Originally Posted by
tractorlegs
I have a Hotshot, which is advertised at 2 watts, but out of all my rear lights it is clearly the weakest. It is not as effective as my NiteRider Cherrybombs, or either of my PBSFs (a 1/2 watt Stealth and a 1 watt Turbo) and it is also weaker than my Radbot 1000. Out of all these lights, the best is the PBSF Turbo. The Hotshot was very disappointing.
I own every light you named, and the Hotshots I own are visibly more powerful than any of them. In fact, the center of the Hotshot's beam is brighter than the formidible $200 DiNotte 300R (I Ebay'ed mine after getting a Hotshot), and even the 400R (according to a BF member who owns both). I wonder if you're using the weak triple-flash mode, or have a defective light.