be attached under the stem, doesn't spoil the look and hardly takes up any space.
But now to the highlight of the modular PWR lamps: The power bank can also be connected to special accessories that will be launched later this year. These include, for example, a small lamp for the campfire or in the tent, a Bluetooth speaker or a headlamp. This solution saves space in the rucksack and at the end of the day it also saves money - at least if the other accessories can keep up with the quality of the pwr lights presented to date.
Knog PWR: variants and prices
Bicycle headlights/power banks:
Knog PWR Commuter (450 lumens / 850mAh): €49,95
Knog PWR Rider (450 lumens / 2200mAh): €59,95
Modular headlights:
Knog PWR Road (600 lumens / 3350mAh): €84,95
Knog PWR Trail (1000 Lumens / 5000mAh): €109,95
Knog PWR Mountain (1800 Lumens / 10000mAh): TBA
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