Out of the box, it looks and feels more expensive than its £49.99 RRP (and at the time of writing it's available for less than £30 online – something of a bargain in my opinion). Constructed from a mixture of tough plastic and aluminium, it is well put together and feels pretty bombproof, surviving some fairly foul conditions during testing.
The light is surprisingly bright, with those 360 lumens concentrated in quite a narrow beam pattern. In the overdrive setting I was able to ride quickly and confidently in an unlit park for some after dark cyclo-cross training, though I would prefer something a bit brighter or with a wider beam pattern for more technical trails.
It was also bright enough for commuting on unlit roads, although side visibility isn't great. The various flashing options were useful for the urban sections of my commute, and they help extend the excellent battery life – I only needed to charge it once a week for my daily eight-mile commute.
It's an easy light to use: a large rubber on/off switch provides a positive click that allows operation even with winter gloves on. A single click turns the light on and cycles between the different brightness modes – a double-click alternating between flashing and steady lighting – all very straightforward.
The light attaches to your bike with a fairly old school quick release handlebar clamp – no rubber bungees here. While it might make swapping between bikes a bit more of a job, the pay-off is that it holds the light firm even when there's some serious bike-rattling.
The helmet mount resembles that used by Go-Pro cameras and does a similarly robust job, although the weight of the light meant I preferred to mount it on my handlebar. A remote control switch is provided, but I couldn't really see the point – the built-in switch being so easy to use.
Make and model: Moon LX360
Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Moon describes the LX360 as a high power USB rechargeable light. It ticks those boxes.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?
1 pc CREE XP-G2 (R5) high brightness LED
Aluminium heat sink casing
USB remote control system
SAMSUNG lithium ion battery (3.7V 2600 mAh)
7 modes: Over drive / High / Standard / Low / Flashing / Strobe / SOS
Quick release handlebar mount (fits 22-31.8mm)
Quick release helmet mount
Low battery, charging and fully charged indicator
Mode status indicator
Automatic fully charged cut-off system
High precision optical lens
Side visibility
Magnetic battery cover design
Quick release battery design
Water resistant usb port
Water resistant (IPX 4)
Size:110 x 29.5 x 30 mm
Rate the light for quality of construction:
9/10
Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
9/10
Very easy to use, everything works well.
Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
8/10
Sturdy handlebar and helmet mounts. Less easy to change between bikes than rubber bungees.
Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
9/10
Survived some horrible conditions with no problems. Seals seem good quality.
Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
8/10
Lasted for a week of 8-mile round-trip daily commutes without charging. Took 3-4 hours to fully charge. Light fades gradually rather than suddenly cutting out.
Rate the light for performance:
8/10
Bright enough for cyclo-cross training in an unlit park! Quite a narrow beam.
Rate the light for durability:
8/10
Tough and stood up well to being dropped a few times (oops).
Rate the light for weight:
8/10
Quite heavy, although only noticeable when on the helmet mount.
Rate the light for value:
7/10
Not overpriced at its RRP of £49.99 (but available for less than £30 at some retailers, at which point it's a bargain).
Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Worked well as a commuting light and for a bit of unchallenging off-roading. Charged quickly and easily via USB.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the light
Compact size, secure mount system, ability to change battery.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light
Side visibility is not great.
Did you enjoy using the light? Yes
Would you consider buying the light? Definitely
Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
There are brighter lights, but the LX360 provides great performance whether on street-lit or unlit roads, at a reasonable price.
Age: 46 Height: 182cm Weight: 75kg
I usually ride: Genesis Day One Singlespeed My best bike is: Souped-up Cannondale CAADX
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking
This was a very good listing of bikes for under 1,000....
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