Exposure Lights Review: Are They Worth The Money After Six Years?
Updated: Sep 25
Are Exposure Lights Worth the Money?
Exposure Lights Review: Are They Worth the Money?
This Exposure lights review is based on six years of using them for mountain biking, gravel riding and trail running in all sorts of British weather.
I've been using Exposure lights for mountain biking, gravel riding and trail running since 2019. Six years later, several of those lights are still part of my regular riding and running kit.
Exposure lights aren't cheap, so the obvious question is: are Exposure lights actually worth the money?
After years of using mine through UK winters, night rides, wet trails and plenty of less-than-perfect conditions, for me the answer comes down to much more than lumens. It's about reliability, battery performance, build quality and knowing the light you're relying on will get you home.
Here's what I've learned after six years of living with them.
I’ve seen plenty of riders buy powerful-looking bike lights because they offer huge lumen numbers for relatively little money. But buying a light is about more than the number printed on the box. Reliability, battery performance, build quality and longevity matter — especially when you’re relying on a light miles from home, halfway across a fell or descending a mountain bike trail in the dark.
I’ve also heard some worrying stories over the years about lithium-ion batteries and poorly made or damaged lighting products, including friends taking extra precautions when charging some of the cheaper lights they’ve bought.
One friend of a friend even had a house severely damaged following a battery fire. Thankfully, they were lucky it wasn't a lot worse.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that every inexpensive bike light is dangerous, or that problems can’t happen with any rechargeable battery. But it has certainly made me think more carefully about what I’m trusting to get me home safely after dark.
Are Exposure Lights Expensive?
No.
Expensive to Buy Doesn't Necessarily Mean Expensive to Own
There’s a difference between the initial price and the overall value of something you use for years.
Yes, you can buy a cheaper set of bike lights for night riding. You can find lights boasting impressive lumen figures for a fraction of the price of an Exposure. But my experience is that they simply don't measure up when it comes to the combination of performance, reliability, size, battery life and longevity.The real value of a good bike light
Reliability Matters More Than Lumens
I've had no problems with my Exposure lights, and after years of using them in some pretty challenging conditions, that reliability is worth something to me.
And here's the thing that really convinces me.
I bought my Exposure lights years ago, and they're still part of my regular running and riding kit today.
Exposure Lights for MTB, Gravel and Trail Running
I honestly don't know many people I run or ride (gravel riding didn't even excist when I bought the Exposure light i use now) with who bought a different brand of light back in 2019 and are still using exactly the same lights today.
That says a lot.
Because you're worth it
So, if you're looking for a reliable bike light for winter cycling, gravel riding or mountain biking, or a powerful headtorch for trail running after dark, I'd seriously consider investing in something that's built to last.
My Verdict After Six Years
Worth every penny, and not because of the measurables, but the unmeasurables like the rides or runs that were just great because the lights allowed them to be. Riding and running has enriched my life beyond words, and part of that is due to being able to do it throughout the year, in the snow and winter driving rain, or the cold clear nights. And what Exposure does is it just works really well time after time, so I don't have to think or worry about my lights; I can just enjoy the moments.
And if you're in the market for some new lights, “Browse our range of bike lights at VeloRunner.”
Go on...
Be like David Ginola.
Come and get your lights from Velorunner.
Because you're worth it.
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