Exposure’s TraceR bike taillights have been a popular taillight option that combines durable construction with unusual form factor. In this review, we’ll be looking at the TraceR ReAKT Mk3 taillight which is the smart taillight version that uses an ambient light sensor and brake sensor to adjust the light output. Retail price for the taillight is currently about $102 (75 pounds in the UK) with the lights constructed in Great Britain. The Mk3 version we have is rated for 120 lumen maximum output with runtimes that range from 3-24 hours depending on the selected mode. As a ReAKT model, the light comes with two smart modes: Peloton – auto dimming if a headlight is detected close behind it to avoid glare when riding in groups and ReAKT – a brake sensor and auto output adjustment based on ambient light. Note, the TraceR lights are a smaller and lighter taillight compared to the similar look Boost taillight lights.
The Exposure TraceR ReAKT bike taillight combines a high quality aluminum construction with a bright LED that can adjust its output to the environment.
| Retail Price | $102 |
| Rating | 8.8 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 37 (taillight alone), 13 (seatpost mount) |
| Likes | + Premium quality with aluminum exterior and service option by sending the light back to Exposure even after the warranty period for repairs + Daytime bright flash mode with an erratic pattern that attracts attention + Cheat sheet for the different configuration settings is printed on the taillight |
| Dislikes | – Cylindrical form factor makes the light stick out on the bike – Configuring the light is an awkward process with counting number of flashes and can accidentally be triggered if you forget that it is a double press to turn the light on and not a hold – Additional mounts such as aero seat post cost extra |
| Where to Buy (US) | Exposure Lights |
UNBOXING
The Exposure TraceR ReAKT comes in a small cardboard box with a simple graphic of the taillight printed on the exterior. Inside the box you’ll find:
- TraceR ReAKT taillight
- Seatpost mount w/ rubber strap
- USB-C charging cable
- Instruction manual
We found the packaging design to be well thought out and eco-friendly with a cardboard inner divider cut exactly to shape of the light and the mount instead of plastic bags or additional materials.
MOUNTING
The Exposure TraceR ReAKT’s uses a clip-on style mount that takes advantage of the cylindrical shape of the taillight. While the design doesn’t look as secure as Garmin quarter turn mounts you’d find on Magicshine Seemee taillights or the tab style mounts like the Trek Flare, the plastic clip has a tight fit and rubber backing that helps hold the light securely in place. Exposure includes a seat post mount with the taillight which has a two piece design: a plastic body with the clip and a thick rubber strap. The body of the mount has a nice red colored rubber backing and is angled to match seat post tilt in order to keep the taillight parallel with the ground. Additional adapters are available for seat rail or aero seat posts but they cost about $20 each. With this clip-on style mount it take a bit of force to pry the taillight out of the mount but we had no issue with the light moving or rotating while riding. The power button and even the USB-C port are still accessible with the light mounted.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Exposure TraceR ReAKT taillight looks like a mini flashlight with a cylindrical body that flares out at the lens. Combined with the anodized red aluminum exterior, the TraceR is easy to identify as an Exposure model taillight. From our understanding, the Tracer lights are a more compact and lower price alternative to the Boost taillights which share the same design. We have the Mk3 version, which is the third-generation of the taillight, that shares the same 28 x 57 mm (1.1 x 2.25 inches) dimensions as the recently introduced Mk4 which has a higher output LED. The bright red exterior has white text printing on it that has a cheat sheet for mode selection and basic Exposure branding.
A rubber strip extends around the body and has a bump on the top for the single power button along with a raised tab on the other side which can be pulled to reveal the USB-C charging port. It’s an unusual design compared to standard gasket covers but helps the taillight achieve an excellent IP67 rating. To access the USB-C port for charging, you pull up on the rubber tab which can be difficult with gloves on or if you have larger hands.
The lens design on the TraceR is fairly basic with an inset LED and dimpled outer reflector that spreads the beam. There is a single LED behind a clear lens that extends slightly out of the metal body to improve side visibility and creates a 240 degree wide beam. It creates a focused beam that is great for long distance or daytime visibility. With the long body of the taillight, there is great side visibility with the taillight as well. Although there are no exposed bolts or hardware, Exposure does provide a long warranty and after-warranty service feature which means you could potentially replace the battery or LEDs if something were to fail or degrade over time. Compared to other taillights on the market like the Outbound Lighting Blade or Magicshine Seemee 300 it’s a fairly simple taillight design.
