Will a Hope Vision 1 be enough?

[Panter]

Well, it finally turned up today. So much for next day delivery

Took it on a nightride tonight where I fully intended to get some comparative shots. When I met up with my friend, I hadn't realised it was actually a club ride. As there were several of us, I didn't stop to get any pictures.

Anyway, first impressions are that it's bright. Seriously bright. In fact, it makes both Hopes together look like candles.
The spread of light is excellent, less "spotty" than the Hopes so you get plenty of all round illumination.
It's also nicely made, not up to Hope quality but pleasingly good for a budget light.
The battery cable is annoyingly short, fine for bar mounting where I guess it will find most use, but I was using it helmet mounted with both Hopes on the bars.
Also, the battery is small and light and easy to secure anywhere.

For outright power/pound, this light (or more specifically the cheaper imports) can't be beaten. However, if I was after a light purely for road riding, I'd still go for the Hope just for it's known reliability, runs on AA's etc.

 

[Jezston]

Thanks for that, Chris.

I was all set to buy a Hope on Wednesday - popped into my local Evans on my way home, debit card at the ready ... and they are sold out company wide. FFS!

They should be getting some in next week. I think I'll still get the hope, and add to it with something like the magicshine at a later date.

Can you confirm the flashing modes on the Magicshine are more 'nightclub strobe' than 'gentle flash'?

 

[Broadside]

The Magicshine strobe mode is like a disco strobe, totally useless for use on a bike light. It also has an SOS morse code flash which I rate as pretty useless too as it has quite long delays between some of the flashes. I only ever use mine on constant, if you want a flasher light then I wouldn't say the Magicshine is much use, you would probably need to put another cheaper front light on your bike too.

With all of that said, even on low the light is so bright I cannot imagine that you wouldn't be seen by other road users so the flash is a bit redundant anyway. Flasher lights are great to attract attention but when the light is approaching moped light brightness I think it is best to leave it on constant, unless of course you are really trying to draw attention to yourself with it on during the daytime, in which case you can make do with the SOS flash.

It would be nice if the next incarnation of Magicshine light has a low flash mode like the Exposure Joystick. I wouldn't let any of this stop you from buying it though, it is a little cracker.

 

[Panter]

Mine doesn't have a flashing mode, just full and low power. That's all I want though, I bought it for off-roading at night so the fewer settings to cycle through, the better for me.
In fact, it's perfect for this, when you first switch it on, it's straight to full power and then, with another press, it's on to low power.

I do think it may be a bit much as a commuting light, unless it's angled well down?