I usually run with out a headlamp at night. Unless you are on a trail in a forest you don't need a lamp.
I usually run with out a headlamp at night. Unless you are on a trail in a forest you don't need a lamp.
Seven of my nine weekly runs are in the dark, no headlight or reflective gear. If you wear a headlight it gives the cars something to aim at.
I do sometimes but I run on remote fireroads or smooth trails. I never run in the city at night. If the moon is near full no light is really necessary. It's great because the night is more quiet except for the coyotes and owls, which you don't hear during the day. All I can hear is my own footsteps and breathing and the wind in the trees.
Occasionally I encounter someone else but if they have a headlamp I can see them a half a mile away. I will turn my light on out of courtesy so I don't startle them in the dark.
My neighborhood is slightly lit at night, but there's a few sections where it's very dark. I've started wearing a headlamp and I'm sure my neighbors think I'm nuts. But I've had times where I'm going hard on some intervals and step on a pine cone, fallen branch or toad, and it's horrible. Since then I wear a headlamp if dark to avoid an ankle apocalypse. I've also noticed cars see me and swerve away much sooner with the headlamp on, than if I have on only reflectors or lighted arm-bands.
It's cold and dark for half the year where I live. I often have to get track workouts in using a headlamp.
It's probably weird to run alone at night on the track using a headlamp, but it's also nice not having to zig zag around joggers and walkers, who often make some track workouts difficult.
We have some extremely nice and easily accessible trails and towpaths around here, but a ton of people still use the track for walking and slow jogging, which blows my mind.
Yes, I have a Petzl Nao+ which puts out 750 lumens on the high setting. It looks a bit wonky before you put it on with the battery in the back and tight straps. It has an LED which flashes so cars behind you see you which is a nice feature. I've been hit by a car before that was driving 60 mph - would rather not repeat that
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