Revision as of 16:37, 16 December 2014

Image from Petzl Wallpapers.

There are many lights available for runners depending on your need, but some are far better than others. Below is a summary of my recommendations, followed by a look at the key factors to look for in a light and a comparison of the lights.

1 Where to Buy

2 What to look for

There are four factors to consider with a running light; location, the beam pattern, regulation and brightness.

2.1 Location

Head mounted: Notice how 'flat' the path looks.

Wiast Mounted: Notice the texture and shape of the path.

2.1.1 Handheld

I do not recommend handheld lights for several reasons. The biggest problem is that keeping the light pointed in the right direction changes your arm movement and messes up your Running Form. In addition, handheld lights occupy one of your hands making it tricky to do anything in the dark, though knuckle lights overcome this.

2.1.2 Head Mounted

Because a head mounted light is aligned with your eyes, it's hard to see the shape of the ground. This is best seen in the images above. Head mounted directs the light where you point your head, making it easier to see where you're going. Head mounted also works better for directing the light to things in your hands, like putting on gloves or looking at your Watch. Head mounted lights are better at showing up branches or spider webs that are about to hit your face.

2.1.3 Waist Mounted

Waist mounted lights are much better in the rain or dusty conditions. With a head mounted light, the beam picks up the rain or dust in front of your face, making it hard to see. I run with BOTH head and waist mounted lights in most conditions.

2.2 Beam Pattern – Spot vs Diffuse

The spot beam illuminates further.

The diffuse beam illuminates wider and more evenly.

Most lights project a narrow spot beam, which illuminates a longer distance. Many of the Petzl lights have a diffuser than can be moved in front of the light to provide an even illumination, though it does not reach so far.

2.3 Regulation – Light output over time

The difference between regulated and unregulated light output.

With a regulated light the light intensity will stay constant over most of the life of the battery, and it will then grow rapidly dim. This can be seen graphically below. The regulation is nice, but when the end of the regulation period is reached, the light intensity can drop very quickly, so you need to have spare batteries with you if you expect to run out of power.

2.4 Brightness – Brighter is not always better

The brightness you need depends on your situation. In many cases you just need to see what's immediately ahead of you, so brightness is not critical. If you're on trails, then a really bright light can help see what direction a trail is taking, or help with navigation. Many times I've found that having a dim light can work best, as it helps me see what's ahead without compromising my night vision, allowing me overall better visibility. A very bright light will create a pool of light that can become mentally confining and isolating. Having a light that will go both very bright and very dim is ideal, and the Petzl MYO RXP stands out for this.

3 Light Reviews

3.1 Fenix HP30

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3.2 Fenix HP25

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3.3 Petzl e+Lite

Xxx The Petzl e+Lite worth considering as a backup light, but don't use this as your primary light unless weight is of paramount importance. It's not bright enough and the lithium batteries are pricy. However, it will fit in the pocket of my shorts, so it makes a great 'oops' light.

The e+Lite showing the small case it fits into.

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3.4 Petzl Myo RXP

Xxx The Petzl MYO RXP is a regulated light, as described above. The light will flash a few times when the battery drops too low, which gives you some warning before it runs out of power. The RXP also support brighter output that is unregulated, which is useful when you need a lot of light for a short period of time. The regulated output can be used so that you will have power for an overnight run, and on its lowest power setting it will run for 96 hours. The RXP is also nice because it can output a very dim light. I've found this works well near dawn, where the light from the RXP on its lowest output and with the diffuser is enough to see by, but allows my eyes to adjust so that I can see a little further using the available light. I've found the RXP works well in heavy rain as long as it is in the normal position. If you run with it wrapped around your hand, the rain can get in the underside and cause problems until it dries out. The RXP uses AA batteries, so it is a little heavy, but having the batteries on the back balances things quite well. It also allows the batteries to stay warmer in cold conditions if you wear it with the back under a hat; you'll probably need two hats to make that work.

• Petzl MYO RXP
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  Full view of the RXP. Note the battery pack on the rear of the strap.

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  A closer view, showing the diffuser over the light. The diffuser flips down for a spot beam. There are two controls; the level button and the high power button.

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3.5 Petzl Tikka RXP

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3.6 Petzl Tactikka

Xxx The Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt is not as bright as thePetzl MYO RXP , but it can be waist mounted. This works best with compression shorts/tights to prevent the light wobbling around. I've found this works far better on trails than a head mounted light. The XP Adapt uses AAA batteries, so it's lighter than the Petzl MYO RXP. If you don't need the waist mounting, then the Petzl Tactikka XP is the same light without the adapter kit, and it's quite a bit cheaper than the MYO RXP.

• Petzl MYO RXP
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  The XP Adapt comes with a head strap and a clip for use at waist level. There is also a mount for use on a helmet which works well cycling. There are colored diffusers that I've not found useful.

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  A diagram showing the XP Adapt with the waist mounted adapter.

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4 Lights Comparison

5 Light Gallery

Light Gallery - Beams This is a gallery of real world performance of these lights. A photo was taken for each setting on each light to display the differences.

6 Other Thoughts

6.1 Safety lights

The Nathan clip on safety strobe.

A flashing red light clipped to the back of your waist band is a worthwhile addition for running in urban situations. The Nathan Clip-On Safety Strobe is less than $10.

6.2 Batteries

I use Enloop Low Self Discharge rechargeable batteries in my lights. The 'low self discharge' means that they won't go flat if you leave them in a drawer for a few weeks. I got the La Crosse Technology BC-700 Alpha Power Battery Charger which is more expensive than many at $50, but well worth it for keeping the batteries healthy.