Originally Posted by
hhnngg1
Well, read the reviews from most of the owners on this forum (and the electronics subforum) and you'll see that the 5-star reviews are a lot closer to the truth. As said, Ive got 5-6 CREE lights, and they are all bulletproof. (Ok I dont ride in the rain or snow with them but apart from that, they've been perfect, which is actually a bit surprising given that they're all inexpensive ones from China.)
I've got 2 of the cheap CREE lights from China. Both are very bright. One of the batteries is lame, the other is fine. But neither of them are very useful as headlights. Sure, other people can see me when I have them on, but I can't see much. The beam is very narrow. And the mounting system (a rubber band) requires constant attention.
I've also got an expensive light from China, a NiteRider Lumina 700. It lights up the whole road in front of me, even on the dimmest setting. I was riding with a group after dark last night and everyone commented on how great my light was. And the mounting system (a clamp) is rock solid. Sure, it cost 4 or 5 times what the CREE lights cost, but it lets me ride in the dark. The CREEs don't.