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Knog takes to crowdfunding again for PWR light and powerpack system

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knog-pwr_modular-power-system_complete-line

We thought it was a bit odd when well-established accessories maker Knog took to a Kickstarter campaign back in the spring to bring out their slick new Oi bell design. I mean, why did a company that clearly could finance a new product through a conventional development cycle go the crowdfunding route? Knog told us then it meant they could accelerate the process from design into production and actually deliver the goods many months earlier than through regular development. It also let them gauge interest entering a new product category. Well it obviously worked out. They raised over a million dollars and have now delivered bells to backers, with them making their way to retail channels now too.

So it makes a bit of sense that going into another new direction, they are reaching out for early backer support again through Kickstarter. This time the new product category is a modular mobile power lineup called PWR. The idea is a new system of products, not overly bike centered but just targeted at outdoor enthusiasts, that combines a modular power (PWR) source to keep your GPS, phone, and lights charged on the go. Besides the basic power supply, there are 300 & 800lm bike lights, a camp light, a headlamp, and even a Bluetooth speaker. Check out the details and how it all will work together after the jump…

Knog is known for their techy, design focused solutions, and the PWR aims to continue that in a move towards consumer electronics for the tech-dependant outdoor sportsman. While they had already produced a wide range of battery and rechargeable bike lights, this project makes the battery pack the central focus.

knog-pwr_modular-power-system_complete-line_system-diagram

Called the PWR Bank the 95g smart battery forms the core of the new line and can be used as supplementary power for all of your small mobile electronics via USB port, as well as the integrated power supply for the range of PWR accessories. At $50 it puts 3200mAh to keep all your goodies running strong.

knog-pwr_pwr-300lm-bike-headlight_on-bike

Knog says that the bike light was its offset mount was where the project began. The idea being to develop a modular setup where you could snap on different heads for different types of riding – lower power & longer burn time for road riding and commuting, or higher power & and a trail focused beam pattern for off-road riding.

knog-pwr_pwr-300lm-bike-headlight_side

A $50 pledge will get you the base 300lm road & commuter light with one PWR bank as the first product. It gets an offset mount that means it will work well above or below your bar, and can be set inline with your stem without getting in the way of other on-the-bike gadgets.

knog-pwr_pwr-800lm-bike-headlight_beam-adjustability

The heads of the lights simply twist off of the PWR bank making them easy to interchange. Stepping up to the 800lm head for trail riding will require a $74 buy-in, but adds in not just more power, but an elliptical beam pattern tuned for trail riding. Both light heads also offer great adjustability, with their output, run time and flashing modes fully customizable by plugging it into a computer.

knog-pwr_power-battery-dock_countertop-charging knog-pwr_bluetooth-speaker

Every thing gets pre charged at home via a standard plug-in charger, but if you step up to one of the more complete kits you also get a desktop PWR dock charger that can power up two PWR banks at a time. Off of the bike (or maybe on it, if that’s your thing) there is also a Bluetooth speaker designed to be simple, rugged, and good sounding. Knog has even developed a water bottle boss-spaced bike mount for the speaker for those so inclined.

Additional options include an elastic headlamp strap that can be paired with either light head and a battery for hands free use around camp. They when you sit down at the table to eat or in the tent for a game of cards there is the freestanding camp lantern to light your evening.

knog-pwr_modular-power-system_complete-line_run-times

Run times of course vary widely based on how you use each accessory and how you pair them. But Knog seems to have done a pretty solid job of balancing output and battery power, while keeping a light and compact package. And then when you throw in the modularity, and ease of swapping PWR banks from one accessory to another, this could be a solid option for anyone already planning to haul around several accessories.

knog-pwr_modular-power-system_complete-line_weights-and-dimensions

Knog has thought through several different scenarios where they think their modular concept will really shine and has put together some nice graphics and animations showing how they’ll work Have a look at them, along with more details and how to support the campaign over at Kickstarter. The crowdfunding campaign runs almost through the end of November with product delivery expected for July 2017.

Knog.com.au

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Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago

I’m actually surprised they’re doing this after all the issues with the Oi.

.: r|b :.
.: r|b :.
7 years ago

Umm…double dipping I see. About that Knog bell… I’m a little surprised it’s still being hailed in the mainstream bike media as being so great. I recently received mine…

Great marketing campaign and PR but a massive case of form over function & over-promising and under-delivering. The bell itself was way too quiet to be practical or useful as a ‘bike bell’ in 95% of the real world. Yeah sure if you’re cycling through the study hall of a library the glockenspiel or ‘angel’s singing’ as they say would be heard. But in any major urban area with moderate noise pollution…no chance you hear the bell. That jogger has his/her earbuds in…no chance they hear it. Two walking pedestrians engaged in a spirited debate…yup…no chance. You’d think the loudness would be a major point of testing…

One look at the comments on their Kickstarter page and you will see that this is a general consensus. Be prepared to still have to say, “Passing on your left/right…” Also the materials, construction & feel weren’t as premium as they would have you expect and considering how much the funding generated over their original Kickstarter goals you gotta wonder how much of the excess funding actually went into additional improvements over the original prototype.

