Changes

I've run with many different running lights over the years, and I've seen the quality and brightness increase as the cost has fallen. There are many good running lights available for runners depending on your needthe market, but some having tested many, there are far better than othersjust three I'd recommend, each for a different purpose. Each of these lights has its pros and cons. # '' The best light for urban running, when it's more about being seen than seeing, is the Black Diamond Sprinter'''. This is my top pic for most runners; itIt's lightweightsmall, rechargeable, reasonably bright, balanced, with an even light, and includes has a rear flashing red safety LED built in. However, the light on I use most is the back. <jfs id="B0077NU8YQ" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.# '''Foxelli MX500'''. The MX500 is Light Belt, a very close second waist mounted light that allows you to see the Sprinter. It's a little brighter, has a spot beam as well as a diffuse patternshape of the ground ahead, and I prefer it's fully waterproofeven on asphalt. And while I almost never use the Petzl e+lite, all at a lower price than the Sprinter. The Sprinterit's rear safety my faithful "oops" light puts it just ahead of the MX500, I carry as do regulated light levels and better build-qualitya backup. <jfs id="B013COPT6K" nonlLight Belt="true" noreferb="true"/># '''GoMotion Orion'''. The Orion is I love waist mounted on its own running belt, putting the light at waist high, which shows lights as you can see the shape of the ground so much better. (The Orion This style of light is newrelatively rare, so itand I's a little harder ve been pleased to find, but the earlier Lightbelt 100 is available work with Light Belt as <jfs id="B006B78FIA" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.# '''Fenix HP30''they've developed and refined their product. If you want a bright light, I found this is by far the best, though itlight I's not cheap. The light is far brighter than any otherve used consistently, and the battery lasts well. The HP30 mounts its battery pack at waist level and you can charge USB devices from the batteries. <jfs id="B00HJF8WMM" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>, but you need to budget even for running on the expensive rechargeable 18650 batteries and charger. # '''Fenix HP25'''relatively smooth asphalt of my local Greenway. If you want something nearly as bright as the HP30, but without the hassle of the 18650 batteries in the HP30, the HP25 is a good option. It's rather heavy, but the batteries last well on their bright setting. <jfs id="B00BNUBK46" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.# '''Petzl e+Lite'''. This should ve not be used as run with a primary waist mounted light, but it's worth having as an emergency light. I've had a d suggest playing around with your head mounted light die on me in an ultra before, taking it off and moving it's a grim experience. The e+Line will fit nicely into to your pack or [[Race Ready Shorts waist and Tights]]seeing how your perception of the ground ahead of you changes. <jfs id="B008AUBOTS" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.# Once you'''Petzl Tikka RXP'''. This is a reactive lightve made to the switch, so it automatically dims when you look at something close's hard to go back. This is not ideal for urban running, as it will dim when cars come towards you, but in the wilderness it You can brighten when you look up and dim when you look buy them at your watch. <jfs id="B00BA4R43Q" nonl="true" noreferb="true"http://>www.# '''Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt'''light-belt. This would be one of my top lights, but sadly it's discontinuedcom. This * On full brightness the beam is the only light brighter than I've found that will clip nicely into your waistband. need (700 lm), so I wish Petzl would resurrect this idea as typically run with it works so wella notch or 2 down. (Nathan has I often run with the light belt at a belt adapter for their lightsrelatively low intensity, but especially just before dawn as it does not swivel up balances the rising light levels and downis strangely less claustrophobic.) # '''Petzl MYO RXP'''. This used to be my favorite * The lightis perfectly smooth and even, and I still like to run with it. Howeverbeing a waist mounted, lights like shows the shape of the Foxelli trail and Sprinter offer similar features at any obstacles so much better than a much lower costhead mounted light. <jfs id=(I have the "B004OYTOA0silver lens" nonl=version that has the smooth beam pattern. There is a "truereflective mirrored" noreferb="true"/>. # '''Coast HL6'''. The HL6 is the cheapest of the lights option that has a more focused beam pattern, but I'd recommend the even illumination as a primary lightpriority.)* The belt works remarkably well, with almost no balance. The battery doesn't last terribly long light sits on full power, and the build quality doesn't inspire me, a small foam pad for stabilization but if you want something cheap and viable, this is worth uses a look. <jfs id="B005NXPW5W" nonl="true" noreferb="true"thin (1 inch/>2.