Silva Trail Runner Free Headlamp - SS22

Product Information

The lamp itself is small, rotates up and down easily (even with gloves on) and the switch on the left-side is easy to press for illumination. Green shows good power in the battery, red shows recharging or new batteries are required. Choose Trail Runner Free with the Hybrid battery case and 3 x AAA batteries if you don’t run on a daily basis, but still value long burn time. A headlamp, a good one! is an essential item for any runner, be that for racing or training. Winter, short days and what can feel like constant darkness can stop training and force sessions indoors, however, a good lamp can make all the difference for helping you get out of the door. Recently I looked at headlamps by Norwegian brand, Moonlight, HEREwho produce lamps with serious lumens for running, mountain biking, skiing or any sport that takes place in pitch darkness and bright illumination is required. The Trail Runner H features what Silva describe as 'true lumens', meaning that they're measured by what they (and we) believe is the most reliable method available - the ANSI FL1 flashlight basic performance standard. This has become the industry standard and acts as a guarantee for more meaningful figures, in a market that can be guilty of some dubious and misleading claims in terms of both brightness and burn time.

Trail Runner Free 2 is a comfortable and lightweight headlamp for everyone who loves running. Its features and light beam are optimized for a runner’s needs. The basic version of the Trail Runner Free 2 series is used with 3 x AAA batteries (not included) and the Hybrid battery case. This is an upgraded version of the original Nitecore NU25 (hat tip to the thru-hiking community, which has known about this little gem for a long time). In addition to increasing the lumens and the size of the battery, the NU25 UL has a different headband than its predecessor. The weight is super-light coming in at 125g with the battery.Every part of the headlamp has been compressed and the unit only weighs 55 grams. Silva isn’t the most well-known headlamp brand in the United States, but the Sweden-based company has spent a few decades developing equipment for outdoor exploration. While they’re best known for their compasses and navigational equipment, they’ve also recently developed a robust line of handheld and head-mounted lighting systems. We tested their Trail Speed 4XT lamp last spring, which is more of an expedition-size piece in comparison to the Trail Runner Free H, which is designed for faster and lighter movement. If you frequently run on roads in the dark, a rear-facing light can help cars see you. Some headlamps, like the Petzl Nao RL, have a built-in red light on the head strap, but you can always carry a small additional red light to provide a flashing light for visibility. An extra light for increased visibility can also be useful if you’re running on popular trails in the dark. They can make your presence known to other trail users coming up behind you and help avoid collisions or startling each other. Call for CommentsLightweight and perfectly balanced with smooth adjustments and a flat, soft textile extension cord that does not tangle. Whilst it's hard comparing each side by side exactly, it does feel like - at least in terms of the investment - the Trail Runner Free would have benefitted from a few extra lumens, just to make it stand a little further above the competition - either that or being a little bit cheaper. Whether it is the right choice for you may come down to how much you value some of those unique features. Summary

The Silva Intelligent Light system, which simultaneously lights up the ground at your feet and also the trail much further ahead, is superb. Out on the trails this translates into less head movement (you don’t need to look up or down to see what’s happening, you can just run like you do during daylight hours) and more confidence, which means lower levels of fatigue, less trips and slips, and better performance. There are three brightness settings (max, medium, minimum), plus a flashing mode, and an innovative short-burst rapid-flash indicator lets you know when you’re on full beam. Unlike some other headlamps, the medium and minimum settings are still bright enough to be useful. The on-off button (also used to toggle between modes), is large and easy to operate, even if you’re wearing gloves. Moreover, Petzl’s innovative Reactive Lighting technology also sets this headlamp apart. In addition to providing a consistent level of light with 900 lumens, it can be set to adapt to ambient lighting conditions, growing dimmer where there’s other light around and brighter where there’s not. This technology is also found in the Petzt Nao RL, our top headlamp choice for ultrarunning, reviewed below.

SILVA Intelligent Light – optimizes the light pattern with a unique combination of a long reach spot light and a close flood light Trail Runner Free Ultra is a comfortable and lightweight headlamp for everyone who loves running. Its features and light beam are optimized for a runner’s needs. Trail Runner Free Ultra comes with a rechargeable 4.0 Ah (14.8 Wh) battery as well as the Hybrid battery case. When it comes to build quality, the battery case doesn't feel the most robust, but equally - it hasn't (thus far) shown any actual signs of wear. The rest of the headtorch, particularly the strap, feel like they're manufactured to an exceptionally high standard. It's by no means the most powerful headtorch around, with 400 lumens realistically being at the modest end of the spectrum - particularly where trail running is concerned; however, if you're after more, the chances are you're going to pay more. I have tended to find myself using the max setting out on the hill, particularly whilst descending, just to get that bit of extra distance. The medium seating is fine for more manicured trails, because of the fact you've got more predictable ground. I often use the middle mode whilst going uphill too, partly because I don't need the extra output, but also to save that little bit of battery when I can. The low setting is actually a little more meaningful than some of its competitors, so can be used to prolong burn time on more predictable ground, or - as is more often the case - to use a map, or look for something within your bag without blinding yourself. It's perfect for around a camp too.