[Closed] Head torch for off-road running?

Kalenji Chest Running light from Decathlon.

Might not be the brightest but you will look like Iron Man

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I've been using the Petzl Tikka RXP for a few years now.

I think it's now called the Reactik.

USB chargeable, spare battery pack available. It reacts and adjusts to levels of light to conserve battery etc and this can be customised with software.

Not too heavy for running and with a comfortable strap.

I use one of those chest mounted lights from Decathlon plus one of these (also from Decathlon): [url= https://www.decathlon.co.uk/onnight-410-v2-headlamp-id_8364850.html ]Ominight head torch[/url]

That combination works fine even in areas when there are no lights at all - up in the hills or in woodland etc.

When Hope brought out their Vision 2, lots of the local fell runners grabbed one. It comes with a harness for your head so it's then just a case of running the cable somewhere to wherever you have the battery.

Even before getting the Hope, I found the Tikka and similarly powered lights to be a bit weak for technical off-road running. With the Hope or similarly powered lights, it's just like running in daylight. The usual shadows/ single point of light problems that you get on a bike apply.

I use an Exposure Joystick 11 and the elastic headband that can be bought for about £9. Usually run with it on the lower of three power settings.

I find having a centrally mounted head torch just above the eyes makes it difficult to judge depth and terrain when moving fast, the slight offset to the side seems to help with this.

The Joystick is one of the best things I have ever bought. Use it for about 10+ hours a week cycle commuting in both day and night, head light for Mtb in winter, trail running through winter and general torch.

Got one of these I use for my occasional runs round the local woods. Cheap but so far pretty impressive. VERY bright (much more so than my MTB head torch). A little front heavy, but not uncomfortably so.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoomable-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Headlight-Flashlight/dp/B01IHLUIB4/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1504003130&sr=8-14&keywords=Head+torch

At the office and cant remember the brand of mine, but for trail running you will want 1000 lumens upwards and be prepared for it to have an external battery pack, I run mine on the back of the head harness with no issues.

My advice would be spend good money on one and dont be tempted by the ebay/china stuff.

Pretty happy with my Alpkit Quark. Plenty bright enough and usb rechargeable.

I would go with 2 lights, rather than 1 powerful one, I have a Petzl Tikka RXP for my head, and a Petzl Tikka with rechargeable battery pack which goes round my waist. Like mountain biking 1 light source, especially head mounted, can really flatten out trail features. Having 2 light sources really makes it so much easier to process the terrain on the fly. Plus when it gets a bit misty, headtorches are next to useless.

I have a Petzl Reaktik+ that I got as a present - great, used for everything from track training in the park to long runs in the mountains. The Alpkit Quark compares really well for half the price. I've got a cheap 900 lumen thing too but the Petzl is bright enough and much lighter on the head.

I really like my Petzl Nao for general duties.

Petzl NAO for all out super bright trail running. Mine is brilliant and theres even a newer model out with more lumens. £120. Pricy but great. Downside is its a bit heavy with the battery pack on your head, but lasts for ages

Petzl Reactik that others have mentioned is a lot cheaper. £37 ish but not that much less bright. it will do for 90% of the trail running you're likely to do and is far brighter and lighter than a lot of the other ones out there.

Silva do some super lightweight ones that I'd love to try mind you.

I have the Decathlon one linked above - nothing comes close for the price (and I'm a petzl fanboi and reseller!)
In fact I have 3 of the one linked above for various duties.
The chest mounted one is cracking too - has a rear red led too as its primarily designed for roads.

I bought an expensive Petzl a while back and didn't get on with it. So last winter I bought a [url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CEI5N3E/ref=pe_1909131_77697121_tnp_email_TE_AMZLdp_1 ]cheapy from Amazon[/url] and it's been solid. It's not going to light up the Moors but it's fine (on full beam) for trail running in the middle of the night.

I use an Exposure Verso and it's ace. Very light and runtime is sufficient for my winter commute. I have a 2nd mounting clip which I sewed onto the front of a cap to wear when the weather isn't so nice, to avoid doubling-up on headbands etc.

Can use a piggy-back battery to increase life too.

Cheers, Rich

I have a Myo RXP specifically for trail running in the winter. It is not light, but does have adjustable output and is plenty bright enough. I'd say that newer, lighter options are now available though, so shop around for something that you're comfortable with.

I've found the cheapo eBay lights to work really well, regular use over several years now. Easy to upgrade the batteries and charger as and when the originals wear out. I don't see any meaningful benefit from the expensive kit - club members seem to have more trouble with theirs than I ever have.

just checked and my alpkit is a muon rated at 134lumen so pretty dim compared to some of those mentioned.

i like the idea of a usb recharchable, had'nt thought of that.

exposure joystick i'm wondering about too, not sure if it would be too heavy, but i could also use it on my roadbike for occasional night rides. might have to search ebay for a used one regardless.

Petzl Tikka RXP here too. V impressive.

I have several years' experience of running mountain ultras very slowly.

Originally I used an Alpkit Gamma. These are excellent, but mine unexpectedly died on the first night of the Hardmoors 110 and I had to borrow the race director's Petzl Myo RXP. I am now converted - the Myo is heavier but it's much better for detail and has excellent range on full power, and battery life is good.

I carry a Petzl e+LITE as a spare.

Nitecore HC30 is excellent. Use mine for running and as a backup light for mountain biking.
1000 real lumens for an hour on a decent 18650. But a fantastic 400 lumens for 3.5 hours - absolutely plenty.
Just over 200 lumens for over 7 hours.

You can get them direct from china for £35 on eBay.

How heavy on your head is that on and on? Seems like a good idea but looks big in the pics.

I just stuck mine of the scale.
Complete but without a cell it's 88 grams.
With a Panasonic protected 3400 18650 it's 134.

[quote=oikeith ]for trail running you will want 1000 lumens upwards

😆 - I do enjoy the modern idea that you have to carry around a portable sun to do anything in the dark

Deleted as not relevant.

Well your own portable star is quite useful!

Another vote for the Petzl Myo.
Use it all the time for night fell running & events, esp autumn & winter, it's excellent.
Head band is comfortable enough when tightened properly (I don't use the additional over-the-top band), and soon get used to the weight of the battery pack at the back (not really that noticeable).
I don't necessarily agree with the "1000 lumens upwards" - kinda takes the fun & danger out of running in the dark if you can see [i]everything[/i]...
The RXP is 370 lumens on boost, plenty bright enough for a night out in the fells

I used to use an alpkit gamma, naturally it succumbed to the design flaw (crap battery case clip) and even though they sent a replacement it's got a poor beam shape anyway (very 'spot' with little peripheral spill so you can only light way ahead or underfoot not both) so now I just use my mtb Gemini Duo, reset to lower levels (e.g. 10/30/60), with a 2 cell pack in a chest pocket or belt. Always have a hand torch with me too as backup/ fog / and for a bit of shadow relief on rocky descents.
Anybody else doing the illuminator trail half soon? Damn shame they don't have something similar for two wheels.

I use a LED Lenser H7. Bought after some advice on here and not regretted it. Balance is good, adjustability is excellent.

Used petzl for years - but also bought some black diamond headtorches for both mini-THMs in Cotswold sale - real bargain and great torches when used last week.

nitecore hc 30. i've been abusing mine for a year now, through all sorts , don't scrimp on your 18650 battery get a 3200 mah for any where but china