Running with a headlamp. A review of the Fenix P3D.
4 Dec
This time of year it’s very hard to find time to run while it’s daylight. It’s so depressing to sit in my office and watch a beautiful day go by outside my window, only to leave just after the sun sets. I’ve trained for a January marathon for 3 years in row now, and over the last few years I have tried many things to get around the darkness and my fear of running in it. I tried different types of headlamps, routes on well lit roads, indoor tracks and park path loops. After all that experimentation, I always come back to the gym. It’s the one place where I don’t have to run in a circle, can’t be run over, kidnapped or attacked by animals.
But this year is different. This year, I actually have a headlamp that allows me to see a ways out in front of me; and that and that combined with a safe neighborhood and hand held mace canister has kept me out of the gym for most of the season.
Last year I used the Petzle Tikka Plus. It is a decent light. It was comfortable and light weight but I always felt like it was a little too dim even on fresh batteries. I’m deathly afraid of snakes and if there was one in my path, I wasn’t going to see it until I was practically stepping on it with the Petzle. I also live in a very dark town where there are no street lights. I needed something bright that would allow me to see more of the street than just a circle of light right in front of my feet.
The Fenix P3D fits in the palm of your hand.
After much internet research I decided to order a Fenix P3D CE, 160 Lumens
This little light packs a punch. It’s the size of a mini mag light, but brighter than a full size one! In total darkness I can see probably a quarter mile ahead of me. If there were animals, cracks in the pavement or any other obstacle, I would be able to see them well before I was about to run them over. The headstrap I use points the light
Yeah, not exactly flattering.
down so most of the time I can see 10-20 feet ahead of me. All I have to do is tip my head up a little and I can see much farther out in front of me.
The headstrap holds the light very securely. I was a little worried when I ordered the head-strap because the loop that holds the light can’t be adjusted and I was afraid it would fall out. To my surprise, the grip is quite good and I have never had a problem with the light falling. The strap is pretty comfortable, though not quite as comfortable as the Petzl Tikka Plus that I used last year. It feels different, and looks a pretty dorky, but hey it’s functional and that’s all I care about.
The light can shine 4 different brightnesses which can easily be changed by lightly touching the back of the light. It’s very easy to change the brightness while running. The brightest level is 160 lumens and only lasts about 1.8 hours with one set of batteries. I try to keep the light on the second to brightest level (90 lumens) most of the time which is usually bright enough. It also does a strobe effect and a SOS blink which totally impresses my wannabe survivalist husband. And at the lowest brightness, 9 lumens, the batteries would last nearly 3 straight days (too dim for running but great for emergencies)! My running buddy has told me that she can see the light for almost a mile as I run up to meet her in the early morning. Drivers aren’t going to miss you when you’re wearing this light. In fact I make a point to look away when cars come up head on so that I don’t blind them!
You can purchase a Fenix light on Amazon or through their official online store. I did a lot of reading at fenixlight.com about the different models before I purchased and had a hard time making a decision. You have to factor in the size of the light, battery type and battery life and your budget. I chose the Fenix P3D CE (160 Lumens) because it was an older model of the Fenix P3D Cree Premium Q5 LED Flashlight 215 lumens, which is what I really wanted. It wasn’t quite as bright as the Cree Premium but the same size and over $20 cheaper. I have found that its brightness is more than sufficient. The Fenix P3D CE, 160 Lumens
is being sold by Amazon for $43. Fenix P3D Cree Premium Q5 LED Flashlight 215 lumens
The biggest problem with this light is the cost of the batteries. Walgreen’s sells two of the lithium 123′s for a whopping $14! I need to look into finding a better source for these but haven’t had a chance to shop around. I’ve had to replace the batteries two times since purchasing the light back in early October. I have found that I can easily extend the battery life by flipping to a lower brightness when I come in to more lighted parts of my route.
You may want to thumb through the Fenix website before making your decision. The company also makes even smaller lights and ones that use less expensive batteries. There’s a lot to choose from!
In conclusion, I definitely recommend the Fenix P3D for running, especially if you want to run in very dark places without street lights.
See if you can get rechargeable batteries!
What a fun little lamp. Okay, i have question, Not to sound like a complete moron, but do you ever get dizzy when you run with the light? Does the light bounce around a lot? I’m asking b/c sometimes I get a dizzy feeling when I’m on the treadmill, and not from not feeling well…. but from seeing what’s in front of me move in an up and down motion as i run. Weird, i know.
Hope that made sense.
Thanks for the great review. I agree with you about running in the dark. I try to avoid it as much as I can. It’s just not as much fun. I’m lucky that this time of the year I can run at lunch time from work. Great job getting your running in.
Glenn, you are right I need to look into rechargeable. A quick websearch shows kits ranging from $20 to $30. Thats definitely worth it. Looks like another research project. All the brand names look a little sketchy. I’m sure they won’t last quite as long, but if I can recharge them, that won’t matter so much. I don’t run at night longer than an hour and 15 minutes anyways.
http://www.cr123batteries.com/?gclid=CLTi3p_tqZcCFQEuxwodPx6DiQ
Jodes, I do know what you’re talking about. I find that if I am in a very dark area like a canal where there are no cars passing and very little outside light I do get a little dizzy looking at the light (oh and just so you know I only do that when I’m with a friend, too dark to go alone). Wearing the light on my head creates the least amount of light bounce. I’ve tried sticking it in a loop on my hydration pack and also wearing the strap around my chest but the light was so erratic I couldn’t stand it. It helps if I can see other things around me, house lights etc. so I have a sense of how fast I’m moving.
Chad, I should try a lunch time run now that its cooler. I have a nice place to run from work, but no shower
Glad you enjoyed the review.
I think you look cute in the headlamp!
Thanks for the great review. I do like the fact that the lamp is versatile, you don’t have to keep it only as a headlamp. I have a headlamp that I bought for the ET Midnight run over ther summer and that’s the only time I’ve used it. There have been several runs that I’ve been on where I should have used it, but I’m stubborn. That does seem strange to have to replace the batteries so often already, but if you can find a rechargeable source, then it sounds like you’re all set!
Heck, I want to buy one now and I don’t even use a light when I run at night. Great review.
I know you’re up in fountain hills and closer to wild life than me, the city boy, but do you ever see snakes at night? I saw a skunk in my nieghborhood once.
Jill, aw thanks. I’ll tell you the truth, I photoshopped out a big pimple. LOL.
Pat: I’ve yet to actually see a live snake but I’ve seen plenty of dead ones. I’m not so worried about them not since its gotten cold. We do have a TON of javelina and coyotes in FH. It seems like I see something at least once a week. I didn’t even know we had skunks down here. I thought they were up in the mountains!
Nice review. I have a Fenix L1D flashlight and I must say it is an excellent lighting device. Fine innovative use of the P3D.
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