Gear Review: Lars Rover 810 Bike Light
Value Rating: 8
Durability Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 8
Location of Test: PDX bike commute
Duration: 30 minutes every night
Product Name: Lars Rover 810
Product Brand: PDW Portland Design Works
Best Use: Bike handle bar light
Specifications:
810 lumens
USB rechargeable
Rain proof
5 light modes
20 hours run time
The Full Review:
Both my wife and I decided to try these new bike lights out this past winter here in PDX for the daily bike commute. I have used PDW (Portland Design Works) products a few times but had never bought one of their lights, so this was a first and I am happy I did so.
The packaging for the light is easy to read and understand. Right away I had a very good idea of what and how it should perform. The PDW company does a great job of taking the confusion out of the product and gives easy to understand information right on the package. Even the warranty information is easy to understand, "If you’re not happy we’re not happy".
I’ve been using it for about 4 months now as my main bike light, in combination with a Petzl helmet light. The Lars Rover 810 is bright. Kind of like I am a car with my high beams on. I can see so far down the road, and I can see more than just shapes and outlines at a distance. More importantly, the distance the light can see allows a fast bike rider to not outrun the bike light going down a hill. Once you put the light on high it gets warm to the touch and casts a pleasing beam of light down the road.
The 5 modes are low, med, high, and flash or strobe. I can easily switch between the different settings while riding down the road by touching the only button on the light.
The usual down side with bike commuting is having to remember to buy batteries or remember to check the amount of light the used batteries are providing or be surprised when they run out of juice. The beauty of this light is in the simple recharge-ability. Once every two weeks, I plug the light into a USB cable overnight and it’s good to go for another 2 weeks. That alone makes this product worth the price. I would rather not use disposable batteries at all in life and the simple recharging of this light is great.
Just because it is sold as a bike light does not mean it cannot be used differently. It works great as a handheld light for walking the dog, and is easy to pack for the family car camping trips and is a cool spotlight for the car passenger to use while finding the proper campsite in the dark. I’ve even crawled under the back porch with it to find dropped items in the darkness under the decking, gross.
If you need a versatile bright and strong light that will work on a bike or in your hand this is it. It costs a bit more, so do not forget to take it off your bike.
The Good
Bright, long lasting battery, rechargeable, great warranty, local PDX company, and no worries about the rain.
The Bad:
The quick release strap fell off the first time I used it because I pulled it too tight, my fault. After this short learning curve, I have not had any issue at all and am very pleased with this double purchase.
The Bottom Line:
Bright, rechargeable, sturdy and local all equal great product.
I’ve been using it for about 4 months now as my main bike light, in combination with a Petzl helmet light. The Lars Rover 810 is bright. Kind of like I am a car with my high beams on. I can see so far down the road, and I can see more than just shapes and outlines at a distance. More importantly, the distance the light can see allows a fast bike rider to not outrun the bike light going down a hill. Once you put the light on high it gets warm to the touch and casts a pleasing beam of light down the road.
The 5 modes are low, med, high, and flash or strobe. I can easily switch between the different settings while riding down the road by touching the only button on the light.
The usual down side with bike commuting is having to remember to buy batteries or remember to check the amount of light the used batteries are providing or be surprised when they run out of juice. The beauty of this light is in the simple recharge-ability. Once every two weeks, I plug the light into a USB cable overnight and it’s good to go for another 2 weeks. That alone makes this product worth the price. I would rather not use disposable batteries at all in life and the simple recharging of this light is great.
Just because it is sold as a bike light does not mean it cannot be used differently. It works great as a handheld light for walking the dog, and is easy to pack for the family car camping trips and is a cool spotlight for the car passenger to use while finding the proper campsite in the dark. I’ve even crawled under the back porch with it to find dropped items in the darkness under the decking, gross.
If you need a versatile bright and strong light that will work on a bike or in your hand this is it. It costs a bit more, so do not forget to take it off your bike.
The Good
Bright, long lasting battery, rechargeable, great warranty, local PDX company, and no worries about the rain.
The Bad:
The quick release strap fell off the first time I used it because I pulled it too tight, my fault. After this short learning curve, I have not had any issue at all and am very pleased with this double purchase.
The Bottom Line:
Bright, rechargeable, sturdy and local all equal great product.