While I think the Serfas is the best of the bunch, I think it's probably not enough better than the Hotshot to justify the price. I see where they're coming from - the Serfas is built very heavy and has excellent optics and a bigger battery and is brighter, but the Hotshot hits a sweet spot of waterproof, pretty durable, still very bright and a great price.

I'm not sorry to have spent the money on the Serfas, but unless you're really concerned that your taillight be able to stand up to being run over without damage, or if you absolutely need to have the brightest < $100 light you can get in a small package, the Hotshot is probably the better choice.

ItsJustMe:

Thanks for the testing and reviews.
Very useful.

Back to brightness vs. size: it seems to me that high brightness helps more distant visibility, but at (reasonably) closer range, size seems to me more (at least no less) important, especially if the brighter, smaller light is very directional (which is common--I found my radbot 1k is very bright only when looking directly at the lens). The claims that a light can, e.g., be seen from 3 miles away, hardly matters unless you are riding among fast trains. How much does it matter if the driver of a car, still 3 miles away, sees you (and only when directly behind you, not too high, too low, to your left or right)? It matters more when they are close enough to have an impact.

Thanks for posting the test ItsJustMe. Very useful.

There is some truth in your observations, which is why I'm going to be hinting to the family that this would be a nice Father's Day gift. That Serfas looks pretty good as well, but I've already got 4 rear blinkies...

That's a nice one. Perhaps it can be made more flexible so the light can be attached to one's clothes without backpack, something like a very wide belt?

P.S. no1mad, do you think, as I do, size matters even more in daytime? A bright spotlight in broad daylight perhaps doesn't help much.

Don't know about a belt, what with that would mean the light source would be right next to your body, but I have a couple of ideas for other wearable applications.

As to the wide angle vs spot... I think it really boils down to what kind of area your riding in, as well as the speed and density of other road users. The lighting scheme I'd pick for wide open country roads would not be the same as what I'd pick for stop and go, traffic light at every intersection downtown streets.

I think in broad daylight some high-vis clothing (jersey, shirt, vest, etc) is going to be more effective at getting people to notice and see you, than any tiny blinking red light will.

As a truck driver who also commutes to work by bike, I would like to request that cyclists remember that the purpose of a rear light is not to annoy drivers - stay away from the random z-z-pop! kind (think bull, red flag), and please aim all lights, head and tail, down slightly. I mount my rear lights on the seat stays because I find that the seat post is at eye level for many drivers.

I rode in a group yesterday afternoon with a guy up ahead using one of those Serfas lights. I can attest that it is quite bright and noticeable even in broad daylight.

THIS! Of course. Criminy. Did it really take 80 posts before we got this wisdom?? I wish the cyclists with money burning holes in their pockets would consider that cyclists with a LOT less disposable income can, and do, commute safely to work (and other places) and back. I mean... I could spend $99 on a rear flasher but it isn't going to keep me warm, or dry. For $89 I can buy a hi viz soft shell that will make me visible AND warm And dry. With the leftover ten dollars I can buy a Viewpoint blinky that strobes to alert the motorist to my presence. For another $10 (optional) I can buy a flashing arm band that can be seen from a full 180 degrees.

I have a dynamo powered light system. The headlight and taillight shine steadily except at low speed, when they blink.

I often supplement the taillight with one or two blinkies. I use two different brands which flash at different intervals.

I also wear a safety triangle facing rearward. And I have a reflective band around my left ankle (because we drive on the right side here).

I use a front light on the rear. Its super bright about 80 lums. But my front light is a stella 200 lum. The rear front light is mounted on my helmet. so I
m thinking of getting a rear redlight to add the brightness/ be seen factor.

Yea, but then you have to wear the same colour every day, everywhere you go. Vests are good, but one more thing to fuss with/carry. The lights stay on the bike and do their job with the push of a button.

I'm thinking of making something with a string of LED's to make a silhouette of my body. Perhaps it should be along the outside of my shoulders and arms and maybe the legs, too. Sounds patentable, in fact, but anyone here is welcome to it.

Don't have to spend $89 on a hi viz shell though.

I wear one of these every day, works for cold and rain, and hot and sleeveless, and is cheap enough to not care when it wears out (mine still looks like new after a few thousand miles). For Less than $8, it's a no-brainer.
http://www.amazon.com/Neon-Green-Flu...dp/B003VKWQBC/

Wise advice and that certainly is a cost effective way of being visible but as far as being more effective, that's questionable.

I don't bother with the Dinotte in the daytime but I ride in sparse traffic so I just rely on hi viz and awareness. If I'm in significant traffic though, I'm gonna add the Dinotte. No, it's not necessary and yes it's expensive, but it's the most effective way of adding visibility and if you can afford it, darn smart.

Well yeah I use my Hotshot and high-vis stuff, too. But whether or not anyone notices that flashing light in broad daylight, I have no idea.

NiteRider Mako 200 USB Light Combo w/ 2w Solas rear. For the price this is one of the best options imo, $85 for a LBS maybe cheaper online. all rechargeable, bright and wide light patterns on both, and plenty of side light as well.

I think if you swerve like a drunk driver on your bike all over the road you'll get more noticed then either weird colored clothing or a light.

Exactly! +1 from another lazy rider (not that commodus is lazy... I am)

That is so cool.

Hotshot is definitely visible in daylight overcast conditions. I get complaints on group rides when i am in front of people, so remember that. Battery lasts for quite a bit on one charge, too.

One thing that I like with the Hotshot is its number of modes. The random flasher one is the one I use normally. It chooses a semi-random to repeat for maybe 10 seconds or so, then switches to another. All the random sequences it chooses from seem to include a really bright POP flash mixed in with flashes of varying brightness.

The Planet Bike Superflash is also visible in the daylight from a quarter mile away. The Hotshot seems to be twice as bright as that! As jrhii says, be careful with the Hotshot. "You could put your eye out!"

No, you would just get run over :D