We’re half way through winter but there’s still a lot of running in the dark ahead of us. If you’re looking for ways to make yourself more visible to traffic out on the run, Run Testers Laura and Kieran have picked a few of their items of favourite reflective running gear to boost your nighttime safety. Here are our picks of the best high-vis running kit.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
0:00 – Intro
1:21 – New Balance Impact Run Luminous Heat Jacket
2:37 – Nathan Hypernight Stealth Jacket 2.0
3:18 – Soar Windbreaker Run Jacket
5:19 – Brooks Run Visible Insulated Vest
7:31 – Brooks Run Visible 6″ Run Tight
9:19 – Biolite Headlamp 325
10:25 – Bodylite Night Vision Light + Free Belt
11:06 – Proviz Reflect360 Reflective Hydration Pack
11:54 – Safety Skin
Product links…
New Balance Impact Run Luminous Heat Jacket
https://www.newbalance.co.uk/pd/impact-run-luminous-heat-jacket/WJ33256-EMEA-WJ33256BK.html
Nathan Hypernight Stealth Jacket 2.0
https://nathansport.eu/en-gb/products/stealth-jacket-2-0
Soar Windbreaker Run Jacket
https://www.soarrunning.com/collections/womens-winter-system-components/products/womens-windbreaker-red?variant=43202213740788
Brooks Run Visible Insulated Vest
https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_gb/running-womens-insulated-vest/221561.html
Brooks Run Visible 6″ Run Tight
https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_gb/run-visible-womens-running-tights-6-inches/221565.html
Biolite Headlamp 325
https://uk.bioliteenergy.com/products/headlamp-425?variant=43619686219946
Proviz Reflect360 Reflective Hydration Pack
https://provizsports.com/products/reflect360-hydration-backpack?country=GB
Bodylite Night Vision Light + Free Belt
https://www.bodylitegear.com/products/nightvision-light
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Hi Runners I'm Laura and today Kieran And I have some pics of kit that is Going to help you be seen when you're Out [Music] Running now winter solstice is around Now we are getting more Daylight each Day uh but there's still a fair bit of Darkness to be run through it's likely That now corresponds with when if you're Marathon training your mileage might Start to pick up so although we're Getting that little bit more Daylight And a little bit less Darkness every day We've still got a fair few months of Getting in some runs while it's dark Either early morning or or after work For many people so here's some kit that We've some his and her selections that We've put together that are going to Help you be seen by traffic or other People out when you're running in we Don't want them just to be visible Though we want them to do more than that We want them to be good bits of kit that You're going to enjoy wearing and are Going to be useful for more than just Those dark days uh that you might want To Wear in daylight too so let's see what Kieran's got first up before I get into One of my hi's picks a confession I Think I must be getting old because These days I definitely feel the cold
Much more than I used to so nowadays I Really like to layer up and be warm on My runs like I'll wear three layers Under a jacket in 5° C so you got to Bear that in mind here with this pick Because this New Balance impact run Luminous jacket brings the warmth in a Big way it's a big padded jacket that Some may find too warm maybe not Something you'd use for Interval Sessions but I find it great for long Slow runs in cold temperatures so if You're like me and you want a running Jacket it will guarantee warmth when Things drop really kind of close to zero This could be it it features what New Balance calls wicking NB heat technology With a wind resistant polywoven shell And a vapor Loft fill which brings kind Of lightweight warmth for quite a big Jacket it means it's really quilted and It's kind of fleecy inside but it Manages the moisture and the heat really Well it has a detachable Hood it's got Two quite big zippered side pockets and A couple of dropin pockets as well which Are really handy plus other cool little Details like zippered watch windows on Both sleeves and for that all important High visibility you've got large chest And back panels that have reflective Thread that lights up really really Nicely under the headlights now if You're not a winter weakling like me and
You want something to boost your Visibility but without adding loads of Extra heavy layers then this Nathan Hyperlite stealth jacket 2.0 is Excellent It's a super thin breathable Barely there kind of soft shell layer It's not going to add much warmth Beyond A bit of wind protection but it's Covered in reflective detailing across The front and the back so it's a great Way to layer on safety without Overheating this is a high viz jacket You can use for fast intervals as well It's vented at the back to move heat out It's got a cinchable hood so you can Tighten the hood down it's got quite a High-rising neck as well to keep the Kind of windy bits out down your neck it Does pack down pretty compact for Relatively Easy Storage so my first pick Is this saw Windbreaker jacket which I have shared Before on here um I've been running in It for about Probably about a year now but it's still It's still very much available from Saw It's £170 um but I really enjoy running in This I run it I run in it not just when I want the extra visibility but I run With it um in the daylight too it does Live up to its name of that windbreaker Um it does keep the chill off it's got Let's talk about the visibility first
Though so it's got this uh little the Sawce sash slash here which is very Reflective it's a small bit but it's Very reflective and then you've got that Same reflective material around um the Cuffs and then all the way around the Bottom Hem of the jacket so even now Just in the light here you can see it Lighting up um it comes in three colors But mine is I think that there's a black Uh which still has the reflective bits But I like this one because it's the Color isn't too wow if you're in Daylight but it is it does give you that Extra visibility like in low light Levels or on like foggy mornings that Sort of thing I was wearing this Yesterday morning actually I ran 10 Miles in it uh before before 9:00 a.m. And it was kind of that drizzly rain so Um I try not to wear a a a waterproof Jacket if I can avoid it um but I put This on and it kept that kind of drizzly Light rain off of me uh until until that Cleared 17 not cheap but um is really well made Feels really nice to run in and I've Been running in it for over a year and It's been through the wash quite a few Times and it does wash very well as well My second pick is from the Brooks Run Visible collection uh we're going to Have two picks from that from that Collection but the first is the Run B
