Before I moved to Cape Cod and began running with my run club, I never really ran in the dark. Even if I did run in the morning as the sun was still coming up in New York, I was fortunate enough to live in a fairly well lit area – not so much here!
As soon as it started getting darker earlier on Cape Cod, Jason and I bought a headlamp and reflective vest to wear at run club and we are always on the lookout for other fun, reflective, nighttime running gear, so I was pretty excited when BibRave contacted me about testing and reviewing some great Nite Ize products!
I was even more excited when this incredibly generous box of goodies arrived!
Here’s what was in the package:
- INOVA STS Headlamp
- ShoeLit
- Gear Tie Clippable 12″ and 24″
- Gear Tie Assortment Bag
- Curvyman Cord Organizer
- SlapLit
- LED Marker Band
To test out all the fun stuff for nighttime running I decided to bring it to my weekly run club! Since our group meets at 6:30pm, it’s always dark this time of year and we’re actually required to use some sort of light (headlamp, flashlight, etc.) and to wear reflective gear – this was the perfect place to test these products!
First up…
INOVA STS Headlamp
I’m going to get right to the point here – this thing is AWESOME!
The headlamp Jason and I already had served it’s purpose and kept us safe, but let me tell you, once we got the INOVA STS on, it quickly became apparent that there were better and (MUCH, MUCH) brighter headlamps out there!
I tried to take a picture of the light difference between the two headlamps (I was wearing one, Jason was wearing the other), but it’s hard to tell in the picture below, mainly because you can’t even really see the light from the “other” headlamp on the ground!
If you’ve never run with a headlamp before, it may look uncomfortable, but to be honest you really don’t even feel it!
The INOVA STS has a few other great features – not only does it shine in several different levels of brightness in either white LED or red, but you can set it to flash! It’s operated with a unique “swipe-to-shine” which can take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it’s actually really simple to use!
The other thing Jason and I are particularly excited about is that it’s waterproof! Sure, that’s a great feature for running in the rain or snow, but we’re looking forward to being able to use it when we paddle board at night over the summer!
We actually also use this headlamp for when we walk Madison (our mini dachshund!) at night – it’s so much easier than carrying a flashlight! Honestly, if you run in the dark at all I can’t recommend this product enough!
SlapLit and LED Marker Band
These two were favorites amongst my run club friends!
The SlapLit works just like a slap bracelet (remember those?!) – you click on a small button and the bracelet will either glow a bright red or click it twice and it flashes!
These were particularly fun at run club because it was easy to spot (and identify!) the people that were wearing them from a distance!
ShoeLit
While the ShoeLit isn’t enough to fully illuminate you or your path when running in the dark, it is a fun (and colorful!) little addition to your nighttime running attire! (And at run club we pride ourselves on lighting ourselves up like Christmas trees, so the more flashing gadgets and gizmos the better!)
Curvyman Cord Organizer
Who doesn’t have all sorts of cords and wires hanging around?! These cord organizers are great for controlling the excess wires – I currently have one on my computer charger and one in my car for my headphones when I’m not using them (otherwise they end up in a tangled mess!)
The only product I haven’t gotten to play with too much yet are the Gear Ties. Essentially they’re sort of like giant twist ties to hold things together! They look like they’re going to come in handy this summer for our paddle board and beach gear or when we’re traveling! (Although I am just now thinking these may be a great way to hang my race bibs – I’m going to try that and report back!)
Do you have a favorite piece of nighttime gear?
What tips do you have for running in the dark?
Disclosure: I received these products from Nite Ize to review as a part of the Bib Rave Pro Ambassador program, however I was under no obligation to give a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
Live, Run, Grow 
Love the Curvyman Cord Organizer… plan on ordering several today ! dad
Nice package of goods. I have an LED head lamp but it’s not that bright either. I need something like a car head light! I’ll check out their web site.
Thanks for the review.
Andy
Headlight is a must – especially on our “dark” run club runs. I want to try the slap wrap. 🙂
I’m really loving the sliplit bracelet and my curvyman!
I have a reflective vest for my morning runs but no headlamp …. I should probably get one to spot those turkeys that are always around in the morning!
I admittedly have no dark run gear mostly because there is very little dark run territory by me, but I would so LOVE to get the slap wrap! (I may have been obsessed with slap bracelets when I was younger)
I’m not really a dark runner, but I should suck it up and get some gear, because there are great running areas near my office, and I could easily get in a few miles after work if I were properly equipped.
Love the idea of the reflective strap. I’m pretty good about wearing a vest and clip on light when I run at dusk/after dark, but having extra reflectors is always good! And man, that headlamp is impressive.
I can’t believe how bright the marker bands and the slapLit LED bands are. They will be great for our night time runs and even the full moon paddles! So we can be seen by the night time boaters!
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What is the difference between the SlapLit and the LED Marker Band? They look very similar and I am curious as to their difference and which you prefer.