Review: Bontrager Ion 700 RT
The Ion 700 RT is now $160 but is controllable by a very powerful optional remote (click to enlarge).
Editor’s Note: This article is part of Mtbr and RoadBikeReview’s 2016 Bike Lights Shootout. See the 2016 Mtbr Headlights Index and the RoadBikeReview Commuter Lights Index.
The Lowdown: Bontrager Ion 700 RT
Two years ago, Bontrager floored us with the introduction of the Ion 700 for $100. It was an extremely compact and well-constructed light that was better than the competition, yet cheaper by $20-$40.
This year, the light is the same with just slightly better output. The big news is the light can now be part of a nice remote-controlled system (usually headlight and tail light) with many possibilities. It is certainly one of the best remotes we’ve seen as lights can be controlled by one remote. And all lights can be turned on/off with one button. Turn signals are a possibility as well.
But the competition has caught up now with brighter lights and the price of the Ion 700 has gone up $20 to $120. This remote model is $160 and that doesn’t include the $60 remote.
| Claimed Lumens: 700 Lumens | Mtbr Lux: 69 |
| Measured Lumens: 706 Lumens | Mounted weight: 119 grams |
| Lumens per $: 4.41 Lumens | Category: Headlight |
| Lumens per gram: 5.93 Lumens | Price: $160 |
| Run time on high: 1:45 Hours |
Rating:  4 Chilis-out-of-5 |
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full Review: Bontrager Ion 700 RT
The Ion 700 was a great light a couple years ago, as it had the best form factor and price.
Today though, it’s stumbled a bit with price increases and is basically the same light. The remote is a good addition but it’s not a killer app for mountain biking. For commuting, it is a good option when part of a system. That can get very pricey though with a $60 remote and a $80 tail light to start with. We have no doubts though that Bontrager is about to introduce many more sophisticated light products in the near future.
The available remote is an engineering marvel as each light can be controlled separately with 4 independent buttons. Or the center button can control all at once (click to enlarge).
As it stands, this is still a very useable light because of its nice beam pattern and tiny form factor. It’s ideal for commuting but certainly powerful enough for trail riding. Use two of them on your bar and helmet, powered by one remote and that would be dandy.
We’d rather recommend the $120 version though without the remote. This $160 light needs another $60 to use the remote capability. This remote version of the Ion is fascinating technology, but it has more utility in the commuting arena and not as much on the trail, since tail lights and signal lights are more practical for city use.
Continue to page 2 for more on the Bontrager Ion 700 RT, beam pattern and Lumen measurement »
The post Review: Bontrager Ion 700 RT appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.