The Exposure Trace Mk3 is a compact, beautifully made front light designed to get you seen rather than to turn night into day. With output now up to 125 lumens, USB-C charging and Exposure’s trademark aluminium construction, it does its job extremely well. It does have a few minor quirks that are worth understanding before you buy, though.
The first thing you notice about the Trace Mk3 is the anodised aluminium body, which immediately sets it apart from the plastic of most similar lights. It looks purposeful, feels dense for its size, and gives the impression it will seriously last.
The protruding lens allows for excellent side visibility, which is particularly valuable around junctions where being seen from oblique angles matters most. This is a genuine strength of the Trace, and it’s better on this score than a lot of the competition.
Unfortunately there’s no shielding on top (as found on the £80 Boost 3) for the rider’s eyes. On the brightest flash I noticed glare from the upper edge of the lens. It was not a deal breaker for me – a short strip of electrical tape solved it – but not everyone will appreciate having to bodge fixes on a premium product.
The Mk3 produces a soft, circular beam with a diffuse edge rather than a hard, defined spotlight. This picks up road texture, drain covers and debris over a usefully broad spread, rather than concentrating everything into a tight tunnel.
At 125 lumens it is brighter than you might expect for such a small unit, particularly in its full-power pulsed DayBright modes. On both bright or dull days it stands out extremely well, and at night it cuts through the urban glare very well.
2025-exposure-trace-mk3-front-light-front-scaled.jpg (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
The single button cycles through modes, and once you learn the sequence it becomes intuitive – it’s not like most other lights where a long press is on/off and short ones cycle the modes. Instead it’s a double press for on, a long press for off, and a short press to go from solid beam to flashing mode.
In thick winter gloves, the button can be slightly fiddly to operate. It’s not a deal breaker, but riders with limited dexterity in cold conditions may notice it.
The silicone-strapped clamp system is simple, effective and very secure. It allows for very quick fitting and removal, and hold the light solidly in place even on rough roads. For riders with multiple bikes or those who commute and train on different machines, it’s great.
2025-exposure-trace-mk3-front-light-mount-scaled.jpg (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
If you run aero bars with their flatter profiles, you’ll need Exposure’s Aero Bar Shim. At £4 it’s not expensive, and plenty of rivals don’t make any provision for aero bars, but given it’s a thumb-sized lump of silicone it would have been nice to see it included.
The Trace Mk3 is also potentially a neat option for UK time trial riders; 76 Projects does a clip that integrates it with their TT bar-specific computer mount.
The run times matched Exposure’s claims very closely during testing, ranging between three and 24 hours depending on mode. The USB-C charging port brings the Trace firmly into the modern era too, as most people will have an abundance of those cables already.
2025-exposure-trace-mk3-front-light-usb-c-port-scaled.jpg (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
My only real frustration lies with the charge status reporting. The four stage indicator, while clear in theory, is too broad in practice. Knowing the light is somewhere between 100 and 50 percent often led me to recharge it ‘just in case,’ even when it was probably unnecessary. Breaking this down into finer increments would significantly improve confidence, particularly for daily commuters relying on the light.
With an IP65 rating, the Trace Mk3 is more than capable of handling everything the UK weather can realistically throw at it. Heavy rain, road spray and filthy winter conditions failed to cause any issues during testing.
See and be seen with our top front bike lights for on the road, trail or path
Durability is where the Trace, and Exposure products in general, offers the greatest promise. I’ve personally had excellent experiences with their lights in the past, and found their aftersales support consistently strong. The Trace Mk3 feels like a light that will last you many years, as it’s designed to be serviceable rather than a throwaway if or when it breaks. Note that Exposure offers a three-year warranty if you buy direct – it’s two if you go through a third-party seller.
At just 40 grams, the Trace Mk3 is impressively light. Yes you can find lighter lights – cheaper ones too – but none that feel this solid. The weight is low enough that you forget it is there anyway, as it’s barely more than a small packet of crisps.
Value
At £55 the Trace Mk3 sits above many of its competitors on price. For instance, the Cateye Nano F is £30 and lighter at 26g, but it’s a little less powerful at 100 lumens and has a rather narrow beam if you’re actually trying to see with it.
However, the £35 Bookman Curve offers 300 lumens at 47g, while the Lezyne Zecto Drive 250 is £40 and puts out 250 lumens at 51g. None offer quite as good side visibility as the Exposure, though.
Verdict
The Exposure Trace Mk3 is a fantastic front light that does exactly what it sets out to do. It is beautifully made, genuinely effective at keeping you visible, and simple enough to use. The beam pattern is well judged, the mounting is secure, and the move to USB-C charging brings it up to date.
The only real shortcomings are the potentially dazzling lens and the overly coarse battery meter. Fix those, and this would be close to perfect.
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Exposure says:
“With 125 lumens of to be seen light the Trace is the light of choice for the cyclist who needs a super compact unit with USB-C convenience and superb build quality. Featuring DayBright pulse pattern to cut through the distractions of busy roads, Optimised Mode Selector with 3 brightness levels, side illumination and Fuel Gauge making it clear when you need to recharge. The Trace ensures you stay visible, both day and night, in the urban jungle. Also available in a pack with the TraceR rear light.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Exposure says:
LEDs 1 XPG2
IP Rating IP65
Max Lumens 125
Battery 850 mAh Li-Ion
Runtime 3 – 24 hours (Flash)
Charging Time 1.5
Weight 35g
Material Anodised 6063 Aluminium
Dimensions Length – 57mm Head – 28mm
In the box Trace Mk3 Daybright, Seatpost Mount, USB C Charge Cable, QS Guide
Rate the product overall for quality (1-10):
10/10
Any further comments on quality?:
Flawless, rock solid construction.
Rate the product for performance when used for its designed purpose (1-10):
9/10
Any further comments on performance?:
More powerful than you might expect for the size.
Rate the product for value (1-10):
5/10
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
It’s quite expensive for its size and power, though it is built to be serviceable.
Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
8/10
Any further comments on design and usability?:
Doesn’t get much simpler than one button, though Exposure’s control scheme is not the most intuitive around.
Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s:
8/10
Any further comments on the clamp?:
The secure rubber strap is fast and easy to use.
Does the light have a waterproofing rating? If so, what is it?:
IP65
Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
8/10
Any further comments on waterproofing?:
IP65 means it can withstand low-pressure water jets from all directions, and it’s perfectly happy in splashing puddles and pouring rain.
Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
7/10
Any issues with durability?:
No issues. Also, I’ve personally found Exposure offer excellent support, even on very old lights.
Rate the light for weight:
8/10
Any further comments on weight?:
Comparable to or slightly lighter than the competition.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
This is simple to use, very effective and really nicely made. The battery indicator could be better, especially given the premium pricing, but other than that there’s nothing to really complain about.
Age: 35Height: 190cmWeight: 92kg
I usually ride: Santa Cruz StigmataMy best bike is: Factor One Disc
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 yearsI ride: Most daysI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Road racing, Time trialling, Cyclocross, Gravel riding, Indoor riding, Bikepacking