The Gear You Need for Running in the Dark

Being able to see and be seen is critical when it comes to running in the dark in the fall and winter, when you log most of your miles in the pre- and post- daylight hours. Thankfully, there’s better gear than ever to keep you safe in the lowest of low-light hours. Whether you need reflective gear, headlamps or clip-on lights for running in the dark, we've got you covered.

Here are our favorite pieces for running in the dark.

Why we love it: This vest is the perfect versatile piece to keep you visible while staying warm. Plus, it’s water and wind resistant, and made with breathable fabric to prevent you from overheating.

Brooks designed the Carbonite vest with strategically placed 3M™ Scotchlite™ Carbon Black Stretch reflectivity in critical motion zones to help drivers recognize you as a runner in motion. Neon yellow panels give added visibility for the morning or late at night. This comfy and highly functional vest is available for both men and women.

Why we love it: The Xinglet Optic Beam is the next generation of reflective vests from Amphipod. The running vest is made up of a bright LED tube that gives you 360 degrees of visibility. It clicks on with one touch, and it lets you toggle between continuous light or a blinking effect.

Plus, it's super lightweight—Amphipod says it only weighs 3 ounces. Once we put it on and cinched it down, we never noticed it on our backs.

Why we love it: This clip-on running light has three LED lights that give 8-plus lumens of light, helping cars and other pedestrians see you. It’s slim, lightweight profile makes it a no-brainer for early morning or late evening runs. It’s easy to clip on to your clothes and gear, and each strobe light gives 100-plus hours of illumination.

Why we love it: This siren is small, but it’s mighty. Whether you encounter a wild animal or a dangerous person, the thumb-sized alarm sounds at 120 dB when activated. That’s as loud as an ambulance, and it can be heard from up to 600 feet away.

The pull tab sets off a strobe light along with the alarm, so you’re sure to make a scene. The Nathan SaferRun Ripcord Siren + Strobe clips onto your waistband for easy access on the run.