In mid-autumn, the sun sets earlier and earlier and night falls faster. Some people, often the most motivated, still go out to train despite the darkness. This is remarkable, but it is necessary to get out equipped to run safely.
Reflective jacket, headlamp, safety armband,…? What equipment to take on a night outing? Here are our tips on what to take on a night out and how to run safely.
When you run at night, you must be seen by other users of the public space: pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, or even motorists, especially in unlit places.
For this, it is necessary to equip yourself with clothing composed of reflective strips, especially on your last layer.
Here is an example of a jacket you could wear: The Brooks Carbonite Jacket, the runner’s yellow vest.
The panoply for safe night running
In mid-autumn, the sun sets earlier and earlier and night falls faster. Some people, often the most motivated, still go out to train despite the darkness. This is remarkable, but it is necessary to get out equipped to run safely.
Both light and waterproof thanks to the Seal fabric, ripstop nylon, it is quite warm, but above all, its fairly wide cut does not hamper movement and you can easily wear two layers underneath depending on the temperature. It turns out to be a jacket that is comfortable to wear and performs well for night jogging in winter, and the rain.
Last but not least, the inserts in carbon black and yellow reflective materials allow you to be seen in the dark. Their distribution over the movement zones should in principle allow more or less lucid drivers to identify you as a running rider and therefore to brake in time!
You can also purchase a reflective safety armband to wear on the arm that is on the roadside. This is so that the car or the cyclist can better understand the safety distance to leave between you and him. You can also wear two, one on each arm if you wish.
A little extra that can be important: equip yourself with a flashing red light. To be visible from behind, in the fog for example.
Then you will need a lamp to light your way. There are two options for this. You can opt for a classic headlamp, which you will wear on your head.
Where else, you can buy a chest running light that you will wear as the name suggests on the chest. It’s up to you to see which one is the most comfortable.
Running on winter nights is like running in the cold. It is therefore essential to cover yourself well. I am thinking particularly of the extremities: the hands and the head. Remember to put on gloves and a hat or the like to keep as much heat as possible. The hat can be fitted with reflective tapes to be seen a little better. Tell yourself that the more visible and well equipped you are, the safer you will be during your outing.
When you go running at night, it is safe to let someone know your route, your estimated time out. So that in case of a concern, the person can intervene quickly. Better yet, go for a run with a family member! Avoid forests or paths with obstacles on which you could hurt yourself.