LEARNING CENTER: HOW TO

Factors to Consider:

Light Output
Headlamps are classified according to the total amount of visible light emitted, or lumens. The number of lumens offered by a headlamp indicates how bright the light will be, and also how far ahead of you the light will be cast. At Running Warehouse, we offer headlamps with anywhere from 60 to 500 lumens.

Battery life
Another key feature of headlamps is how long the battery will last. This is also known as burn time. Higher end headlamps tend to offer longer burn times, or extra features to conserve the battery and extend battery life.

Extra features
Each brand offers unique technology designed to aid in the performance of that lamp, the exact features of which will vary from model to model. Some headlamps offer lighting settings that regulate the amount of light so that the light won't dim as the batteries drain. Others include a sensor that reacts to the ambient light and increases or decreases the amount of light depending on your conditions. Some lamps feature a dimming mode, which allows a more customizable amount of light output. For the exact features offered by a model, take a look at the "Product Details" section of a product page.

Finding the Right Model

The best headlamp for you will depend on how much ambient light will be present on your run, as well as how long you will be running in the dark.

For runs with LOW ambient light
If your runs are within about 45 minutes of sunrise or sunset, or your run takes you under occasional streetlights, any headlamp with at least 60 lumens will suffice. We find that 60 lumens is an adequate amount of light for most situations. All of the headlamps we carry offer at least 60 lumens; more basic headlamps will be offered at lower price points and have fewer features or less lumen output. These lamps are ideal for runs with little ambient light, or shorter runs where no ambient light is present.

For runs with NO ambient light
The darker your run, the more light you will need. If your run is well before sunrise or after sunset, and your route does not have any ambient lighting, choosing a brighter headlamp is crucial. We suggest choosing a headlamp with a minimum output of 100 lumens, but options are available which offer up to over 500 lumens.

For runs shorter than 2 hours
If you are running for less than 2 hours in either low light or no light conditions, any headlamp will offer you adequate battery life, if fully charged. Keep in mind that the lower the battery life, the more frequently you will need to change the batteries, or recharge the lamp.

For runs longer than 2 hours
If you are running for longer than 2 hours, battery life will be critical. Base your decision off of the longest stretch of time you will have between re-charges, or battery changes. For example, if you will be running all night, choose a headlamp with a battery life with at least 8-10 hours of consistent brightness.

Make sure to take lighting settings into account when you look at the battery life of a headlamp. For example, many headlamps offer traditional light output, where the lamp is at its brightest immediately when it is turned on, then the light begins to dim as the battery is used. These lights will appear to have very long battery lives, but the light output towards the end of the battery life will be much dimmer than at the beginning, and may not be adequate for running. Other lamps offer technologies that regulate the output of light from when it's first turned on. This means that while the battery life might not last quite as long, the headlamp will put out a consistently bright beam until it dramatically drops off after a certain number of hours. These lighting factors will help you determine which headlamp model to purchase, based on how long you will need the light and how dark your conditions will be.