Best lightweight headlamp.
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Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network
When there's limited time in the day to squeeze in a run while it’s light out, and you can't face the treadmill, chances are you’ll have to run in the dark. But the low visibility of both you and your surroundings makes for a more dangerous environment, especially on busy roads and technical trails. To combat this problem, there are plenty of running lights, from the Best overall headlamp, The 11 best wireless headphones for runners.
Whatever you opt for, make sure you’re wearing the best equipment — an unreliable light could leave you in a rough situation if it runs out of juice in the woods. We’ve sought out (and tested) dozens of light options, and listed our favourites for you here.
Stay safe in the dark and alert others with these essential accessories
The Tracer 2 consists of a central back light, illuminated shoulder straps, and a reflective waistband to bathe every inch of your torso in light. And despite its slim appearance, it stays in place quite well.
This chest- and back-mounted combo is ideal for nighttime road runners who want a more secure, mass-centred light fixture than a headband or clip-on. You can control the settings on both lights with a button on the side of the headlight, allowing you to cycle between high, low, and strobe beams.
Combine the convenience of a running waist pack with excellent brightness and visibility with this 400-lumen rig from UltrAspire. This is one of the pricier options we recommend, but it’s also one of the most fully featured, with 400-lumen brightness, a one-handed zipper that opens the full width of the removable hip pocket, and the brand’s new lighting technology that accentuates shadows along uneven running surfaces.
Dilabnda LED Bracelets (6 pack)
These bands don’t have any straps or buckles to adjust or tighten —you just slap them on your wrist, arm, or ankle. Their full-length LEDs also shine in 360 degrees, unlike other types that only make you visible to people in front or behind. The lone knock: these bands have lower water-resistance capabilities and can only withstand light to moderate rain. If downpours are in the forecast, consider a different option.
Best all-round visibility
Apace Vision EverLightFX USB Rechargeable LED Safety Light (2 Pack)
Made to fit almost anywhere, these lights can clip onto a pocket, vest, bag, or whatever other straps you might have on your running gear. Even better, if none of your clothes feel like they could comfortably hold the weight, the EverLightFX comes with adjustable hook-and-loop straps, allowing you to attach these to your arms and legs.
The two powerful LEDs on Nathan’s small-but-mighty clip-on lights offer considerable illumination despite their quarter-sized package. And although they’re made of a cheaper-feeling plastic, they weigh next to nothing as a result, meaning they can clip almost anywhere on your clothes or gear without bouncing around too egregiously.
Best Headlamps
Black Diamond’s Sprint is one of the sleekest headlamps we’ve tested. We’ve used it in a range of applications, from rainy day runs to backpacking trips, and it has always performed exactly as well as it needs to. Nifty extra touches include a sliding touch-activated brightness adjustment (that even works with gloves) Best clip-on combo.
Who would have guessed that you can find one of our favourite running headlamps at the hardware store? While running wasn’t the original focus when Energizer designed this budget-friendly light, it still outclasses plenty of purpose-built headlamps, especially those that hover around the £30 mark.
Petzl Iko Core
We know how frustrating bulky and heavy head torches can be, which is why this ultra-lightweight light made our list. It weighs just 79g, and unlike similar models that have thick fabric headbands, the IKO Core uses a flexible plastic frame to give it a snug fit around your head.
