Originally Posted by
cyccommute
I don't see it as an either/or situation. I never depend on a single light. Stuff happens and a single light can quickly leave you in the dark. Independent of the redundancy, having multiple lights provides more illumination.
There is also an assumption that the less expensive lights are inferior. Magicshines were the cheap...supposedly inferior...lights of a couple of years ago. Now they are the standard by which other inexpensive lights are measured.
At the cost of the current Chinese lights...around $40...it's not like you are risking much by trying one of the less expensive lights. If you are careful about where you buy them (do check the returns policy before you hit the "pay" button), you can even return them if they don't meet your expectations.
A couple years ago Magicshines WERE cheap inferior lights. Now that the company has addressed QC issues and equipped them with different battery pack options - some of which are sourced from very reputable companies - they're no longer inferior. They're also no longer cheap. In fact they're in EXACTLY the same price bracket as the lights they were undercutting a few years back.
Even YOU don't believe what you're posting about those lights - you posted THIS just a short time ago:
Originally Posted by
cyccommute
I have commented in the past that the first generation Magicshines (and the Magicshine flashlights) were a giant step backwards to the output of halogens of the late 90's and 2000's. I wasn't all that impressed.
If you wanna buy Wallyworld bikes and Fleabay lights - thats a personal choice. If someone else wants to buy something more state of the art - thats also a personal choice. But for you to even try to suggest they're all the same thing is just ... stupid.