What to Look for in Safety Lights for Running
Whether you are a professional runner looking to get in a little twilight training or just someone who loves a good run late at night, anyone who plans on running in darker, low-visibility conditions needs a running light and that’s where the Kalenji Run Light comes in.
Among those who make a habit of nighttime runs, chest safety running lights are especially popular given the fact that you don’t have to constantly hold onto them or think about them. It is simply a case of slipping them on – like you would a running head torch, flip a switch, and you’re good to go.
That’s the idea, at least.
So, how well does that hold up in the cold light of day?
Let’s find out by taking a look at one of the leading chest safety lights available on the market today, the Kalenji Run Light 250 (available here with Decathlon).
Tech Specs
First and foremost, let’s take a look at some of the technical specifications underpinning the Kalenji Run Light 250.
After all, to determine whether or not a running light is right for you, it is first necessary to know what type of technical specifications are at play in the model’s build and capabilities.
The Kalenji Run Light 250 has quite a bit to boast of in the way of technical capabilities, not the least of which include the following:
- A battery that is in compliance with the latest UK safety standards
- Packaging that is more eco-friendly than other models
- FW19 run lights
- Two settings that allow the lights to emit 250 lumens, or 125 lumens in low power mode
- An automatic battery saving mode that immediately cuts the power to 70 lumens
Kalenji Run Light Upsides
So, what should you look for in a safety light?
A strong battery, for one, is a definite must. The last thing anyone wants to see is their battery dying on them or require charging while out for a run.
What’s more, you want to be sure that the unit you are getting is easy to use and charge. It can also help to have a battery that can operate on low power to save power during long runs.
With this offering, you can effectively say goodbye to having to worry about your battery burning out on you mid-run. The fact that the unit switches automatically to a power saver mode (while warning the runner with flashing LEDs first) helps underscore this point.
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You also want to be sure that your chest safety light is lightweight and not pulling at your neck muscles as you run.
This is also a model that is on the lighter side at 162g. That’s definitely good for those looking to avoid carrying around large, bulkier runner lights – which should be all of us.
Finally, you want to be sure that your light is able to withstand water and rain, especially if you live in a region where you consistently get rain showers.
The Kalenji Run light is waterproof, allowing runners from Southall to Southampton enjoy their run in low light conditions without having to worry about being caught out.
Potential Downsides of Safety Run Lights
For all the potential upsides of a safety light, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before purchasing one.
For one, not all batteries are created equally. That’s true of both different models as well as different individual units for the same model. For example, with this offering, some users have been able to take advantage of the battery that is supposed to be one of the primary selling points of this unit.
Always make sure that the unit you are buying offers as strong a battery as possible, and test it before long runs.
In addition, some units don’t come with bag clips. That’s the case here.
While this helps save on production costs, it is also a bit inconvenient for runners relying on having a bag clip for keeping their running lights safe.
Luckily, there are quite a variety of bag clips available to purchase separately.
As for the light itself, if you are unlucky to get a bad batch that ceases to remain alight after a few minutes, then you should contact customer service and send your unit back for a refund or replacement, with customer service and troubleshooting being excellent with the Kalenji brand.
If you don’t fancy getting the Kalenji Run light or would like to compare it with alternative run light options, click on any of the chest safety lights below to see more reviews.
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Final thoughts on the Kalenji Run Light
All in all, the Kalenji run light is a unit that is great for runners looking to run at night without having to pay a fortune in order to do so.
Most of the time the light works quite well, and when it does, the battery life typically ensures that you are able to go for extended runs without having to worry about recharging.
Whether you’re an early morning or night runner, this chest safety running light is well worth the time and investment.
