Skyraider59
Newly Enlightened
REVIEW ITUO WIZ1 & WIZ2 -900 Lumens USB recharge wireless bike light, 26650 & 18650
ITUO WIZ1 & WIZ2 - 900 Lumens USB rechargeable wireless bicycle light, powered by 26650 & 18650 (pictures heavy)
Back in January 2015, I was given the chance to test and send feedback of a prototype bike light from ITUO, a new cycle light manufacturer.
The cycle light was a single XM-L2 with a USB rechargeable and internal and replaceable battery.
A while back, ITUO sent me two updated WIZ1, with one of them being in the WIZ2 configuration. The lights have kept their general looks but have had some improvement on the weaknesses mentioned during the review and forum feedbacks.
My new review is for the WIZ1 and WIZ2 as the hardware & software are identical with the only differences being the battery tubes and batteries.
The WIZ1and WIZ2 are 900 lumen single XM-L2 LED bike lights powered by 26650 or 18650 li-ion battery with on board USB chargeable capability, a GO-PRO compatible mount and a likeable interface.
What's in the box
Both, the WIZ1 and WIZ2 do come in identical boxes, a natural cardboard colour with a black insert, covered by a white sleeve. I appreciate it is only a box, but the feel and look inspires quality. Once open, the lights and accessories are well protected by a cut out white foam insert.
The lights received were pre-assembled with the battery in tube. A USB cable is provided as well as a "Wise" GoPro compatible bar mount and an instruction sheet.
Initial overview and feel
As soon as you pick up the WIZ1 & 2 you realise that this bike lights will also double up as a flashlights (Torch for us English). They have a cylindrical shape with no sharp edges and do tailstand. The WIZ2 is more pocket friendly due to the smaller body tube and lighter in weight, but for me the WIZ1 has a better hand grip due to size and shape of the battery tube. The anodizing is flawless for both lights. The WIZ1, I received in blue and the WIZ2 in a brown finish which is not available as they only list blue or black. My WIZ2 sample was actually marked with WIZ1 logo, which does not matter as only the battery tube and battery are different. The markings are very minimal and are one side of the head with the manufacturer's name, model and web address all in crisp white lettering. On the opposite side is the USB port covered by a rubber plug with a double lip acting as water seal. Positioned on the top is the switch with integrated battery gauge light. The cooling fins are also quite minimal and are positioned behind the bezel. The body tube is where the WIZ1 differs from the WIZ2. Both have square clean threads and a single "o" ring. The WIZ1does have a much bigger tube to accommodate the 26650 4500mAh battery. Both tubes are made a little larger than the battery supplied presumably to accommodate a higher capacity battery in the future? The tension spring is at the bottom of the tube and the positive terminal in the head is spring loaded, so the battery does not rattle on rough trails. Half of the quick release bracket is cast in the body of the light and just forward of it, appears to be a mounting point for a lanyard, which is a good idea if used as flashlight or an helmet light. The "WISE" bar mount uses the GoPro system and does not require different rubber spacers for use on a 25.4 or a 35mm bar.
The lights are supplied with Ituo's own batteries which are clearly marked with + and - . They are of the raised positive terminal which make it easier to do a battery change in the dark and appear to be of good quality.
