Bookman – Volume Bike Light

The Volume is a new product from Bookman. It’s a well designed front light with some really nice features.
Bookman is a small Swedish company that has been around for quite a few years, since 2012 but not with a massive brand presence like the big name companies who pour tons of money into advertising. Often I have seen their products in unexpected places, LED lights that are in “designer” shops – maybe it’s the aesthetics that drives the placement, I’m not sure.

Right out of the box, I was really impressed by the visual design of the Volume. It’s slim, has a nice finish, rounded edges, and a good size. There’s also a knob on the side that is very easy to use. The knob to control the brightness or the flash pattern of the light. It has a nostalgic analog and über practical feel that is quite addictive.

The Volume is available in an 800 lumen and a 1000 Lumen versions.

At first glance this just seems like another usb light, but…

it’s in the details that makes this product notably innovative

The elephant in the room… the knob… When I’m commuting in the city, there are times when I need to quickly adjust the brightness of my lights. For example, when I see other riders coming towards me on a narrow bike path, I have to lower the beam so it doesn’t blind them. I generally fumble around using my hands and multiple presses. And when I turn onto a dark street, I have to increase the brightness to see any potholes. In these situations, I realize that the Volume knob is probably very useful. The Volume dial does away with all the fumble and provides a nice experience.

Is this a green light? You may have noticed that this light is rechargeable using a USB. But have you ever thought about what happens when its battery stops charging properly? It doesn’t last very long and bound for the rubbish bin, Bookman has taken this into consideration. At the back of the product, there is a small screw cap, about the size of a quarter. They use a semi standard 18650 Li Battery, which can be easily replaced. This extends the life of the product or allows removal for easy recycling. The battery used is a somewhat common size used in many devices like battery packs for power tools. You can find a high-quality replacement for around $30 from Bookman.

The interface… I have many lights now and it’s difficult to remember how to use each one. Each company has a different way of turning them on and off and changing the modes. However, the Volume light is different. It’s easy to use because the flash mode and intensity can be controlled separately. It also has a clear battery charge indicator. The user interface is well-designed and user-friendly.

Other things I like

On the sides of the Volume there are little side lights, often manufacturers forget about this side visibility detail, its a nice touch.

The light lockout feature is notably indicated on the dial. That’s nice, most manufacturers seem to address this as a hidden feature, then you always forget how to lock it. What it means is that you can lock it and throw it in your bags without the risk it accidentally turns on and discharges.

The Volume comes with a handlebar mount with two strap sizes and it also comes with a Go-Pro style adapter to twist lock. Meaning that this will interface with a variety of stem, cycle computer and bar combinations.

In Use

The beam pattern is great and I had no problems. I really liked the knob and actually used it a lot, sometimes just to conveniently conserve battery. I had no problems with rain and it charged quick.
The twist on / twist off (like a bike computer mount) is nice when you lock up your bike in a public place, quick to remove and quick to pop on.

What I don’t like

To caveat this, the things I don’t like are pretty minor, so well done Bookman Team!

There is no side to side (lateral) adjustment, it’s locked by the barmount. Either you will hate this or it won’t bother you. It bothered me at first, but I got used to it.

The setup to the handlebar is critical and not easily adjustable on the fly. This up / down vertical alignment is only adjustable with an allen wrench, so spend some time to get it right before riding.

Something I’m on the fence about… it sits high on the bar. Im getting used to it, but if there was a way for Bookman engineering to reduce the stack hight, its something that could make it look a little sleeker

(One thing to note: the light does come with a gopro style adapter, so if you are using a mount like a k-edge or a dual computer light mount, you should find yourself taken care of and the light will mount lower and out front.)

https://bookmanvisibility.com/en-us/products/volume-800

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Volume Front Light Product Details

• Brightness: 800 Lumen
• Battery: 18650 Li-Ion battery (Replaceable)
• Battery Capacity: 3200 mAh
• Runtime: Steady From 3 to 35h
• Mount: Garmin compatible
• Charging: USB-C
• Water Resistance: IPX5
• Size: 113x30x30 mm
• Lock Mode: Yes
• Chassis: Plastic
• Available in Black, White, and Orange
• MSRP: $99