Comparison of Series Review 1: Become apart at night. Optimal lighting considerations for night runs [Headlamp edition]

Running through the mountains at night? ? Things I had never thought about before had come to normal as I started trail running. In long-running tournaments such as Hasetsune and UTMF, when it gets dark, you may run day and night with lights on your head, waist and hands. One day, the editor-in-chief of our website called out to me, "I have a lot of lights on my hands, why not try using them?" and gave me a large amount of lights.

Even though you can try lighting up in the shop, it's rare to find a comparison in the mountains at once. So I was asked to choose the lights I was interested in with my head, hands, and hips, and decided to do a series of events where I actually ran through the mountains at night. The first one is the headlamp (light).

What to look for in a headlamp

In mountains at night where visibility is not effective, we repeatedly grasp the road conditions and instantly decide how to avoid obstacles. Irradiation from a high position like a headlamp makes it difficult for stones and tree roots to turn into shadows, and light reaches even further, so it is no exaggeration to say it is the main item for night runs. When choosing this light, you will always look at the maximum lumen, but it rarely continues to light up at the maximum output. In reality, the main focus is on the light distribution, and I place more importance on the maximum lumens than the maximum lumens. Even with the same brightness, the size and color of the LEDs used are completely different depending on the lens shape. Other factors that you can't overlook, such as checking the weight and fit of the main unit, and whether it is easy to operate buttons while wearing it on your head. This time, we tried out three powerful, highly functional headlamps that are excellent in these respects and are thought to be perfect for trail running.

Impressions of the featured headlamp

PETZL NAO+

Weight★★☆ Comfort★★☆ Function★★★

Petzl NAO is reactive lighting (automatic light dimming function), but the latest model is equipped with a smartphone-linked function. You can now create profiles that customize the brightness and usage time as before, but you can now transfer this profile using a dedicated smartphone app without using a computer. The maximum light output of 750 lumens is outstanding compared to other products, but what I would like to recommend is the light distribution caused by NAO+'s exquisite lens cutting. I feel that the light distribution, which does not turn into shadows from the edge of your vision, is one that stands out from other manufacturers.

Light distribution image

The well-made NAO+ also has its weaknesses, with the reactive lighting (automatic light dimming function) mentioned above being weak against reflective materials. For example, if you approach a runner in front of you in a race, the sensor may be distorted by the reflective material on your backpack or shoes, causing the optimum light to be unable to obtain. This can't be helped as the reflected light is analyzed using a sensor. If there is a runner in front, you can take measures by pointing the light down a little. The battery feels brighter than the number even at the usual weak (120lm), and can be used for 8 hours, so I have no complaints.

This is ◎

• Beautiful light distribution without shadows
• The richer features due to smartphone linkage are the best when you use them.

This is a shame

• Reactive functions are unstable depending on the situation

milestone MS-F1 Trail Master

Weight★★☆ Comfort★★☆ Function★★☆

A highly functional headlamp for trail running in the 2018 season, which became famous for being used by Doi at UTMF 2018. It has different colors of LEDs (white on top and bulb on bottom), and you can change the light color with just a button. When you use a headlamp in the fog, your eyes will become completely white and you won't be able to see anything, but the revolutionary thing is that you can change the color of the light with just a button. This is a feature that has been waiting for runners who can't slow down their speeds no matter what the situation. This is a mechanism that has never been seen before, allowing you to adjust the tightening level by turning the dials attached to both sides.

Light distribution image (white)

Light distribution image (light bulb color)

The light distribution similar to the NAO+ mentioned above illuminates the entire field of vision evenly. The reddish light of the bulb is gentle on the eyes, ensuring a strong view even in fog. Turn the dial on both sides to allow for tightening and winding. The extremely thin wire gives a soft impression on the head. The knobs are on the left and right, so you can change the tightening level to match the shape of your head. Thanks to the design, which narrows the area of ​​the parts that come into contact with the head, such as lights and batteries, there is no stress. This light feels like the finer details are well thought out. It has a simple operability and is easy to use, and the battery is MID (160lm) for 7 hours, which is sufficient. It also has a saving mode to prevent unexpected lights from going out, so you can use it safely even for a long time. One thing that caught my eye was the operation of the side switches. It is used to adjust the brightness in three stages and to switch the light bulb color, but I found it difficult to tell whether this switch was pressed very well.

This is ◎

• Simple operation
• You can change the color of the light with just a button
• Flexible size adjustment function with dial

This is a shame

• The feeling when pressing the side switch is slightly weak

LEDLENSER MH10

Weight★★★ Comfort★★☆ Function★☆☆

The latest Red Renser model, MH10, has recently gained a wide range of products and is gaining popularity. There is only one LED, but it uses a large LED, so it is surprisingly bright and is sufficient for a night run. You can also change the wide and spot light by turning the ring at the tip of the light. It has a simple operability that allows you to turn it on/off and change the brightness with just a button, and it feels good when pressed and is easy to use. The light distribution is close to the spot, and even when it is wide, there will be a shadow at the edges. This may be a concern for those who like brightly illuminated light from every corner, like the NAO+ and MS-F1, but on the other hand, this can also be considered a benefit in fog.

Light distribution image

Red and green color filters are standard equipment, so you can easily change the light color. By using this and the spot light mentioned above, it will be a very strong ally in fog. I hope that yellow as a color filter is standard equipment. The battery can be used for 15 hours at a middle (250lm), so the advantage is that you can continue to drive all day and night without relying on a spare battery.

This is ◎

• Wide and spot light can be switched
• You can change the color of the light using a color filter

This is a shame

• Not suitable for illuminating every corner

Conclusion

I used three headlamps to compare them, and for me the best headlamp is NAO+. The reason is its high scalability. Depending on the race, you may be able to use it all night, or just a few hours. There is no doubt that the lights are as bright as possible, so the advantage is that you can customize the brightness according to the usage time. The light distribution is also good, which naturally illuminates the entire field of vision. However, NAO+ can only be used with these functions, so if you want to simply use light functions without messing with the finest features, the MS-F1 is the best option for the light quality and ease of use. However, if the light is enveloped in thick fog, it is possible that the diffused light from NAO+ or MS-F1 cannot be used, so it is difficult to throw away the spot light and color filters from the MH10. There is no versatile headlamp that can be used in any situation, so it may be best to use it to compensate for the weaknesses of the selected headlamp with a hand or waist light.

Next time I'll compare the hand lights.

(Reference) Summary of evaluation results and spec comparison table

Tsushima Kohei

A runner who loves travel and nature. As I climbed the mountains everywhere, I walked all the way to Tibet to see Everest. I became a working adult and became addicted to running, which I started to relieve my lack of exercise, and was unable to satisfy myself in the full marathon and ended up running the Ultra Marathon (100km) and Ultra Trail (100mile). He is currently taking on the Grand Slam of a citizen runner (3rd marathon, 10th ultra marathon, complete the summit of Fuji Mountain Climbing Race), and is currently challenging domestic and international races to reach even greater heights! We post reviews of races and gears that we have run.
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