Light and Motion Vis 180
Rear lights are cheap insurance against getting rear-ended, with brighter options available year after year as LED and battery technology continues to improve. Light and Motion specializes in rechargeable lights, and the Vis 180 Micro is their take on a USB rechargeable compact rear light to keep other road users off your back.
Unlike other “blinkies” the Vis 180 Micro does not blink but rather pulses—less blinding than a high powered blink, but just as eye catching as it takes approximately one second to go from bright to dim and back, never fully turning black. As the name implies, the Vis 180 Micro has 180º visibility thanks to internal reflectors and side cutouts for the secondary yellow LED, and while more visibility is always better I question if sidelights prevent broadside collisions given the way they tend to occur at intersections. Four modes give you a few light options—high pulse, low pulse, high and paceline mode. High pulse and high set the red LED at the full 25 lumen brightness, with low pulse halving the power and paceline cutting out the main LED altogether for riding in a group where the Vis 180 Micro would otherwise blind the following rider. Even with the light in the constant high mode you can expect about 4 hours of runtime out of the Li-ion battery, with high pulse clocking in about 6, low pulse 12 and the paceline mode a reported 20 hours of light. By far the longest running (bright) rechargeable rear light I’ve yet used, I easily get a couple of weeks of short evening commutes out of it on my backpack.
The Light and Motion Vis 180 Micro has a hinged mounting clip that clicks closed, providing a secure mount that has yet to eject from my backpack as so many lights with simpler slide-on clips have. The clip hinge has positive detents to keep it in place on a back pocket (though I wish it locked in place even more securely in the closed position), or you can use the included silicone strap to mount the light to your bike. A rack mount is available separately.
Even after a year of being set down on countless floors and rough surfaces I’ve yet to crack the clear housing of the Vis 180 Micro mounted on my backpack. Light and Motion considers this light weatherproof and water resistant but not fully submersible, and even though the rubberized on/off button covering came off within a month of using the light I’ve not had it malfunction because of it. I’ll be the first to admit that I do my best to avoid riding long distances in downpours but it does happen on occasion, and the Vis 180 Micro has not let me down because of it.
Given the USB recharging capabilities, long runtime and excellently designed mounting clip the few dollar premium over other high end non-rechargeable tail lights seems reasonable for the $50 Vis 180 Micro. While carrying the “made in China” label due to some internal components, like all Light and Motion products the light is designed and assembled in Monterey CA with as many bits and pieces created in-house and locally sourced as possible. If you ever have issues with the light, Light and Motion is but a phone call away and provides repair service in house.
Bianchi