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Best Running Lights

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# '''Black Diamond Sprinter'''. This is my top pic for most runners; it's lightweight, reasonably bright, and includes a flashing red safety light on the back. <jfs id="B0077NU8YQ" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.

# '''Foxelli MX500'''. The MX500 is a very close second to the Sprinter. It's a little brighter, has a spot beam as well as a diffuse pattern, and it's fully waterproof, all at a lower price than the Sprinter. The Sprinter's rear safety light puts it just ahead of the MX500, as do regulated light levels and better build-quality. <jfs id="B013COPT6K" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>

# '''GoMotion Orion'''. The Orion is mounted on its own running belt, putting the light at waist high, which shows the shape of the ground much better. (The Orion is new, so it's a little harder to find, but the earlier Lightbelt 100 is available as <jfs id="~~B00KEU6IYI~~B006B78FIA" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.

# '''Fenix HP30'''. If you want a bright light, this is by far the best, though it's not cheap. The light is far brighter than any other, 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 for the expensive rechargeable 18650 batteries and charger.

# '''Fenix HP25'''. 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 Tactikka XP Adapt'''. This would be one of my top lights, but sadly it's discontinued. This is the only light I've found that will clip nicely into your waistband. I wish Petzl would resurrect this idea as it works so well. (Nathan has a belt adapter for their lights, but it does not swivel up and down.)

# '''Petzl MYO RXP'''. This used to be my favorite light, and I still like to run with it. However, lights like the Foxelli and Sprinter offer similar features at a much lower cost. <jfs id="B004OYTOA0" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.

# '''Coast HL6'''. The HL6 is the cheapest of the lights I'd recommend as a primary light. The battery doesn't last terribly long on full power, and the build quality doesn't inspire me, but if you want something cheap and viable, this is worth a look. <jfs id="B005NXPW5W" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.# '''GRDE Zoomable'''. The GRDE offers 2000 Lumens for only $20, which seems too good to be true. I've only included this light as a cautionary lesson in what to avoid in a running light. It's heavy, uncomfortable, has too narrower a beam, and is no-where near as bright as it claims. <jfs id="B00R5NMFE4" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.

Details of the key factors to look for in a light are further down the page.

=Brightness=

The images below are from the recommended lights on their brightest and widest settings. The pictures use a fixed exposure and no post-processing so they reflect the actual brightness. In practice, the perceived illumination will not differ quite as much as the images because your eyes adjust a little. For pictures of the other brightness settings and the details of the photographs, see [[Light Gallery 30|Running Light Gallery]].

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=Recommended Lights=

==Black Diamond Sprinter==

The Sprinter edged out the MX500 to be my top pick at <jfs id="~~B0077NU8YQ~~B00LU2W8SY" nonl="true" noreferb="true"/>.

* The flashing rear safety light is a great idea and I wish more lights would do this. The safety light comes on with the main light, but you can override this to turn it on and off independently.

* 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, though that obviously prevents the safety light from being seen.

* 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 output.

* I'd rather have replaceable AA or AAA batteries rather than a built in rechargeable battery. Replaceable batteries allow me to have more than one set charged up at a time and just swap them over. The built in batteries should last a long time, but when they eventually wear out, you need to replace the light.

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==Foxelli MX500==

The MX500 was nearly my top pick, but it just lost out to the Sprinter.

* 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.

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|[[File:Foxelli MX500 Low Medium Spot.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Foxelli MX500 Low Medium Spot]]|}

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==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 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"/>.

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==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.

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==Fenix 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.

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[[File:Fenix HP25.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The Fenix HP25.]]

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|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Flood_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]

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==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 e+Lite is <jfs id="B008AUBOTS" noreferb="true" nonl="t"/>.

{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Petzl e+lite.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The e+Lite showing the small case it fits into.]]~~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~~|[[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.

* 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.

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[[File:Petzl Tikka RXP.jpg|none|thumb|250px|The Petzl Tikka RXP.]]

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==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.

|[[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. ]]

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|[[File:Waist_Tikka_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]

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==Petzl MYO RXP==

|[[File:Petzl MYO XP Close.jpg|none|thumb|200px| 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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|[[File:Myo_RXP_Diffuse_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]

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|[[File:Myo_RXP_Direct_2.jpg|none|thumb|300px]]

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==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 it takes standard AA batteries so you can swap them easily. 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"/>

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==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"/>.

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=What to look for=

[[File:Light Regulation.jpg|none|thumb|350px|The difference between regulated and unregulated light output.]]

==Brightness==

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. The images below are from the recommended lights on their brightest settings. For pictures of the other brightness settings and the details of the photographs, see [[Light Gallery 30|Running Light Gallery]].~~{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Direct_4.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Fenix HP30 Spot]]|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Spot_2.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Fenix HP25 Spot]]|[[File:E_Lite_1.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl e+Lite Spot]]~~ ~~|[[File:Myo_RXP_Direct_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl MYO RXP Spot]]|[[File:Tikka_RXP_Spot_Bulb.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl Tikka RXP Spot]]~~|~~|- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix_HL30_Diffuse_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Fenix HP30 Flood]]|[[File:Fenix_HP25_Flood_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Fenix HP25 Flood]]|(No flood mode for e+Lite)|[[File:Myo_RXP_Diffuse_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl MYO RXP Flood]]|[[File:Tikka_RXP_Flood_Bulb.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl Tikka RXP Flood]]|[[File:Waist_Tikka_3.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Petzl Tactikka XP Adapt Flood]]~~|}

=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.

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