Exposure Link DayBright MK2 (2023)

The Exposure Link DayBright MK2 is a very well made helmet lamp that lives up to the company's reputation for quality. Performance is great and battery life is decent, although the mounting system is a little fiddly to set up.

We haven't reviewed many helmet lights, but check out our guidebest bike lightsYou can attach them to the front and rear of your bike for more options.

Exposure is a brand synonymous with build quality and this light is no different. You can see the machining lines where the case was cut from a single piece of metal and it will likely last a long time, helped by the thick rubber gasket that needs to be moved out of the way to gain access to the charging port.

The idea behind the Link DayBright MK2 is to make a driver as visible as possible in a busy city environment. It's a combination front and rear light, with a bright output to get you noticed and mounted as high as possible so you can be seen by all road users.

When I wore this on my helmet and it lit up everywhere I turned my head I was really confident that my visibility was improved.

output and modes

Max output is 200 lumens front and 40 rear, with many different options for modes, front and rear, including both constant and pulsing, one pulsing with the other constant, or one pulsing or constant while the other is off.

You also get three different settings, effectively high, medium and low. To set this, with the light off, press and hold the power button and it will start flashing; If you release the button after the first flash it's in brightest mode, two flashes for medium and if you release it after the third flash it's in low mode.

My favorite output is the Impulse front and rear, in either Medium or Low, giving run times of 7 and 15 hours, respectively.

If you've ever used an exposure light before, or seen someone using one, you'll probably understand how good this mode is. It's almost a shrill flash with specially designed gaps between flashes to ensure the light catches the attention of all road users. It's certainly not one of those fade in and fade out pulses that some brands offer.

Montage

When I first used this light I was a little confused on how to assemble it. The mount unscrews to fit through a vent hole and then clamps onto the helmet. But when I tried to tighten the 5mm hex bolt from the inside of the helmet, I couldn't get the non-spherical end of a hex wrench in because of the curvature of the helmet, and the plastic bent and buckled, so I used the ball end... to the point where I couldn't tighten it. I ended up resorting to a multi-tool and it worked, but I can't help but think Exposure could come up with a better method.

Once the light was complete I had absolutely no issues with the mount. It hasn't come loose once and has held the light nice and tight no matter what type of ride I've been on, even some super bumpy mountain bikes.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how little I could feel it when it was on my head. I expected it to cause some discomfort, but for the most part I couldn't even tell it was there. At 47g it really makes little difference to how your head feels, which is great.

Battery life and charging

Runtimes range from an hour in the brightest constant to 23 hours for a low pulse front or back only. That's not very impressive, but given that the battery is effectively powering two lights, it's not that surprising. You might need to charge after every ride, but that depends on what modes you're using.

It's pretty easy to tell how much power is left - when you turn off the light it will flash between red and green to show you how long you have before it needs to be charged. I wish there was a way to know the level while the lights are on, but since it's sitting on your head it would be quite a challenge.

Exposure gives a claimed charge time of three hours, which seemed about right, but I was very upset to find out the light has a micro-USB charging port. I wish all bike manufacturers would embrace USB-C and only develop products with it. Ifthose super little lights from Knogcan use USB-C, I don't understand why the Link Daybright can't do that...

Wert

At £70 this isn't a budget option, but you do get exposure quality.

You can spend more - for another £20 you could get the 450 lumensLink+ Mk3 front and rear combo with DayBright, whichNick reviewed earlier this year. It's a bit heavier at 90g, but it's one to see and be seen with.

But you can spend a lot less just to be seen: Siobhan was very impressed with theBrightside Topside HelmleuchteShe reviewed it in 2017 - it still costs £29.99, is slightly heavier than the Exposure at 66g, but it's rechargeable and puts out up to 100 lumens in the front, 30 lumens in the rear.

Or there is something a little cheaperLezyne Femto Drive Duoat 28lbs, which weighs 51g and takes two CR2032 batteries on both ends.Stu described itas "pretty punchy" in 2021, but it's a very different beast than the Exposure.

Diploma

Overall, the Link DayBright MK2 is a real asset when driving in busy urban areas in the dark or in dim daylight. Performance is up there with the best I've seen in a small light, it has a solid feel mount and the quality is excellent. Yes, you have to pay for it, but it justifies it. I would recommend it to anyone who just wants a little more visibility.

Verdict

A bit pricey but a quality helmet light with bright output and decent battery life

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