Blackburn Flea
Twenty pounds for this tiny dot of a light seems a lot, but then it’s got some typically cunning Blackburn features. While it’s not big or dazzling enough to be a main light, it’s small and light enough to sit on the back of your helmet, bag loop or even overshoe top without wobbling. This makes it great for auxiliary use alongside the other lights here. Sadly, the metal clip on the back is so tight it’s a fight to get it onto clothes or bag straps, and impossible to attach to the rear band of helmets – even of sister brand Giro.
The high cost is due to the parasitic recharge feature. The magnetised ‘jump leads’ that let you attach the Flea to any battery (AAA upwards) and drink its electric blood are certainly cunning. Even so, the short 6hr (constant mode) run time of the internal Li-Ion battery doesn’t compare well to the almost indefinite battery life of similar brightness micro lights such as the £11.99 Backupz.
It did survive every drop and drowning test, though, and it’s got Blackburn’s lifetime warranty.
Contact : Ultimate Pursuits www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
