Exposure Trace DayBright

The Exposure Trace Daybright is a small and lightweight option for getting you seen (rather than for illuminating the way ahead), whether that be on a well-lit urban commute or for riding during daylight hours. The tough and durable design means that although you can buy cheaper alternatives, it should last you years.

• Pros: Small and lightweight, user-friendly, durable
• Cons: You'll find cheaper rivals

The Trace weighs 44g (including its mount) and is 57mm long with a 28mm maximum diameter – so a little shorter and a little fatter than a stick of lip balm, for example. It's the sort of thing you can carry virtually unnoticed in the pocket of a commuting bag until it's needed.

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The mounting system is really simple, comprising a plastic handlebar bracket and a silicone band to hold it in place. The light itself just snaps onto the bracket. That might not sound the most technically advanced piece of engineering but it works well, the light remaining securely in position even over rough roads. The only issue I've had with the mount system is that it's designed for round-section handlebars and isn't compatible with anything deep and aero.

Like all of Exposure's front lights, the Trace has an anodised aluminium shell. I've been using these lights on and off for years and the worst damage I've ever inflicted on one of these shells is a bit of scratching; I've never had one fail in any way.

The Trace is equipped with a single white XPG2 Cree LED that offers a claimed 110 lumens. It runs on a 700mAh lithium-ion battery that you recharge via micro USB.

The micro USB port is hidden underneath a silicone band that runs around the head of the light. You might think the band's grip tab is going to come away in your fingers when you want to get to the port, but it's tougher than it looks. The band also keeps the rain out well, the Trace coming with an IP6 rating (meaning that water projected in powerful jets – 12.5mm nozzle – will have no harmful effects).

You get the choice of three different programs, each with a constant and a flashing mode that you can swap between with a single press of the function button. The brightest program gives you about 3hrs of use in constant mode and 6hrs in flashing mode, while you can get run-times of up to 12hrs constant and 24hrs flashing if you want to save power.

The Trace is at its best for riding around urban streets at night, or for riding elsewhere at dawn or dusk when you need to announce your presence but not light the way ahead. The lens extends about 7mm in front of the aluminium shell for decent side visibility.

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You could use it for riding unlit lanes in an emergency – if your main light packed up, for instance. It's not designed for that type of riding and doesn't have a hood to stop the light shining up and distracting you, but it would get you home. The DayBright mode is also surprisingly effective, even in sunshine, the irregular flashing helping to draw the eye of other road users in your direction. Of course, it's no guarantee that you'll be seen in all circumstances, but we trialled it out on the road and found it to be very noticeable.

You can't check how much juice is left in the tank with the light on, but when you turn it off the LED glows briefly in a colour that indicates roughly how much remains. It's a traffic light (green, amber, red) system so it's easy to remember. When it flashes red you're running on fumes!

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The £32.99 Blackburn DayBlazer 400 front light that we reviewed is 200 lumens in low mode (compared to 110 lumens for the Trace in its highest mode) with a 90-minute run-time (compared to 3hrs for the Trace). On the other hand, the Blackburn is larger and heavier and not so good for squirrelling away in the corner of a commuting bag.

The Lezyne Micro Drive 500XL is £40, the same as the Trace, and it also has a daytime-friendly flash mode. Again, it's brighter than the Trace, but it's also larger and heavier so it comes down to what you value most. I'd say that the durability of the Trace (and it comes with a two-year warranty) means the price is justified.

Overall, the Trace is a really neat little option that'll get you noticed both at nighttime and in broad daylight. It's also small and light enough to tuck away in a bag or pocket to get you home in the event of your main light failing. With an aluminium shell and tough lens, it'll probably last years.

Verdict

Excellent little light for getting you noticed at night or even in daylight