Product test

Thanks to this head torch, I’m no longer left in the dark when I’m running

Siri Schubert
26.10.2023
Responsibility for translation Patrik Stainbrook

The days are getting shorter and my runs are now increasingly in the dark morning or evening hours. My search for a suitable head torch was a long one, but now I’ve found it.

At 6 a.m., a group of runners met in a car park at the foot of Lucerne’s local mountain, Pilatus. Speed hiking was on the agenda, led by running coach Nathalie von Däniken from Up2Peak (website in German). It was around nine kilometres to the mountain station of the Pilatusbahn with an altitude difference of 1,550 metres, initially on wide hiking trails, then on more challenging paths further up.

I need lighting now

I often used to struggle using head torches when running in the dark or at dusk. Either their headbands sat so loosely on even the tightest setting that they slipped towards my nose with every step, or they were so tight that they cut in and the marks were still visible on my forehead hours later.

Admittedly, I haven’t tried any specialist running models so far. I’ve been using pretty inexpensive camping head torches. They weren’t just annoying when running because of their poor fit; the light intensity was also far below what’s needed for safety when hiking quickly or running over hill and dale.

No slipping or tangled cables

That’s why I had the Trail Runner Free H from Swedish outdoor company Silva on my head that morning. It’s specifically designed for trail running.

The first impression: it’s very light at 115 grammes (weighed on kitchen scales including the battery), but it still seems robust. The wide, soft headband has a silicone strip to prevent slipping, and all cables are integrated into the headband (hence the «Free» suffix) to prevent tangling.

Thanks to its two light cones and low weight, Silva’s Trailrunner Free H head torch lights its surroundings well and is comfortable to wear.
Thanks to its two light cones and low weight, Silva’s Trailrunner Free H head torch lights its surroundings well and is comfortable to wear.
Source: Siri Schubert

I really like the Hybrid Battery Case. It holds either the battery with its running time of 2.5 hours at full light output (400 lumens) or normal AAA batteries, which are available virtually everywhere. It’s extremely practical. Maybe you left the battery plugged into the socket at home while you were out on an outdoor adventure. Thanks to the dual function, you can buy a replacement in almost any shop. If the battery life of 2.5 hours seems a bit short to you, the manufacturer claims that the lamp lasts around five hours at medium output (200 lumens) and around 12 hours at minimum output (50 lumens).

Rechargeable battery or batteries? The Silva head torch gives you the choice.
Rechargeable battery or batteries? The Silva head torch gives you the choice.
Source: Siri Schubert

A rear light for added safety

Replacement batteries provide added security. If a walk or run takes longer than planned, you could find yourself travelling in the dark for a long time and needing extra batteries. With other head torches, sometimes my backpack contents press on the torch so hard that it lights up the inside of the bag unnoticed. When I needed it, the battery was dead. The dual function of the battery holder makes sense in many scenarios.

The battery case is equipped with a red safety light that you can turn on or off independently of the main light.
The battery case is equipped with a red safety light that you can turn on or off independently of the main light.
Source: Siri Schubert

The Battery Case isn’t just a simple holder, it also has an additional red (or flashing red) safety light so that you’re more visible from behind. You can either attach the battery holder to the back of the headband or connect it to the extended cable provided and transport it in your backpack or jacket pocket. Only if you don’t want to use the safety light, though, obviously.

If the 2.5 hours of battery life at full light intensity and five hours at medium light intensity aren’t enough for you, the Silva Trail Runner 2 Ultra with a larger battery pack may be a good option.

Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra (500 lm)
Headlamps
CHF104.36

Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra

500 lm

As our running group had planned to be on the road for around three hours, I felt well equipped with the Silva Trailrunner Free H. Thanks to the lightweight light unit at the front and the battery at the back, it was well balanced, which, along with the wide headband with silicone strips, ensured a good fit.

Two light cones provide a clear view

The torch showed its power in just the first few metres. Its two light sources provide a spotlight whose focused light reaches up to 80 metres and a torch that illuminates the sides to the right and left of the path with a wide scattering angle. I can see branches jutting out onto the trail early enough to duck out of the way. And I can adjust the angle of the light cone using a joint on the side of the light unit to best suit me and the terrain.

Good light protects you from stumbling, even if your running training starts early in the morning.
Good light protects you from stumbling, even if your running training starts early in the morning.
Source: Up2Peak

The large button on the side of the light unit makes the torch easy to use. You can use the button to switch it on and off and control the three levels of light intensity. When you switch back to the brightest mode, the torch shows this with a short flash of light, which is particularly practical. After switching the torch off, a brief green light shows that you still have enough battery charge. A red light, however, means the opposite.

The head torch is IPX5 waterproof. It’s protected against showers from every angle, and even a heavy downpour in strong winds can’t harm it. Fortunately, we weren’t faced with such conditions when we climbed Mount Pilatus. But in the dark morning hours, I was relieved to have a good view of roots, stones and branches that could otherwise become trip hazards thanks to intelligent light – what Silva calls the combination of both light cones. Even though other head torches have more lumens, I’m impressed by the combination of concentrated light and a wide beam.

A short break: the sun takes over and I can turn off the head torch.
A short break: the sun takes over and I can turn off the head torch.
Source: Up2Peak

Verdict: the head torch fits well and is ideal for runners

After we’d covered a large part of the route, it slowly became light and our efforts were rewarded with a bright red sky. Time to take the torch off. Because it’s so light, I felt almost no difference. There were also no marks on my forehead thanks to a foam pad on the light unit itself and the soft, well-fitting headband. While speed hiking and light jogging, the torch didn’t slip at all, so the silicone strip in the headband fulfilled its purpose.

In autumn, the time for running in the dark is only just beginning. I’m definitely happy to have found a light, powerful head torch that’s specifically designed for trail running and that accompanies me when running in the dark, even on more challenging terrain.

Header image: Up2Peak

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