# '''GRDE Zoomable'''5cm) belt to go around your waist or hips. The GRDE offers 2000 Lumens for only $20clasp a surprisingly clever magnetic system; just bring the 2 ends close together and the magnets click it closed. To unclasp you have to slide the 2 ends vertically, which as you can't pull them apart. This seems too good like a massively overengineered and sophisticated solution, but I love it to be truebits. It works perfectly no matter how cold and tired Iam.* You don've only included this light t blind other runners as a cautionary lesson in what you turn to avoid in a running light. It's heavy, uncomfortable, has too narrower a beamlook at them, and is no-where near as bright as it claims. <jfs id="B00R5NMFE4" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.{{:Lights-table}}The table above includes the absolute brightness (in arbitrary units) that I measured directly. The perceived brightness is based on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens'_power_law Stevens' power law] s easy to give an idea of how bright tilt the lights will appear to light so that you can see the human eyeground ahead without shining into people coming towards you. Details of * The Light Belt comes with the key factors 18650 Lithium Ion 3400 mAh rechargeable battery. These batteries are expensive, so expect to look pay over $20 for in a light genuine one, and watch out for fakes. That said, these batteries are further down the pageexpensive for a reason, having excellent power density and life. =Brightness=The images below are from the recommended lights on their brightest Being rechargeable, you can carry spare batteries if you're running all night and widest settingsneed full brightness. (The pictures use light works as a fixed exposure and no post-processing so they reflect recharger for the actual brightness. In practicebattery, the perceived illumination will not differ quite as much as the images because your eyes adjust a littlebattery itself has overcharge protection. For pictures of Just plug the other brightness settings and micro USB cable into the details of light.)As always, there are some downsides to the photographsLight Belt, see [[Light Gallery 30|Running Light Gallery]].{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[Filebut relatively few:Black Diamond Sprinter Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Black Diamond Sprinter, with a nice diffuse patter and reasonable reach.]]|[[File:Foxelli MX500 4 Bright Diffuse.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 has a bit of a hotspot but * The Light Belt is acceptably even and waterproof to IPX6, so it has good distance illumination's fine in heavy rain, but not submersible.]]|[[File:GoMotion Orion Wide Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|GoMotion Orion is not quite as bright as IThis shouldn'd liket be an issue unless you are doing waist deep stream crossings.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Diffuse_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Fenix HP30 * There is the brightest no flashing light I've tested and you can see how it's too bright for at the camera, washing out the imageback. ]]|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Flood_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Fenix HP25 with just the wide bulb I simply purchased some cheap clip-onflashing safety lights which are cheap and effective.]]|[[File:E_Lite_1.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl e+Lite is not enough for general * You can't use, but it makes a great emergency waist mounted light.]] |- valign="top"|[[File:Tikka_RXP_Flood_Bulb.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl Tikka RXP is not quite as bright or even as the best lightsto look at your watch, but it works wellthough most running watches have a backlight. This shot is on fixed maximum brightness.]]|[[File:Waist_Tikka_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt is really showing its age with its dim illumination. ]]|[[File:Myo_RXP_Diffuse_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl MYO RXP used It's also harder to be my top use a waist mounted lightto rummage through a drop bag, but more recent lights have much better efficiency.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Coast HL6 Wide Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Coast HL6 is cheap though I found I can hoist the Light Built up around my chest and pointed down and it works reasonably pretty well, but it's not quite as wide as I'd like. ]]|[[File:GRDE 2000 Wide Bright.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GRDE 2000 is too narrow, even on its widest setting.]]|}=Recommended Lights===Black Diamond Sprinter==The Sprinter edged out the MX500 to be is my top pick for head mounted lights, available at <jfs id="B00LU2W8SYB01LE9ZA28" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>. * The flashing rear safety light is a great idea , and I wish more lights would do thiscritical for urban running. The safety light comes on with the main light, but you can override this to turn it on and off independently.

