Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Good "be seen" headlight?

My vintage Magicshine is terrific when it's dark enough that I need to illuminate the street, but it's overkill during other times of the day or just cloudy conditions when I can see the street just fine but I still want a light to make my presence known. Plus, I replacement batteries are expensive, so I don't want to use it any more than I have to. I'm looking for a simple headlight that I can attach and detach easily, that runs on AA batteries (or similarly cheap power source), and that has a flash mode. Any recommendations?

Go to your LBS prepared to part with $15-$25. Almost any headlight in that price range will take AAs and have a flashing mode that'll work fine in overcast conditions.

Great idea. I recently crashed due to a car that turned left in front of me, whether due to not being visible enough, or I must have had my bullseye target jersey on. It was during the midle of the day with light cloud cover.
I recently splurged and installed a Dinotte 400L on front of my bike so I can use the flasher during the day, and solid light with fair lumination at dusk. I have the 400R for my taillight for last couple years, and have gotten a lot of comments on how well I was visible. Now I realize that front visibility on a road bike is just important.

I would have thought my bright yellow jersey and red helmet would have been enough?

I think the brighter the surroundings, the more light you'll need. Keep using the MagicShine, it was only $100 and Li-ion batteries will eventually die of old age whether you used them or not. Plus it's paid for :D

If you still want a AA-powered flashing compact light, a Planet Bike Blaze 1W or 2W feature the Superflash flashing pattern and could be run off of rechargable AAs. But when it's all said and done, you'll spend $50 for the light and rechargables in an effort to save using your $100 Magicshine. Not sure about the value proposition there.

My vintage Magicshine is terrific when it's dark enough that I need to illuminate the street, but it's overkill during other times of the day or just cloudy conditions when I can see the street just fine but I still want a light to make my presence known. Plus, I replacement batteries are expensive, so I don't want to use it any more than I have to. I'm looking for a simple headlight that I can attach and detach easily, that runs on AA batteries (or similarly cheap power source), and that has a flash mode. Any recommendations?


I bought the Princeton Tec EOS Bike, and it's great. Comes with bar and helmet mounts, it's visible in daylight, and lasts forever in blink mode with rechargeable AA's.

I run my MS on flash during day. It's not overkill at all IMO.

I've had a few zoned-out daytime drivers nearly collide with me head-on while staring down a flashing MS.

You need all the light you can get during days since you're competing with the Sun.

I also have a PT EOS I use on flash at night, as a supplement to a MS headlight and a P7 flashlight. It's not so bright that it blinds nighttime drivers.

Good alternative to the the eos is this hong kong light, very similar specs to the eos. Good to use as inexpensive helmet light on flashing mode and only 8.00.. I use this for running at night and works great, the flashing is just right at 90 beats per minute, great for being seen. Don't believe the 270 lumens in the ad, way overstated like most HK sellers, more like 60 lumens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390322258314?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

My personal go to light for early morning rides is the romisen RC-C8 II R2 Flood-to-Throw. Decent output, flashing mode is steady and not crazy fast like most strobes, probably in the 100-120 beats per minute range. Light uses a wide range of cells, and is just a nice tough light

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-215/Romisen-RC-dsh-C8-II-R2/Detail