One of the more crucial items in my running kit over the past year has been something that I wish that didn’t need but is a must for every early morning start. I have run with various reflective items of clothing, brightly coloured shirts, jackets and hats, and other LED lights but have still been on the losing end of close-calls with vehicles and inattentive drivers.
For much of my training, I run along the roads in my small town, which include a mix of sidewalk and road surfaces where sidewalks do not exist. I also have a young and active family, so much of this running is before most of the town population is awake. The streets are not particularly well-lit in many of the subdivisions; however, I have not had issues with visibility outside of a few days with excessive fog where I may opt to hit the treadmill, or trails instead.
The most common issues I come across, especially before the sun is up, are morning commuters not looking both ways as they approach an intersection, or rolling through stop signs or red lights. I’m sure this is likely the same experience for many reading this sadly.
After one morning where I pushed myself off the front of an SUV rolling through a stop sign in front of a hospital driveway (!!!), I finally asked some friends what light system or vest they run with, as I was already wearing a bright yellow jacket with fluorescent accents on many cold weather runs. The answer pointed me towards the Noxgear Tracer 2.
This is an LED vest, with fiberoptic cables looping over each side and a controller with a chargeable base on your back. It includes 8 selective colours and flashing patterns in the LED portion and reflective elements in the strap that secures it in place.
Over the past 11 months, I’ve put this vest through some harsh weather, including sub-zero temperatures, snow, sleet, rain and of course summer heat (and sweat!). It has worked the same since the day I bought it, with no hiccups or issues along the way. Noxgear claims IP67 water resistance and in practice, it holds up. The vest also charges via USB-C and seems to last for me, over two weeks of daily usage per charge (where I’m running 6 days a week), with a manufacturer claim of 20 hours per charge.
There is also a spotlight chest lamp attachment for the clasp at the front, with an adjustable angle, so that you can illuminate the ground on your run. I find this light to provide an excellent amount of light, even more than some headlamps I’ve tried in the past. I liked this chest lamp so much that I even wore it for my final lap at Sulphur Springs this year, helping me to find my footing as the sun went down. The battery on this, while also USB-C charging, lasts close to 8 hours in my experience, but also has 2 selective levels of illumination.
How does it look in use?
To be fair, I joke that I look like a Christmas tree running down the street in the winter, but these lights are bright and pull your attention. The manufacturer claim is up to a quarter mile and I would say that is accurate in very dark situations. In subdivisions and side streets, with ambient light and some street lights, I can definitely see a runner with this vest at least 200m away.
It seems to be a popular model, as 3 other runners I know in my small town use this, as well as a few runners I don’t know. It has a distinctive look from the back, where the controller sits, so is easy to identify the model even from a distance.
Wearing it:
As with most vests, the clasp is at the front and you can adjust the length of the cables easily enough from the back, to ensure a comfortable fit. It does not weigh much and at its claimed at 7oz, it disappears as you start moving. It does seem to fit well, even with rain and winter running gear and I’ve not had any issues with it pulling awkwardly or hindering my range of motion.
Beyond running, I’ve worn this for cycling, walking, camping and plan to wear it for the Halloween trick or treat tour with my daughter this fall. The flashing lights and chest lamp have truly come in handy and allow you to keep your hands free while in use.
Overall:
Keeping yourself visible won’t ultimately save you from inattentive drivers (which seem to multiply every year), however bright flashing lights will help them find your body in the ditch 😁😵
All jokes aside, this has been an invaluable tool, increasing my visibility to drivers and other road users, even to the point where I’ve been stopped and commended by one driver for wearing something so bright. I figured, if some random driver wanted to know what I was wearing to stay visible, it’s something I absolutely should share with other athletes, in the hope that we all stay safe out there.
Regardless of what lighting or reflective devices you use, please be careful and aware of hazards around you, be it from vehicles, cyclists, other runners, animals, etc. If you’re just getting started at running before or after our daily sunshine allotment, check out the Lighting section at Running Free.
