ETC FR340 USB Rechargeable Lightset

The ETC FR340 USB Rechargeable Lightset is a low-cost front and rear light combo that's solidly built, easy to use and handy for commuting where you want to be seen rather than see. The front light is reasonably powerful, though a touch blinding on higher settings. The rear has some smart touches, but it lacks power for really bright days.

ETC's front light looks a bit like a torch, and it acts a bit like one too – outputting a beam that's very focused on one spot. Although the 300-lumen maximum output is actually pretty decent for the price, and would work as a backup for unlit lanes in a pinch, it's slightly blinding because of the light leakage around the beam.

Still, in lower power modes (there are two steady ones), it's plenty bright enough to be seen effectively day or night – just watch that light positioning on the bar so as not to blind other road users. There's also a regular flash and a slow flash to choose from. They're all easy to switch between thanks to the single button on the top.

ETC claims a run-time of 2 hours 30 minutes in the brightest mode, and at 2hrs 15mins in the real world, it's not far off this. There's a lower power light on the button which lets you know when it's time to charge via the included micro-USB cable. The 4.5hr charge time is a little on the slow side.

At the rear, the circular light only boasts 40 lumens, which might seem pretty weak, but although it's too dim to be noticeable on a bright, sunny day, at night on unlit paths or commuting in a city it's just right.

You get a load of modes to choose from, including steady, breath, rhythm flash, and more. To turn the light on or switch between settings, just hit the button in the centre of the lens.

Even though this lightset is firmly in budget territory, the rear light boasts some rather neat features, including an auto mode that automatically turns the light on when you start moving, and turns it off after about a minute when you've stopped. That's ideal if you forget to turn your light off after a ride.

It also features a brake warning, boosting the lumens when it senses you slowing down. This is really useful if you spend a lot of time riding among traffic or with another rider following at the rear.

Neither light has side visibility, so they're not the best for being seen at busy junctions.

> Buyer’s Guide: The best 2021 front lights for cycling

As with the front, there's a low battery warning light – in this case it's a small LED on the inside of the light that turns red when it needs charging. The rear light managed 9hrs 50mins on steady, which is well over an hour shorter than ETC's claimed run-time of 11 hours. In real world riding, the battery drain will be even greater, as the brake light no doubt uses extra power in stop start traffic.

> Buyer’s Guide: 19 of the best rear lights for cycling

A stupendous 33.5 hours of run-time is available in Eco Flash mode, so you could commute for weeks on end without worry. Even with the regular flashing modes, you're good for at least a week unless your commute each way is more than an hour.

When you do need to charge the rear light, the charge time from dead of 1hr 35mins is pretty decent.

Mounts

To attach the front or rear to your bike you simply hook the notched silicone band over the bar or seatpost, and away you go.

Alternatively, the rear comes with a mount to allow you to attach it to your saddle rails, making for a very neat and integrated installation. The elongated, rocket-style shape of the light blends in perfectly in this position.

The front can be removed quickly thanks to a quick release lever, though the rear is a bit more fiddly – you have to unscrew the light unit from its housing, which takes a bit of time. I reckon the idea is to leave the rear on unless it needs charging (given the auto on and off functionality).

Build quality

Both lights are alloy-bodied and feel solidly built, and they're rated IPX5 for waterproofing, which means they're protected against a low-pressure jet of water at any angle. This makes them ideal for use all year round, and I had no issues with water ingress on either light.

If you want a low-cost combination for commuting, the ETC FR340 lightset is a bit of a no-brainer. For slightly less you can pick up the Magicshine Seemee 30 Combo but you only get 30 lumens front and rear, versus the ETC's 300 and 40. The Seemees are a much lighter pairing, mind.

> Read more road.cc reviews of front and rear light sets here

If we're setting lumens as the marker, then Infini's Super Lava 300 front and Sword Super Bright 30 COB rear pairing is perhaps a better comparison, with 300/30 lumens front/rear. They're also lighter, but aren't as solid and aren't IPX5 waterproof, and cost nearly twice as much at £59.99.

Overall, the ETC light set is incredible value for money, with a power output that bests anything in this price category. The front light is a little unrefined and potentially dazzling, but the rear is great. If you don't want to spend much but want enough power to be seen at night or even during the day, this is a really good option.

Verdict

Great commuting lights for the price, and the rear is a surprise standout