* The Sprinter only has a diffuse beam pattern, with no spot, so it doesnthough in practice, I't reach as far as other lights of similar brightnessve rarely found this to be a problem, even when navigating in the woods. * For trail running you might want something brighter, but you'd need to go for one of the Fenix lights to get a worthwhile bump in Light Belt or other waist mounted light output.

{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:BD Sprinter.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Black Diamond Sprinter.]]|[[File:Black Diamond Sprinter Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Black Diamond Sprinter Brightest Setting.]]|[[File:Black Diamond Sprinter Dim.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Black Diamond Sprinter Dimmest setting.]]|}==Foxelli MX500==The MX500 was nearly my top pick, but it just lost out to the Sprinter. * The MX500 is a little brighter than the Sprinter, though in practice you're unlikely to notice much difference. Both have good light output, and you need to go to something like a Fenix to get a real improvement in output.* Having the battery pack at the back balances the weight of the light and makes it seem particularly lightweight. It also allows you to put the batteries under a hat to keep them warm which is important in winter. * It's easy to move from the diffuse pattern that is best for running to a spot beam for looking further ahead, something the Sprinter lacks. * I love having a fully waterproofed light, so it doesn't matter if I drop it in a deep puddle or do something else foolish in the middle of the night, far from help. * There is a strap that goes overhead helps stabilize the light without needing the headband too tight. * The MX500 is quite a bit cheaper than the Sprinter: <jfs id="B013COPT6K" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.There are just a couple of concerns with the MX500:* The build quality of the MX500 is not as good as the Sprinter, with slightly cheaper materials and feel. * You can't use any USB cord to charge the MX500, only the ones that come with it. The opening into the light won't accept other cables, which is going to be a pain when I lose the Foxelli ones. * The light output is not regulated, so it gets gradually dimmer as the battery discharges. {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Foxelli MX500.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Foxelli MX500 4 Bright Diffuse.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Bright Diffuse]]|[[File:Foxelli MX500 High Medium Diffuse.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 High Medium Diffuse]]|[[File:Foxelli MX500 Low Medium Diffuse.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Low Medium Diffuse]]|[[File:Foxelli MX500 Dim Diffuse.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Dim Diffuse]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Foxelli MX500 Bright Spot.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Bright Spot]]|[[File:Foxelli MX500 High Medium Spot.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 High Medium Spot]]|[[File:Foxelli MX500 Low Medium Spot.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Low Medium Spot]]|}|[[File:Foxelli MX500 Dim Spot.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Dim Spot]]|}==GoMotion Orion==I like waist mounted lights as you can see the shape of the ground much better, but they're rare. The only other one I've liked is the now discontinued Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt. * The belt works reasonably well, putting the battery at the back of the belt out of the way. This puts less weight into the light, reducing the bounce. * The rear of the belt includes a flashing safety light, which I think is a great idea. * There is a pouch you can attach to the belt to carry some extra items. It will carry my iPhone 5, but not if the phone is in its protective case. As always, there are some downsides to the Orion:* The Orion is brighter than my old waist mounted Petzl, but it's still not as bright as I'd like. * While the Orion can zoom to a spot beam, this is not much use. It's awkward to use and hard to aim unless you're stopped. * The nature of waist mounted lights is you can't direct them easily. I would pair the Orion with the MX500; the Orion shows the shape of the ground and the MX500 in spot mode will reach further ahead and let you look around. * The light output is not regulated, so it gets gradually dimmer as the battery discharges. * The Orion is only waterproof to IPX3, which means it resists being splashed from above only. It should be okay in rain, but you'll need to take more care than with other lights here. The Orion is new, so it's a little harder to find, but the earlier Lightbelt 100 is available as <jfs id="B006B78FIA" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:GoMotion Orion.