Run visible Vest the Brooks Run visible collection Has been around for a few seasons now There one brand that you can rely on to Kind of go all out and have lots of Items for you to choose from this is a Like a Gile it's very it's very padded It's very warm so this has been on I've Worn this less because um it's not been As cold yet but um because it is Properly toasty but it it feels really Nice it's padded the inside feels nice And Soft so in terms of the visibility Obviously we've got this very uh bright Yellow hems and collar uh we've got the Very reflective slashes on the front and Again on the on the rear um just above Your buom so they are there to catch the Light but we've also got lots of white Which again is you know a lighter color To try and get that visibility without It being overly bright in daylight so I Will wear this when it's cold uh if when It's cold enough in the daylight I will Still wear this the only thing I will Say is that it comes up so I'm not Terribly tall I'm 5'4 and it the the Bottom hem sits sits kind of on my waist Rather than below it so if you were Taller than me you might get a little it Might be a bit short For you but for my five four runners and Below it's it's a good length can't
Testify obviously to the men's sizings The inside the zip you've got these two Little um press studs which snap Together so that if you did get really Warm you can undo the zip and it will Stay in place and not uh not come undone And flap about everywhere but you get That extra bit of ventilation from the The zip be in open so that is useful so My next pick from the Brooks Run visible Collection Is um and I love these because they take Me back to my youth and when um cycling Shorts with a massive neon pink or blue Strip down the outside of the thigh with All the rage these are the Brooks Run Visible 6 in short Tight that's quite a mouthful but there You go um what I really appreciate about These shorts is that they are shorts you Know uh Brooks have gone oh yeah Sometimes it's dark but it's not cold so Runners want to run in shorts but they Still want to be seen well done so um For all my short loving winter Runners These are a good pick for you so you've Got that very bright down the St but Down the outside of your thigh very Bright stripe of neon um yellow to help You be seen we've got those reflective Details on the front of the Hip on the front of the thigh and then Again on the back of the hip and the Back of the thigh you can see that
Lighting up a little bit there so They're there to catch the Light free Your legs during the winter that still Be seen um M they've got also those big Um I call them foam Pockets but Obviously you can put lots of things in There but those thigh pockets on outside Of each thigh my only little uh bit of Um feedback there's only those two big Um thigh Pockets Drop In Pockets and no Little zip key pocket but other than That £50 great pair of shorts and I have Worn them in day like too um and it Wasn't just to a 80s Revival disco now Even though I could do my winter night Runs on London's well lit Street I still Prefer to get off-road and onto the Temps River path for a bit of peace and The nice empty tracks and that means I Will need a head torch to do that Because it's pitch black and I love Bol Light's range of head torches I've used Various models for all kinds of 24-hour Ultras but the one I regularly reach for For my London runs is the headlamp 325 It has a powerful 325 Lumin beam 3 hours Run time on full blast 40 on low and a Sweat wicking anti-bounce headband it's Nice and lightweight of 50 g it kind of It's ideal for stashing into a pocket or A belt and bringing when you want to cut A safe path through dark winter nights It's just as good on the trails as well With enough juice for short and longer
Runs it's also USB rechargeable so There's no scrabbling around in the odds And salt draw for when you need some of Those aaa's when it's time to run that's Obviously less handy though if you want The freedom to be able to extend the Life on a long Ultra by carrying Batteries and if you want a slightly Cheaper alternative with not quite such A bright light the headlamp 200 is Another compact alternative that's great Too from Bight check those out now if You're not a fan of head torches here is A good alternative this is the body Light night vision light it can be Attached via velcro to clothes and bags It can be stuck on helmets or linked Into a running belt you actually get one Free when you buy the light it works Really well when you wear it a bit like Kind of sticking your head torch around Your waist so you get a fixed beam out Of head that's not moving with your head The beam is really bright and it will Burn for up to 2 hours on Max or 9 hours On low you can get 14 hours with the Blinky red light it's USBC rechargeable It weighs about 78 gram so it's not too Heavy uh to be worn on the body the Added bonus here is that it doesn't get Sweaty as well like a head torch can so That's a bit nicer if other people want To use it provis make very very very Very reflective gear There's No Going
Unseen in some of their running and Cycling jackets but they can be a touch Heavy and warm for a lot of runs so Another option I quite like is this Running vest hydration pack mashup that Gives you some of that light up but with A big front and back reflective panels But in a compact vest that comes with Two flasks and a 1 and 1/2 lit bladder In the back it's not my favorite running Vest I don't think I'd reach for it to Race Ultras but for urban commutes and Long Winter runs those kind of train Runs where you're going to be running in The dark it has great utility got two Large drop Pockets two velcro harness Pockets and a decent Siz main Compartment if you're not carrying the Hydration pack throwing a big wide Harness here plus it's a very robust Design and it's a really handy piece of Kit for winter runs one final Recommendation for me I don't have any To hand to hold up to the camera here But safety skin is is a clever Alternative to that expensive reflective Gear basically it's a handy roll on that Adds temporary hi Vis streaks direct to Your legs to your arms to your faces Wherever you feel game enough to swipe It on so you can light yourself up like A ' 90s raver and then when you're done Night running or running in the dark Looking for that safety it washes off
Easily in the shower it's a really Handy Backup to have on the countertop next to Your anti-chafe cream so I hope you Found out Roundup useful I hope you are Going to enjoy some running in the dark It's not everyone's cup of tea I get That I get that a lot of us women feel Unsafe doing it maybe you don't want to Draw extra attention to yourself by um Lighting yourself up like a Christmas Tree find whatever works for you and What you feel safe and confident doing Happy running and like subscribe all Those things and I'll see you in the new Year