But hey maybe these lights/powerpack will be different — as lighting is their bread and butter after all — but if I was a backer I wouldn’t be surprised if it also ends up being underwhelming…

Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago
Reply to  .: r|b :.

Out of curiosity, Did you get the big bell or the small one? I’m starting to think a big part of the problem is that they didn’t test the small bells before the KS, & their smaller bell part is just too small to have any volume.

ebbe
ebbe
7 years ago
Reply to  Groghunter

That seems to be the case indeed Grog
Oi, small, titanium: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2Vnx8nAKKc8WWl0ODE0X1ctX00
Oi, large, aluminium, black: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2Vnx8nAKKc8YVQ2dGxRdkJOYjg
Spurcycle: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2Vnx8nAKKc8emRzUzViX3FydHM

The small Oi took quite some fiddling and adjusting to get right (tighten the screw, get the metal part straight, loosen the screw a bit, but not too much, etc) and this was the best I could get it. Getting an acceptable sound out of the large Oi was much easier. But neither Oi lives up to the sound of the Spurcycle. Nor to the price by the way.

bikeman
bikeman
7 years ago
Reply to  Groghunter

I got the big bell and it sound pretty wimpy.

.: r|b :.
.: r|b :.
7 years ago
Reply to  Groghunter

Ordered the big ones but was incorrectly shipped the small ones so had to wait another month for the replacement large ones. Was a bit of a cluster f*ck. Colour me unimpressed.

Nevertheless both sizes were just too quiet for use anywhere where there was decent ambient noise. Also both bells were too fiddly. A bell should be a set it and forget it piece of kit. Can’t recommend either. Went back to my Cannondale bells flipped backwards.

bikeman
bikeman
7 years ago
Reply to  .: r|b :.

I too am terribly disappointed by the loudness of the Oi. It has a flimsy plastic trigger and tiny hammer. In comparison, my Spurcycle Bell (admittedly double the price of the Oi during the KickStarter campaign) is way louder.

Fred
Fred
7 years ago

Maybe going with crowdfunding means Knog made money during development? The Oi bell? The one i received is worthless.

On this modular battery idea… are they reinventing the rechargeable AA?

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

If some stranger wants to buy my beers at the bar I’m not going to say no.

Austen Bickford
7 years ago

Not impressed with my large OI bell either. The sound isn’t terribly crisp and the spring seems too soft, allowing it to ring over rocky sections of trail.

Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago

I feel like the big one is meant only for roadies to put on the center of their bars. I don’t have the ringing problem with my small one. Another case of poor expectation setting, if they’d told you the bigger bell had a softer spring that might let it ring on the trail, I’m sure you’d have either bought a small, or not funded it at all.

Austen Bickford
7 years ago
Reply to  Groghunter

Yeah, I picked up the large for my gravel rig and never even considered that as a possible issue! No big deal though, that’s part of the fun of crowd-funding.

Michael Cheung
Michael Cheung
7 years ago

Agreed. Oi bell sounds like someone dropped a spoon in the neighbor’s kitchen.

Bob
Bob
7 years ago
Reply to  Michael Cheung

That is a pretty exactly analogy.

onion
onion
7 years ago

Okay, so the Oi wasn’t great. As for this PWR project… despite hating the name, I think I like the concept. But I’m not super impressed by the 3200mAh capacity. Given the diameter, surely they could have fit a 26650 lithium battery cell in there, and have about double the capacity of the 18650 they’re likely using? Otherwise keep the thing much slimmer and more compact.

Ben AZ
Ben AZ
7 years ago

The Oi is mediocre, volume is low on city streets and the hammer twists on the spring if you arent careful. Super disappointed.

The new battery system. Meh.

I don’t want my bike stuff and my camping stuff to share batteries. Why mix gear? Competent head lamps and mini speakers sell for under $20. Why do they all need to mate?

PWR is a result of an exciting company losing its way, focusing on imaginary problems for which it lacked solution.

This is your second strike, Knog. Most companies don’t survive three strikes.

jnyyz
7 years ago

I agree that the small Oi bell is wholly inadequate. https://jnyyz.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/oi-bike-bell-by-knog/

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