Whether it’s by choice or not, if you want to continue your running regiment you will have to run in the dark eventually. Running in the dark is not all bad, however, as it can often mean less traffic on the road, trail, or track and cooler temperatures to make things more comfortable. There are many things to look for when considering a headlamp for running in low light environments. We have compiled a list of features and things to consider when making an investment on a headlamp for running in the dark.
When considering a headlamp for running at night or early in the dark, look for some or all of these features:
- Light-Weight Enclosure (3 Ounces or Less)
- Rotating Hinge For Optimal Light Control (90 Degrees)
- Adjustable Headband For Limited Bounce
- Variable Beam Allowing Flood and Spot Functionality
- Weather-resistant Enclosure (IP68/X8 Preferred)
- Removable Headband For Hygiene
- Big Buttons For Easy Operation
- Minimum 3 Brightness Settings (Low, Medium, Max)
Running With A Busy Schedule
Do you run in the morning before work? In the evening after work? Running with a headlamp can allow vehicles, other runners, and any dangerous elements to either see you or pop out so you can avoid them. If you live in a more remote location you will definitely want to pickup a headlamp for running in the dark. Having ran many times in remote areas myself, I have come across rocks, holes, and animals that I would have never seen and possibly stepped on or in were it not for a good headlamp.
Running During Cooler Temperatures
If you have the freedom to choose a good time to run, you will more often than not favor the cooler temperatures of the evening. Running in cooler temperatures is safer, more enjoyable, and allows your body to be more efficient thus training more optimally.
Running During Winter
How Does The Cold Affect My Battery Life?
It may come as no surprise that running in the winter has several effects not only on the person, but the headlamp he or she is using. Cold temperatures bring both pros and cons to running and with a little preparation the winter can be made enjoyable outdoors even while training. If you are going to run with your headlamp during the winter, expect your batteries to perform poorly during winter. When it comes to your headlamp, make sure to charge it fully every time prior to a run and if you use disposable batteries it would be a great idea to bring a set of spares on your runs in case the headlamp dies. Most headlamps nowadays will stay lit as if it is fully charged right up until it’s dead so you will never see a dead battery coming until it’s too late.
Keep Your Batteries Warm As Long As Possible
If your headlamp is rechargeable you will want to keep it in your pocket or sweater, anywhere warm will do, until you are ready to run. Keeping it warm will allow it to perform optimally as long as possible. If you are using single-use batteries it will be the same deal with the headlamp AND the spare batteries. We recommend charging the device fully prior to running, every time, or carrying spares if your device is not rechargeable.
Battery Life Choice: Ultra race vs Average One-Hour Runs
Choosing a headlamp if you are a casual runner will be no problem. If you are training for ultra races you will have a lot more to think about. As with anything that cannot fail, we recommend going with a headlamp that has replaceable batteries, rechargeable or not, if you are into long races like Ultras. The best of both worlds would be to opt for a headlamp that uses a rechargeable battery that is removable and then carrying a couple of spares. 18650 batteries are great for this purpose and they are tried and true.
Rechargeable vs Single-Use
If you are the type of person whose phone is usually below 30% we highly recommend you opt for the single-use batteries and keep a healthy stock of them. If you are responsible and know that you will maintain your headlamp fully charged most times you are better off with the rechargeable headlamp. Understand though, that if your batteries are not replaceable as with many models coming out these days, then your headlamp’s life (life of the actual headlamp, not just the batteries) will be drastically shortened as it will directly depend on the life of the battery that came with it.
Brightness
If you are running for extended periods of times you will come to learn the problem of tunnel vision. Personally, I experience this issue approximately 45 minutes into a run and it can get annoying sometimes. By keeping the light as dim as possible, you will minimize the extent of tunnel vision and be able to go on much longer runs with more comfort. You can also give a red light, or lens, a try if your area is super dark, but make sure you get a spot beam because the red light does not light up anywhere near as much as white.
Weight
While a heavy headlamp might feel durable and of quality, you are better off exponentially by choosing a light weight and cheap feeling headlamp. A light-weight headlamp will not bounce around as much and be extremely comfortable, to the point where you won’t even feel it on your head after a few minutes, thus allowing you to focus on your running form and efficiency. We recommend sticking to a headlamp that weighs 3 ounces or less when choosing a headlamp for running.
Multiple Lights on Headlamp
If you are the safety-minded individual you will be pleased to read through this section. There are headlamps out there which have light in the front and the back. Typically the front will be a super bright flood beam style light and the back will be a more focused spot beam. These headlamps are bulky, however, and you might not want to have to carry all of the extra batteries because, you guessed it, with more light comes more batteries. Nevertheless, if you are looking for the most of amount of light due to safety, you are going to be better off going with one of these headlamps.
Budget (Can Only Afford One Device)
Budgets are a necessary evil for most of us, and as such if you are limited to one lights source, we would highly recommend a headlamp as it can be used not only for running, but pretty much any other task which requires light. Nowadays we are fortunate that technology, as it advances, becomes more and more affordable. Realistically you can pick up a decent headlamp on amazon for under $15. Personally I have a few that have cost me around that price and they have worked for a few years and have been great. We would also recommend a rechargeable headlamp for someone on a budget as you need not purchase batteries.
Alternatives to Headlamp
Wearing a headlamp is not for everyone. We understand that sometimes your hat, headband, hoodie, or even hair will not allow it. For this reason we have compiled a list of different devices one can purchase for running in the dark. Please keep in mind that this list is not all inclusive, and it is not made up of devices that are solely for lighting your path as some are meant purely for safety and high visibility.
- Hand Torches / Flashlights
- These handy lights come with straps to make holding on to them super easy. Some of these hand torches also come with a white light in the front, and a red light in the back to give the runner extra visibility and safety.
- Clip-On Lights
- These usually come with a clip that allow the runner to fasten the light to a belt, strap, bag, pack, and more for ultra-minimalist visibility.
- Armband Lights
- Your arms will not get in the way of your running, but they will also not light your path. If you are looking for something that will keep you visible at night these are great and light weight! They usually come in different colors and come with built in batteries that allow convenient USB charging.
- Shoe Lights
- The Nathan running brand created a super cool product called the Light Spur which clips onto your shoe and glows thus making you super visible from the back: no one can ignore a pair of flying lights in the distance! You can use these while running and cycling, so if you have long training days during the winter in preparation for something like an Ironman these would be great for safety.