LED for Walking?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Don't underestimate the value of white retro-reflective material when the oncoming car's driver has had their night vision compromised by their own lights. A reflective ankle strap by virtue of its full spectrum return, constant motion while walking and it being low to the ground where the angle of reflection is closer to 180 degrees make it a bright, high visibility marker. The brighter their light, the brighter the reflection. (Compare the light from a reflector on the ground to one four feet up when you are driving a car and you will see an amazing difference.) Reflectors return most of their light within a 0.3 degree angle. (Conversely, compare a small light held at waist height shown at a reflective traffic sign with the same light held between your eyes. Even at a long distance the narrow angle makes a big difference. That's why I put white reflective tape down low on my kids bikes.)
Couple that with a cheap ($5), slow flashing amber (amber is better on the CIE curve) LED light that runs on AAs and you won't need your handheld light except to see the walking surface.
Remember you can shine your handheld light on yourself or your companion (e.g. pet) to make the object identifible to the oncoming driver rather than pointing your light in the drivers eyes.
And if it is too light out for drivers to have their lights on, a flouresent shirt or windbreaker that takes late afternoon UV energy from the sun and converts it to visible yellow/green light is a great safety tool.

 

[WaltH]

Opalec Newbeam. It's visible from a pretty good distance, has great run-time, uses cheap batteries.
Also small enought that if you're running you can hold it comfortably. The 3D's mentioned above would be a pain to run with.

Good Luck.

 

[Max]

I use my Lambda Illuminator when I'm out walking the dog through the park at night. I'd probably agree that any decent 5-7 LED or Luxeon flashlight would be a good choice. I've never tried the Opalec Newbeam, but I think for this purpose you might like something a little bit brighter.

I really like smooth beams, so I stuck on a circle of WriteRite onto my LI, which just makes it perfect for me.

This is going to sound a little funny, but almost every day I find myself thinking, "I wish the streetlights in this park weren't so darned bright! They keep interfering with my flashlight!"

 

[rlhess]

Stop the presses...see the other thread about the Streamlight 3C...more when I get one. I like the 4AA.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[RonM]

My vote goes to the Streamlight 4AA with 7 LEDS. Reasonable compromise between weight, output, runtime and visability.

I wouldn't choose anything that has a spot focus. You need a wide angle beam to see and be seen. For being seen, I don't think there is anything better than a reflective safety vest and ankle strap. The output of most flashlights is piddly compared to car headlights, stoplights, streetlights, etc.

I have a very sad story about road running. A few years ago, a woman was killed by a car while running along the state highway caddy corner from my church. A year or two after that, her husband was hit and killed directly in front of my church during an early morning run on the same road.

Forgot to mention that they left behind a few school aged kids.