Headtporch for running?

On teh road but totally unlit rural rds – whats good?

ive just yesterday evening orderd a petzl myo xp from wiggle, great price of 49 quid.

They are light, fairly cheap and robust. Ill let you know what they are really like tomorrow!

Ill be using it offroad in the woods (for running!) too.

I currently run with a petzl tikka plus, and its just not bright enough for me.

Alpkit. Cheap as chips and pretty good quality.

I run with a Petzl Tikka 2+ – good, but a bit pricey. Works well although you do need the straps reasonably tight to stop it slipping.

-j

if you can get a porch on your head and keep running i’m sure people will notice you whichever one you choose

If you ride offroad at night too, you might consider a hope vision 2. That comes with a headtorch adaptor and you could use it for both. Throws out a lot of light too.

I’ve got a Petzl too, had it for several years, works really well but was a bit pricey at about £50.00… always been reliable though.

Alpkit Gamma, Cheap reliable and it has a red flashy light on the back.

i’ve got the alpkit gamma. £12.50 i think. reliable and so comfy you forget that it’s there. 2 brightness settings, flashes, red front light that flashes, little red light, green front light, red rear light that can flash. blindingly bright cant go wrong

Alpkit.

Lifelong outdoor-gear snobbery eliminated in one £12 purchase earlier this year. Cheap, light, bright and much smaller than I’d imagined from the pics on the website.

The rear flashing LED is an inspired touch, especially if you’re going to be running on roads.

The headtorch from tesco, i got one but havent tried it yet.

I go orienteering in the night (navigating and running in the dark off road) :0 but I managed to get a petzl headtorch like 2 – 3 yrs ago £30.00 from my local outdoor shop, halogen bulb still going strong… (it’s really good when you use a £30 torch and find controls way before [and thus beat] people with torches in the £150 – £200 range 🙂 )

It has a range of about 60 – 80 m very bright spot or a wide beam at about 30m range. Not sure which model but I can highly recommend petzl for head torches!

Petzl Tikka, Tikka XP or Myo XP. Also use a Tikka XP works well enough as a helmet lamp to back up my main night riding lights. Latest version looks a bit more compact. Myo noticably heavy and a little bulky with the battery pack. Think they might to a version with a seperate battery pack to shove in you’re pocket.

So how do you attach the xp to your helmet?

Didnt think it would work as a helmet backup light. Pleased you have said it does.

Just using the elastic headband and shove it under the brim – mixed my lights slightly. It works better with the Tikka XP than the Myo because of the bulk of the battery. Hence the edit above to include the battery pack version. If they still do it. Haven’t tried it but it should be possible to attach to the helmet throught the vents using small velcro strap threaded through the head band holes. Suprised they dont make kits to adapt petzl LED head torches for helmets.

I agree , maybe theres a small business idea in there somewhere.

May be a stupid question, where can i get velcro straps from. Just dont think i seen them anywhere.

Simple way would be buy some elastic webbing and velcro. I’m current using a Xen helmet, the rib at the top of the rear X vents is enough to catch the strap. Front sits under the peak with enough in the toothed adjustment to point the beam in the right direction. Moving on from just straps the whole light unit pops off the mount. Bigger project for someone to make a helmet specific mount. The XP does enough for me when combined with a good quality bar mounted light – which is a whole different thread.

cheers

AyUps with head band work well.

Yea, a bit more than the price of a tikka though, If only !!!!!!

I Knew a fella who used to go jogging with monopoly houses stuck to his forehead, I think he’s a rain forest shaman now. Does that help?

Wouldn’t go for anything but a Myo XP (if you’ve got the cash) or an alpkit gamma (if you haven’t). Tikkas are simply not bright enough to run fast at night. Essentially if it’s got a 1 watt plus lensed led you should be ok. Only downside of the gamma is it takes aaa batteries, which are a bit w****. Myo is aa FWIW.

Beeing kind of an equipment-geek I’ve got a Zebralight H60 with a rechargeable battery http://www.zebralight.com/H60-Headlamp-18650-Flood_p_10.html . As far as I know you can only buy it online and it requires a special kind of battery. Would be surprised if anybody has heard of it… 😀

It’s a little bit bouncy when running, but it’s not a problem. What I find brilliant about it is that the beam is quite bright and has a wide beam which is very nice especially when running.

Lol, just posted in another thread that I am considering the Zebralight SC51 for a head torch for Mountain Biking. Would you say your H60 is up for the job as a head torch light when combined with a barmounted light?

