The Explorer, an update of Lumicycle’s excellent LED3 XML light, drew high praise and a 4.5-star rating when we last tested it in 2014. It's now come out top of the heap in our updated 'best mountain bike lights' roundup.
What makes it so special? The ribbed head unit has now been slightly revised to improve sealing and cooling, and the optics have been altered to give more of a spread. The peaked design means no glare from below if you’re grunting a steep climb out of the saddle.
Related: the best mountain bike lights
The maximum Smart Boost mode of 3500 lumens means you’re basically riding in your own personal patch of daylight and automatically reduces power slightly after three minutes to conserve power. Even at half throttle it’s more than enough for giving it full beans on trails you know.
Maximum illumination is like having your own spot of daylight
The multi-segment bar clamp fits any handlebars and stays secure down the wildest steps and drops. While it looks crude the small canvas battery bag is easy to bung under your stem or on the top tube and the similarly basic helmet mount works fine too.
The batteries are excellent, with twin leads for two lamps as standard, and Lumicycle’s wireless link technology lets you control up to six lights from one master unit. There’s no remote switch but the toggle switch on the back is easy to use even with the thickest gloves.
There’s a double-capacity bag or bottle battery option, all current or past lights and batteries are cross-compatible for easy upgrading, and both reliability, and Lumicycle’s event and UK HQ back-up are legendary.
- Weight: 403g
- Run Time: 3:15hr