With the TraceR ReAKT, note there is a more affordable TraceR model available without these features, Exposure has integrated smart features that utilize an ambient light sensor and brake sensor. That allows the light to be run in with ReAKT or Peloton features on. ReAKT is a play on the word “react” and adjusts the light output based on the ambient light sensor (i.e. brighter in brighter environments and dimmer in darker ones to extend runtime) as well as a brake sensing feature. Peloton is a play on a bicycle peloton which dims the output of the taillight if a headlight is detected to reduce glare while riding in a group. The Peloton mode is essentially a simplified variation of ReAKT that has been tuned specifically for group ride conditions. There are no options beyond turning the modes on or off so you cannot adjust the sensitivity. Note, only one of the features can be active as the modes can not be used simultaneously.
USER INTERFACE
The Exposure TraceR ReAKT has a simple single button user interface with instructions on how to use the light printed on the body to avoid confusion. A double press will turn the light on, holding the button turns it off and a single press cycles between constant and flash mode. The taillight has two level menu design, 2 illumination patterns and a low / medium / high “program” for each of those modes. That means there are a total of 6 distinct output settings to choose from. You can also enable ReAKT, Peloton or have both disabled in any of the six settings. To change the output intensity or enable/disable features you have to hold the button while the taillight is off and count the number of flashes between 1-6. It’s similar to Lupine lights, which also have a cheat sheet printed on them.
While it’s nice that you don’t need an app, it’s not something you’d be able to do mid-ride. We often found ourselves entering the configuration mode by accident when trying to turn the light on with a long press instead of a double press. That means you could end up in the high output power profile accidentally as that is the first setting if you release the button after a long hold. Similarly, turning off the taillight is a bit awkward as you have to hold the button until the taillight flashes. It’s a standard two second hold, but it can be confusing to see the taillight flash while you are trying to turn off the taillight.
LIGHT OUTPUT
The TraceR ReaKT has two illumination patterns: constant for nighttime riding or daytime flash for daytime riding. It’s a refreshing change from most taillights that can have six or more modes which you’ll rarely use. With this Mk3 or third-generation TraceR taillight the maximum output is limited to 120 lumen and runtimes will vary from 1-24 hours depending on the setting. Using the configuration menu you can select three different power levels for each mode: low, medium or high which have different runtimes. Exposure doesn’t publish the lumens per mode, but they do list the runtimes which help you select the appropriate setting for the length and type of riding you are doing. The low constant mode has 12 hour runtime, medium is 6 hours and high is 3 hours. Daytime flash pattern is the more interesting mode which has a proprietary erratic flash pattern that helps attract attention.
It is a on/off style flash pattern in the low flash mode which has the maximum 24 hour runtime. For the medium and high flash modes the daytime flash changes to a nighttime flash (i.e. low to high) with runtime from 6 to 12 hours. In all the settings, the daytime flash is bright and highly visible with the focused LED created a focused beam pattern. We also played with the smart modes like Peloton which is easy to test with if you focus another headlight into the taillight. The taillight ramps down slowly in ~5-10 second increments to dim if it detects a nearby headlight. Once that headlight is gone, the headlight ramps up back to the original setting.
As Exposure claims, the headlight remains visible even as the taillight dims and the dimming only occurs with a very close light source. The ReAKT mode’s brake sensor is fairly sensitive and switches the taillight to a brighter constant mode for a few seconds if braking is detected. Like most brake sensor taillights, we’re still on the fence about them as they can reduce the taillight runtime significantly. The other feature of ReAKT is the auto-adjustment to environment which is hard to see but will increase output in bright conditions for better visibility and decrease them in low light to conserve battery.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Exposure TraceR ReAKT to be a well made and bright bike taillight. While the taillight is expensive compared to other lights with the same output, the metal construction and factory serviceability will ensure this is a taillight you can continue to use for many years. The taillight’s unusual shape and bright red anodized finish result in a distinctive appearance and nice side visibility with the extended lens. It’s also a bright taillight with simple constant or daytime flash mode option that work well in the day or night. We’re not sure if the additional Peloton and ReAKT features add a lot of value, but they seem to work well and allow the taillight to adjust the output based on the environment and if braking is detected. The main negatives of the TraceR are the long form factor, a cumbersome configuration procedure and that additional mounts have to be purchased separately. That said, the Exposure TraceR ReAKT offers excellent visibility with a buy-it-for-life type construction and product support.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Exposure Lights. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.