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GoMotion Orion]]|- valign="top"|[[File:GoMotion Orion Wide Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|GoMotion Orion Wide Bright]]|[[File:GoMotion Orion Wide Dim.JPG|none|thumb|200px|GoMotion Orion Wide Dim]]|- valign="top"|[[File:GoMotion Orion Spot Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|GoMotion Orion Spot Bright]]|[[File:GoMotion Orion Spot Dim.JPG|none|thumb|200px|GoMotion Orion Spot Dim]]|}==Fenix HP30==The HP30 is an amazingly bright light, but it's also amazingly heavy. While I love the intense bright light the HP30 produces, I tend not to use this light as much as other lights. That said, there are times when I really don't want to go out in the dark, and this light makes it far more bearable. This is a product with rather extremes of benefits and downsides, but if you need a really bright light, this is a great option.* The HP30 can be used strapped around your waist, though this may not work if you have a larger waist. You can use other headlights around your waist, but those with the batteries and light in a single unit tend to be heavier and bounce too much. * The separate battery pack is handy in extreme cold, as you can keep the batteries warmer (a cold battery does not generate as much power.) * There is a strap that goes overhead helps stabilize the light without needing the headband too tight. * The light output is regulated, so it will stay the same brightness until the batteries are nearly flat. (See below.)* One a nice feature of the HP30 is that you can charge USB devices from the battery pack.* Combining the HP30 around your waist with the HP25 on your head provides outstanding visibility at night. The bright, wide beam of the HP30 shows up the shape of the ground and the bright spot of the HP25 gives longer distance visibility that points where your head is pointing. Of course, you're then carrying a lot of weight, so this is not a comfortable option. * The IPX7 splash proof rating means it won't survive being dunked, but it should survive even the heaviest rain. The downsides to the HP30:* The battery pack is waist mounted, but even then it's heavy enough to be awkward. Having the battery pack clipped into a waist belt tends to chafe, but if you remove the metal holder the plastic battery pack will fit into the pockets of the [[Race Ready Shorts and Tights]] (see picture below). You can also put the battery pack in a hydration pack. * The HP30 produces a bright light for a long time, but to do so it requires expensive and specialist batteries. Unlike most of the lights listed here, the HP30 requires two rechargeable 18650 batteries which are about $10 each and require a specialist charger. Because of their cost, there seems to be a problem with poor quality fakes, so be careful when purchasing. The HP30 will also work with non-rechargeable CR123A batteries, but these work out even more expensive in the long run. * The HP30 has a flip up diffuser that can be easily operated while running, but the diffuser is rather flimsy. In fact, overall the Fenix lights do not feel as high quality as the Petzl/Black Diamond lights. They work well, and I've not had any issues with the Fenix lights even after extensive use and abuse, but I still prefer the Petzl/Black Diamond lights. You can get the light on its own as <jfs id="B00HAHA1OG" noreferb="true" n="Fenix HP30" nonl="t"/> or as the <jfs id="B00HLAQ08S" noreferb="true" n="Fenix HP30 Kit" nonl="t"/> which includes batteries and charger.{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix HP30.jpg|none|thumb|300px|The HP30.]]|[[File:Fenix HP30 Kit.jpg|none|thumb|300px|The HP30 is available as a kit with the rather expensive rechargeable batteries and charger.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix HP30 In Race Ready.JPG|none|thumb|300px|The external battery pack fits nicely into Race Ready shorts.]]|[[File:Fenix HP30 Waist.JPG|none|thumb|300px|You can mount the HP30 around your waist.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Direct_4.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brightest spot setting]]|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Direct_3.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Direct_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Direct_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Darkest spot setting]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Diffuse_3.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brightest diffused spot setting]] |[[File:Fenix_HL30_Diffuse_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]] |[[File:Fenix_HL30_Diffuse_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Darkest diffused spot setting]] |}==Fenix HP25==While I love the brightness of the HP25, I find it's too heavy for extended use. If I need this level of brightness, I prefer to take the HP30 which has a waist mounted battery pack. However, because the HP30 is so much more expensive, the HP25 may be a more viable option for those wanting a bright light on a reasonable budget. The HP25 is <jfs id="B00BNUBK46" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>.