Lightweight Headlamp Recommendation for Running TRAILS in pitch-black night??!!!???

I got this model, which at 70 lumens and $33.95 is a really good deal.

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Princeton_Tec_EOS_LED_Headlamp_EOSR.php

You can check out other Princeton Tec models here:

http://www.brightguy.com/manufacturer/princeton_tec.php#Headlamps

Depends what you need to run. I can run trails at night without much light, and most headlamps have enough light for me to run. Older runners with worse eyesight seem to need more. If you're looking for cheap, Energizer makes some that are tolerably bright and in the $15-20 range (don't get their cheapest $10 one).

A step up can be found with any of the major brands like the ones you listed (Petzl, Black Diamond, Princeton Tec). They will run in the $30-50 range and will provide a brighter light and better light pattern. Most people find these bright enough to use.

One other consideration I would bring to light (pun intended) is using a handheld light. I find that when I wear a headlamp on my head, I have a tough time judging rocky trails since the light is at the same level as my eyes and rocks don't cast shadows. When I use a handheld (or hold a headlamp in my hand), it causes shadows to be cast and gives my eyes more sensory feedback about the terrain and I am less likely to trip. This won't matter as much if you run on nice trails.

this is my current running headlamp. Works out really well.

I do a lot of night running in the winter. I use an older model of what is now the Black Diamond Icon.

http://www.rei.com/product/745183/black-diamond-icon-headlamp

Here are some things I've learned and will require when I break or lose the Black Diamond:

1) 3 W min power. Moonless nights require a lot of light

2) Wide enough elastic band that I can wear around my waist. I have a 32 " waste and the Black Diamond I have could fit someone with a much much larger waist. I always wear it on my waist when running.

3) wide beam field. Mine has a diffuser lens that give broad light rather than a pencil beam.

Best of luck to you.

I have a Black Diamond as well. It is a dual beam model, but don't know the model. It works well on the rocky trail near my house. Once it did go out and I had to walk back in the pitch black using the backlight from my Garmin to get home...That was about 2 miles of stumbling in the dark..not fun!

Not the lightest (I have had lighter headlamps yet the weight of this one was really easy to get used to) but it is going to outshine lighter/smaller models. It can throw a really bright and long beam and has 8 brightness levels. I shopped around online and got it for about $30.

http://www.princetontec.com/index.php?q=corona

I agree with the Corona. People shy away because they think it is heavy. I had no problems with it.

Now I use the Apex. It is even heavier. The Pro is lighter, but the batteries cost more. The regular Apex can run a full three hours on rechargeables and it is bright enough to see anything on a trail. You can run full speed with it on trails in pitch black. The Corona was like that too, but only with fresh batteries. It didn't really work with rechargeables.

Your head weighs a lot more that the heaviest lights. I agree the weight is no problem.