Exposure TraceR MK2 ReAKT rear light

Compact, light and super-bright, the Exposure TraceR Mk2 ReAKT is a great rear light that fits in seconds without tools and is reliable with good battery life.

• Pros: Very bright, lots of modes, good run-time
• Cons: Expensive

Fitting the TraceR to your bike is easy thanks to the mount that Exposure has developed. The light snaps into a plastic cradle and a large silicone band secures it to the bike. It's secure and very stable; I've even ridden with it on my mountain bike and it hasn't budged at all. The bracket also angles the light down to reduce dazzling of people behind you.

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It's stupendously bright, kicking out 75 lumens in its most powerful mode. As with most Exposure lights, there's a multitude of settings available via its Optimised Mode Selector so you can tune the light to suit your needs.

You have a choice between constant and flash mode, the latter using the new DayBright pulse mode Exposure has developed to provide better visibility during the daytime.

The light also packs ReAKT, short for Ambient Kinetic Technology, a new feature being rolled out by Exposure. It's an adaptive technology and simply adjusts the brightness of the light based on braking forces and light conditions. It's similar tech to what we've seen in other lights such as those from See.Sense. It certainly works, though it's tricky to say how much it boosts your visibility to other road users.

Run-time is a generous 3 hours in constant and 6 hours in flash on the maximum mode, which is ideal for a typical commute and adequate for a decent training ride after sunset. If you need more run-time, simply change the mode to extend it to 6 and 12 hours in the constant modes, and 12 and 24 hours in flash mode. I generally found the claimed run-times to be consistent with what I was getting during testing.

The light is really well made, the metal construction much more pleasing than the plastic units of cheaper rear lights, which not only delivers added durability but also helps to justify the rather high price. The only small niggle is that the anodised logos are starting to look a little worn from where the unit has been rotated in its plastic cradle.

The on/off button and USB charge port are covered by a rubber belt. You can activate it when wearing winter gloves but it does need a firm press. Sealing is sufficient to ensure no water ingress when riding in the rain or hosing the bike down after a muddy ride.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best rear lights for cycling

In terms of value, £60 certainly isn't cheap but you are getting a top quality product. Another one to consider is the See.Sense Icon I mentioned above, at £64.99. Like the Exposure, it has clever electronics that adjust the brightness and pattern to suit different conditions, and it's seriously bright at 95 lumens.

All things considered, the TraceR Mk2 ReAKT is a very easy light to use and operate and delivers excellent brightness and good run-times for day and night-time use. It's at the very top end of the rear light market in terms of price, but the performance is near-faultless.

Verdict

Compact, light and super-bright, a great rear light that fits in seconds without tools and is reliable with good battery life