Manufacturer Data (from their website)WIZ1
. 3 steady modes: tourer 150 lumens(15 hrs) - race 500 lumens (4:40 hrs) - sprint 900 lumens (3 hrs)
. 3 hidden flashes: day flash, night flash and warning flash
. 1 hidden 50 lumens mode
. Battery power indication: green led indicating 100%-20% power; red led 20% and below
. One USB cable is provided; customers can connect it to their smart phone chargers' adapters, or
connect it to computer to charge (charging by computer is much slower)
. Capacity of battery: 4500mAh
. Voltage: 2.8-4.2V (CR123A/RCR123A/16340 batteries are not compatible)
. Battery life-span: about 300 times cycle until the rated capacity drops to 70%
. Charging time: 5.5 hours (1A charging); 11 hours (500mA charging)
. Dimension: 119.5mm (length) x 35mm (head diameter) x 31mm (body diameter)
. Light weight: 105.2g
. Battery weight: 97g
. Handlebar mount weight: 54.2g
WIZ2
.3 steady modes: tourer 150 lumens (11 hrs) - race 500 lumens (3:40 hrs) - sprint 900 lumens (2 hrs)
.3 hidden flashes: day flash, night flash and warning flash
. 1 hidden 50 lumens mode
. Battery power indication: green led indicating 100%-20% power; red led indicating 20% and below
. One USB cable is provided; customers can connect it to their smart phone chargers' adapters, or
connect it to computer to charge (charging by computer is much slower)
. Capacity of battery: 4500mAh
. Voltage: 2.8-4.2V (CR123A/RCR123A/16340 batteries are not compatible)
. Battery life-span: about 300 times cycle until the rated capacity drops to 70%
. Charging time: 5-6 hours
. Dimension: 119.5mm (length) x 35mm (head diameter) x 24mm (body diameter)
. Light weight: 105.6g
. Battery weight: 45.8g
. Handlebar mount weight: 54.2g
Settings (from the manufacturer website)
Light
CLICK: quick press of the switch less than 1 second
DOUBLE CLICK: two rapid clicks of the switch
PRESS: 2 seconds press of the switch
LONG PRESS: 3+ seconds press of the switch
. A CLICK from the OFF position will always turn the light on to the last steady mode used.
. A CLICK from the ON position will cycle through the steady modes low, med, high.
. A DOUBLE CLICK from ON or OFF position will access the last flash mode used, a further single CLICK will allow you to cycle through the flashing modes day flash, night flash, warning flash.
. A further DOUBLE CLICK will return the light to what ever mode it was prior to activating the flash modes, this could be ON, OFF or THE HIDDEN 50
LUMENS MODE
. A PRESS from on or off, will access the 50 lumens hidden safety mode.
. A LONG PRESS will turn the light off (it will go through the 50 lumens hidden mode first). The light as a memory and will remember the last steady or flash
mode used.
. The 50 Lumen mode is also very useful during stops to let the light cool down while still having some illumination.
Safety
Back up/safety mode: when the battery power is less than 10%, the light will turn to 50 lumens as back up illumination for 30 minutes before turning off automatically.
WARNING: the backup/safety mode is only for emergency and we advise users to recharge the battery before this is activated. When the light turns to safety mode, the light can only be turned off or on by one click, and other modes can't be operated.
Charging (from the manufacturer website)
The battery is shipped approx 50% charged and it is advisable to fully charge it before use. The charging time will depend on the uncharged sate of the battery and the method of charging, this could take up to 11 hours with a 500mA charger and 5 hours with a 1A charger. Once the battery is charged, the light will turn to green, please disconnect the charger from the mains and from the battery. Do not leave the battery unattended while charging.
Please try to avoid totally draining out your battery and do not leave your battery flat for any length of time.
Photo taken during on of my test ride using both WIZ in the 1 configuration, one has helmet light
other as bar light giving around 1800 lumens.
Riding with
Time to turn the light on. The operation of the switch is positive and easy to use with or without gloves. The interface is very intuitive with minimum clicks required to navigate it.
You have 3 continuous power outputs obtainable by a single click from off. They are well chosen and can be easily changed while cycling. In any of the modes, you can turn off the light by a single long press of the switch. A very useful feature is the access of a low/safe mode just before turn off. I have found this very useful when low light is only required. ie car park or side of a trail when chatting with your mates. The WIZ has a memory so whatever level you are on when you switch your light off, it will return to this setting when switching on.
You have 3 options for your flashing modes all accessible by a double click. The flash modes are well chosen with a double and a single flash at the right speed together with a pulse mode, which is a constant light with a bright pulse. The latter is very useful for road cycling where you want to see and be seen. A double click will return you to steady mode or a long press (about 3 seconds) will turn it off after going though the safe mode.
I must say this is one of the best interfaces I have used so far, easy to operate and to remember. One single long press to switch off from any of the modes with a very useable low mode prior to light off.
The beam is wide enough and has a good throw with a neutral tint which is a good choice for cycling as it does not create harsh shadows like the cool tint LEDs does.
The WIZE clamp is very easy to attach to your handle bar and the light can be removed or fitted single handed.
