Best Current Running Headlamp

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wacomme

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I'm new to headlamps and running at night. I've tried to filter through the postings, but the more I read the more confused I become. As a trail runner (Colorado front range mountain trails), I need to navigate the terrain as I run downhill. My current setup is a Black Diamond (model MM5990??) with separate flood and beam settings. It's a 3 AAA model and it works ok. I also have an old Jetstream MXIIX that I haven't used yet since I don't know how running with a light in my hand will work.

Anyway, I'm looking for a good running setup. Any thoughts or ideas?

Thank you.

Michael
 
PT Eos with the Rebel LED (50 lumen) gives a nice mix of throw and flood and shows up the whole width of the trail.

It runs off 3 AAA's. If you used lithium batteries, you can get the full 50 lumen output (giving a 54m beam) regulated for 6 hours (now that's a long run!).

Put standard duracell coppertops in and the 50 lumen will run for 1 hour constant, or you could drop down to the middle power setting (which by the way is perfectly adequate with dark adapted eyes and will light up the trail for around 30 metres ahead) and get 10 hours regulated run time.

I do find that it is bigger than most 3 AAA set ups, and might feel a little heavier than say a Petzl Tikka. But the beam alone more than makes up for this.

I would also look out for the new Fenix headlamps HP15 (2 AA) and HL20 (1 AA) as both of these seem light enough to run with and have bags of power, more so than the Eos I have mentioned above. HP15 will supposedly have 180 lumen of light regulated for 1.8 hours. Trouble is, these lights are yet to be released!

Best regards - Steve
 
Same question was asked 49 new posts ago .

And others a few days before those .

Look at the "Archive" thread titles recently posted in the "Headlamp" Archives.

Also this .
 
Last edited:
Steve,

Thank you. Perhaps I'll wait for reviews of the Fenix HP15 and HL20. When are they expected to be available for sale?
 
Steve,

Thank you. Perhaps I'll wait for reviews of the Fenix HP15 and HL20. When are they expected to be available for sale?
 
Many runners that posted in those previous threads , said that "flood" headlamps are better than "spot" headlamps .

So you're not "following a bouncing ball of light" .
.
 
Good point.

Unfortunately "flood" and "spot" are ambiguous. If you want the best lighting for a specific task, you have go numeric...figure out the best beam spread in degrees.

For trail running, a 100-degree headlamp beam is too diffuse...but a 5-degree spot is too blinding & bouncy.

In between...say 30-degree spread...is that a flood, or a spot? ;)

I don't know what the ideal spread is for your trail running style. Maybe check out the mountain-bike forums, and see what the really dedicated night-riders are using on rough trails. Then widen the beam a bit for your slower speed on foot. :thumbsup:

-Jeff
 
Good point. What is ideal? I suppose that depends upon the trail. Is the trail narrow and rocky or is it wide and smooth? How fast are you moving? Over rough terrain I'm moving more slowly and looking only a short distance in front of me, carefully selecting the placement of each footstep. When the trail is smooth and consistent, I'm looking down the trail and not at my feet.

Perhaps an adjustable light is ideal, more "flood" for the technical sections of trail and more "spot" for smoother, faster trails. Does such a light exist?

uplite said:
Good point.

Unfortunately "flood" and "spot" are ambiguous. If you want the best lighting for a specific task, you have go numeric...figure out the best beam spread in degrees.

For trail running, a 100-degree headlamp beam is too diffuse...but a 5-degree spot is too blinding & bouncy.

In between...say 30-degree spread...is that a flood, or a spot? ;)

I don't know what the ideal spread is for your trail running style. Maybe check out the mountain-bike forums, and see what the really dedicated night-riders are using on rough trails. Then widen the beam a bit for your slower speed on foot. :thumbsup:

-Jeff
Click to expand...
 
wacomme said:
Perhaps an adjustable light is ideal, more "flood" for the technical sections of trail and more "spot" for smoother, faster trails. Does such a light exist?
Click to expand...
I know at least one manufacturer (coast / led lenser) makes focusing headlamps. Probably some others. They are likely to be heavier and bulkier than fixed-focus headlamps though. And the faster you move, the more the weight matters...

