Bookman Volume 1500 Front Light Review: Dominated By The Knob

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I couldn’t cease twiddling with the knob. Did I need 25 % gentle energy? 10 %? Fortunately I knew I needed a stable gentle moderately than a flashing beam, however utilizing the brightness knob on the Bookman Quantity 1500 bike gentle made it really easy and surprisingly, so satisfying.

The Bookman Quantity 1500 is a entrance bike gentle from the comparatively new “city visibility” firm Bookman. Most of their gear is design first, although within the case of this entrance gentle, there’s loads of substance right here as effectively.

Fast Hits: 5 issues to know in regards to the Bookman Quantity 1500

• Bookman claims an ANSI-rated 1,500-lumen max gentle output.
• Energy is given via a USB-C plug out again, however the 4,000 mAh 21700-style battery cell might be changed and eliminated with out problem.
• Bookman says the Quantity 1500 provides 34 hours of fixed gentle or 105 hours on flash/strobe.
• The entrance bike gentle is mounted by way of a Garmin-compatible quarter-turn mount, although a GoPro-compatible mount adaptor can be accessible.
• Brightness settings vary from 100% to only 5 % depth, managed by way of a knob or button up prime to supply as much as 34 hours of regular beam utilization.

Construct particulars

Bookman could also be comparatively new to the bike gentle world however they’ve wasted no time in profitable awards for his or her different merchandise, together with design awards for his or her running-specific gear. Their bike lights are comparatively new however no much less focused on design.

The Bookman Quantity lights encompass two variations: one known as the Quantity 800, and the one pictured right here known as the Quantity 1500. They’re comparable in design and kind issue, although the Quantity 800 encompasses a plastic body and a distinct 18650 battery moderately than the Quantity 1500’s aluminum physique 21700 battery.

The highest encompasses a low profile button to show the sunshine on and off, or to swap between a flash or stable beam setting. Simply behind that could be a set of 4 LEDs to point the remaining battery life or charging standing. Out again is the hatch door to swap out the 21700 battery everytime you need. Then comes the left aspect with a USB-C port lined by a tight-fitting rubber plug cowl. Fortunately, the sunshine options pass-through charging so you’ll be able to cost the sunshine even whereas it’s in use.

It also needs to be famous that whereas the battery is replaceable, Bookman doesn’t promote one. An ordinary 21700 battery is a simple substitute, nonetheless.

Maybe it’s the brightness knob that almost all dominates the Quantity’s consumer expertise. Bookman says the knob – a patent pending (!!!) design they’re calling the Energy wheel – is impressed by the Hello-Fi world, permitting for swapping between 5 totally different brightness ranges within the stable beam setting. The flash modes swap provides a alternative of on-off flash settings, a gradual strobe, and a low beam with an occasional flash.

Up entrance is a single LED bulb up entrance with a round ribbing on the heart of the lens to diffuse the beam. The lens has a transparent bezel, and the left and proper sides every have a small port gap, each to assist side-end visibility.

The sunshine mount consists of a Garmin quarter-turn mount below the sunshine, replaceable ought to it break in use. The mount features a ton of adjustability to suit something from 26 mm to 35 mm diameter bars out of the field. Additional, the Bookman mount additionally suits aero bars such because the Roval Rapide cockpit with an general bar depth of 5 cm (2 inches), although it’ll possible be higher to mount your gentle below a pc mount when attainable.

Utilizing the Quantity 1500

I’m a believer in investing in your touchpoints, and the standard, clicky really feel of the Energy wheel knob makes me wish to use this gentle. The knob allowed me to change simply from a stable beam to a strobe or flash when transitioning from a separated bike path to being round automobile visitors. Additional, the knob is straightforward to achieve for at the hours of darkness or with gloves.

As soon as you discover your most popular gentle setting, the sunshine saves it for the subsequent time you flip it on. How usually are you going to make use of that knob? Extra usually than I believed I’d. I shortly would swap from a low beam when approaching different cyclists to a better beam when using alone. All of it occurred shortly and and not using a second thought.

I think most people will discover a brightness setting they’re pleased with after which depart it there. At that time, you’re paying fairly a bit for the knob.

No matter what setting you employ, the sunshine beam is pleasantly subtle. The beam is sort of ovalized, tuned to gentle the middle and sides of the highway in entrance of you extra so than the highest and backside.

In low-light conditions, this resulted in a pleasant and extensive beam. The decrease and center stable beam settings proved to be lots whereas using on the highway, with wonderful throw that helps you see far forward. On trails and non-technical singletrack, the excessive beam proved to be lots, although if you end up going deep and quick on singletrack at evening, a secondary gentle could be greatest.

The benefit of a targeted beam like that is it permits riders to mount the sunshine on the highest of the bars or the other way up with a GoPro pc mount and obtain the identical efficiency.

I discovered the battery life to be about as claimed by Bookman, discovering about 5 to seven hours of battery life on a stable beam at roughly half energy, and about three hours on the excessive beam. The bike gentle’s pass-through charging and a swappable battery made it simple to maintain the sunshine coming in my expertise.

I wouldn’t hesitate to take it for a multi-day bike tour or bikepacking, supplied I convey further batteries or a battery pack.

The Garmin quarter-turn-style mount works effectively in my expertise, feeling sturdy with no rattling to the beam. There appears to be simply sufficient leniency to the mount to show the sunshine a level or two in both path, however people with angled bars might want to verify the place their gentle factors earlier than going out at evening.

The Bookman Quantity 1500 prices roughly the identical because the Magicshine RN 3000 we not too long ago reviewed. However the RN 3000 provides twice the sunshine output, greater than twice the battery measurement, and the flexibility for use as a battery pack to cost your different gear.

The Quantity 1500 knob is nicer to make use of, however how usually will you employ that when you discover your most popular setting? In my use case, fairly a bit greater than I believed.

Conclusion

Good design advantages everybody, and within the case of the Bookman Quantity 1500 entrance gentle, I believe this can be a universally wonderful bike gentle. The complete package deal – the beam sample, high quality building, and thoughtfulness to incorporate a replaceable battery – is lots compelling. After all, you pay a value for that stage of design and the knob.

Would I purchase Bookman’s prime gentle only for the adjuster knob? No. However I’d purchase it for the opposite positives. Now to get that quantity knob on extra gear!