* The HP25 is a bright light, with over seven hours of runtime on full output. The batteries are replaceable, so it's easy to swap them for fresh ones if you're running all night. * Having the batteries at the back allows you to put them under a hat to keep them warm. * There is a strap that goes overhead helps stabilize the light without needing the headband too tight. * The HP25 has separate LED bulbs for spot and diffuse beams. This allows you to tweak the beam pattern to suit your need. You can have a bright diffuse beam with a dimmer spot, or vice versa. However, this is a lot more hassle than just flipping up a diffuser to change beam pattern, especially if you need to click a few times to change intensity. * The IPX7 splash proof rating means it won't survive being dunked, but it should survive even the heaviest rain. The downsides to the HP25:* Having the battery pack at the back balances the weight of the light, but the HP25 weighs is more than twice as heavy as the Sprinter. I find this is a lot of weight on my head, and I don't like it for protracted periods. * I don't think the build quality is quite as good as Black Diamond or Petzl. I've not had a problem, and I wouldn't suggest the build quality is inadequate, but I prefer the better built lights. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"[[File:Fenix HP25.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The Fenix HP25.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Flood_3.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brightest flood setting]]|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Flood_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Flood_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Darkest flood setting]] |- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Spot_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brightest spot setting]]|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Spot_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Darkest spot setting]] |}==Petzl e+Lite==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 quite bright enough for general use and the lithium batteries are pricy. However, it will fit in the pocket of my Race Ready Shorts, so it makes a great 'oops' light. The I carry the e+Lite is <jfs id="B008AUBOTS" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>.{| class="wikitable"|on all- valign="top"|[[File:Petzl e+lite.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The e+Lite showing the small case it fits into.]]|[[File:E_Lite_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px]] |}==Petzl Tikka RXP==The Petzl Tikka RXP is a sophisticated light that automatically adjusts the brightness depending on the conditions. * When the sensor sees little lightday, the brightness of the LEDs is increased. So if you point your light into the distance, the brightness will increase, and if you point at something nearby, the brightness is reduced. This can work quite nicely when running, as it can be configured to use the dimmer wide beam when you're looking near your feet, and the longer throw spot beam when you look up to see further ahead. If you look at your watch (or anything else close up) the light will dim so you're not blinded. * The Tikka RXP also has a constant mode that is regulated, and both modes have three levels of brightness. * There are two LED bulbs, one with a diffuse wide beam and the other with a narrow focused beam, along with a light sensor. * You can also program the light using a computer (PC or Mac) to change the configuration. * The Tikka RXP comes with a rechargeable battery for <jfs id="B00BA4R43Q" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>, but can buy a converter to take 3 AAA batteries, or you can buy spare rechargeable batteries (<jfs id="B00J2JJAY2" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>). This is the best of both worlds for batteries. There are some important caveats to the RXP:* However, the close up mode is also activated if a light is shining at you, making it a poor choice for running near oncoming cars. self-supported runs where I've also found the light will go dim if you're near reflective signs that bounce more of the light back. It can be quite disconcerting to be plunged into darkness as you approach a street sign. * The battery life varies on usage, so if you're doing a longer run, you'd want to carry spare batteries. * The battery is part of the light, which makes it less balanced than lights with the batteries at the back. * There is no overhead strap, which means you have to have the headband tighter. Petzl also make a more expensive version, the Nao for <jfs id="B00LMCATH4" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>, but I don't think it's worth the extra. There's also the cheaper Tikka R+ for <jfs id="B00BA4QMNY" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>, but you don't save enough to make that worthwhile. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"[[File:Petzl Tikka RXP.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The Petzl Tikka RXP.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Tikka_RXP_Both_Bulbs.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Using both bulbs]]|[[File:Tikka_RXP_Spot_Bulb.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Just the spot bulb]]|[[File:Tikka_RXP_Flood_Bulb.