Head Light for trail Running

PoorFarmer

Can anyone here recommend a good quality head light suitable for trail running? Ideally something with a rechargeable battery. Have a few Energizer ones which are ok for the road but not worth a damn on rough underfoot conditions.
Thanks

Cabaal

Been using this since 2013 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenser-Rechargeable-Head-Lamp-Black/dp/B001PMP340
Find it great, light, decent battery and 200 lumens. I use it running dark country roads and it easily causes motorists to slow down and dim lights when I point it at them, I've also used it doing some trail running and its pretty decent.

A friend of mine has this though and its 300 lumens, slightly heavier but thats the trade off I suppose
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenser-LED7298-H7R-2-Rechargeable-Head/dp/B00FYVF62C/

DubOnHoliday

Cabaal wrote: »

Been using this since 2013 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenser-Rechargeable-Head-Lamp-Black/dp/B001PMP340
Find it great, light, decent battery and 200 lumens. I use it running dark country roads and it easily causes motorists to slow down and dim lights when I point it at them, I've also used it doing some trail running and its pretty decent.

A friend of mine has this though and its 300 lumens, slightly heavier but thats the trade off I suppose
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenser-LED7298-H7R-2-Rechargeable-Head/dp/B00FYVF62C/

I also have the h7r have been running with it for a year and I wouldn't buy it again. The promised battery light is fiction. I am constantly charging it. It takes about 6 hours to charge fully.If you need the full beam, you're lucky to get an hour out of it. I had it out for a 40 min run one evening at 75% and another the second evening and just about made it back with some light.. The charging on mine does not incidate when it is fully charged. The charging light is supposed to stay constant when charged, the one on mine goes out. I'll be looking at a silva next time.

Enduro

I find the LED Lenser Neo7r to be good, and great value. It comes with a small USB-rechargable battery pack, but can also be used with standard AAAs.

ThisRegard

I have the Led Lenser H7, non rechargeable, for years and find it great. It's probably a bit old at this stage as when I'm out at night in a group, others in the group have torches that could make contact with the ISS, although they're probably a lot more expensive.

Over the winter I dropped it into a puddle one night and it went a bit nuts for a couple of days afterwards, would switch itself on and wouldn't switch off, and vice versa, so was looking to buy another. However once it dried out it has been fine ever since.

BeepBeep67

It's going to be budget dependent really, unless you're happy to take a punt on something from China (although sometimes it's a false economy as they can chew through batteries).
I have a Tikka which is adequate for what I need, next step would probably include an external battery pack.

brownian

Enduro wrote: »

I find the LED Lenser Neo7r to be good, and great value. It comes with a small USB-rechargable battery pack, but can also be used with standard AAAs.

I think you were keen on the Ay Up lights at some stage. Still think they're the biz? Thanks!

Enduro

brownian wrote: »

I think you were keen on the Ay Up lights at some stage. Still think they're the biz? Thanks!

They're excellent, but they're much more powerful and more expensive. In the OP's case I think a cheaper more general purpose torch will be fine for his needs.

sconhome

Whatever you do don't fall into the trap of uber bright 1million lumen lights.

Led Lenser are good and have a 5 yr warranty I think so well supported. Personally I like Silva lights but that's me and it all depends on what you can get your hands on.

I saw a new Petzl is due soon which is rechargeable and you can vary the light output via an app.

Jakey Rolling

Very happy with my Silva Trailrunner II this last few months - excellent beam pattern and don't notice I'm wearing it after a short while.

I chose the version with regular AAA batteries as I don't want to get caught out on longer outings. Easy to carry spare batteries. They do a USB rechargeable version too.

lgk

sconhome wrote: »

I saw a new Petzl is due soon which is rechargeable and you can vary the light output via an app.

Petzl Nao has had that for a few years now, along with reactive lighting. Look down at your map/phone, it dims, up and off into the distance it gives a long focused high beam. It measures the light levels around you so as give you just what you need and prolong battery life. You can configure a number of profiles via the app and adjust the beam patterns to suit what you're doing. You can switch to constant light mode as well which doesn't react, can be a good thing running in a group at night, the reactive mode can be thrown by light bounce back from your buddies' reflective clothing/packs.

