LEZYNE MICRO DRIVE 600XL
£55 Dual LED light housed in a machined alu body
LUMENS 600 LUX @ 5M HIGH BEAM 101 RUN TIME 60 minutes at max power IP/WATERPROOF RATING 7 BATTERY CAPACITY n/a MODES Nine: 600, 400, 200, 100, 15,
Flash 1, Flash 2, Day Flash, Pulse WEIGHT WITH BRACKET 98g
Despite its diminutive size and having a maximum output of only 600 lumens, Lezyne’s Micro Drive 600XL packs a powerful punch, proving it’s not just lumens that matter when it comes to performance. The dual side-by-side LEDs throw out an awful lot of light. There’s a definite central spot in the beam pattern but little fade, even right at the edges of the beam, so peripheral vision is good. However, some light does spill upwards – even when we angled the light low it lit up the tree canopy. Not so good for dazzle in an urban setting, but on more remote unlit routes it’s an advantage. The body has cutouts to provide side visibility. The Micro Drive is a slickly executed lightweight design that attaches easily in seconds with a sturdy rubber strap that stretches to fit any bar diameter. It might feel too simple a fixing to be secure, but it holds firm and the only movement is the intended lateral adjustment of the mount. A quick tap of the top
mounted on/off button shows the remaining battery life, and holding for two seconds switches it on. Easy so far, but changing from a low to a higher beam requires cycling right through the modes and that feels unnecessarily tedious.
Nine is as many modes as any rider needs and at full 600 lumens power, this compact light will be bright enough for a mix of riding from cycle tracks to city roads. Its simple integral strap helps keep the weight down to a very minimal 98g, although the micro sizing does mean a more limited run time of just an hour on full power. An integrated USB charger is hidden underneath a cover on the back, doing away with the need for a charging cable and emphasising its clever design.
This is an impressively waterproof light that hurls out a lot of lumens for its size, but run time is limited on full power.
VERDICT
A clever design that delivers enough light for the darkest routes but limited battery life