2015 Lights Shootout, Bike Light, Lights, Lights Shootout, Lupine Lighting, Piko 4 - November 19, 2014

Review: Lupine Piko 4

The Lupine Piko 4 is a bit of technological marvel when you consider its brightness, diminutive size, weight and run time. 1120 measured Lumens, 180 grams and a 2-hour run time combine for one of the most useable lights we’ve ever tested. It almost feels like the helmet is just emitting bright light without much weight or rotational weight.

This Piko 4 is the bread and butter of the Lupine powerhouse line-up. While far from being the most powerful, it is reachable by many at $335. What it really offers is size and functionality. It is small with a light head that weighs just 55 grams, yet so powerful at 1200 Lumens (we measured 1120). What you’re left with is a light that just disappears into the riding experience, especially when mounted on the helmet. Heck, one can just leave this on the helmet during the night riding season and it will always be there when needed. It’s low profile and the battery and the light head counter-balance each other to even out the helmet weight distribution.

The only real issue is heat, as this powerful LED puts out a lot of it for such a small light head. To this end, Lupine provides the most sophisticated thermal management available, by stepping down the light before it gets too hot. So if you stop for a break during your ride, the Piko 4 will just step down to protect itself and to keep the light at its peak battery efficiency. Then when you start riding and bombing down hill, the light will detect it and ramp up to full brightness as it cools. Effectively, this light works as a speed-sensing light, dimming as you stop and getting bright when you descend swiftly.

Of course it is a Lupine, so one can expect fast and safe charging and ultimate selection when it comes to batteries. You can rely on this light day in and day out in the most inclement conditions. And when your kid starts riding ten years from now, you can hand down this light to them proudly.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7TpX_ksg3U

Video: Test loop with the Lupine Piko 4. Camera is on a locked ISO setting and is set to Wide Angle mode

Beam Pattern Photo

We photographed the lights in the same location setting with the same camera settings. The photos were taken in the back yard that is approximately 25 yards long. These photos feature many objects and a distinct background to analyze detail and beam pattern. Compare all Beam Patterns here »

Integrating Sphere Measured Lumens

This light measured 1120 Lumens in an integrating sphere. Claimed Lumens by the manufacturer is 1200 Lumens. The Lumen-hour graph below shows how the light performs over the first three minutes of its battery cycle. Compare all Lumen Tests here »

Strengths

1120 measured Lumens is good against the 1200 Lumen claims
Small and convenient form factor with 180 gram total weight
Impressive light output and beam pattern with 22 degree beam
Excellent mounting
2 hour run time is very good for its size
Perfect for helmet mounting with the battery mounted at the back of the helmet
Lupine build quality, safety and longevity
Battery is compatible with all other Lupine batteries, so a plethora of run times are available