I've the original 355 lumen one, current incarnation has max output of 575 lumens and similar 4-8 hour battery life. They'll take AAAs as a get you home back up as well.

aoboa

Cheap and (maybe) cheerful this Thursday:
http://www.lidl.ie/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=36122

aero2k

lgk wrote: »

Petzl Nao has had that for a few years now, along with reactive lighting. Look down at your map/phone, it dims, up and off into the distance it gives a long focused high beam. It measures the light levels around you so as give you just what you need and prolong battery life. You can configure a number of profiles via the app and adjust the beam patterns to suit what you're doing. You can switch to constant light mode as well which doesn't react, can be a good thing running in a group at night, the reactive mode can be thrown by light bounce back from your buddies' reflective clothing/packs.

I've the original 355 lumen one, current incarnation has max output of 575 lumens and similar 4-8 hour battery life. They'll take AAAs as a get you home back up as well.

Or oncoming headlights, or reflective road signs. I know the OP asked about trail running but they're not cheap and while I personally find mine worth the money (and I'm mean with gadgets) I'd want to be able to use it everywhere.

I like the reactive lighting as it saves on battery but it does take a bit of getting used to.

One slight irritation is that the head strap needs to be re-adjusted after every use - it seems to slip on the buckles. It's compact and light though, very comfy in use.

Ruu

I have had this one for about 3 years and works great for trail running.

https://www.alpkit.com/products/gamma

donnacha

Been using this for over a year. Rechargeable and charge lasts an age.

Petzl Tikka R+ - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BA4QNV0/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_1aNUwb8QET9XN

lgk

aero2k wrote: »

Or oncoming headlights, or reflective road signs. I know the OP asked about trail running but they're not cheap and while I personally find mine worth the money (and I'm mean with gadgets) I'd want to be able to use it everywhere.

I like the reactive lighting as it saves on battery but it does take a bit of getting used to.

One slight irritation is that the head strap needs to be re-adjusted after every use - it seems to slip on the buckles. It's compact and light though, very comfy in use.

I keep mine aimed down a bit so road signs, car lights don't affect it. I've never had the strap issue though, is your's the first or second gen?

aero2k

lgk wrote: »

I keep mine aimed down a bit so road signs, car lights don't affect it. I've never had the strap issue though, is your's the first or second gen?

Tikka RXP bought in December 2014 - can't say if it's first or second gen. The strap is fine when I'm running, it's just when I go to wear it again I need to fiddle a bit. It's not down to stretching, it just seems to slip a bit on the buckle.

robinph

I've used a Petzl Tikka XP for trail races through pitch black woods in the rain with no problem, although I was also carrying a small hand torch as well. Rarely gets used for other runs though as there is mostly more than enough street lighting on my routes.

Mycroft H

Jakey Rolling wrote: »

Very happy with my Silva Trailrunner II this last few months - excellent beam pattern and don't notice I'm wearing it after a short while.

I chose the version with regular AAA batteries as I don't want to get caught out on longer outings. Easy to carry spare batteries. They do a USB rechargeable version too.

+1 for the Silva

Super quality and a nice headband, easy to control with gloves (both the modes and the direction of the beam)

I've the rechargeable version. Use it for everything; hiking, cycling and odd jobs about the house

j0hn1

Another vote for the silva trail runner 2.
Bought one a couple of months back, went for the AAA version but rechargeable available also.
Have been well impressed and the lighting pattern works really well, peripheral vision just works, no need to turn head to cast light.
Advertised lumens a bit below other headlights, but I guess there's probably a trade off between battery life and lumens. Either way the trailrunner seems to have plenty sufficient light.

sconhome

The thing with Silva lamps is the lumen are down but the light is 'warmer' it causes less glare than bright white light and you get better depth perception on the ground. Yellow light tends to affect our night vision less and IMO there is less strain on the eyes than white light.