The only thing I notice while cycling with both of my samples, was a rattling coming from the quick release connection from the clamp to the light. The WISE clamp connects very firmly on my 35mm bar but is not very tight on my 25.4mm handle bar allowing the light to be moved by hand slightly from left to right. Wrapping some black electrician tape around your bar to make it thicker did improve the tightness of the clamp on my handlebar. (I understand that the clamp and mount have been improved now to eliminate the problems I have highlighted. During the output/run test, I notice that the sprint 900 lumens setting steps down after about 7 minutes to a level just above 70% of its original output. Once at that level the light is well regulated for the next two hours for the WIZ1 and about an hour for the WIZ2. The step down happens at the same time with both lights irrespective of what capacity batteries you are using. The step-down appear to be activated by a timer. If the battery has enough charge, you can switchback the WIZ to the higher 900L, Sprint level for another 7mn. In real life while cycling the difference of output is barely noticeable, and I was happy enough with the sprint stepdown. The charging was easy and in line with the time given using my HTC 1 amp mobile phone charger. Higher output tablet chargers (1.5Amps) can also be used.
Personal notes
By purchasing GoPro accessories from the net, I was able to fit the WIZ1 on my lid to see if this would make a good single XM-L helmet light. I did a MTB club ride with just two WIZs both in the WIZ1 configuration and I was surprised how well this set up works (for two single XM-L lights of course). I usually ride with a twin XM-L on my lid and quadruple one on my bar and despite the fact the two WIZ did produce a lot less lumens (about half), the beams were very well balanced with a very neutral tint and I felt that the light given was very user friendly and I did not miss that much the extra power. A plus factor was not being wired in when I removed my helmet (I always ride hot and my helmet do come off often during stops). Careful placement is required as not to unbalance your helmet toot much.
The WIZ 1 & 2 does the job well for a single XM-L light and allow you to go wireless. As a bar light, I have found one to be sufficient for road ridding but for mountain biking you do need to run them as a pair.
Home test
The ITUO WIZ lights were tested with my home made light sphere and a cooling fan was used between the readings (please note there will be a small margin of error for the readings as the light was removed and repositioned on the sphere for the various readings). As this is a home-made integration sphere, I cannot make any true claims as how close my result would be to results coming out of a lab integrating sphere costing thousand of pounds, but this does give a rough idea as how the light performed and enables you to monitor the output versus runtime.
The test/monitoring was started 2 mins after initial turn on and is in line with ANSI method of testing flashlights
The graph shows that once the step down has happen in the "sprint mode", the WIZ1 is very well regulated for a couple of hours, the result is not as good with the 18650 battery only giving you about 45mn of full regulation.
Beam photos.
These were taken using the same setting as the MTBR reviews so you can make comparisons.
200ASA, 1.6S, F4
The object in the middle of the trail is my rucksack placed approx 25 yards away
SAFE
TOURER
The object in the middle of the trail is my rucksack placed approx 25 yards away
RACE
You can see in this photo the fence which is approx 50 yards away
SPRINT
The fence 50 yards away is a lot clearer so is the area around my ruck 25 yards away, all mesurements are approx
For: Good beam, USB rechargeable, replaceable battery, good run time for the WIZ1, good output for an internal single battery light, very good interface with a good choice of light levels, GoPro compatible mount, good safety feature, can be use for other activities and will tail stand to be use as a candle.
Against: step down too soon, no helmet mount provided or available from the manufacturer. (but easily obtainable from the net which is what I have done)
Like all single LED lights, the WIZ1&2 have their limitations but if you are looking for an easy to use wireless bike lights set up with replaceable batteries, this is well worth looking at.
I am certainly looking forward to seeing more products from ITUO.
The two lights have been sent to me direct from China by the manufacturer for review, so at the present time, I am not aware of local UK retailers. I also understand that the light retails at $99.95 for the WIZ1 and $89.95 for the WIZ2
Personal notes regarding buying lights.
I am a MTB ride leader with my local cycling club in the South of England and an independent - occasional LED lights reviewer. I also ride to work every day; sun, rain or snow. The lights I reviews, are not necessary my own choice of lights for my riding style, but I have tried and tested them in real cycling. Choice of lights are very personal and the type of ridding you do should influence the type of light you choose. Factors like; run time, light levels, type of flash modes, LED tint, size, bike attachment, way of recharging the battery, usability when off the bike can be as if not more important that the number of LEDs and number of advertised lumens. More is not always better!