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Just the flood bulb]]|}==Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt==The Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt is unusual in that it can be waist mounted, which makes it one of my favorite lights. Sadly, Petzl has discontinued this light, though it can still be found occasionally. There is no replacement light that includes the ability to be waist mounted, so it's worth tracking down. The waist mounting works best with compression shorts/tights to prevent the light wobbling around. * The waist mounting works wonderfully and unlikely I still love this light. * The XP Adapt uses three AAA batteries, so you can replace them mid-run.* It's the lightest light I've tested that can ll be your main light. The age of the Tactikka XP Adapt is showing when compared with other lights:* The light output is poor, and I often want something brighter. * On the full power the battery life is only 2 hours* The output is not regulated, so it gets dimmer as the battery runs outafter dark. * The Tactikka XP has a diffuser that moves in front of the beam, but instead of flipping up and down, the Tactikka XP's diffuser slides to the side. This is a fiddly affair and it's impractical to move the diffuser while running. {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Petzl XP Adapt Overview.jpg|none|thumb|250px|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. ]]|[[File:Petzl XP Adapt Diagram.jpg|none|thumb|250px|A diagram showing the XP Adapt with the waist mounted adapter.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Waist_Tikka_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brightest setting]] |[[File:Waist_Tikka_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]|[[File:Waist_Tikka_3.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Dimmest setting]]|}==Petzl MYO RXP==The MYO RXP was my favorite light for a long time, but more recent lights have surpassed it. * The regulated output can be used so that you will have power for an overnight runmisjudged things before, and on its lowest power setting it will run for 96 hours. * In regulated mode 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 provides an unregulated mode that is brighter than the brightest regulated beam. This unregulated mode is useful when you need a lot of emergency light for a short period of time. * The RXP can generate a very dim light which works well near dawn. I can balance was the output from difference between getting home and spending the RXP on so I have enough to see by, while allowing my eyes to adjust so that I can see a little further using the available light. * The RXP is IPX4 splash proof so it 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 night in the underside and cause problems until it dries out. The downsides:* The RXP is heavy for its light output; it is similar to the Sprinter, but nearly twice as heavy. * The RXP uses three AA batteries, so it is a little heavy, but having the batteries snow storm on the back balances things quite wellexposed fells. * The rear mounted batteries keep them warmer in cold conditions if you wear it with the back under a hat; you'll probably need two hats to make that work. * The RXP has a diffuser that flips up and down, making it easy to swap between diffuse and spot beams while running.The MYO RXP e+Lite is <jfs id="B004OYTOA0B01KYTR0HM" nonlnoreferb="true" noreferbnonl="truet"/>.{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Petzl MYO XP Fulle+lite.jpg|none|thumb|200px250px|Full view of the RXP. ]]|[[File:Petzl MYO XP Close.jpg|none|thumb|200px| A closer view, The e+Lite 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.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Myo_RXP_Diffuse_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brightest diffused spot setting]]|[[File:Myo_RXP_Diffuse_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]|[[File:Myo_RXP_Diffuse_3.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Dimmest diffused spot setting]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Myo_RXP_Direct_1.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Brighest spot setting]] |[[File:Myo_RXP_Direct_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]|[[File:Myo_RXP_Direct_3.jpg|none|thumb|300px|Dimmest spot setting]]|}==Coast HL6==The HL6 is good value for money, with a reasonably bright light that has a smooth, even beam pattern. While the battery life is short on full power small case it takes standard AA batteries so you can swap them easilyfits into. The light has a twist to zoom beam pattern, but I found this stiff and tricky to use when running. <jfs id="B005NXPW5W" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Coast HL6.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Coast HL6]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Coast HL6 Wide Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Coast HL6 Wide Bright]]|[[File:Coast HL6 Wide Dim.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Coast HL6 Wide Dim]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Coast HL6 Spot Bright.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Coast HL6 Spot Bright]]|[[File:Coast HL6 Spot Dim.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Coast HL6 Spot Dim]]|}==GRDE Zoomable==The GRDE claims 2000 Lumens and costs only $20, which is amazing. Sadly the reality falls rather short and it's only included here as a cautionary tale of what to watch out for when buying a running light.