Night Running Head Torches: What I Learned at the Bat Run

Run in the dark, they said.

TL;DR

I ran the Bat Run - 30km, 2250m of climbing, entirely in the dark. I spent more of the race answering questions about my head torch than I expected. Here's what I learned about choosing the right one, and why I landed on the Fenix HM65RT-V2.

I ran the Bat Run last week. For the uninitiated: it is a night trail race. Approximately 30km and 2250m of climbing. You start in the dark, you run in the dark, and if things go according to plan you finish before dawn.

Things went mostly according to plan. Climbing Platteklip is hard any time of day, but doing it at midnight with your face two inches from the person in front of you's heels is a special kind of experience.

What I did not expect was to spend a significant portion of the race fielding comments about my head torch. Not my time. Not my nutrition. My torch. In the dark. On a mountain.

"You look like a KTM"
"That light is like a sunset."
"Oh, you again!"
"Wow! That's so soothing!"
"It's the 'warm light guy'."

Instantly recognisable. Apparently, warm light at midnight is a conversation starter. I swiftly became known as the warm light guy, which is not the nickname I was going for, but here we are.

The head torch rabbit hole

Finding a decent trail running head torch is more complicated than it should be. The market is genuinely overwhelming. Every brand has seventeen models, each with a spec sheet that reads like a physics exam. Lumens, beam distance, colour temperature, runtime modes, IP ratings. You go in looking for a torch and come out two hours later having learned more about LED technology than you ever needed to know.

The questions that actually matter for trail running are simpler than the spec sheets suggest:

• Is it bright enough to see the trail clearly at pace, not just at walking speed?

• Does it stay put when you're running downhill and your head is bouncing around?

• Will the battery last the whole run without dying at a critical moment?

• Is it light enough that you forget it's on your head after the first kilometre?

Most cheap torches fail on at least two of those. Most very expensive torches are overkill for anything under 6 hours. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle, and that's how I ended up with the Fenix HM65RT-V2.

Why the Fenix HM65RT-V2

The standout feature of this torch, and the reason I became the warm light guy, is the dual beam system. There's a cool white LED for distance and a warm white LED (3000K, if that means anything to you) for close-in trail reading and low-contrast conditions like fog. You can switch between them depending on what the trail is asking of you.

On a race like the Bat Run, where you're on open mountain one minute and thick fynbos the next, being able to toggle between a 170-metre beam and a softer, wider warm light is genuinely useful. It's not a gimmick.

The other things worth knowing:

• The magnesium alloy body weighs 53 grams without the battery. You don't notice it on your head, which is exactly what you want (although a headband underneath adds to the comfort)

• The SPORT fit headband has a rotating dial for adjustment and does not bounce. No mid-run strap fussing - great addition to a torch!

• USB-C rechargeable, 3-hour full charge, and the battery level indicator tells you where you stand before you head out. No more torch-dies-at-kilometre-4 surprises.

• IP68 waterproof rating. It can survive being submerged to 2 metres. A bit of Cape Town drizzle is not going to be a problem.

• There is an emergency whistle built into the headband, which I am choosing to interpret as a feature aimed at attracting attention when lost, rather than a commentary on the reliability of trail runners as a species.

The warm light thing, explained

The reason warm white light attracted comments is the same reason it's useful: it renders trail texture better. Cool white is great for distance and speed, but it flattens low-contrast detail like roots, wet rocks, and subtle gradient changes. Warm white at 3000K adds depth. Your eyes read the trail better, particularly when you're tired and your reaction time is not what it was at kilometre 1.

On a descent in the dark, that difference matters more than any number of extra lumens.

Bright is not the same as useful. The right light for the terrain beats the brightest light every time. Even if you choose a cool light.

The verdict

The Fenix HM65RT-V2 is absolutely worth it if you're running trails in the dark with any regularity. The dual beam is the thing that sets it apart, the fit is excellent, and the battery life is long enough to not be a source of anxiety on longer efforts. Plus the extra batteries are small enough to pop in your pocket.

Also, if someone on the trail tells you your light looks like a sunset, take it as a compliment. It means your warm beam is doing exactly what it's supposed to.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lumens do I actually need for trail running at night? ▼

For most trail running, 200 to 400 lumens is enough at a comfortable pace. You only need 800 to 1600 lumens when you're moving fast on technical terrain or need to see far ahead on open mountain. More lumens also means shorter battery life, so it's worth having a torch with multiple modes rather than one that runs flat out the whole time.

What's the difference between cool white and warm white light? ▼

Cool white (around 6500K) throws a longer beam and is better for speed and distance. Warm white (around 3000K) renders trail texture better - roots, wet rocks, gradient changes - because it adds depth rather than flattening everything out. On technical descents in the dark, warm white is often more useful than more lumens.

How long should a head torch battery last for a night trail race? ▼

For most races, you want at least 4 to 6 hours of usable battery life at a mid-range brightness setting. Always check your torch the night before and charge it fully. The Fenix HM65RT-V2 runs 24 hours at its low 130-lumen mode, and 3 hours at full 1600 lumens - so at a sensible mid setting you're well covered for most events.

Does the head torch bounce when running? ▼

Cheap torches with thin elastic headbands bounce. It's annoying and it messes with your depth perception on technical terrain. Look for a torch with a wide, structured headband and a proper adjustment system. The Fenix HM65RT-V2 uses a rotating dial system on a wide SPORT band - zero bounce over 30km of mountain running.

Is the Fenix HM65RT-V2 worth the price? ▼

If you run trails in the dark regularly, yes. The dual beam system, magnesium body, IP68 waterproofing, USB-C charging, and no-bounce headband justify the cost over a cheaper torch you'll replace after two seasons. If you're doing one night run a year, a mid-range single-beam torch will do the job.

I Became the Warm Light Guy (A Head Torch Story) 🦇