Skyraider59
Moderator Edit: Two pics are oversized, even the one that was scaled down to 800x1423. Those have been changed to URL links
ITUO WIZ1 & WIZ2 - 900 Lumens USB rechargeable wireless bicycle light, powered by 26650 & 18650 (pictures heavy)
Back in January 2015, I was given the chance to test and send feedback of a prototype bike light from ITUO, a new cycle light manufacturer.
The cycle light was a single XM-L2 with a USB rechargeable and internal and replaceable battery.
A while back, ITUO sent me two updated WIZ1, with one of them being in the WIZ2 configuration. The lights have kept their general looks but have had some improvement on the weaknesses mentioned during the review and forum feedbacks.
My new review is for the WIZ1 and WIZ2 as the hardware & software are identical with the only differences being the battery tubes and batteries.
The WIZ1and WIZ2 are 900 lumen single XM-L2 LED bike lights powered by 26650 or 18650 li-ion battery with on board USB chargeable capability, a GO-PRO compatible mount and a likeable interface.
What's in the box
Both, the WIZ1 and WIZ2 do come in identical boxes, a natural cardboard colour with a black insert, covered by a white sleeve. I appreciate it is only a box, but the feel and look inspires quality. Once open, the lights and accessories are well protected by a cut out white foam insert.
The lights received were pre-assembled with the battery in tube. A USB cable is provided as well as a "Wise" GoPro compatible bar mount and an instruction sheet.
Initial overview and feel
As soon as you pick up the WIZ1 & 2 you realise that this bike lights will also double up as a flashlights (Torch for us English). They have a cylindrical shape with no sharp edges and do tailstand. The WIZ2 is more pocket friendly due to the smaller body tube and lighter in weight, but for me the WIZ1 has a better hand grip due to size and shape of the battery tube. The anodizing is flawless for both lights. The WIZ1, I received in blue and the WIZ2 in a brown finish which is not available as they only list blue or black. My WIZ2 sample was actually marked with WIZ1 logo, which does not matter as only the battery tube and battery are different. The markings are very minimal and are one side of the head with the manufacturer's name, model and web address all in crisp white lettering. On the opposite side is the USB port covered by a rubber plug with a double lip acting as water seal. Positioned on the top is the switch with integrated battery gauge light. The cooling fins are also quite minimal and are positioned behind the bezel. The body tube is where the WIZ1 differs from the WIZ2. Both have square clean threads and a single "o" ring. The WIZ1does have a much bigger tube to accommodate the 26650 4500mAh battery. Both tubes are made a little larger than the battery supplied presumably to accommodate a higher capacity battery in the future? The tension spring is at the bottom of the tube and the positive terminal in the head is spring loaded, so the battery does not rattle on rough trails. Half of the quick release bracket is cast in the body of the light and just forward of it, appears to be a mounting point for a lanyard, which is a good idea if used as flashlight or an helmet light. The "WISE" bar mount uses the GoPro system and does not require different rubber spacers for use on a 25.4 or a 35mm bar.
The lights are supplied with Ituo's own batteries which are clearly marked with + and - . They are of the raised positive terminal which make it easier to do a battery change in the dark and appear to be of good quality.
Manufacturer Data (from their website)WIZ1
. 3 steady modes: tourer 150 lumens(15 hrs) - race 500 lumens (4:40 hrs) - sprint 900 lumens (3 hrs)
. 3 hidden flashes: day flash, night flash and warning flash
. 1 hidden 50 lumens mode
. Battery power indication: green led indicating 100%-20% power; red led 20% and below
. One USB cable is provided; customers can connect it to their smart phone chargers' adapters, or
connect it to computer to charge (charging by computer is much slower)
. Capacity of battery: 4500mAh
. Voltage: 2.8-4.2V (CR123A/RCR123A/16340 batteries are not compatible)
. Battery life-span: about 300 times cycle until the rated capacity drops to 70%
. Charging time: 5.5 hours (1A charging); 11 hours (500mA charging)
. Dimension: 119.5mm (length) x 35mm (head diameter) x 31mm (body diameter)
. Light weight: 105.2g
. Battery weight: 97g
. Handlebar mount weight: 54.2g
WIZ2
.3 steady modes: tourer 150 lumens (11 hrs) - race 500 lumens (3:40 hrs) - sprint 900 lumens (2 hrs)
.3 hidden flashes: day flash, night flash and warning flash
. 1 hidden 50 lumens mode
. Battery power indication: green led indicating 100%-20% power; red led indicating 20% and below
. One USB cable is provided; customers can connect it to their smart phone chargers' adapters, or
connect it to computer to charge (charging by computer is much slower)
. Capacity of battery: 4500mAh
. Voltage: 2.8-4.2V (CR123A/RCR123A/16340 batteries are not compatible)
. Battery life-span: about 300 times cycle until the rated capacity drops to 70%
. Charging time: 5-6 hours
. Dimension: 119.5mm (length) x 35mm (head diameter) x 24mm (body diameter)
. Light weight: 105.6g
. Battery weight: 45.8g
. Handlebar mount weight: 54.2g
Settings (from the manufacturer website)
Light
CLICK: quick press of the switch less than 1 second
DOUBLE CLICK: two rapid clicks of the switch
PRESS: 2 seconds press of the switch
LONG PRESS: 3+ seconds press of the switch
. A CLICK from the OFF position will always turn the light on to the last steady mode used.
