Any recommendations for a head torch for trail running during the winter nights. I'm already bored of the road routes where i run. They wont be long runs, between 5 and 10 k

Cheers 

In reply to the sheep:

I have a LEDLenser SEO5 which seems to have been discontinued. It's fine - 180 lumens for up to 7 hours is enough for a winter run round the 3 peaks. Also comes with a rechargeable battery pack which I'd say is a must-have if you're running regularly but neatly can also use 3 AAAs which makes it easy to carry backup juice. It was about £30 in the sale I think. Alpkit have options at a similar price range.

Bob Grahaming friends swear by the Petzl NAO - it's double the price of mine but really impressive.

In reply to the sheep:

I would vote for a small, light, cheapish one.  Why?  Well, I want to be seen and I want to avoid tripping over stuff, but I also don't want to have my retinas blinded with a small circle of light, I'd rather let my night vision do its work.

In reply to the sheep:

I mainly use a Petzl Actik Core - previous model but the current one looks similar. Good beam pattern and easily bright enough for me on its medium (100 lumen) setting. You can use AAAs as well as the included battery.

I also really like the Petzl Iko Core - very light, stable and comfy on my head - but it’s a bit more expensive than the Actik and difficult to stuff in a small pocket if needed.

In reply to the sheep:

I use these:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/evadict-ontrail-900-lumens-trail-running-fron...

Good.  Bright and reliable.

In reply to the sheep:

Most of my running is night trail running similar distances to what you describe. 

I use a petzl swift, mainly as I already had one as my climbing headtorch, but have found it pretty good for running. The medium setting is bright enough to avoid tripping on roots running through dark woods, and even on full beam the battery life is plenty long enough for those distances, even in the cold for a slow bugger like me.

In reply to the sheep:

Biolite 800 pro* is an alternative to the usual petzl / Silva etc. It’s great, reliable, bright and the battery is at the back so it’s more stable with a red flashing light in case you are on any roads. Twice the price of the decathlon version posted above but better built IMO.

In reply to Garethza:

I have an earlier gen biolite 750.

Incredible battery life with the battery at the back of your head which balances better. Very bright in short bursts when you need it. The red rear light is the main selling point. I want to see forwards and be seen by any cars approaching from behind me.

The only thing about the 750 that I'd change is it still uses micro USB, not USB C.  Otherwise, it's just about perfect.

In reply to the sheep:

Petzl Swift RL 

900Lumes, good diffuser so covers a wide area of trail and super bright and light 

In reply to echo34:

I have a Petzl Swift RL which I like.  It does have an issue though, it’s very easy to switch on accidentally.  

My one hangs up in the porch and I’ve found it switched on, presumably by me or someone else hanging an item over it, or next to it.

Not had it in a bag or vest pocket yet, but I’d be wary of inadvertently running down the battery.

In reply to Sealwife:

Slide the switch to the lock position?

In reply to echo34:

Thanks - have looked properly at the torch and found the lock position!  I hadn’t realised it had that feature 

In reply to the sheep:

Biolite 800 pro is easily the best all round head torch I have owned. Incredibly light and the band is really comfy when on. A lot of torches move and bounce to much for running but this one is great!

In reply to the sheep:

second vote for the Petzl Actik Core. rechargeable battery.

Last year I took to combining it with one of those relatively cheap chest mounted torches which has a red light on your back.  Found that the combination of two lights was really helpful because the chest one always points forwards and then the head one points where you're looking. 

In reply to the sheep: This https://silvasweden.com/no/products/trail-runner is the best headtorch I've owned.  Nice to use, durable, price is right.

Petzl are ok too.  I have an iko and the unusual head 'frame' works well for running, but it's not that bright, and a bit of a one trick pony.

In reply to wbo2:

The Fenix HM655-T works well for running. 18650 battery with usb c recharge.

The headband holds the light steady and is more robust than I expected. good selection of light beams. (there is also an HM65r-dt which I think has slightly different beams)

This is quite a different beast from the HM65r - the 'T' it won't really fit on helmets.

Only downside is in thick fog (as for all head torches)....have now worked out a way of wrapping it round my hand which makes things easier.

In reply to the sheep:

Apologies for ignoring the question and offering unsolicited advice instead, but...

Whatever head torch you end up with, can I suggest that you also have one in your hand?
The trouble with a head torch is that the beam being very close to your eyes kind of 'flattens' what you see, which can be less than helpful on awkward terrain.

Also, this, from the post above^

Aimed at the ground in front of you, the beam passes right in front of your eyes, so if there's a bit of fog there you're dazzled by the brilliantly lit droplets of water.  I find it doesn't need fog for this to happen, if it's chilly and I'm working up a bit of a sweat then just high humidity will do - unfortunately I manufacture my own fog!  Any time I can see my breath, a head torch on my actual head is not very helpful.  (And this is usually the case on a clear night from now until the Spring.)

What I've taken to doing is having a relatively feeble cheapy Decathlon head torch with a wide beam mounted on my chest - that's just enough to see where the path is when the terrain is easy, doesn't wreck my night vision and does fine on familiar ground when I know where I'm going.  (I don't run very fast at the best of times anyway, so it doesn't have to light the path v far ahead.)

Then I also carry a more powerful torch in my hand - used on low power for more tricky terrain over rocks/roots etc. and high power as required for navigation or whatever.

In reply to wbo2:

My experience is quite different, although I accept I may be an outlier. My Silva Trail Runner has been nothing but a hassle. The rechargeable battery is slightly mis-sized so that if the unit is bumped or shaken slightly it looses connection and you loose any light. 

More than that, the body of the light has separated from its backing leaving the unit/cables exposed to rain/elements. I fixed this with superglue, which no doubt means that it is no longer a "sealed unit" with a much reduced shelf life.

I wouldn't depend on it for a long night run (fortunately I don't do many of them any longer) but it is excellent for dog walks.

Brian.

In reply to deepsoup:

I agree, sort of. I botched a waist light and with a head torch too; it was a revelation as the depth perception with the waist light was much improved. 

Also with the fancy light control that dims when it detects that you need close in light, its dims when my steamy breath interacts with the beam

In reply to elliot.baker:

I too think highly of my Actik Core.

Good point about a chest light. Night overtook me on the hill a few winters ago, and I had to descend the very rough eastern side of Garburn Pass into Kentmere in the dark. It was pitch black, and raining too, the puddles and wet rocks reflecting the light from my headtorch (an old Petzl Tikka+ that had served me well for many a year). I realised that I had poor depth perception, I think because there were no shadows cast as the light source was so close to my eyes, and I really had to concentrate on the roughest part of the track. I do wonder whether having a second light source away from the eyes would have helped, either a chest light or a small hand torch.