Bontrager Ion Pro Rt Front Bike Light Review

Our Verdict

Several seasons in, Bontrager's neat, powerful and wirelessly chatty, controllable and accessory-rich Ion Pro RT still sets a benchmark for compact on- or off-road bike lighting

For

• - Impressive reach with reasonable spread
• - No sharp edges or axle oddities
• - Warm, heart-friendly beam colour
• - Mid and low power settings are still usable
• - Fits all circular bars as standard
• - Multiple aftermarket mount options
• - Daylight flash and side visibility
• - Safety grab switch
• - Wireless remote, rear light and Garmin connectivity
• - Proven reliability

Against

• - No Bluetooth
• - Tiresome recharge
• - Not fully submersible in theory

Since its launch back in 2018, Bontrager's Ion Pro has been a go-to light choice for many. In every buyer'south guide to the best wheel lights, yous'll find it listed, and so what makes information technology and then skillful? Nosotros've been putting the powerful 1,300-lumen calorie-free to the test, just in time for the onset of autumn. Read on to discover out whether it's still worth your hard-earned cash.

Blueprint and aesthetics

Bontrager's Ion Pro RT looks relatively simple, with a rectangular casing housing the iv,800mAh battery and single recessed LED. 2 orange side lights requite traffic sensation without spilling low-cal in a distracting way, and the raised safety power button is relatively like shooting fish in a barrel to find even in thick winter gloves. The double click start stops accidental ignition if you chuck information technology in a bag or pocket, too.

The light comes with a difficult, round mount that has an integral rubber gripper so there's no worry about information technology getting lost or flopping nigh when y'all're trying to fit. In that location'southward enough adjustment on the threaded rod and a long, easy grip-tightening knob to fit whatever bar from 25.4 to 35mm, besides. The light can be installed or removed hands with a quick-release catch if you desire to accept information technology away without disturbing the mount. Alternatively, you can slot it onto a strap-on helmet mount (£19.99), GoPro-fashion 'out forepart' mount in either a road (flat) or MTB (kinked) version instead (£12.99) or accept the sliding shoe off and fit a directly GoPro-style mountain (£4.99). That's non where the Ion accessories cease either, as Bontrager likewise makes an ANT+ driven Transmitr remote that can control the Ion and Flare RT rear low-cal.

The raised prophylactic on/off push button is easy to operate with thick, winter gloves (Image credit: Guy Kesteven)

Specifications and performance

While the wireless smarts are handy, the basic functioning of the lite is the key matter and Bontrager has aced it here, too. The axle is impressively punchy in terms of reach but in that location'south still plenty peripheral to give you terrain context off-road or some 'wait circular' on upcoming corners on the road. Different some multi-LED lights, there are no distracting 'steps' or overlaps in the axle and a soft edge doesn't cause peripheral distraction either. The warm color temperature of the LED also reduces dazzle in damp atmospheric condition and overall retina strain compared to harsher blue-white hues. The upshot is a low-cal that lets yous ride without compromise on roads you know, and fifty-fifty if yous're hitting upward brand new routes, you lot don't take to throttle dorsum much.

There's plenty of juice in the battery for a full common cold-weather ability hour with plenty in reserve just in case (even on our well-used sample from concluding year). The medium 800-lumen constant style is still powerful plenty for a decent pace and even the 400-lumen depression mode tin exist used in lit areas on slow, uncomplicated surface climbs. The toggle through the dark and day flash modes isn't platonic when you lot're trying to get to full power for an upcoming descent, just they manifestly meliorate versatility and safety in traffic. Being able to toggle modes through the Bontrager Transmitr MicroRemote or a Garmin head unit of measurement gives you a workaround though. You can also get more accurate battery level info through your Garmin, which is dandy as the colour change push button alerts nevertheless get out a lot of guesswork if you're not clock-watching diligently. If Bontrager could add Bluetooth connectivity to open up up more than devices, including smartphones, that would be a great add-on.

Despite the smarts and a relatively low IPX4 h2o resistance rating, we've had no issues with reliability on several Ion lights that nosotros've run in all weathers. Information technology does take a long time to recharge with a standard USB connection though, so become information technology plugged in every bit before long as y'all've finished riding if you lot're forgetful. If you don't want a wireless connexion, then the one,000 lumen Ion Elite R is £79.99 and the 700 lumen Ion Comp is £64.99.

The orangish lights at the side offer visibility at junctions (Image credit: Guy Kesteven)

Verdict

Bontrager's Ion Pro RT is a really powerful but compact calorie-free that lets you lot night ride with very footling compromise, and it's got the battery capacity to dorsum information technology up. It'll fit whatsoever round bar deeply equally standard, but comes with a lot of different mount options as extras. Wireless connectivity boosts convenience and control, it'due south got proven reliability, a safety catch switch, and it'southward a keen toll for the level of operation and tech you lot get. If nosotros could go Bluetooth comms and/or more than detailed run time info, we'd be giving it a five, only it'due south nonetheless a category criterion whether y'all ride on- or off-road.

Tech Specs: Bontrager Ion Pro RT 1300 light

• Price: £99.99 / $129.99 / AU$189.99 / €119,99
• Weight: 178g (including bar mount)
• Power 1,300 lumens
• Run time: 1hr 33 mins (3-run average at full power)

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Source: https://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/bontrager-ion-pro-rt-1300-light-review/

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