Exposure Switch front light review

Exposure is a British company that has been lighting the way for all cycling types since its birth in the 1990s.

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The Exposure Switch is its dedicated commuter light that provides all the illumination you need to see and be seen in an urban environment.

Video: A buyer's guide to lights

A big 375 lumens light the way at the front with two modes; pulse or constant. Constant gives you enough to pick out potholes with a fairly concentrated beam, not lighting up the whole road if street lighting is sparse, but enough to see.

The pulse function, though, is very effective and I felt like I was always seen filtering through traffic. This setting ensures you never have a dark spot between flashes, meaning you’re always visible. It also has a little side illumination utilising the 360 lens to good effect: every little helps in this sense.

Switching the light on and off is simple via its one button on the top of the unit. The Exposure Switch light also gives a status reading when turning off: a green light for good battery charge, red for 'please charge'. Cycling through the settings is also a doddle too.

Burn time is great – I hardly charged this unit as I usually use it in the pulse mode. Lasting up to 24 hours means a week's – even two weeks' – worth of commuting is covered without a charge.

It'll take four hours to charge from empty via a supplied USB charger. The port is covered by a rubber band circling the unit. This is annoying to access but a very small moan. It does cover the port well though, keeping water and gunk out effectively.

The mount for the light is basic, but holds the light in place with no slippage on the handlebar at all. It makes for an easy and quick clip in and out. With the front mount being small and slightly raised too, it doesn’t affect your hand position when placed on the tops of the bars too. Bonus.

Though the rubber strap is prone to snapping over time and – considering the cost of the light – a more secure fitting might be worth while. At the very least, this means it is cheap to replace if lost or broken.