bespectacled night time off road runners

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FLV
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bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by FLV »

Hallo. I've started attempting to run a bit. Mostly off road, often at night.

I am a glasses wearer. My current head torch is my exposure joystick on a headband USE used to sell (might still do) which positions the torch on the side of my head. This creates a big glare in one eye. Less than ideal.

So, I am going to buy a new headtorch. Probably petzl, Exposure or black diamond but open to any really. Questions....

Any specific recommendations?
Any minimum lumens recommendations, I want a good 2 hour run time
Any particular recommendations from my bespectacled friends out there?

Cheers :-bd
jam bo
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by jam bo »

Use contacts.
ScotRoutes
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by ScotRoutes »

I use a LED Lenser H7. Centrally mounted, above my specs. No glare.

Beam angle, width and brightness are all adjustable.
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Cheeky Monkey
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Cheeky Monkey »

Petzl Swift RL:

https://m.petzl.com/GB/en/Sport/PERFORM ... s/SWIFT-RL

Stupidly expensive but lovely gear.

Comfy harness, barely moved, despite size and weight (not that much really). Given its size and shape it stands proud of your forehead which might help avoid glasses and glare issues.

I originally bought the previous model for trail running (well, a plod / thunder). So impressed I bought this one too.

The reactik / reactive tech is pretty darn good. USB rechargeable (which I like) and stupid bright. Only thing that sometimes confuses it is when breathing heavy in very cold or drizzle / mizzle in the air that bounces light back and confuses the sensor. A tiny issue.

Did I mention they're silly expensive :wink:
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Dave Barter
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Dave Barter »

I’m using an Alpkit Gamma with my specs and mainly off-road with no issues
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Cheeky Monkey
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Cheeky Monkey »

I should add I always ran with contacts. Too sweaty a beast for gigs.
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voodoo_simon
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by voodoo_simon »

Cheeky Monkey wrote: Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:28 pm Petzl Swift RL:

https://m.petzl.com/GB/en/Sport/PERFORM ... s/SWIFT-RL

Stupidly expensive but lovely gear.

Comfy harness, barely moved, despite size and weight (not that much really). Given its size and shape it stands proud of your forehead which might help avoid glasses and glare issues.

I originally bought the previous model for trail running (well, a plod / thunder). So impressed I bought this one too.

The reactik / reactive tech is pretty darn good. USB rechargeable (which I like) and stupid bright. Only thing that sometimes confuses it is when breathing heavy in very cold or drizzle / mizzle in the air that bounces light back and confuses the sensor. A tiny issue.

Did I mention they're silly expensive :wink:
Have one of these, not quite as stable as I would have hoped for but after 10 minutes or so of running, I soon forget about it. I do t wear spectacles but I’ll sometimes run with glasses on not had any glare back in my eyes
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GregMay
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by GregMay »

Petzl Iko Core for short runs (<2hrs), NAO+ for longer runs.
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Scud
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Scud »

Would it be worth just buying some thick elastic and making a different headband for the Joystick? Can't be too difficult to make one that had the band still round head, but then strip over the top to hold the light on top of your barnet? Seems a much cheaper way, as the Joystick is a great light.
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Specialist Hoprocker
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Specialist Hoprocker »

LED Lenser H7 here too. Only annoying thing is that the rear button that changes function is very easy to accidentally press and hold. This then puts the light into a 'programme mode' and can turn it off, or on a odd moments. Like just as you are lighting the stove in the dark with a hood up!

But otherwise a good buy.
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stevewaters
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by stevewaters »

Scud wrote: Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:15 am Would it be worth just buying some thick elastic and making a different headband for the Joystick? Can't be too difficult to make one that had the band still round head, but then strip over the top to hold the light on top of your barnet? Seems a much cheaper way, as the Joystick is a great light.
Like this ?: http://tracythelen.blogspot.com/2012/12 ... ights.html
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FLV
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by FLV »

look how happy they look with it too!!
Scud
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Scud »

I was thinking that you could use existing strap with the Joystick holding part over the top, then stitch to a blank thick band of elastic around the head, so torch sits at top?
SeannyD
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by SeannyD »

I use a Petzl Actik for running (and walking the dog, not much difference in speed :smile: )
350 lumens and Core rechargeable version available too.
Simple and bright enough for me,
https://www.petzl.com/GB/en/Sport/ACTIV ... amps/ACTIK
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benp1
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by benp1 »

Blimey, all these runners :shock:

We're going to turn into a fastpacking forum :grin:
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PaulE
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by PaulE »

A cycling cap under the headtorch does a decent job of avoiding glare when I run in glasses.. not sure how it would work with a side mounted one, but may be worth a go?
rando nomad
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by rando nomad »

I'll throw something into the mix- a waist mounted light. We use the Ultra Spire one's and they are great. My wife and I both wear glasses, so I get the point about light and rain.
Having in on your waist keeps the light low, so it shows shadows more/allows you to get a better grasp of the terrain, rather than a light from above. No idea what is in stock in the UK, but thought I'd throw it out there.
PS- Check out Pete Bland Sports for lights and such
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Chrisps
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Chrisps »

I don't know if it applies to other Petzl headtorches, but I find that the Petzl Reactik, although bright enough causes a weird flickering on your breath. My suspicion is that a bit like "Pulse Width Modulation" on laptop monitors, the way they vary the brightness is to turn the led on and off extremely fast.... in a way that isn't normally noticeable, but is annoying when your breath is condensing at night.

Just something to bear in mind

(Because of this I use an old Silva Trail Speed headtorch with a separate 4xAA battery holder that I keep in my pocket. Nice and bright and doesn't flicker)
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Cheeky Monkey
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by Cheeky Monkey »

Hmm, never noticed flicker with mine. Reactik tech has been "confused" by condensed breath when very cold or mizzle in the air and when that's happened I've just turned it to non-reactik (..tive?) mode.

YMMV :cool:
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gairym
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by gairym »

Another recommendation for LED Lenser here too.

Been using them for years now though I don't currently have one as I lost mine and so now use Mrs Gairy's iH8R model - it's brilliant!
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FLV
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by FLV »

Good shortlist here, thanos a lot.

I tried out a fairly basic Alpkit one last night. Batteries didnt last long at all, but the colour of the light (seemed pele white) and beam didnt work for me at all before the batterires faded after half hour.

There was less glare with the lamp central, which caps etc will further reduce if we leave wooly hat weather behind,!

I should add, not complaining about the alpkit one. Its been a faithful lamp in the tent etc.
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FLV
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Re: bespectacled night time off road runners

Post by FLV »

I see theres a new exposure one coming out

https://exposurelights.com/products/out ... ches/ht-go

Being half blind though, i may go for more light than 400. Just for those gate / obscure path finding sessions :lol:
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