I don't know if you're using the same glowrings as I got from Bagheera in the Netherlands, but mine really do illuminate well. Two uses I won't live without:
1) Hanging on the doorknob of my bathroom, from the bedroom side. My wife is no longer awakened each time I bump into the door on my multiple trips to the bathroom each night.
2) I have a glowring clipped to every flashlight I actually use. I thought: If I can find the flashlight in the dark, I'm going to be able then to find other things.

Anyway, IMHO these are great and I wish Bagheera could still get them into the U.S. for us!