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Knog Skink Review

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knog skink bike light review
Knog Skink
Price:  $35 List
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Manufacturer:   Knog
By Chris McNamara and Max Neale  ⋅  Nov 16, 2016
33
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Brightness - 40% 2.0
  • Beam Quality - 25% 1.0
  • Battery Life - 20% 6.0
  • Portability - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

Knog Discontinued the Skink in November 2016
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Concentrated beam
Low light output
No battery life indicator
Silicone cover can gets dirty easily
AAA batteries are expensive over the long-term
This is a dim light with a low beam quality score that was among the lowest performers of the 16 lights tested.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


Beam


The light has a concentrated beam that is very poor at close proximity and peripheral lighting. This makes it harder to see the road and harder for cars to see you, compared to lights with wider beam patterns. Due to this significant drawback, the light doesn't score well in this metric. Compare that to the Metro 360 below.

Beam Diameter and Pattern

Knog Skink
Cygolite Metro 360

Brightness


We measured maximum distance at 24 meters. This is significantly below the Metro 360, which shined 135 meters. As you can see in the photo below, the light is barely effective at lighting up roads and paths. Our testers used it on blinky mode only, but even then, due to the narrow beam pattern, we found that the light was relatively poor at catching the attention of automobile drivers.

Beam Diameter and Pattern

Knog Skink
Cygolite Metro 360

Portability


It's small and lightweight. The light's simple stretch and hook mount is very easy to use, but is not as secure as lights with adjustable mounts.

Battery Life


We measured the battery life at 8.3 hours. This is not bad, but since you can't charge this with a USB cable, the cost and pain of replacing batteries will add up if you ride a lot at night.

knog skink bike light review

Value


This was one of the lowest performing lights in its price range. The Knog Blinder 4 Standard is only a little more expensive and a much higher performing light if you are looking for something compact. The only lights that performed lower cost $12-25.

Chris McNamara and Max Neale