Best Running Headlamps, Trail Tested

There’s a couple of causes you would possibly end up operating at nighttime. Perhaps you need to suit your exercise right into a busy schedule, or perhaps you need the path all to your self. Both means, you’re going to want probably the greatest operating headlamps. Out of doors Life path runners examined and reviewed one of the best operating headlamps which have a safe match, regular lighting, and ample throw for navigating tough terrain at excessive speeds.

How We Examined the Finest Headlamps

To check one of the best operating headlamps, we first used them within the discipline. OL editor-in-chief Alex Robinson and I’ve been sporting these headlamps for darkish path runs on wooded trails, rocky descents, snowy hills, and extra.

Through the use of these headlamps within the discipline and doing aspect by aspect comparisons with fashions of comparable lumen ranges, we judged which lights carried out greatest in shut quarters versus lengthy distances at completely different brightness settings. Then, we carried out managed battery life, freeze, and water resistance exams.

Learn Subsequent: Best Headlamps, Tested and Reviewed

Battery Life

We turned all of those headlamps to the best setting and recorded how lengthy it took for them to die. This was to get a basic concept of their battery utilization, not essentially to check it to producer offered specs. The marketed battery life was at all times shorter than the precise burn time. It is because producers cease timing battery life when the sunshine dims considerably — not when it truly dies. Understand that headlamps with alkaline batteries will often outperform rechargeable batteries.

Freeze

We put these headlamps within the freezer for an hour to verify they’d all nonetheless activate in freezing temps.

Water Resistance

Ingress Safety (IP) rankings dictate the mud and water resistance of a product. The primary quantity is mud resistance from 0 to six, and if the product shouldn’t be rated to face up to mud there’s an X as a placeholder. The second quantity is water resistance starting from 0 to eight.

Whereas most of those headlamps can’t be submerged (IPX7), they need to stand up to splashes from all instructions (IPX4). I left these headlamps exterior within the sprinkling rain for half an hour. Then, I threw a cup of water on them for good measure. 

Finest Operating Headlamps: Opinions & Suggestions

Finest General: Petzl Nao RL

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Key Options

• Lumens: 1500
• Lights: Reactive and customary white
• Weight: 5.11 ounces
• Climate Resistance: IPX4
• Worth: $180
• Guarantee: 3 years
• Measured Battery Life: 2.5 hours on max brightness
• Rechargeable
• Rear crimson gentle

Professionals

• Vast, vivid beam
• A number of match changes
• Comes with a storage pouch that doubles as a lantern

Cons

Not all headlamps are helpful for path operating; in actual fact, most aren’t. It is because the tremendous light-weight lamps are often not vivid sufficient and the heavier ones at all times appear to wobble and shift as you run. The bouncing beam will make you dizzy otherwise you’ll need to always reposition the headlamp as you go.

So if you’ll be operating at evening often, I recommend spending the additional money on a headlamp that was designed for the aim. Meet Petzl Nao RL. You’ll see this headlamp being worn by the world’s prime ultra-runners (like phenom Courtney Dauwalter), however you don’t need to be lining up at UTMB to understand its options. I wore the Nao RL for a couple of nighttime path runs round my home (after years of experimenting with different inferior headlamps) and now I’ll by no means run at evening with out it. 

There are a couple of specifics that make the Nao RL a perfect headlamp for operating. The primary is match. You’ll discover that the battery pack is within the again, which makes the load extra balanced and helps stop the headlamp from shifting misplaced whereas operating. As a substitute of a single strap, the Nao makes use of a harness system (with a number of adjustment factors) to your head. It takes some tinkering to get it to suit correctly, however whenever you do get it proper, it can really feel snug and secure it doesn’t matter what kind of operating you do. Plus the lamp itself doesn’t wiggle on the strap in any respect whenever you run.

This headlamp additionally has a reactive lighting mode. The sunshine physique has a sensor and accelerometer which work to routinely regulate the brightness of the beam relying on the gap of the objects round you, the quantity of accessible ambient gentle, and the velocity at which you’re touring (quicker means extra gentle, slower means much less gentle). There’s in fact an ordinary mode, which lets you regulate brightness manually. Nevertheless, the good thing about the reactive mode is that it preserves battery life by dimming the sunshine at occasions whenever you don’t want full energy. 

Whereas messing round in camp, the reactive lighting mode was annoying to me. I simply needed a constant beam. However whereas operating, I didn’t even discover the function, which is what you need. I settled on utilizing the second brightness setting (out of three) in reactive mode for my runs, which appeared to be the right candy spot of brightness and battery life (not less than 5 hours). On max energy, the battery solely lasted 2.5 hours. So if you’re a hardcore ultra-runner who will likely be trucking via a complete evening, it’s best to get a second rechargeable battery to maintain in your vest. 

