The Central 100 Front light from Blackburn is an interesting and compact little light. Shaped like a matchbox and weighing in at 51 grams, it features three forward facing LEDs and an internal lithium battery charged by a USB port. Runtime is 3 hours with a claimed 100 Lumens of output. The interesting observation with this light is we measured it at 148 Lumens in a laboratory integrating sphere. That means it is brighter than claimed and it's incredibly bright for a $35 light.
So this is indeed one of the pleasant surprises of our light testing. The light it emits is forward-facing, very similar to a phone but about ten times more powerful. It's not only useful on the bike, but handy in one's pocket or around the house as well.
It doesn't have a distinct forward facing beam pattern, so it's more of a 'to be seen' light, but it is so bright that a bike commuter can actually see with it in a pinch.
This light measured 148 Lumens in an integrating sphere. Claimed Lumens by the manufacturer is 100 Lumens. Compare all Lumen Tests here »
Strengths
- Extremely bright at 148 Lumens and brighter than claimed
- Good runtime at three hours
- Great value for a $35 light
- Has a lot of utility beyond the bike
Weaknesses
- Light output can be better utilized with a focused directed pattern and side visibility.
Specifications
- Price: $35
- Claimed Lumens: 100 Lumens
- Measured Lumens: 148 Lumens
- Lumens per $: 4.23 Lumens
- Lumens per gram: 2.90 Lumens
- Time on High: 3:10 Hours
- Charge Time: n/a Hours
- Mounted Weight: 51 grams
- Category: Flashlight/Commuter
Overall Rating
For an affordable commuter light with lots of utility, this one is a winner.
For more information visit www.blackburndesign.com.
This article is part of Mtbr and RoadBikeReview's 2015 Lights Shootout. To see all the bike lights tested CLICK HERE.