Originally Posted by
01 CAt Man Do
John, as far as I know the Cygolite Hotshot 150 only has the one LED so I don't know why you say it has four. I agree though that if you don't use the Hotshot 150 on a regular basis it is easy to forget how the buttons work. You just have to remember that the button on the left is what is used most of the time. Quick press ( QP ) the left button and it turns the light on. QP again and it will change modes. Press and hold and it will turn the lamp off after it does a quick short flash. Button on the right is basically just used to modify the different modes or to put another way, it will vary the duration of the different flash types. Only on steady mode does the right button vary the intensity of the light.
I had looked at this yesterday and noted that when I mounted it on my bike and stood back about 50 feet. Your comment got me to thinking, so I went back and checked - there are distinctly 4 LEDs behind the lens. The lens does not combine them into as much of a single beam as does the Flare. I'd take a picture of it, but it's going to be next to impossible to do - the lens is more transparent and less translucent than on the Flare.
Thanks for clearing that up on the light intensity buttons. I was going half blind looking at the light trying to get that to work. I don't ever use the light in steady mode, so that means I can just disregard the intensity button and not worry about it. Very helpful.
I guess my bottom line on the Flare and Cygolite is that I think the Flare has better mounts, a simpler interface and is slightly smaller in size but yet provides similar if not better visibility from astern than the Cygolite.
Originally Posted by
01 CAt Man Do
Looks like Bontrager also has another version of the Flare-R called the Flare RT. The RT is suppose to be able to work with some kind of wireless remote but the product description doesn't say where the remote is sold at ( FWICT). About the optic on the Flares; I can't help but notice though that both of the 2018 versions are using a dimpled optic so I'm not sure if this is something new or like the originals. Anyway I take your word that the Flare is bright.
The Flare RT is just a controllable ANT+ light. My understanding is that it can be controlled by the Garmin and other computers that support that ANT+ profile and will turn them on and off accordingly. According to my LBS, the light is the same brightness as the regular Flare.
I do think the Flare has superior optics to the Cygolite 150. By nice if the Cygolite 150 had the Flare's lens. That would be a killer light, IMO. On the other hand, at 65 lumens, the Flare does pretty well on battery.
Originally Posted by
01 CAt Man Do
As you know I like to test new things from time to time. Been a while since I've tested a brand name rear light. I was thinking about testing one of the newer Serfas lights and some of them look to be very interesting. I might trek on down to the local Trek bike store and see if they will let me demo one of the flares. Sadly I can't do that with the Serfas lights. Only way for me to get one of those is on the web. Anyway Serfas is selling an improved model of the original Shield light that they now call the Spectra 150. Brighter than the original ( which was damn bright btw ) the Spectra has a better mode selection, an auto-safety mode to extend run time and some mini-LED's ( COB leds ? ) inside the lamp to increase visibility from the sides. At $60 they are reasonably priced. Wish I could pick one up at a local store. I like having the option of easily returning the item if it is not up to my expectations. Too bad none of these are sold at REI.
I would love to hear what you think about the Flare - or any other light, for that matter. You and I always seem to come to about the same conclusions on lights so I'd be interested to see if we concur here too.
J.