Commuting - MagLight w/5W LED conversion?

Anyone using/has seen the MagLight 5W LED conversion as here, for example: http://www.zbattery.com/da-5w.html , as a headlight, primary or backup? Interested in beam pattern, battery life, comparison to, say, L&M Vega, etc.

Thx.

I borrowed my wife's mtn bike for a snow ride. It had no safetly equip so I taped a mag light to the handle bars. Didn't light enough to be useful, but mostly good enough to bee seen.
the $3 turtle lights from MEC seem more effective to me.

The bulb conversion is $60 dollars, and if you are coverting a 2D cell Maglite you need to change to different (read: expensive) batteries. A 6D cell Maglite doesn't require a battery change, but a 6D cell is prohibitively heavy IMHO. I think your $60 dollars would be better spent toward bicycle specific lights. I have a Luxeon led light on my helmet, and while I like the pure white light, I don't think it is strong enough to be a primary light for commuting in the dark.

I'd think even a 2D Maglite would be a bit cumbersome to mount on a bike. And with a little searching,for the price of that bulb you should be able to find a proper 1-3W bike light.

The bulb conversion is $60 dollars, and if you are coverting a 2D cell Maglite you need to change to different (read: expensive) batteries. A 6D cell Maglite doesn't require a battery change, but a 6D cell is prohibitively heavy IMHO. I think your $60 dollars would be better spent toward bicycle specific lights. I have a Luxeon led light on my helmet, and while I like the pure white light, I don't think it is strong enough to be a primary light for commuting in the dark.

Thanks for the response.

Actually, I was thinking of a bit of a hack, but wondering about the 5W LED performance. If the MagLite is cut off short, with remote 9V battery, shouldn't be too cumbersome on the bars. And as to price, the "merely 3W" L&M Vega is over $100, most places WELL over; the LED kit above includes 3 Li-CR123A batteries and replacements aren't so expensive these days- even the rechargeable RCR-123A from batteryspace.com @ 4 for $27 including charger...

So, again, I was mostly after experience with the LED adapter as to beam quality, and maybe battery life - reckon I'll have to be the guinea pig myself.

I think I know where you can fine some beamshots and the like of the 5W. Have to look it up, will post this weekend.

Here ya go: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/diamond_magfraen.htm

Here ya go: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/diamond_magfraen.htm


Most useful, Sp@eder, thanks.