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November 09, 2009
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What headlamp works best for running at night?
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The Coronoa LED (courtesy, Princeton Tec)
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With the approaching winter solstice, my evening outdoor runs require illumination. This activity takes place in an unlit park laced with footpaths that can be hazardous to aging ankles. My headlamp, though fine for camp chores and reading, just doesn't provide enough light, particularly when moving at speed. Can you suggest a lightweight personal torch that would do the trick? I am not as concerned with burn time as I might be if I’m on a wilderness excursion.
— Diana
Westmount, Quebec
Do you have a question of your own?
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Hmmmm. That’s an interesting one. Have you tried any of the newer LED-based hiking headlamps? Princeton Tec’s Corona LED Headlamp ($55), for instance, puts out an impressive 65 lumens on all eight of its bulbs, and can be dialed down for more battery life. It takes three AAA batteries that fit into a case that sits at the back of your head, and will give you 30 hours of light on the high setting. You should be able to run pretty well with that.
Petzl’s Myo ($89) puts out even more light—150 lumens (equal, roughly, to an eight-watt incandescent bulb, which isn’t bad!). And even more battery life from three AAAs—80 hours on high. Very impressive.
Your next step is to enter the world of cycling lights. Which might not be a bad idea. NiteRider’s Minewt 200 ($199) throws out 200 lumens, enough to bike with, so certainly enough to run with. Niterider makes a headband mount ($20) that supports it nicely, too. You’d have to deal with the battery, but it fits nicely into a pocket or a very small fanny pack, offering up to three hours 30 minutes on a single charge. And it IS rechargeable. So that’s a good thing.
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