Customers commend the Varia RTL515 Radar Tail Light for its long battery life, which allows for extended rides without power concerns. They also appreciate the enhanced safety it provides by alerting them to approaching vehicles from behind, giving them peace of mind and allowing them to refocus on their ride. Additionally, the multiple alert options, including audio alerts that play over music, are well-received by users.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 27 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Brightness
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Can't put a dollar value on the safety
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I didn't thing this device would have as great an impact as it actually has but now I wouldn't ever want to ride without it especially when I cycle on routes that share the roads with other vehicles. It does an amazingly accurate job at letting u know when someone is approaching from the rear and even uses color coding to tell u how fast they're approaching. The flashing LED is very bright and visible from afar even in full daylight. It's very worth its pricetag.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Brightness
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Garmin Varia Rearview Tailight Review
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I purchased the Garmin Varia Rearview Tailight before my trip from Los Angeles to Guam. Best Buy shipped this just in time to my home before my flight in just a few days. The light has been awesome on my Giant TCR Road Bike. I can see using my Varia App if a vehicle is approcaching closer from the rear. Wouldn’t ride without one ever again.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Brightness, Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I won't ride without one
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Garmin Varia line of cycling radar taillights is a popular choice for cyclists who prioritize safety on the road. Here's a positive review combining the strengths of the two most popular models, the RTL515 and RCT715:
Pros:
Increased safety: The primary function of the Varia is to warn cyclists of approaching vehicles from behind. The radar is highly effective in this regard, with a range of up to 153 yards (140 meters) for the RTL515 and even further for the RCT715. This gives cyclists ample time to react and make themselves more visible to motorists.
Multiple alerts: The Varia can be paired with a variety of Garmin devices, including bike computers, wearables, and smartphones. This allows cyclists to receive alerts in a variety of ways, such as visual, audible, and vibration.
Bright taillight: Both the RTL515 and RCT715 feature a bright taillight that is visible from up to 1 mile away during the day. This helps to improve a cyclist's visibility in low-light conditions.
Easy to use: The Varia is very easy to set up and use. It pairs quickly with compatible devices and the interface is simple to navigate.
Long battery life: The Varia has a long battery life, typically lasting for several hours on a single charge.
Additional points to consider:
Price: The Varia is a more expensive option than some traditional taillights. However, many cyclists believe that the increased safety and peace of mind is worth the investment.
Camera (RCT715 only): The RCT715 model includes a camera that can automatically record footage in the event of an incident. This can be helpful for providing evidence in case of an accident.
Overall, the Garmin Varia is a well-designed and effective product that can help to improve the safety of cyclists on the road. While it is more expensive than some other options, the peace of mind and increased visibility it provides are worth the investment for many cyclists.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Brightness, Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works exactly as youd like it to. I have had no false positives and no misses of vehicles behind me after using it a dozen times so far. That matches up with the video reviews I watched. It is easy to mount, and the charge lasts quite some time. The Varia app runs in the background on my phone while apple fitness and strava are active. I have it set to play audio alerts in my headphones that play over music. Cant miss it, yet its not annoying. The light is very very bright and I feel much safer sharing the road days and nights. A shame that they havent updated it with USB-C, still using micro. My only gripe!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Safety
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Increase Awareness
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
If you rely on Garmin for cycling & athletic performance stats, you should consider relying on this small warning device. Peace of mind alerts refocus your ride when cars are approaching from behind & give proximity with rate of closure thru moving icons. Weatherproof & reliable like Garmin products are known, just another tool I don’t want to road bike without. Easy set up with numerous mounts.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Safety
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Varia and 1050 are a winning combination!
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This thing has been great for safety and long rides. The battery lasts a long time and it paired with my cycling computer easily! Love the paring with the Edge 1050! Shows the oncoming vehicle and audio is loud.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Very Useful tool
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is perhaps one of the most useful tools I have obtained for my road bicycle. The unit paired seamlessly with my smartphone.
No surprises anymore. A vehicle cannot sneak up on me since an audible tone alerts me to an approaching vehicle(s) along with a visual depiction of the approaching vehicle(s), and then another tone for all clear. The only drawback I have noticed is that it will signal an all clear if a closing vehicle slows to match your speed instead of passing (since it is no longer closing).
I have also paired my smartphone with an external bike mounted speaker so there is no issue hearing the audible alerts and all clear signal. I can hear the tones even when the phone is in my back pocket, and high ambient noise levels and/or wind, as the tones are sent to the speaker mounted on the handle bar. Decent battery time as well.
I rarely give 5 stars but the bike radar is deserving.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Brightness, Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Expensive but peace of mind worth it
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Attached to bike easily. Super bright and has several different options as far as light intensity and flashing. Connects to app and alerts to car being close by and headed your direction. Light gets more intense when car gets closer to grab their attention. Battery lasts a long time considering it’s a radar and Bluetooth connected.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Range, Safety
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I feel like a god with this thing
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This unit is like having a 6th sense for traffic behind you. It does a great job of detecting vehicles, displaying how many are behind you, and showing how far away they are. It is a must-have safety device for road riders. Paired it with my wahoo bolt and it works great.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Range
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A game changer - peace of mind while on the road.
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Game changer for road cycling. battery lasts 10-12hrs. Must have for any cyclist. connects with both BLE and ANT+. picks up targets behind you traveling faster than you out to 150m. pairs with a cycling computer or cell phone app.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Safety
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Piece of mind on the road
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This little gadget is a lifesaver! Nothing replaces safety like your own judgment! Using one of these radars make your ride so much safer.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Range
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best safety accessory for biking
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Best accessory for road cycling. Fantastic range to tell you when cars are approaching behind you. Very fast response times and easy to understand.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Garmin Varia Radar Tail light
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
excellent! Enhances safety as it lets me be aware of approaching vehicles from behind!
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Makes me feel safe on the road
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
So i was hit by a car when I was ten. Fast forward 30 years of not riding… I decided to do triathlons. Needed something to help with the fear of getting hit. This was just what I needed
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Works Well
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works well in alerting me of traffic coming from behind. Linked with my Garmin Explore 2 head unit so I didn't have to buy anything else to use it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Safety
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Garmin Vera 515
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
5 Stars nothing better better for riding safe, worth the money to have that piece of equipment to keep you safe. :-)
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Worth It
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love the product - I love Best Buy's price match.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A must have for sharing the road with cars.
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The perfect solution for biking on the road. It provides accurate data on the traffic behind.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Can be improve
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I pair it with Garmin edge 840. Works great so far! Wish it take type C connector for faster charge.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Amazing Addition to Garmin Bike Computer
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The radar feature is awesome! On my Garmin Edge it alerts me a car is approaching, but also shows how close they are, and how quickly they are coming. Great addition if you are riding near cars often.