Originally Posted by
wingless
Here is my
Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 topic.
My experience w/ this is positive and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this light.
Yes, the Cygolite Pro 150 works great.
Daytime
I use the single flash mode in daytime, at 1-per-second flash, or sometimes 2-per second. As wingless tested, this short, bright flash has a long run time -- he got 34 hours at 1-per-second. I want drivers to see me way down the road, so they can put down their phones, and get ready to safely pass me. The flash is eye catching even with sunglasses on a sunny day, and very effective at sunrise or sunset, or in mixed shadows and sun.
This bright flash doesn't annoy group riders following me during the day.
Sunrise/sunset
I like the 2-per-second flash when the sun is low. With low sun glare, the bright flash might let the drivers see me a little sooner.
Night
At night, riding solo, I use the "waa-waa" mode (what's the real name for this setting?) It smoothly ramps up to full brightness and ramps back down, instead of a quick flash. (Just the short flashes are 150 lumens, the steady light and long flashes "only" reach 90 lumens.)
At night, in groups, the steady beam can be adjusted anywhere between bright and dim modes. I run the dimmest setting, which is still quite bright -- you can't look directly into the beam. But viewed from off center, it won't annoy any following riders. Unfortunately, all the flash modes are full brightness -- their adjustments are for flash timing only. In a group, blinking isn't needed, with all the other taillights in the group.
This light has a wider beam than the previous Cygolite tail lights. Even the narrow beam of the older Cygolite 2W would cover two lanes at about 50-60 feet back, and more width as the distance increased. And closer than that, the spill light was effective at all angles from 90 degrees to the sides to all the way back. This 150 light's main beam is almost three times as wide, and the spill light is brighter.
I aim it slightly below level. Then the beam still covers from above eye level, down to the road surface. I get a bright pool of red light on the road about 20-40 feet behind me. I think that helps in city riding, with mixed bright and dim areas.
There's a lot of other flash modes, I don't see a need for them.