If it was me, without any headtorch, wanting it for running only, then the Alpkit one. Cheap and bright enough for running. I’ve got something else more expensive and brighter, but a pal turned up with an Alpkit headtorch and it was very impresive for the price, certainly good enough for running.

i’m an occasional hasher* – and the alpkit gamma is my torch of choice.

(*hashing, think of it as a poorly organised group-fell-run)

Another big thumbs up for Alpkit here. The only downside I’ve found is that when I use Maplin rechargeable batteries I have to put a tiny bit of folded kitchen foil to ‘pack out’ the middle battery (though I think this is more a fault of the batteries rather than the Alpkit – I’ll probably just put a small blob of solder to sort it out permanently).

I think whatever you end up getting it would be worth getting an Alpkit for back up. You really can’t go wrong for £12.50 inc p&p and some Duracell batteries.

I use my Exposure Joystick, bodged up with an old Petzl headtorch strap system (took old head lamp off) bit of extra stitching and some thick elastic and bobs yer uncle. Bright, no bounce and good for night time hill running. In fact if I “borrowed” my wifes Joystick I could rig up a double system – yowsers!

pascoa341 – Member
Lol, just posted in another thread that I am considering the Zebralight SC51 for a head torch for Mountain Biking. Would you say your H60 is up for the job as a head torch light when combined with a barmounted light?

I actually haven’t tried that, but think it would be excellent combined with a barmounted light. The very wide beam gives a good overview of what’s near and combined with a focused beam on the bar you’ll (hopefully) see everything you need to see 😉

The Zebralight H501 also has a very wide beam. I haven’t tried any of those with the more narrow beam like the SC51 so I can’t compare it to those.

Just using the elastic headband and shove it under the brim – mixed my lights slightly. It works better with the Tikka XP than the Myo because of the bulk of the battery. Hence the edit above to include the battery pack version. If they still do it. Haven’t tried it but it should be possible to attach to the helmet throught the vents using small velcro strap threaded through the head band holes. Suprised they dont make kits to adapt petzl LED head torches for helmets.

ta- dah!

Also got a Petzl Myo XP for night running. I run almost all off road through woods, fields, etc and the Myo is brilliant. Got mine new but cheap off ebay.

The Gamma is perfect for road at 12 quid. I use mine offroad on the hill, but then I’m tight and like the danger. I’d love to see what Alpkit could do for 40 or 50 quid.

Will the Gamma be almost bomproof, waterproof and last years and years?
Does it kick out anywhere near the same light?

I had a cheapo headtorch for running and it wasn’t anywhere near bright enough.

Can you get a normal headband to attach a torch or joystick?

This without a doubt

http://www.tools4trade.com/d-2313027-LED-Lenser-7497-H7-Head-Torch—Gift-Box-.aspx

Been night time trail running for ages and this is the best i’ve found.

Bettered slightly by my Ay-Ups on the headband, but they are quite heavy and overkill to be honest

Check out silva. I use the trail runner. Really good and light and comfy. Lots of light too. Have used there top of the range big thing. Which amazing as it is. Is overkill.

I’ve got an Alpkit Gamma too.

Ridiculously cheap for what you get – it’s bright enough for running and as said the rear red led is inspired.

If you’re happy to pay more the Zebralights are beautifully made and probably the best head torches out there but it’s hard to get away from the Gamma as for the price it gets the job done.

ta-dah

Hangs head in shame and waits to be ejected from gear freak club.

Also got a Petzl Myo XP for night running. I run almost all off road through woods, fields, etc and the Myo is brilliant. Got mine new but cheap off ebay.

Will the Gamma be almost bomproof, waterproof and last years and years?
Does it kick out anywhere near the same light?

Here’s a bit of a comparision

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/product-reviews/alpkit-gamma-headtorch—quick-test/5174.html

They don’t mention longevity/reliability – but for the price you could just buy another (the net is full of glowing reviews, but then it’s so cheap people may just have lower expectations?). If I was a regular off-road runner I’d probably spend more too (but I’m not so bought the Alpkit), for the cost you really can’t got wrong.

Just tried my new myo xp for the first time. Even on the lowest brightness setting, it is brighter than my tikka plus.

How have i managed running off road for the last 5 years with out the myo. The spread of the beam is its greatest feature. Allows you to check your line alot quicker with more confidence.
I have done my regular night run 1.5 minutes quicker!

I am very impressed, and can reccommend this torch. Worth 50 quid anyday.