* The GRDE is bright, but I'm not convinced it's 2000 lumens. My brightness test suggests it's only half the output of the 900 lumen HP30, and the perceived brightness is going to be close to the MX500. * The GRDE uses the expensive rechargeable 18650 and the light comes with two batteries. Two reputable brand 18650 batteries would cost more than the GRDE does, so I suspect their quality is poor. There are comments on line of safety problems with charging the batteries in the light, another indication of quality issues. * The widest beam pattern is not wide enough for running, though it is smooth and even. On its narrowest setting the beam projects an amazing distance, though I'm not sure how useful that is for running. * The light is rather uncomfortable, with the light mounted on a plastic plate the sits on your forehead. * There's waterproof rating, just a vague claim of "Living Waterproof", whatever that means. I didn't chance running in the rain with it. For more details: <jfs id="B00R5NMFE4" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:GRDE Zoomable.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GRDE Zoomable]]|- valign="top"|[[File:GRDE 2000 Wide Bright.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GRDE 2000 Wide Bright]]|[[File:GRDE 2000 Wide Dim.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GRDE 2000 Wide Dim]]|- valign="top"|[[File:GRDE 2000 Spot Bright.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GRDE 2000 Spot Bright]]|[[File:GRDE 2000 Spot Dim.jpg|none|thumb|200px|GRDE 2000 Spot Dim]]|}

Waist mounted lights are fairly unusual, but they're worth considering for several reasons. * Waist mounted lights are much better at showing you the shape of the ground, and any obstacles are a lot more apparent. This is because a head mounted light aligned with your eyes so there's few shadows. Below are sets of photos taken with the [https://apps.apple. This is best seen in the images abovecom/us/app/stabilized-night-camera/id1433896496| Stabilized Night Camera app] that allows for long exposure.<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center" perrow="2">File:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (1).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (3).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (4).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (5).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (6).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (7).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (8).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (9).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (10).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (11).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (12).JPGFile:Comparing waist and head mounted lights (13). JPG</gallery>* In rain or dusty conditions , a waist mounted light will not create glare in front of your face. With a head mounted light, the beam picks up the rain or dust, and because of the closeness these particles are brightly lit. It can be hard to see through these spots, and the effect can be quite claustrophobic. It doesn''I sometimes run t capture the full difference in visibility, but it gives you a sense of how much easier it is to see in the rain with BOTH head and a waist mounted lights, which provides light. <gallery widths=300px heights=300px>File:Headlight in the rain.jpg|Headlight in the rainFile:Waistlight in the best of both worldsrain. The waist jpg|Waist mounted light gives me in the shape of the groundrain</gallery>If there are insects about, and a head mounted spot light helps me look aroundcauses them to fly into your face, which is even more unpleasant. ''

I don't recommend handheld lights for several reasons. The biggest problem is that keeping the light pointed in the right direction changes your arm movement and this messes up your [[Running Form]]. In addition, handheld lights occupy one of your hands making it tricky to do anything in the dark, though [http://www.amazon.com/Knuckle-Lights-SILVER/dp/B00847KVLY knuckle lights] overcome this.

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. A bright light can also help psychologically, as a small pool of light can become confining and claustrophobic. However, if there's a little more ambient light, then a dim light can work best. A dimmer light can provide enough to shoe you what's ahead without compromising your night vision. Having a light that will go both very bright and very dim is ideal, and several of the lights I recommend can provide both extremes. =Other Thoughts===Safety lights==A flashing red light clipped to the back of your waist band is a worthwhile addition for running in urban situations. The [http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Clip-On-Deluxe-L-E-D-Safety/dp/B000MQ99GS Nathan Clip-On Safety Strobe] is less than $10, though a light with a rear safety light is a better bet. [[File:Nathan Safety Light.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The Nathan clip on safety strobe.]]==Batteries==I use [http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B004SB1TD4 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 [http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50 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.