-Jeff
 
Why not a quark with the prizm? Gives you some flexibility for some throw and flood with the diffuser. the AA I have should make a very light headlamp as well.
 
I'm not familiar with the quark or prizm.
dirtech said:
Why not a quark with the prizm? Gives you some flexibility for some throw and flood with the diffuser. the AA I have should make a very light headlamp as well.
Click to expand...
 
I think it depends. On road you dont need much light, any lightweigt lamp will do. On trails you'll do fine if you are not taking it too seriously, you are just jogging slowly or you use headlamp only as a backup if darkens comes before you hoped. But you take night trail running even a litle bit more seriously you should forget those low output headlamp and get a more serious one. Like Lupine Tesla, nice but expensive or Magickshine P7, about similar but cheap. Typical setup is carrying battery in back zip pocket of running pants, wire under shirt/jacket. Like this the weight on head isn't too much. Additional weight is in back pocket, 200g battery goes there nicely. And you dont need to have vest / backpack.

For example last week I ran 7 hours with similar setup, 2 x P7 headlamp (my avatar) and battery pack in zip pocked. I am sure if you try a setup like that once you will never go back to those low output (less than 300 lumens) lights. Or this is how I see it, some may think not seeing well is part of the fun, for me it isn't.
 
Has anyone tried the BD Sprinter? It's supposedly designed for runners, 68 lumens, lithium polymer battery, etc. Just curious.
 
Wow! The Magickshine P7 sounds very interesting. Does anyone else run this this setup? Like you, I want to see. Night running isn't my preference; it's a necessity.

Jagge said:
I think it depends. On road you dont need much light, any lightweigt lamp will do. On trails you'll do fine if you are not taking it too seriously, you are just jogging slowly or you use headlamp only as a backup if darkens comes before you hoped. But you take night trail running even a litle bit more seriously you should forget those low output headlamp and get a more serious one. Like Lupine Tesla, nice but expensive or Magickshine P7, about similar but cheap. Typical setup is carrying battery in back zip pocket of running pants, wire under shirt/jacket. Like this the weight on head isn't too much. Additional weight is in back pocket, 200g battery goes there nicely. And you dont need to have vest / backpack.

For example last week I ran 7 hours with similar setup, 2 x P7 headlamp (my avatar) and battery pack in zip pocked. I am sure if you try a setup like that once you will never go back to those low output (less than 300 lumens) lights. Or this is how I see it, some may think not seeing well is part of the fun, for me it isn't.
Click to expand...
 
Does the Magickshine P7 feel heavy on the head? What kind of headstrap do you use?
 
wacomme said:
Does the Magickshine P7 feel heavy on the head? What kind of headstrap do you use?
Click to expand...

I don't have Magickshine myself (I use DIY and Lupine lights), but I know it is getting popular in Scandinavia. Some of my frinds has it. Some are happy with the original Magickshine headstrap, some has got better strap. Weight is about 120..130g (lamp + headstrap), that's not much at all if strap is fine.

Here is a video I took year ago while running with an other SSC P7 headlamp. Crappy video quality but gives some idea how well you see with a light like that. Off trail running in darkness is no problem.
 
Jagge said:
I don't have Magickshine myself (I use DIY and Lupine lights), but I know it is getting popular in Scandinavia.
Click to expand...

Jagge, the other night I forgot my Fenix and borrowed an Ay-up. 2 unregulated 150 lumen Crees I think. Very light and bright, with a li-Po pack on the back. Sure, it will dim out due to lack of regulation and has no brightness setting, but it was simple and easy.

I think you could sell a kit like yours, no problem.
 
Offroad'Bent said:
borrowed an Ay-up
Click to expand...

I guess Ay-up will have xp-g upgrade soon (may already be avalable, I don't know for sure).

I am not a big fan of back of head battery packs. I have quite nice that kind of light too, but it's kind of choosing between belt pack (=more light & less weight on head but a bit more overall weight) and back of head pack (=less light, less overall weight but more weight on head) and I usually end up choosing the belt version (for better runnability).

Offroad'Bent said:
I think you could sell a kit like yours, no problem.
Click to expand...

There is already Nailbender's p60 dropins (P7, MCE or linger special). Just hose clamp, had strap some wire and battery pack and you are about done.
 
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