Garmin launches brightest Varia radar rear light yet with wider radar view and smarter car tracking

Garmin has released the Varia RearVue 820, featuring increased visibility and vehicle detection.

The rearview radar bike light is the brand’s brightest model yet, claiming visibility up to 2km and boasting a wider field of view.

The brand says the new radar can track vehicles up to 175m away and now features advanced vehicle tracking that detects a vehicle’s size and side-to-side movement, and categorises threat levels as it approaches.

The Varia RearVue 820 is priced at £259.99 / $299.99 / €299.99

Brighter and broader

Garmin says the new Varia RearVue 820 increases visibility to 2km, with Day Flash rising to 100 lumens from 63 lumens on the Varia RTL515.

The light continues to have four running modes: Solid, Peloton, Night Flash and Day Flash, with a separate radar-only option.

Battery life ranges from 10 hours in Solid beam mode to 24 hours in Day Flash, with radar-only lasting 30 hours.

The unit also operates as a brake light when it senses you slowing or stopping, alerting other road users of your presence.

You can also create custom light patterns in the Varia app based on the needs of your ride, including brightness level and duration of flash.

Garmin says the radar has its widest field of view at 60 degrees – 10 degrees more than the Varia RTL515 and has increased detection range by 35m, up to 175m.

The new radar also features Same Speed Tracking, notifying riders about vehicles that are following behind at the same speed or are waiting to pass.

As well as connecting to supported bike computers, the Varia RearVue 820 also connects to Garmin smartwatches, which can give voice alerts for approaching vehicles.

The device charges by USB-C, an upgrade over the Micro-USB on the Varia RTL515, and comes with a new seatpost mount.