. A CLICK from the ON position will cycle through the steady modes low, med, high.
. A DOUBLE CLICK from ON or OFF position will access the last flash mode used, a further single CLICK will allow you to cycle through the flashing modes day flash, night flash, warning flash.
. A further DOUBLE CLICK will return the light to what ever mode it was prior to activating the flash modes, this could be ON, OFF or THE HIDDEN 50
LUMENS MODE
. A PRESS from on or off, will access the 50 lumens hidden safety mode.
. A LONG PRESS will turn the light off (it will go through the 50 lumens hidden mode first). The light as a memory and will remember the last steady or flash
mode used.
. The 50 Lumen mode is also very useful during stops to let the light cool down while still having some illumination.
Safety
Back up/safety mode: when the battery power is less than 10%, the light will turn to 50 lumens as back up illumination for 30 minutes before turning off automatically.
WARNING: the backup/safety mode is only for emergency and we advise users to recharge the battery before this is activated. When the light turns to safety mode, the light can only be turned off or on by one click, and other modes can't be operated.
Charging (from the manufacturer website)
The battery is shipped approx 50% charged and it is advisable to fully charge it before use. The charging time will depend on the uncharged sate of the battery and the method of charging, this could take up to 11 hours with a 500mA charger and 5 hours with a 1A charger. Once the battery is charged, the light will turn to green, please disconnect the charger from the mains and from the battery. Do not leave the battery unattended while charging.
Please try to avoid totally draining out your battery and do not leave your battery flat for any length of time.
Photo taken during on of my test ride using both WIZ in the 1 configuration, one has helmet light
other as bar light giving around 1800 lumens.
Riding with
Time to turn the light on. The operation of the switch is positive and easy to use with or without gloves. The interface is very intuitive with minimum clicks required to navigate it.
You have 3 continuous power outputs obtainable by a single click from off. They are well chosen and can be easily changed while cycling. In any of the modes, you can turn off the light by a single long press of the switch. A very useful feature is the access of a low/safe mode just before turn off. I have found this very useful when low light is only required. ie car park or side of a trail when chatting with your mates. The WIZ has a memory so whatever level you are on when you switch your light off, it will return to this setting when switching on.
You have 3 options for your flashing modes all accessible by a double click. The flash modes are well chosen with a double and a single flash at the right speed together with a pulse mode, which is a constant light with a bright pulse. The latter is very useful for road cycling where you want to see and be seen. A double click will return you to steady mode or a long press (about 3 seconds) will turn it off after going though the safe mode.
I must say this is one of the best interfaces I have used so far, easy to operate and to remember. One single long press to switch off from any of the modes with a very useable low mode prior to light off.
The beam is wide enough and has a good throw with a neutral tint which is a good choice for cycling as it does not create harsh shadows like the cool tint LEDs does.
The WIZE clamp is very easy to attach to your handle bar and the light can be removed or fitted single handed.
