Originally Posted by
arsprod
ok, I gotta ask the question no one asks - is there really a difference? As the slow guy who's always following someone else I see lots of rear flashers. None stand out as brighter than any other. Does anyone have any evidence of better visibility or is it all anecdotal? Don't anyone get their panties in a wad - I'm a gadget geek and love the latest gizmos. But is a $40 hotshot really "better" than $10 cateye?
Yes, there's a difference, but it depends on your needs and budget. For the money, a PB Superflash is hard to beat and you can buy it for about $20. I have a Radbot 1000 that is a little brighter but burns through batteries much faster than the PBSF. However, if you really want to be seen and can afford to spend more, the Dinotte lights are incredible. I have the Dinotte 140, and it is like having a red headlight on the back of my bike. In the dark, it casts a red beam on the pavement, and it is very visible in daylight. However, it costs about $100 -- when it's on sale. Dinotte makes another taillight that is even brighter, but it costs about $200. I was willing to buy a Dinotte because I bike commute about 30 miles almost every day year-round on urban streets with no bike paths. BTW, I use all three lights most of the time.