Running Headtorches - Petzl or LED Lenser

[johnnyBv8]

My old LED Lenser headtorch has packed in, so I'm looking at replacements. I think I've narrowed it down to two options, both of which I can get for around £40 with a bit of shopping around:

Petzl actik core 450 (rrp £55)
LED lenser H8R (rrp £90)

The Lenser is brighter (600 vs 450) which would be useful, and a charge lasts longer (8h vs 2h), but it's more bulky and 2h is probably enough for the running I do.

Has anyone had either of these, or have any alternative recommendations in the £50 ish range?

[dangerousB]

I've got the Actik Core and it's invaluable at this time of the year.

It's very lightweight (which is why I went for it over anything else that I'd seen) and has 3 brightness settings - first one is "get you home" - sort of "read a book at night" bright, second is about 100 lumens (I think) which is bright enough for you to see what you're doing when running, avoid tree roots/potholes, etc, but not see a terrifically long way forward. Final setting is effing bright (more than you realistically need really, but great when it's pitch black)!!

I think it's brilliant - easy to use whilst running (got a button on top that you click to change luminosity), click it up or down to adjust viewing angle (ratcheted, which doesn't ever slip) and best thing, very lightweight.

The only downside would be battery life on full power - 2hrs seems about right. Most of my runs are 50 - 90mins so that's no biggie, but I do have to remember to charge it up after every run (got a battery that pops out and you charge it with a micro USB - when the light turns green, you're done). Only once have I drained it and if that happens it starts to flash and then goes into "get you home" mode. That being said, it's got a lot more life on the 2nd setting, so that's always an option if you're out for longer (or forgot to charge it last time you were out).

Would I recommend one? Absolutely. Total bargain at 40 quid. I wouldn't be without it now!

[johnnyBv8]

Thanks for that. I've gone for the Petzl (Actik Core 450 lumen). It seems a lot less fussy than the LED Lenser.

[LotusMartin]

I had one that strapped to my chest, worked a treat! It has a red flashing light on the back as well which was useful. Looks like there are a few on Amazon.

[Lotus Notes]

I feel that 300 lumens should be the minimum for running.
I've just bought a Petzl Swift RL, which is an overkill to be honest, but I have past history in falling over..

Pros: Can belt out 900 lumens, but with various modes I can get 8 hours out of it.
Cons: A bit heavy

[johnnyBv8]

Yeah I almost went for the Swift RL, but decided I probably didn’t need 900 lumens. It does have the “intelligent” brightness though which is meant to be good.

[dangerousB]

johnnyBv8 said:

Thanks for that. I've gone for the Petzl (Actik Core 450 lumen). It seems a lot less fussy than the LED Lenser.

You're welcome - I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

Lotus Notes said:

Pros: Can belt out 900 lumens

900?!! Wow. 450 lumens down a country lane with no moon is PLENTY bright enough for me. 900 must be like running in daylight!

[lufbramatt]

I got a Petzl swift rl for my birthday. Been doing off road trail runs at 5am before sunrise. It’s a brilliant bit of kit, I don’t notice the weight at all. Managed to ps off a dog walker who wasn’t impressed at how bright it was coming towards them, oops. Only issue is the plastic guides on the strap where it divides start to get a little bit uncomfortable after a while, but maybe that’s just something you have to get used to.

[gazza285]

dangerousB said:

900?!! Wow. 450 lumens down a country lane with no moon is PLENTY bright enough for me. 900 must be like running in daylight!

You don’t need 900 Lumens when it is dark, it is the period between twilight and full dark that you need the power for. I was dropping into Yewdale from Holme Fell on Wednesday, there was enough natural light for my ascent, but not for the decent, I had my head torch on full tilt for about fifteen minutes. As I reached the valley bottom and the remaining daylight faded to nothing I could knock the brightness down.

[one eyed cat]

I’ve had a Petzel Reactik + for a couple of years and swear by it. The ability to lower light output when ambient light increases and increase output as it gets darker makes it wear and forget. Run time is excellent and the lock ensures you don’t switch it on accidentally. The red light option means it can be used in a tactical environment, the light switches on at the last setting, no inadvertent white light moments.

Slightly older tech now but still a torch I recommend.

[oddman]

I got this from decathlon after being disappointed with cheaper black diamond and petzl offerings - very good

[georgefreeman918]

Coincidence that I came online to search for a running head torch, but logged on to PH first.

What do people do for rear lights? Are there any heartorches with a rear light built in as well?

[TheGriffter]

You may be sorted by now, but I have recently bought an Alpkit Qark which I've used for about a dozen night runs.
It is very comfortable on me and provides more than enough light for unlit trail runs - https://alpkit.com/collections/lighting/products/q...

Cheers

[Lotus Notes]

gazza285 said:

dangerousB said:

900?!! Wow. 450 lumens down a country lane with no moon is PLENTY bright enough for me. 900 must be like running in daylight!

You don’t need 900 Lumens when it is dark,..

You can never have enough lumens..It's like saying I prefer the 2.9 over the Cayman S

Edited by Lotus Notes on Friday 6th November 22:12

[oddman]

TheGriffter said:

You may be sorted by now, but I have recently bought an Alpkit Qark which I've used for about a dozen night runs.
It is very comfortable on me and provides more than enough light for unlit trail runs - https://alpkit.com/collections/lighting/products/q...

Cheers

That looks good

Alpkit have some fantastic gear - they are a real under the radar brand

[benjipeg]

was just going to post the decathlon one, cheapy seeing the rechargable pack is already built in