These are the versatile running lights we reach for, from headlamps to clip-ons
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. As fun and convenient as it can feel to go out in the early morning or evening, the low visibility of both you and your surroundings makes for a more dangerous environment, especially on busy roads and technical trails. Cars might not be able to see you on the road, and you might struggle to see rocks, roots, and other ankle-breaking trail features. To combat this problem, there are plenty of running lights, from the best head torches, to body-mounted options and handhelds.
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. Read on for quick info on the best running lights, followed by things to keep in mind as you narrow down your options, plus our full reviews.
What to consider when choosing running lights
They can help you see or be seen, but often not both
The first thing to consider is whether you’re looking for a light to help you see, to help others see you, or both. While some two-in-one light combos, such as the Avanto Pro, can do both at once, the average single light will serve only one of the two purposes.
For seeing, we recommend a light with a high lumen count — 200 to 500 is ideal — and a steady beam. Some fancier lights can also switch between a spotlight and a floodlight, allowing you to change your depth of field on the fly if you’re changing speeds. The one issue: a steady beam isn’t always going to catch the attention of others, even if it’s bright, so it’s not best to bring only this light on a road run, especially if you run in the street.
On the other hand, other lights are made for conditions where you simply need to catch the attention of others, even in better-lit environments like a lamp-lined street. These LED lights usually offer several different settings, like a flashing or strobe mode, and are more set-it-and-forget-it type lights. These products, however, won’t provide the same all-round illumination as more powerful headlamps and dedicated spotlights.
Mounting options range from head to (almost) toe
If you’re primarily concerned with making sure others can see you, select an option that can clip on or otherwise secure easily to your clothing, as these lights are most likely to stay in place and provide a better picture to other road users of where you’re standing.
On the other hand, if you want the light to follow your line of sight and illuminate potential tripping hazards, we recommend a head torch or chest-mounted spotlight that you can more easily reach to adjust on the fly.
Most of the best lights have some level of water-resistance
If you tend to sweat a lot on your runs, or if you’re trying to tap out some long routes in the rain, look for a light with a high ingress protection rating. This indicates a device’s ability to block dust and water from passing through its housing, and the rating is formatted as IP followed by two digits (the first for dust-resistance, the second for water). When it comes to water, it can range from IPX0 (no protection) to IPX8 (totally waterproof when submerged for sustained periods).
When you see 'X' like that in place of the first digit, it means the light hasn’t been tested for dust-resistance. If a brand has tested it for that, the number will be between 1 and 6 to represent the device’s ability to block out solid particles. For all-weather applications, look for a rating of 4 or above. But any will suffice on a dry evening if you don’t sweat heavily.
How we select
Collectively, we’ve been running for decades and frequently head out before the sun rises or after it has already set. We recognise the importance of visibility for runners, and have experience with a variety of lights and reflectors. We’ve used this insight — as well as extensive research — to put together this list of options.
We’ve tested the majority of these lights in-house, with several of them undergoing rigorous testing to measure exactly how much light they can put out and for how long. We also evaluated any changes over the long term in their durability and charging speed. We’ve worn them on nighttime runs, packed them away for backpacking trips, and even thrown them on in bed to read books.
For the lights we haven’t tested, we relied on metrics like weight, light output in lumens, waterproofing, fit mechanisms, and price. We then cross-referenced our picks by checking user reviews online to get a better look at each light’s long-term performance in a wider variety of hands. We collected the results of our testing and research below — read on to see the lights we wager will keep you the safest for the longest.
For more great ways to make every run safer, check out our picks for the best head torches and the best reflective running gear.
Best body-mounted lights
Noxgear Tracer 2 Running Light
When we were initially acquiring a sample of the Tracer 2 to test for this article, NoxGear’s reps warned us that it might be difficult to capture the full brightness of this light vest on camera. They weren’t wrong — this setup is intensely redundant, relying on 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.
NoxGear also offers a separate light, called the Tracer Lamp, that fixes to the buckle of this vest’s reflective waist strap. It puts out a considerable 500 lumens, is rechargeable, and is super easy to attach and remove.
Avanto Pro Chest Running Light
Sporting a set of front and rear lights for the best balance of seeing and being seen, 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. The rear light is quite a bit smaller than the front, but it still does the job plenty well, especially when it’s strobing.
UltrAspire Lumen 600 4.0 Waist Light
Combine the convenience of a running waist pack with excellent brightness and visibility with this 600-lumen rig from UltrAspire. This is one of the pricier options we recommend, but it’s also one of the most fully featured, with 600-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 for the more trip-prone runners out there.
This light-pack-belt combo comes with a high-powered rechargeable battery, claiming up to 6 hours of light at its max brightness of 600 lumens. Granted you usually won’t often that much light, and most of us can get away with the 300 lumens for all but the toughest terrain. This feature-packed light has battery indicators, multiple light settings for different focuses, and an ergonomic belt shape to reduce chafing.
UltrAspire also offers these waist-mounted light systems in 400 lumens and 200 lumens.
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 clip-on lights
Nathan HyperBrite Mini (2 pack)
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.
These lights cycle through a steady mode, full strobe, and alternating strobe via a quick push of the power button, and all were bright enough to cast a visible beam on our hands through our t-shirt. Not bad for such tiny lights.
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. They also come in a variety of colours, which offers the functional advantage of having distinct front and rear lights — or the aesthetic advantage of matching the rest of your gear, if that’s more your thing.
Best Headlamps
Black Diamond Sprint 225 Headlamp
It’s simple. It’s lightweight. It’s bright as hell. 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) and a perfectly tensioned headband.
One thing to note: the highest brightness setting does dim after about 5 minutes, according to some of our tests. But we found the 'medium' setting holds a more than adequate brightness for up to three hours.
Energizer Vision HD Ultra
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.
The Vision Ultra HD is equipped with a solid variety of settings that make good use of the light’s claimed 400 lumens, including a spotlight that reaches impressively far down the road and a floodlight that can illuminate your feet with ease. The model we tested came with a faulty charger, but we were able to fix it and get back on the road in no time.
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. It also, conveniently enough, stands on its own, making it an effective camp light alternative in a pinch.T
he IKO Core additionally has a single button, through which you can access all of its functions. That makes it easy and quick to operate without you having to remember which button does what — ideal for a fumble-free trot on a rocky trail.
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