Further options that I appreciated about this headlamp are the non-obligatory crimson gentle on the again (so automobiles can see you in the event you’re highway operating), the white carrying pouch which doubles as a lantern in the event you depart the lamp on, and the power to lock the sunshine (so it doesn’t by chance swap on) by holding the ability button for 4 seconds. —Alex Robinson

Learn Subsequent: Best Running Vests

Finest Worth: Nitecore Nu25 UL

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Key Options

• Lumens: 400
• Modes: Spot, flood, and crimson
• Weight: 1.59 ounces
• Climate Resistance: IP66
• Worth: $37
• Guarantee: 2 years
• Measured Battery Life: 11 hours, 45 minutes
• Rechargeable

Professionals

• Ultralight
• Easy to make use of
• Inexpensive

Cons

That is one of the best operating headlamp to your cash. It’s beneath $40 and vivid sufficient to hike, run, and even bike a path at evening. One tester used this headlamp to pedal up and experience down a wooded single-track path after work. He mentioned the spectacular throw allowed him to see far sufficient in entrance of him to go full velocity. It’s straightforward to regulate to your head and comparatively snug. The cords are much like those on our greatest general decide and supply a secure match whereas operating, although the Nu25 isn’t as immovable because the harness system of the Nao RL. The Nu25 UL is way lighter although, at lower than 2 ounces.

Workers author Laura Lancaster’s very best headlamp would have a single button for on, off, and crimson. Whereas there are two buttons on this lamp, it was nonetheless her favourite due to how easy it’s to make use of, and since it’s gentle weight. One button toggles which of the 2 lights are on, and the opposite button cycles brightness ranges and crimson. In case you’re in search of one thing easy, reasonably priced, and efficient, it is a nice multi-sport possibility. The Nitecore Nu25 UL additionally lasted virtually 12 hours in my battery life check.

Finest Low Profile: BioLite Headlamp 425

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Key Options

• Lumens: 425
• Modes: Spot, flood, dimming, strobe, and crimson 
• Weight: 2.75 ounces
• Climate Resistance: IPX4
• Worth: $60
• Guarantee: 1 12 months
• Measured Battery Life: 6 hours
• Rechargeable
• Rear crimson gentle

Professionals

• Dimmable crimson
• Slim profile
• Secure when operating

Cons

• Tough to tilt
• Should cycle via all settings to show off

This headlamp jogs my memory of a mullet with an all-business, no frills gentle in entrance, and the remainder of the celebration — a chargeable battery and rear gentle — within the again. Whereas BioLite isn’t the one firm balancing the load of their headlamps by placing the battery on the again, the slim gentle supply makes theirs extremely low-profile. As a result of the sunshine seamlessly integrates into the band, the beam is regular when operating. This mannequin has nice proximity lighting for trails, and it’s snug to put on. The battery lasted 6 hours within the burn time check.

I really like that you could dim the crimson gentle to protect your evening imaginative and prescient. This headlamp is much less packable than others, nonetheless, because of the separate battery and lamp models, together with the twine to attach them. In case you’re sporting gloves, you would possibly wrestle to regulate the lean of the sunshine as a result of it’s so skinny. It’s additionally just a little annoying to need to cycle via all the settings to show it off, which suggests you’re subjected to the strobe function each time. However the stability, low-profile, and numerous brightness ranges makes the BioLite 425 very best for evening operating.

BioLite Headlamp 800 Pro

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Key Options

• Lumens: 800
• Modes: Spot, flood, dimming, strobe, and crimson 
• Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Climate Resistance: IPX4
• Worth: $100
• Guarantee: 1 12 months
• Measured Battery Life: 20 hours and 50 minutes
• Rechargeable
• Rear crimson gentle

Professionals

• Massive proximity lighting
• Secure when operating
• Can connect with an exterior battery (3-foot twine included)

Cons

• Not one of the best distance lighting

The 800 Professional is much like the BioLite 425 in that it’s snug to put on as a result of the battery is on the again, balancing the load throughout your head. It illuminates your environment excellently, and the battery lasted an impressively lengthy 21 hours. Tilting this mannequin is less complicated than BioLite’s 425 headlamp because of an area between the band and light-weight housing to hook your finger into.

There’s no motion whereas operating. However whereas it lights up the house round you properly, it doesn’t lower via darkness over distance. You will have the choice of utilizing an included 3-foot twine to attach an exterior battery for lengthy missions, or excessive chilly climate the place battery life can diminish. The flexibility to delay the battery life with additional batteries means you at all times have additional juice to maintain going at evening.

