Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light

This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

Or, may we suggest shopping for similar items:

Shop more Safety Taillights Shop more Planet Bike

This page is provided for reference to historical product information.

Show me:
Product Description,
Product Specs,
Reviews

Light your rack with the Rack Blinky 5 safety light—this durable little guy runs for 100 hours!

5 superbright LEDs and built-in parabolic reflector provide visibility for up to 1 mile
Features both a flashing and steady mode
Ultra compact case is weatherproof, lightweight and durable
Rear rack and seatpost mounts included
Includes 2 AAA batteries

Imported.

Item 776955

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light

4.0

(based on 16 reviews)

75%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Great visibility (15)
Long battery life (9)

Cons

Best Uses

Rear safety light (14)
Good for commuting (11)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid cyclist (9), Casual/ recreational (7)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (10)

Reviewed by 16 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Dec

2012

4.0

Adequate Tail Light

By csoul

from Olathe, KS

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Integrated Reflector
Long battery life

Cons

Best Uses

Night commute
Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

I love the integrated reflector, which saves having to mount a separate reflector (since many states require a rear reflector, even if using a tail light).

This is not the brightest tail light, but I think it's adequate for most conditions.

The three modes -- off, flash, solid -- are just right. No superfluous "chase" patterns here. The push-button control is easy to find by feel, and has been reliable for me.

Mounting is easy if you have a rack with the proper attachment points. If your rack doesn't have these, then you have to improvise a mount, which is not too difficult, usually.

Battery life is good. I'd prefer a USB-rechargeable lithium battery, rather than AAAs, but this isn't a deal-killer for me.

If I already had a rear reflector on the bike, I would probably choose a brighter tail light, but for an all-in-one unit, this is a good choice, and a fine value.

Comment on this review

Nov

2012

4.0

Does what it needs to

By Jim407

from Orlando, FL

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Good value
Great Mounting Options
Great visibility

Cons

Battery Access

Best Uses

Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

I have a wedge bag under my seat and a rear rack. Most rear lights mount on the seat post an my wedge bag would block it, so I wanted a light that would mount on my rear rack. This light fit the bill and at a good price.

No surprises with this light. It mounted easily except the bolts were too long and prevented the light from slipping into the connection point. I added some spacer washers and everything was fine. My rear rack has a very thin piece of metal for the reflector mount point. I think other rear racks have thicker metal as a mounting point and may not need spacers.

After mounting the connection point to my rear rack I opened the light by removing the lens with a coin. This gave me access to where the batteries get installed. I popped the lense back on and slipped the light into the connection point. A push of a button cycles the light through on, blink, off. It seems well built and functions well. I didn't notice any rattling noise when I took it for a test ride. I expect to have many rides of enjoyment with this rear light.

My only concern is the position of the light, which has pros and cons. The down side is that it is in the debris stream of the back tire. If I ride in the rain, mud, or sand, it may get slung onto the light. The good thing is the light is built well with a rubber seal and the button appears to be sealed too. I don't think anything will get into the light but it may get coated with mud or sand blasted. This isn't any fault of the light though and it is actually a feature that I wanted in a light (mounted in that position).

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

5.0

Great light at a great price!

By glenhollow

from Temple Terrace, Fl

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Easily installed
Great visibility
Long battery life
Well built

Cons

Best Uses

Night commute
Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

This light is great! You wonder how good something is that is relatively cheap, but this surprised me. I bought a few bike shop lights that seemd cheap when I got them out of the package at home. This light is well built,installs easily on any rack, and works very well.

Service and delivery comments:

Delivey was only a few days, not the usual week or week and a half others take.

Comment on this review

Jul

2012

3.0

Good light, cheap mounting bracket

By hunter b

from Phoenix, AZ

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility
Long battery life

Cons

Poor Mounting System

Best Uses

Night commute
Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

The light itself is great but the thin, brittle metal L bracket that is used to mount the light to a rack can bend easily and is apparently prone to snapping in half! I lost my light at some point on my ride to work this morning. The lower half of the bracket is still attached to the rack, but the light and upper half of the bracket are gone. Luckily I ride during the day...

Comment on this review

Jul

2012

3.0

great for a few months

By wesleyjack

from SoCal

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility

Cons

Batteries come lose

Best Uses

Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

I have three of these lights and I really like them. They are versatile in their mounting options, plenty bright enough, and simple on-flash-off operation. However all of them developed the same problem after about 6-8 months. The spring that holds the batteries in place seems to have weakened so that the road vibration causes them to come lose which results in a weak light or no light depending on the length of the ride. After every ride and sometimes in the middle (if over 10 miles) I have to pop the cover off the light and push the battery back in.

Comment on this review

May

2012

3.0

Rattles!

By Jim DeBruycker

from New Hampshire

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility
Long battery life

Cons

Rattles

Best Uses

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

Had noticed a subtle rattle from the rear of my trike for ages...numerous times checked all the screws, bolts, etc and could not find anything. Knocked on things to induce and locate the rattle. Eliminated everything, then took the light off - SILENCE! It doesn't rattle when you knock on things, but does while riding. So, now, when not riding on the road, it's in my bag.

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

4.0

Great light! (after some mods)

By MrJAK

from Whittier, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility
Long battery life

Cons

See comments

Best Uses

Night commute
Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

When I first open the package, I installed the batteries and the light would blink once and then nothing! After a closer look I realized that the rubber on/off button wasn't moving freely. It was jammed inside the plastic housing. When I pryed it free with my finger, the button worked for a bit but would continue to get stuck. Determined to win the fight, I used small screwdriver to remove the circuit board from the housing, removed the button and then I simply applied a little grease to the sides of the button and reassembled the light...voila! The button works perfectly! Love the light now. It is very bright on my early morning commute to Los Angeles.

Comment on this review

Feb

2011

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

good light, but not durable

By Bwana Baraka

from Colorado Springs, CO

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility
Long battery life

Cons

Not durable

Best Uses

Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

This tail light provides great visibility. However, it fell apart after several months of use. In order to change the batteries, you must remove the red lamp cover. The pins that click into this cover to hold it on are not very durable. After a couple months one broke off. It still held together but eventually another broke and the red cover fell off while I was riding. I found it and have still be able to use the light but I have to keep rubber bands wrapped around it. It needs a stronger system.

Comment on this review

Jan

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Bright and blinky! But broke :(

By Dulcinea Del Toboso

from Washington, DC

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility
Mounts easily

Cons

Cheap Plastic

Best Uses

Night commute
Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

I loved this light until a tiny piece of plastic busted where the light clips in to the mount. Now it won't stay on and falls off in the street often. I intend to get another one and hope it won't happen again.

Comment on this review

Nov

2010

5.0

True Successor To The Iconic VistaLite

By Starduster

from Arlington, VA

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great visibility
Lightreflector combo

Cons

Best Uses

Night commute
Rear safety light

Comments about Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 Rear Light:

Just like the last of the VistaLites, this has an integrated reflector. Good, wide spread of light, versatile mounting hardware for rack or seatpost. If you value simplicity and don't need the sheer straight-back firepower of the Superflash, here's your bargain. And it out-performed another light/reflector unit at twice the price.

Comment on this review

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »