Night running is the part of ultras you can't see coming until you're in it. The right lamp setup makes you fast and confident at midnight; the wrong setup makes you walk every uneven section past mile sixty. Below: the five lamps we'd own — three head-mounted, one hand-held, and one as a backup — sorted by overall pick.
The picks
Petzl
Petzl NAO RL
The serious ultra lamp. Reactive Lighting auto-adjusts beam intensity based on what you're looking at. Burn time and beam pattern that survive a full night.
- 1,500 lumens max output
- Reactive Lighting (auto-dim)
- Up to 16 hr burn at 600 lumens
- External battery pack to belt or vest
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Storm 500-R
The lamp every ultrarunner should own at minimum. 500 lumens is plenty for runnable trail. Waterproof, USB-C rechargeable, durable.
- 500 lumens — enough for 90% of trail
- IPX67 waterproof
- USB-C rechargeable, 7-hr battery
- Lock mode prevents accidental drain in pack
Petzl
Petzl IKO Core
The most comfortable lamp on the market. The flat strap distributes weight across your forehead like a fascinator — disappears after an hour.
- 500 lumens
- Distinct flat-strap design — no hot spot
- Weighs only 79g
- Doubles as a tent lantern
Knuckle Lights
Knuckle Lights Advanced
The thing your headlamp can't do — light up the trail at a low angle to bring out rocks. Pair one of these with a head-mounted lamp and your night running stops feeling sketchy.
- 180 lumens per hand
- Eliminates depth-perception issues
- Adjustable knuckle strap
- Best paired with a Petzl or BD lamp
Petzl
Petzl ACTIK Core
The lamp you keep in your drop bag, your crew car, and your spare-vest pocket. Reliable enough to be your primary on lower-stakes nights, cheap enough to have three.
- 600 lumens (newer revision)
- Hybrid: rechargeable Core battery OR 3x AAA
- Red LED for camp / aid station
- Strap-mountable for bivy use
How to think about lumens
More lumens isn't always better. 1,000+ lumens drains battery fast and washes out depth perception on rocky technical trail. For most ultras, 400–600 lumens with a wide beam is the sweet spot. Save the 1,500-lumen modes for fast descents and "find the trail again" moments.
The hand-light secret
A head-mounted lamp shines a beam parallel to your eye line. That's good for distance, terrible for depth perception on rocky trail — your shadow falls behind the rock, and rocks look flat. A second light at hand or hip level (Knuckle Lights, or a small handheld) creates a side angle that makes rocks pop. Pair these and your descending pace at night will be 30–40% faster.
Burn-time math for a 100-miler
Most 100-milers will require 8–14 hours of headlamp use depending on your finish time. Plan for 14 hours of light; budget for the 16-hour version if you're going for a buckle and the day goes long. Strategy:
- Primary lamp on dim/medium setting (200–400 lumens) — extends battery to 12+ hours.
- One spare battery in your vest, one more in your final drop bag.
- A backup lamp (Petzl ACTIK Core or BD Storm) in your final drop bag, fully charged.
- Always — always — start the night with a fresh battery, even if your last training run "only" used 40%.