Running at Night?

TheGaudyMagpie

I have a gym membership, so I can run on a treadmill, but I really prefer running outdoors. What do the nighttime runners use to ensure that they can see and are visible? I live in a development with sidewalks, so I am not too worried about safety, but I'm a klutz and would like to at least be able to see where I'm running.

Thank you!

dewd2

I have a Nathan headlamp and various flashy things.

ETA - Here's a link to the one I have. https://www.nathansports.com/nebula-fire-runners-headlamp-5100n

CafeRacer808

When I ran, I definitely preferred doing so outside at night. Perhaps buy yourself some running gear - jackets, hats, track pants, etc - that incorporate reflective material.

kenyonhaff

Reflective material
Headlamps are good, or have a flashlight with you. It can warn a car you're there or flash a light at an odd alarming noise. Or figure out if that dark spot that could be a puddle or a hole in the sidewalk.

MeanderingMammal

I run with a Silva TrailRunnerII USB, which gives me plenty of light for offroad night running.

If I'm near roads so cage dwellers are a threat I'll clip a red LED to my belt at the back as well. I'll usually have hi viz for that situation as well, but if off road I'm not to worried about that.

robininfl

I run in the morning before dawn, and mostly just stay on lighted streets. I have wiped out at least once a year, but I'm kinda clumsy that way, and sidewalks and roads here are not in great shape, sometimes they aren't where you expect them to be. I don't know how anyone runs on trails without falling down.

I do wear white or very light shirts.

studiog608

I used to run at night back in the day when it was safer to do so. Loved it!!! Nowadays I can't even ride my bike on the road without being a target. But small strobes work. And light reflecting clothes.

niblue

I run at night with a headtorch and a chest mounted light (from Decathlon) - works really well.

SeagalDeeDee

I also have a headband night lite and my running tights are reflective

Jules_farmgirl

A backroad with no traffic and something to make noise to scare off moose and cougars......

MeanderingMammal

robininfl wrote: »

I don't know how anyone runs on trails without falling down.

Practice. My first night trail runs were quite slow, nowadays not so much.

Dark Ox video here, although not taken by me.

TheGaudyMagpie

LOL. No moose where I am. Possible cougars but they usually don't come into the developments. Raccoons, skunks, and opossums are the main wildlife.

This is all very helpful. There's not too much traffic in the development at night and there are sidewalks throughout so I'm not too concerned about cars, although being visible is always safer. I'll check out the headlamps. There is a golf course near my house that I walk with my husband. I'd love to run it at night but I am more concerned about doing that alone than I am the streets lined with houses (the husband won't run).

I'd run in the mornings but I'm a pretty chronic insomniac and my best sleep is usually from midnight on. If I'm going to be up at night anyway, I might as well make it useful.

lulukittie

I wear a reflective vest (mine is by Nathan but there are other brands out there too), reflective hat (many brands have this), and headlamp (cheapie from Home Depot) as well. I am sad that Brooks discontinued the Nightlife hat, which has a built-in red LED light across the back fastener.

irandamay

I use a NoxGear Tracer360 LED vest for visibility and a headlamp (Black Diamond Spot) for lighting up the ground.

Asher_Ethan

I got some cheap fairey lights and I wear those. Other runners laugh when they realize what I'm wearing and I'm happy I made their run that much more enjoyable.

juliet3455

@TheGaudyMagpie The answers are all very common. I use a Petzl Tikka Reactive headlamp. Multiple light levels and reacts to the environment around you. I also have a Black Diamond that I keep as a emergency spare when doing any planned long night time running events that are over 3 hours. What you need depends on how dark it is when you run, How long the runs are and how much light you need to run safely.

Reflective clothing is a must especially if you are going to be on/near roads, crossing roads etc.

I know some people who don't like headlamps, they don't hold their head steady when running resulting in the light bobbing all over the trail and they found it hard to stay focused.

TheGaudyMagpie

In the past I had kind of looked at a hat and a clip on light. Does anyone use an arrangement like that? I was thinking myself that the bobbing of a headlamp might be a little annoying.

I did go out and walk the neighborhood a bit tonight, and the main street through the development has streetlights and is pretty lit up, while the side streets have much dimmer lights, so I suspect that I will mostly run up and down the main drag, which is at a decent incline, so, yay, extra effort. I'm not sure I need much light but I will at least get some reflective clothing just because there are cars even if there's not much traffic.

I would love to run trails at night, but I need to find some running partners before I do that.

tiny_clanger

I run on lit pavements at night wearing these https://batteryfree.co.uk/

They don't make enough light for trails, but do make you visible to traffic and other pedestrians. I have a head torch for night trails, but don't use it very often as I don't like trail running in the dark on my own.

I also wear reflectives and reflective gloves. Many drivers have said how good the gloves are becauase the bouncing movement makes it clear I am a pedestrian, rather than a bib which, seen from a distance, might be a road sign or a cyclist.

Bluepegasus

I have a head torch clipped to my baseball cap, high viz, armband light and clip on lights on my shoes.

BrianSharpe

My Petzl Tikka led headlamp is still going strong after 5 years and I use one my flashing red led bike lights clipped on to the back of the headband plus lots of reflective gear. You can't be too visible running at night (I've seen a few runners with the NOX gear vests too - they're prtty cool)

lporter229

I also have a Petzl Tikka headlamp which I have had for about 5 years and it works great. I usually have to have a pretty thick hat to hold it in place, so if it is warmer out, I sometimes wear it around my chest, or even just carry it in my hand for a short run. I have been toying with the idea of purchasing knuckle lights. I also use LED slap bands around my wrist and ankle and wear light or reflective clothing for visibility.

WatchJoshLift

I run with spotlights. I shine them at cars as they're passing by on the other side of the road. I'm not sure why people honk at me so much, though.

AnnyisOK

I wear bright clothes, LED lights that strap around my arms, legs, etc. A cheaper route is buy some glowsticks, you'll look like a one-person rave but it works.

bama_belle78

I use the flashlight feature on my cell phone and just point it at the ground. If I'm crossing the road I will shake it side to side to make sure I'm visible but I use it more for me, not face planting.

irandamay

AnnyisOK wrote: »

buy some glowsticks, you'll look like a one-person rave but it works.

That's why I love my Tracer360 vest. It's basically almost like a giant glowstick vest, and you can customize what colors the LEDs are. I like to leave mine on a rotating rainbow.

AigreDoux

I run early AM in the dark. I have an amphipod led vest https://www.amazon.com/Amphipod-Xinglet-Flash-Bright-Green/dp/B00686HJ6S/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1483457608&sr=8-8&keywords=amphipod

And knuckle lights https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00847KVLE/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_3_w

GiddyupTim

Can I just say I don't like the idea of headlamps? Much better to let your eyes adjust to the ambient light that there is. (If there is no ambient light at all, you are in an area that is too dark to be safe for night running.) Otherwise, you can never seen what is outside your tiny, narrow beam of light, and what is coming.
Reflective gear, yes. Headlamps, no.

girlinahat

GiddyupTim wrote: »

Can I just say I don't like the idea of headlamps? Much better to let your eyes adjust to the ambient light that there is. (If there is no ambient light at all, you are in an area that is too dark to be safe for night running.) Otherwise, you can never seen what is outside your tiny, narrow beam of light, and what is coming.
Reflective gear, yes. Headlamps, no.

A decent headlamp will give both a narrow focused beam and a wider beam to help you see around that. I like WALKING in the dark, adjusting to the light or lack of, and hate it when others automatically get out a torch, but when it comes to running at night in the woods, I'll take a torch over a broken ankle anyday.

Running near roads, then a reflective vest is a good thing.

BeeerRunner

TheGaudyMagpie wrote: »

I have a gym membership, so I can run on a treadmill, but I really prefer running outdoors. What do the nighttime runners use to ensure that they can see and are visible? I live in a development with sidewalks, so I am not too worried about safety, but I'm a klutz and would like to at least be able to see where I'm running.

Thank you!

I have a headlamp that I sometimes use depending on lighting where I'm running. I also have a light that clips onto the brim of a hat / visor. I use that when it's raining in the dark or when I'm starting a run so early it's still dark but will become light and bright while on the run. I also have flashy arm bands to help cars see me. I got all these things on Amazon.

I run on the street facing oncoming traffic because our neighborhood sidewalks are filled with hazards and low hanging trees. It's a low traffic area though.

Also, I bring my pepper spray that straps to my hand. Just in case there's a stray crazy dog or stray crazy human.

Philtex

Knuckle lights.

7lenny7

I prefer to run on roads rather than sidewalks, day or night. roads tend to have a more even surface than sidewalks and the roads around my house are wide enough and quiet enough to accommodate runners.

You've got a lot of good advice already. Two things I'll say. First, assume no driver can see you in spite of all your reflective gear and blinky lights. They're too busy posting selfies to Instagram to care about you.

Second, with your flashlight or headlight, briefly shine your light across any vehicle which might cross your path, particularly if they're at a 90 degree angle from you (pulling out of a lot and crossing the sidewalk you're running on). You still must assume they can't see you, but actively shining a light on them increases your chances of not being hit.

I do most of my running after dark and I love it.