Silva Explore 4

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Key Options

• Lumens: 400
• Modes: Low, medium, excessive, orange, and crimson
• Weight: 3 ounces
• Climate Resistance: IPX7
• Worth: $50
• Guarantee: 2 years
• Measured Battery Life: 27 hours and 45 minutes
• Three AAA batteries or Silva Explore 4RC rechargeable version for $65

Professionals

• Low mode is 10 lumens, nice for studying
• Detachable extensive band
• Nice battery life 

Cons

• Activates at highest setting 
• Batteries aren’t included
• Gel inside headband tugs my hair

For prime depth actions like path operating, you want a headlamp that can keep in place and regulate to precisely the place you want it. The Discover has a large band with a skinny gel line inside to maintain it in place. You’ll be able to twist the Discover utterly up or down, with the power to make minute changes. I really like having the ability to angle the beam precisely the place I need it, and have it keep there.

This headlamp was the second to final to die in my battery check. It took virtually 28 hours to kill the three Duracell AAAs. Disposable batteries are virtually at all times going to survive rechargeable batteries, however this headlamp wouldn’t stop. You’ll simply have to purchase these batteries individually, or go for the rechargeable model.

The gel on the band that retains it in place does tug on my hair, but it surely hold the sunshine secure when operating. You may go for a hat to assist with this concern. It routinely activates on the highest setting which might be annoying, however in the event you maintain down the button you may entry the nice crimson and orange modes. 

Although, the Discover 4 doesn’t pack down very small, the lengthy battery life, streamlined housing, and efficient headband make the Discover 4 nice for operating, exercising, and different quick paced missions.

Silva Trail Runner Free

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Key Options

• Lumens: 400
• Modes: Low, medium, excessive, and strobe
• Weight: 4 ounces
• Climate Resistance: IPX5
• Worth: $90
• Guarantee: 2 years
• Measured Battery Life: 5 hours
• Rechargeable or three AAAs
• Rear crimson gentle

Professionals

• Penetrating brightness
• Choice to hold battery or mount to the again
• Hybrid battery

Cons

• Gel on band pulls my hair
• No crimson gentle

This tiny gentle stunned me; it appears to be milking each a type of 400 lumens. The beam is vivid and cuts via the darkness, making it very best for lighting lengthy distances. In case you’re in search of regular brightness, the Path Runner free is a superb possibility for tough terrain or expansive ridges. You’ll be able to streamline the band as properly by carrying the hybrid battery pack in your pocket utilizing the included twine. Or hold it mounted to the again of the additional thick band.

The lamp is secure when operating, and the battery lasted 5 hours within the burn time check. This headlamp is flexible sufficient for many actions, although properly suited to operating. However the gel on the within of the band did pull on my hair uncomfortably.

Issues to Take into account Earlier than Shopping for the Finest Operating Headlamp

Brightness

Path operating entails hopping over obstacles, navigating your route, and presumably traversing hazardous terrain, and in the event you’re doing all of that at nighttime at excessive speeds, you’re going to want a fairly vivid headlamp. The entire greatest operating headlamps on this record are 400 lumens or extra. Whereas greater lumen headlamps will present extra visibility, they will additionally include clunkier batteries. The Petzl Nao RL and BioLite 800 Professional are our brightest picks, nonetheless, and so they’ve managed to maintain the load down and efficiently stability the battery on the again of the band.

Battery

You will have some choices in relation to battery kind: rechargeable, disposable, or a combo of the 2. The hybrid type is my favourite in order that I can hold my headlamp charged, however fall again on AAAs if I overlook or it dies. The Silva Path Runner Free has this functionality. And a number of the manufacturers promoting rechargeable headlamps additionally supply backup batteries.

Match

Match isn’t an important consideration whenever you’re grilling burgers at camp along with your headlamp round your neck, or simply looking for a pleasant tree to pee behind, however whenever you’re operating, a bobbing gentle or sliding band could make you dizzy, and pissed off. The entire greatest operating headlamps we selected hold the sunshine regular in movement, however utilizing completely different designs. The Petzl Nao RL has probably the most subtle — and efficient — system, however you too can select between the gel bands on Silva fashions, streamlined BioLite designs, and light-weight, corded Nitecore Nu25 UL.

FAQs

Remaining Ideas on the Finest Operating Headlamps

Not all headlamps are nice for operating. Excessive depth actions imply match and brightness are tremendous vital. That mentioned, if you’re in search of a do-it all headlamp, the Nitecore Nu25 UL is the most suitable choice, and at an excellent value. In case you’re a severe runner dedicated to pre-dawn begins or late evening jogs, the Petzl Nao RL is price investing in. Yow will discover a operating headlamp that works for you and your price range on this record.