The clocks have gone back and the lighter nights are a thing of the past. It’s time to wrap up warm, dig out the reflective gear and the head torch.

Running in the dark requires extra effort and I tend to be a little over cautious. Earlier this year I attended the Running Awards, where I was lucky enough to be given a goody bag that contained the Ledlenser® NEO4 Head Torch. I’ve been waiting until the darker weather so I can give it a fair and honest review. I’ve tested it for a few weeks, here are my thoughts.

Out of the box
Firstly, it’s pink. Which I love. (It is available in other colours – don’t worry).
It seems fairly lightweight but the battery pack at the back makes it quite bulky to wear.
There is also a power cable running from the light to the batteries which I’m not keen on.

It requires 3 AAA batteries which are inserted by removing the pink rubber cover off the battery pack. Obviously, as soon as I’d popped them in I switched it on and almost blinded myself. (I’ll never learn).

Let there be light
With 240 lumens and a 10-metre beam distance, it provides a decent light for evening running. There are three light functions (low, flashing and bright) but I just used the brightest setting. Most of my route is residential and street lit and this head torch provided that much-needed boost where needed. It wasn’t until the end of my run I realised that you could tilt the torch to angle the direction of light – I probably should’ve read the instructions properly first.

Scores on the doors
I love the brightness, I love the colour, but I think the battery pack and the exposed wire lets it down. I’m unsure how it would perform in the rain with the rubber battery seal removing so easily, so that would be a concern for me.

It’s a 3 out of 5 for me. For me, the Unilite is a better option.
For more tips on running at night – check out this blog post

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I have been nominated for the best personal blog at the 2019 Running Awards. If you could take a few moments and vote for me I would be eternally grateful 😍

 

I received the Ledlenser® NEO4 Head Torch for free in my Running Awards goodie bag. I was under no obligation to review the product. As always this is an honest review.