‘Built to last’ is a phrase we used to hear a lot, however, these days it’s less used. Exposure don’t do things by halves, and their products are built tough. Each light is machined from aluminum and uses durable, high-quality materials for the lens. Each part of the build process is done in-house, in the UK, and all lights carry a two year warranty.

On paper, the TraceR puts out 120 ReAKT Flare, 75 lumens red – which doesn’t sound like a lot – however, Exposure does things differently. These light shines superior to others, with a solid output and nifty lens technology. You can choose from a tonne of settings via its Optimised Mode Selector, giving you the ability to tune the light to suit your needs. You have a choice between constant and flash settings, 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. It’s an adaptive technology and simply adjusts the brightness of the light based on braking forces and light conditions.

It’s small – and by small, I mean tiny. Mounting it is made super simple, with clips and rubber O-rings, plus it fits any type of seatpost – including aero ones. It’s super secure and stable and, during testing, it’s been ridden on road, gravel and light trails, and it’s stayed solidly in place. The bracket that holds the TraceR lets you angle the light down, so you don’t blind or pester other people when riding in a bunch, for instance. The compact size keeps it at a measly 35 grams.

Onto the run-time; it packs three hours in constant and six hours in flash on the maximum mode. This was generous on my longer rides and a few jaunts that took me past sunset. If you need more run-time, simply change the mode to extend it to six or 12 hours in the constant mode, and 12 or 24 hours in flash mode. Across the test period, it performed well and matched up to the claimed hours.

The USB charge ports are covered by a rubber belt. I must be honest, this was a little hard to access at first, but became easier once I got used to it. And, as with everything about this light, there’s a strong reason behind it. It means there’s sufficient sealing, ensuring no water ingress when riding in the rain or hosing the bike down after a muddy ride. Again, it’s about quality and making it last. You need to press the on/off button firmly to activate the light. I tried this in winter gloves, and it works – another tick from me. On the side, there’s a fuel gauge indicating how much charge is left in the light.

I’ve had the Exposure TraceR ReAKT light in use over the past few months and it hasn’t faltered. I like to have a rear light, always; I think it’s especially important during the day to increase driver awareness. And our weather can turn on a dime so, often, you could be riding in dark cloud. I also like that it’s been built to stand up to abuse with its metal construction. There’s a high price to pay for such a top-quality product but, personally, I’d rather buy products once – and properly – rather than replacing them all the time. It performs well – in fact, incredibly – with its clever light patterns, sheer brightness and solid run-times for day or night. This light’s performance is second-to-none.