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review
Lights - front
Moon LX360 Moon LX360
Moon LX360

Moon LX360

8
by Andy Ward
UPDATED Tue, Feb 16, 2016 14:34

First Published Feb 13, 2016

0
£49.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A well-made rechargeable light that does a great job at a good price
Weight: 
150g
Contact: 
www.raleigh.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Moon LX360 is a well built, high performing front light that does a great job when commuting, and is bright enough to be used for the odd bit of off-roading too.

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.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

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.

Moon LX360 - beam shot.jpg

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.

> Check out our guide to the best front lights and our beam comparison engine here

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.

Verdict

A well-made rechargeable light that does a great job at a good price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Moon LX360

Size tested: n/a

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

Solid and well made.

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.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

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

Moon LX360 2016
Moon LX360
Moon 2016
Moon
Andy Ward

Andy Ward works his socks off for the NHS as a GP and teaching at Leicester Medical School. After a brief foray into road racing he decided it hurt less to fall off on mud and is now most likely to be found on his cyclocross bike. He recently surprised himself by completing the Three Peaks without breaking his bike or any limbs

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