As a cyclist, two of the most essential accessories are a daytime bright bike light and a cycling computer. These two pieces of tech ensure you are safe on the road and can track your progress but take up valuable handlebar space. Coospo’s new BLC100 is a combination bike light, mount and power bank that can be sandwiched between a computer and mount. At $49.90, the BLC100 is a unique light and mount combo which offers 100 lumen output and a large 5000mAh battery. The BLC100 has a convenient side USB-C port that can be used to recharge the BLC100 or to use the BLC100 as a power bank to top off other devices. One of the unique features of the light is the removable top Garmin mount which gives you the option to use the light on its own or in conjunction with a computer mounted above it.
The COOSPO BLC100 combines a large 5000mAh battery and power bank functionality with a curved front COB LED stripe.
| Retail Price | $49.90 |
| Rating | 8.2 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 113 (light), 13 (adapter) |
| Likes | + Large battery capacity + Curved COB LED is bright and highly visible + Power bank functionality with side USB-C port |
| Dislikes | – Large size is still visible even with 3.5″ computer – Button and indicators are not visible with computer attached to top – Removable adapter is bulky and looks cheap |
| Where to Buy (US) | Coospo |
UNBOXING
The Coospo BLC100 comes in a compact white cardboard box with orange accents that match the Coospo branding. Inside the box you’ll find:
- BLC100 light,
- Plastic Garmin adapter
- USB-C to USB-C cable with holder
- Garmin to GoPro adapter
We were impressed with the USB-C cable holder which has a compact design with a built-in lanyard that holds both sides of the USB-C in small slots. It’s a nice touch that makes it easy to store the cable or travel with it.
MOUNTING
One of the main features of the BLC100 is the combination mount and light design which provides a Garmin base on one side and a Garmin adapter on the other. This concept is very similar to the Fabric Lumaray, Ravemen FR160 / FR300 and Moon Sport MX and allows the light to be sandwiched between a mount and computer. What is unique about the Coospo BLC100 is that the Garmin adapter is actually a removable plastic insert. The insert slides along the grooves in the edges of the computer and has a matching brushed finish on top of the transparent plastic body.
With the Garmin adapter removed you can choose to run the BLC100 underneath your out-front mount or alone on top of an out-front mount for a cleaner appearance. The latter option doesn’t make much sense to us as most cyclists using an out-front mount would also use a GPS computer and therefore use the adapter. Even with the BLC100 mounted underneath an out-front mount the Garmin adapter is not visible so we’re not sure why Coospo chose the removable design. The mounts are all plastic but have the same Garmin quarter turn mount design and feel stable. Note, Coospo does not offer a Wahoo adapter at this time so are you limited to Garmin mount compatible devices.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Coospo BLC100 has a shield-like shape with a rectangular profile and a triangular top. With a 5000mAh internal battery, the BLC100 is quite big and has dimensions of 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.8 cm. The body of the light is plastic but has an attractive brushed finish on the top and bottom surfaces which look like metal along with glossy beveled edges for contrast. Branding is limited to Coospo engraved on the top for a premium look and a wide COB LED strip along the curved front. This design ensures you have excellent forward and side visibility which ensures you are visible at intersections.
On the left side of the light you have a USB-C port underneath a rubber cover which can be used to charge the light or use the BLC100 as a power bank to charge other devices. Surprisingly, there is a second USB-C shaped slot on the other side with a rubber cover which appears to have an actual USB-C hardware. We suspect there was a mistake during manufacturing that caused the double ports to be cut into the body. The BLC100 also features a wide curved white COB LED along the front triangular surface which creates a nice uniform glow along the front edge. This is a be-seen light which ensures other people see you, but only has 100 lumen and should not be used as a primary nighttime bike light and does not really illuminate the road.
USER INTERFACE
To control the BLC100 there is a single power button on the bottom surface just in front of the Garmin mount. Doing a short press of the button illuminates four LEDs next to it which let you quickly check the battery status. The LEDs are fairly dim and inset underneath the body which helps them disappear into the body when they are off but also make it hard to see in sunlight. Holding the power button turns the light on and off while a short press with the light on cycles through the four available modes. Because the button and indicators are on the bottom surface of the BLC100, they are not visible when using the light with a computer mounted above it. We’re surprised Coospo made such an easy mistake and would have preferred to see the button and indicators on the side where they would be accessible and visible in any mounting configuration.
LIGHT OUTPUT
Coospo doesn’t publish the runtime and lumen count per mode and only claims a 12-14 hour runtime and 100 lumen max output. There are four output modes with high, low, pulsing and daytime flash with mode memory to ensure it always turns back on in the same mode it was turned off. The two constant modes are a simple high mode and a dimmer low mode which are convenient for nighttime riding. With the pulse mode the light gently ramps up and down from low to high for additional visibility. Our favorite mode, and the most daytime visible is the daytime flash which has a strong on/off flash pattern that is visible from longer distances. The curved COB LED design ensures the light is visible from side angles and from the front of the bike.
Unlike the Ravemen FR160 / FR300 lights which have a wrap-around COB LED design, the BSC100’s curved LED does not extend on the sides. That means the light does not illuminate handlebars and isn’t visible while you are riding. It’s a bit of a pro and con, as it means there is no glare even with the large size of the BLC100 which is visible even under large 3.5” computers like the iGPSPORT iGS800. The downside of this design is that you can’t tell if the light is on without putting your hand in front of the light. Combined with the fact that the indicator lights are not visible with a computer mounted above it that means it can be easy to have it shut off due to low battery and not realize it.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Coospo BLC100 to be an interesting variation on the combination light and mount concept. Coospo combined a large 5000 mAh battery with a slim shield like design and a removable top Garmin adapter. That allows you to use the BLC100 on its own above or below an out front mount or with a computer mounted above it. It’s a great way to reduce handlebar clutter while offering a bright daytime visible 100 lumen front light. As far as negatives, we don’t think the removable Garmin adapter is worth the additional bulk and complexity and would like to have the user controls moved to the side for improved usability. That said, the Coospo BLC100 is a budget friendly way to add daytime visibility without clutter.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Coospo. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.