planetrunner
Newly Enlightened
Attempting my first CPF review for the runners on this forum who enjoy running at night and care about usability and practicality first, cool features and options second. Here goes.
Quick context is that I'm a bearded trail runner and ultra marathoner. Headlamps are a key part of the essential gear I train and (have to) race with. Proper shoes and nutrition take up most of my mental space when I run, so for a headlamp to work, it has to be almost invisible. That is, it works, it's comfortable, and I don't have to think about it.
I discovered Fenix by accident after breaking a number of sub $100 headlamps. Disclaimed that the Fenix HL50 is my default trail running headlamp. It works in +40c and -40c. It's bright enough to run alone. And it can get knocked off my head by a low hanging branch and survive. Fenix gear is hard to get in Ottawa, and so I was interested to try their running headlamp line when it came out.
(Fenix products in Ottawa, hidden on a bottom rack in MEC)
The basic features on the HL26R are impressive: good for the environment (rechargeable), able to survive mud puddles (water resistant), and enough light to see and avoid oncoming bears in strawberry season (max output of 450 lumens). Enough basics to be able to take on a technical trail at night by yourself.
I was immediately skeptical of the HL26R's durability. But, out of the box, the all-plastic design felt solid. The light has six preset positions to tilt the headlamp down to numbly avoid roots, rocks and other trail debris. Not as customizable as the HL50s free rotation tilt, but it works.
HL26R's spotlights and floodlights are controlled by two buttons on the top of the unit. This is pain at first because when the headlamp is not tilted, the buttons are not accessible because of a Fenix branded plastic plate. On the trail, however, this plastic plate makes sense: it protects the buttons from being hit when dodging low hanging tree branches. It's essentially the headlamp equivalent of a rockplate in a trail shoe.
Fit and feel of the HL26R is comfortable and secure. After five minutes it's not noticeable on a bare head. Even in recent +30c sweat drenched weather, the band sticks to your forehead without issue. No concerns about running with the light in a rain storm.
Charing the HL26R is like most micro-USB smartphones. Super easy and comes with a cable. Four little charging lights appear when charging the units which is helpful if you're like me and need to charge while driving an hour to the trails. Charge time is quicker than my Garmin Fenix GPS.
(charing the HL26R in my car with my Garmin Fenix 2)
To date, I've put the HL26R through a wide mix of trail conditions in the Gatineau Park and other east coast national parks in Canada. I've attached it to my dogs while running through the forest. And I've used it casually for things like prepping a nice campfire dinner.
(HL26R helped us make sure the chicken was cooked)
The lighting sweet spot is alternating between the unit's medium and high spotlight modes. Every other setting, less the blast mode, is not suitable for running. At 130 lumens, the high spotlight mode casts a wide beam that is enough to see an immediate single track trail and be aware of current surroundings. Relative to my HL50, the HL26R's vivid LED lights are sufficiently bright. Below is an example of the HL26R medium and high settings when looking into a dense side of the trail I was on in Nova Scotia, Canada.
(medium HL26R setting)
(high HL26R setting)
For runners going out at night with a group, the HL26R will complement whatever other headlights are being used and worn. If you're out on your own, the output of the HL26R is enough to make you feel safe and focus on enjoying the run. Like any gear, getting used to how it works (like the 450 lumen burst mode staying on only for a minute at a time) is important.
I'm fully intending to work the HL26R into my summer ultramarathon calendar, including The North Face Blue Mountain 50 miler tomorrow. It weighs less than a Clif Bar, works, and fits perfectly into my minimalist hydration race vests.
Definitely worth trying this out if you're looking for something that works so you can focus on what you love: getting out and running.
Quick context is that I'm a bearded trail runner and ultra marathoner. Headlamps are a key part of the essential gear I train and (have to) race with. Proper shoes and nutrition take up most of my mental space when I run, so for a headlamp to work, it has to be almost invisible. That is, it works, it's comfortable, and I don't have to think about it.
I discovered Fenix by accident after breaking a number of sub $100 headlamps. Disclaimed that the Fenix HL50 is my default trail running headlamp. It works in +40c and -40c. It's bright enough to run alone. And it can get knocked off my head by a low hanging branch and survive. Fenix gear is hard to get in Ottawa, and so I was interested to try their running headlamp line when it came out.
(Fenix products in Ottawa, hidden on a bottom rack in MEC)
The basic features on the HL26R are impressive: good for the environment (rechargeable), able to survive mud puddles (water resistant), and enough light to see and avoid oncoming bears in strawberry season (max output of 450 lumens). Enough basics to be able to take on a technical trail at night by yourself.
I was immediately skeptical of the HL26R's durability. But, out of the box, the all-plastic design felt solid. The light has six preset positions to tilt the headlamp down to numbly avoid roots, rocks and other trail debris. Not as customizable as the HL50s free rotation tilt, but it works.
HL26R's spotlights and floodlights are controlled by two buttons on the top of the unit. This is pain at first because when the headlamp is not tilted, the buttons are not accessible because of a Fenix branded plastic plate. On the trail, however, this plastic plate makes sense: it protects the buttons from being hit when dodging low hanging tree branches. It's essentially the headlamp equivalent of a rockplate in a trail shoe.
Fit and feel of the HL26R is comfortable and secure. After five minutes it's not noticeable on a bare head. Even in recent +30c sweat drenched weather, the band sticks to your forehead without issue. No concerns about running with the light in a rain storm.
Charing the HL26R is like most micro-USB smartphones. Super easy and comes with a cable. Four little charging lights appear when charging the units which is helpful if you're like me and need to charge while driving an hour to the trails. Charge time is quicker than my Garmin Fenix GPS.
(charing the HL26R in my car with my Garmin Fenix 2)
To date, I've put the HL26R through a wide mix of trail conditions in the Gatineau Park and other east coast national parks in Canada. I've attached it to my dogs while running through the forest. And I've used it casually for things like prepping a nice campfire dinner.
(HL26R helped us make sure the chicken was cooked)
The lighting sweet spot is alternating between the unit's medium and high spotlight modes. Every other setting, less the blast mode, is not suitable for running. At 130 lumens, the high spotlight mode casts a wide beam that is enough to see an immediate single track trail and be aware of current surroundings. Relative to my HL50, the HL26R's vivid LED lights are sufficiently bright. Below is an example of the HL26R medium and high settings when looking into a dense side of the trail I was on in Nova Scotia, Canada.
(medium HL26R setting)
(high HL26R setting)
For runners going out at night with a group, the HL26R will complement whatever other headlights are being used and worn. If you're out on your own, the output of the HL26R is enough to make you feel safe and focus on enjoying the run. Like any gear, getting used to how it works (like the 450 lumen burst mode staying on only for a minute at a time) is important.
I'm fully intending to work the HL26R into my summer ultramarathon calendar, including The North Face Blue Mountain 50 miler tomorrow. It weighs less than a Clif Bar, works, and fits perfectly into my minimalist hydration race vests.
Definitely worth trying this out if you're looking for something that works so you can focus on what you love: getting out and running.
