Rob Short from Decathlon Bolton provides his verdict on the Kalenji Run Light.
Whilst there are many head torches available for runners, Kalenji have created an alternative solution for anybody who needs additional lighting to enjoy their run. The Kalenji Run Light sits just below the chest, and boasts a 250 lumen front light, as well as 3 red LEDs on the rear. There are three power output options, providing either 90, 180 or the full 250 lumens, whilst the battery, which charges via U.S.B., lasts for between 2 and 5 hours depending on usage. In a quest to find out what type of runner would benefit most from the Run Light, I put it to the test on the roads, trails and fells of Bolton.
When I first got hold of the product, I was in for a couple of surprises. The first was how lightweight the product was, and then I got another surprise when I switched the light on directly into my eyes (I wasn’t expecting it to be charged)! The harness has adjustable straps on both the shoulder and chest to help provide a comfortable and secure fit. Although it can take a while to play around with the straps to achieve this, it only needs to be done once. The weight between the front and the back light is distributed evenly, adding to the comfort. The battery once empty takes 5 hours to charge, and when plugged in it displays whether the battery is 1/3, 2/3 or 3/3 full. Whilst the full charge takes quite a long time, it beats using heavier alkaline batteries.
The Run Light is positioned in the middle of the chest.
My first few runs were on the relatively flat, pitch black trails around the local reservoir. On turning the light on, you could instantly see the difference between a conventional head torch and the Run Light. The Run Light provided a wide spread of light to the sides and in front of me. With most head torches you get a beam of light which, unless to look down, lights further afield than you’d ideally want. Whilst some head torches have adaptable beams, you’d be hard pushed to find one at this price point.
The three LED rear light make it easier for others to see you.
I began my run feeling confident thanks to the good spread of light which enabled me to keep my head up. The secure fit of the harness felt comfortable and kept the light in a steady position, whilst it was easy to switch between the lighting modes – even the 90 lumens mode provides a wide spread of light. So far, so good. However, it was a cold night and I had a jacket on underneath the harness. As I got into my run I became hotter and the only way to take the jacket off was to stop running and take the harness off. This was a minor inconvenience which is not an issue when using a head torch. However, I often feel like throwing most head torches off my head due to the irritation and discomfort, and overall despite this inconvenience the Run Light is a more comfortable solution.
Now it was time to take the Run Light out of its comfort zone and onto the fells. Fell running involves steep inclines, sharp descents and uneven terrain, so I was very interested to see how it coped. Unfortunately it seemed to be a step too far! On the steep climbs due to the position of the light, the beam wasn’t spread as far as usual. On the downhill, balance is key and often my arms were crossing the beam in order to keep my balance. Additionally, when there was no clear path, I wanted to look into the distance to identify a landmark or find an alternative path, and the beam simply didn’t stretch far enough.
Summary
The design of the Run Light therefore has a few limitations it terms of fell running, but if you stick to relatively flat roads and paths, the Run Light offers a comfortable design which provides a steady beam of light where you want it, allowing you to enjoy your run at night.
The Kalenji running range is available exclusively at Decathlon.