The only thing I notice while cycling with both of my samples, was a rattling coming from the quick release connection from the clamp to the light. The WISE clamp connects very firmly on my 35mm bar but is not very tight on my 25.4mm handle bar allowing the light to be moved by hand slightly from left to right. Wrapping some black electrician tape around your bar to make it thicker did improve the tightness of the clamp on my handlebar. (I understand that the clamp and mount have been improved now to eliminate the problems I have highlighted. During the output/run test, I notice that the sprint 900 lumens setting steps down after about 7 minutes to a level just above 70% of its original output. Once at that level the light is well regulated for the next two hours for the WIZ1 and about an hour for the WIZ2. The step down happens at the same time with both lights irrespective of what capacity batteries you are using. The step-down appear to be activated by a timer. If the battery has enough charge, you can switchback the WIZ to the higher 900L, Sprint level for another 7mn. In real life while cycling the difference of output is barely noticeable, and I was happy enough with the sprint stepdown. The charging was easy and in line with the time given using my HTC 1 amp mobile phone charger. Higher output tablet chargers (1.5Amps) can also be used.
Personal notes
By purchasing GoPro accessories from the net, I was able to fit the WIZ1 on my lid to see if this would make a good single XM-L helmet light. I did a MTB club ride with just two WIZs both in the WIZ1 configuration and I was surprised how well this set up works (for two single XM-L lights of course). I usually ride with a twin XM-L on my lid and quadruple one on my bar and despite the fact the two WIZ did produce a lot less lumens (about half), the beams were very well balanced with a very neutral tint and I felt that the light given was very user friendly and I did not miss that much the extra power. A plus factor was not being wired in when I removed my helmet (I always ride hot and my helmet do come off often during stops). Careful placement is required as not to unbalance your helmet toot much.
The WIZ 1 & 2 does the job well for a single XM-L light and allow you to go wireless. As a bar light, I have found one to be sufficient for road ridding but for mountain biking you do need to run them as a pair.
Home test
The ITUO WIZ lights were tested with my home made light sphere and a cooling fan was used between the readings (please note there will be a small margin of error for the readings as the light was removed and repositioned on the sphere for the various readings). As this is a home-made integration sphere, I cannot make any true claims as how close my result would be to results coming out of a lab integrating sphere costing thousand of pounds, but this does give a rough idea as how the light performed and enables you to monitor the output versus runtime.
The test/monitoring was started 2 mins after initial turn on and is in line with ANSI method of testing flashlights
The graph shows that once the step down has happen in the "sprint mode", the WIZ1 is very well regulated for a couple of hours, the result is not as good with the 18650 battery only giving you about 45mn of full regulation.
Beam photos.
These were taken using the same setting as the MTBR reviews so you can make comparisons.
200ASA, 1.6S, F4
The object in the middle of the trail is my rucksack placed approx 25 yards away
SAFE
TOURER
The object in the middle of the trail is my rucksack placed approx 25 yards away
RACE
You can see in this photo the fence which is approx 50 yards away
SPRINT
The fence 50 yards away is a lot clearer so is the area around my ruck 25 yards away, all mesurements are approx
For: Good beam, USB rechargeable, replaceable battery, good run time for the WIZ1, good output for an internal single battery light, very good interface with a good choice of light levels, GoPro compatible mount, good safety feature, can be use for other activities and will tail stand to be use as a candle.
Against: step down too soon, no helmet mount provided or available from the manufacturer. (but easily obtainable from the net which is what I have done)
Like all single LED lights, the WIZ1&2 have their limitations but if you are looking for an easy to use wireless bike lights set up with replaceable batteries, this is well worth looking at.
I am certainly looking forward to seeing more products from ITUO.
The two lights have been sent to me direct from China by the manufacturer for review, so at the present time, I am not aware of local UK retailers. I also understand that the light retails at $99.95 for the WIZ1 and $89.95 for the WIZ2
Personal notes regarding buying lights.
I am a MTB ride leader with my local cycling club in the South of England and an independent - occasional LED lights reviewer. I also ride to work every day; sun, rain or snow. The lights I reviews, are not necessary my own choice of lights for my riding style, but I have tried and tested them in real cycling. Choice of lights are very personal and the type of ridding you do should influence the type of light you choose. Factors like; run time, light levels, type of flash modes, LED tint, size, bike attachment, way of recharging the battery, usability when off the bike can be as if not more important that the number of LEDs and number of advertised lumens. More is not always better!
Skyraider59
Moderator Edit: Two pics are oversized, even the one that was scaled down to 800x1423. Those have been changed to URL links
Last edited:
