The 9 Best Running Lights for Safer Nighttime Runs

Whether you’re trying to beat the midday heat or simply don’t have the time to squeeze a run while it’s light out, chances are you’ll have to run at dusk or in the dark at some point (if you haven’t already). And as thrilling as it can sometimes feel to run at night, the low visibility of both you and your surroundings makes for a far more dangerous environment, especially on busy roads and technical trails. Cars might not be able to see you on the former, and you might struggle to see rocks, roots, and other ankle-breaking trail features on the latter. To combat this visibility problem, it’s not a bad idea to have a reliable running light.

If you prefer to run in the early morning or late at night, an effective running light is an essential piece of gear. Not only can powerful models illuminate the path ahead to help you avoid tripping hazards, running lights also alert drivers, pedestrians, and other runners to your presence. And proper running lights sit snugly on your body or your gear as you stride. Ideally, you won’t have to fuss with them during your workout.

Whether you opt for a headlamp, a body-mounted light rig, or a simple set of clip-ons, make sure you’re rocking the best equipment—an unreliable light could leave you in a rough situation if it runs out of juice in the woods, for example. Fortunately, we’ve sought out the lights that have best served us, and we’ve listed our favorites 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.

The Best Running Lights

• Best Overall Headlamp: Black Diamond Sprint 225 Headlamp
• Best Value Headlamp: Energizer Vision Ultra HD Headlamp
• Best Lightweight Headlamp: Petzl IKO Core Headlamp
• Best Value Torso Mount: Avanto Pro Chest Running Light
• Best All-Round Visibility: NoxGear Tracer 2 Light Vest

What to Consider When Choosing Running Lights

To See or Be Seen?

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 one, 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 lamplit 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

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 headlamp or chest-mounted spotlight that you can more easily reach to adjust on the fly.

Waterproofing

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 IP water-resistance rating. These indicate a device’s ability to block dust and water from passing through its outer shell, and they 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 filter out solid particles.

For all-weather applications, we recommend looking for an IP rating of 4 or above, but any rating will suffice on a dry evening if you don’t sweat heavily.

How We Selected

Collectively, we’ve been running for decades and frequently head out before the sun rises or has already set. We recognize 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 online 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 headlamps and the best reflective bands for nighttime runs.