Head torches for women with tiny heads - Gear

Sunluvva

15/12/2011 at 22:01

I've had a good look at the head torch threads but most of the posters are men! I'm not a man and I've got a very small head - normally only kids hats fit me so I'm looking for a torch that will fit and not too heavy. I haven't got a huge budget so any thoughts and advice would be welcome.

I'd also love to hear from other women about how they feel about running off road in the really early hours - I want to do it as since I've moved from town to a village I can only run in one direction if I want street lights and am getting bored by the route but the thought of running in fields and woods in the dark freaks me out a bit - so how did you overcome the initial fear?

Mr Puffy

15/12/2011 at 22:14

I wear my headtorch over a beanie hat, would that help?

15/12/2011 at 22:23

Alpkit.com do a really good headtorch. It Is an absolute bargain at £12.50. it is much brighter than my Petzl one that cost more than twice as much. I just tried it on and the strap can be made small. It also has a strap over the top of the head which is much better for running so it doesn't slip down. It isn't quite as light as the petzl, but not heavy by any means. It even has a little red light on the back so if you run on the road you can be seen from the front and back ... highly recommended

Sunluvva

15/12/2011 at 22:24

I might have to Mr Puffy - but is it likely to slip down over my ears (they're small too

)

Sunluvva

15/12/2011 at 22:30

Thanks B - I saw that alot of people recommended that one but wasn't sure how big and heavy it would be or bright enough for that matter.

Out of interest were you scared when you first started running off road in the dark?

15/12/2011 at 22:33

I am a wuss so although I would run round the streets after dark I wouldn't go off road as I'd be spooked by every shadow. Silly in some ways cos dangers are usually people-related and there are more people on the streets than off road, and no cars! K goes off road at night and he likes it and finds it peaceful..

Sunluvva

15/12/2011 at 22:43

I think I might have to stick to the roads too, it'll just be nice to leave my house and go left for once instead of right!

Polly-Polly

15/12/2011 at 22:47

Most people who are up to no good generally don't get up until dinnertime! If you're not used to the countryside, one thing to be aware of is sheep coughing.....they sound remarkably like humans and can seriously freak you out. My own sheep freak me sometimes if I have to go right down the field to get the horses in at night lol

Tigerlily

16/12/2011 at 06:41

Sunluvva - B is right you know.... it is generally "safe" to run through city streets at night and I am pretty sure it is even "safer" to run through fields and woods! I don't think your fear is irrational - I think we all watch too much telly/scary films and perceive that "bad" things happen in the woods at night!! I run off road at night and the worst thing that has happend to me is catching cows eyes in my headtorch, not realising cows were there and their shiny eyes giving me a fright! Also Polly's comment about sheep coughs is correct - and foxes make some unearthly noises, owls silently floating through the trees can be startling but beautiful once you realise what it is. Once whilst running up a bridle track in North Wales a donkey brayed at me from the other side of the wall - now that was truly scary... though very funny. It was my uncle's donkey Julie - I knew she was in the field but she'd never welcomed me home before!

It would be a shame to miss out on the magic of the woods and fields at night - does your local running club not have any intrepid nighttime off roaders? Or I used to run with cycling club members whilst living on the north coast of Scotland. Their mountain bikers used to cycle in the woods at night and I went with them sometimes. I have some great memories - running along snowy forestry tracks with the northern lights shining above is one of my all time favourite running memories - absolute magic! Snow/moonlight is fantastic - you don't need a headtorch! Give it a go - you won't be disappointed.

Sunluvva

16/12/2011 at 07:32

Cheers Tigerlily - I hadn't thought of the animals so much - more the uneven terrain and falling down badger holes or tripping over tree roots etc. I think I'll probably start by running over some openish fields that are close to the roads so if I feel really spooked I can 'escape' easily

I really want to do it, I've ordered one of those alpkit ones, they seem good value and if I get on ok I can always upgrade next Christmas - that's one pressie sorted already.

Helen Liz

16/12/2011 at 08:13

I've got an alpkit gamma too. It's not overly heavy and the straps are all adjustable. I have asmaller head and it's still got plently of scope for adjustment.

I have tried running off road in the dark, but I'm one of the clumsy people and do tend to stick to the roads and trails. I also tend to stick to routes I have run in daylight, so that at least I know roughly what to expect!

Tigerlily

16/12/2011 at 08:20

To be honest SL - tripping/falling hasn't really occured to me (I suppose I've done it for so long I've forgotton what it's like if you've never done it!) Your senses are so much more awake in the dark if you allow them to be. I think most people's senses are diminished because we live most of the time in electric light. Running in the dark really wakes them up. I immediately thought of the things that had frightend me - and that has always been unexpected animals.....

Have fun!

Doug Hughes

16/12/2011 at 16:18

I'm a fully signed up member of the Alpkit Gamma (and Alpkit in general) fan club too. There seems to be lots of adjustment in it so you should be OK. It's true that there are a few heart-fluttery moments (or sometimes full blown brown trouser events) when the imagination gets going at night. I regularly frighten a very large flock of Jackdaws (or maybe Rooks) on one of my night time runs, and the racket is always unnerving. But it's just a matter of using reason over imagination.

If you can find a halfway house between running by streetlights and full night time off road running in the first instance, it might be a more gentle introduction. I find canal tow paths or rural cycleways nice at night - there's not much in the way of things to trip over, holes to fall down etc. (always assuming I manage to avoid the water).

Have fun!

Sunluvva

16/12/2011 at 23:45

Thanks Doug, I'm sort of thinking the same thing - down the country lanes to start I think then when I feel braver some open fields next to the roads. No canals down my way and no local cycleways apart from said country lanes so that seems like a sensible way of doing it - after all I really just want more variety as I can only go in one direction at the moment!

tricialitt

17/12/2011 at 11:10

Getting away from the street lights is great, but make sure you have a way of calling for help if the worst happens ( - I'm thinking of sprained ankles, etc-ie, take your mobile), make sure you're visible if running on lanes, and go in the morning, rather than the evening- as a previous poster said- bad people are all tucked up in bed until the afternoon!

Enjoy!

Sunluvva

17/12/2011 at 12:36

I'm lit up like a Christmas tree Tricialitt even when I'm on the roads with lights in the dark and I always take my mobile, ID etc and usually two microchipped greyhounds with reflective coats- still doesn't stop the half asleep drivers not seeing me though!

slowerthan

18/12/2011 at 20:42

Alp kit gamma for me too. Sunluvva have you thought about going hashing? Introduces you to off road running in a group and is a bit of a laugh too.

Sunluvva

18/12/2011 at 21:05

I can't wait for the Alpkit to arrive now, it's been dispatched and is on it's way, shame I've gone down with the lurgy and couldn't run today

Slowerthan - I run off road most of the time in daylight and love it, I can't understand why anyone wants to run on the road if they have the choice - all those car fumes etc! I did a hash once with the club I ran with at the time, they were environmentally friendly and marked the trail out with flour the day before but it snowed in the night and we all got lost

great fun though.

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