Runners in Chicago and New York will get just over nine hours of daylight during the winter solstice. Factor in the requisite city commute and long workday, and most athletes will be exercising in the dark. That鈥檚 dangerous as聽 occur between dusk and dawn.
But several studies have shown that wearing bright, reflective gear boosts visibility, giving drivers more time to avoid a collision. We especially like these six items:
New Balance Glow Beacon Jacket 聽
Reflective detailing surrounds the ($175), which is built from bright yellow polyester and nylon fabric. The coolest feature? Hold the Glow Beacon in the light for 10 minutes and the sleeves and back panel will glow in the dark.
NOX Gear Tracer 360聽
Yes, the ($60)聽looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, but its purpose isn鈥檛 to be fashionable鈥攊t鈥檚 to keep you safe. This LED and fiber-optic vest has cables that loop around your torso and a reflective belt. It will burn for 40 hours on three AAA batteries.
Nathan Strobe Light聽
The matchbox-size ($10)聽features a sturdy, simple attachment mechanism that clicks onto a belt or a pack. The three LEDs have a steady burn life of 57 hours on a single battery. Flip the light into strobe mode, and you鈥檒l get 110 hours of light.
Brooks Nightlife Reflective Vest聽
The ($30)聽won鈥檛 keep you warm, but it will make you more visible. The adjustable vest comes in two sizes but fits most people thanks to the hook-and-loop side stretch straps. Bonus: You can wear it year-round thanks to its lightweight mesh material.
Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp聽
This single LED headlamp is low profile, making it ideal for jarring sports like running. The 75-lumen 聽($70) provides plenty of light for technical trail running and comes with a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that provides enough juice for 42 hours of burn time in the low-light mode. Nice touch: the Sprinter features a red light on the back of the band to boost your visibility from behind.
JBL Synchros Reflect BT Headphones聽聽
Listening to music on the bike or while running can be distracting and dangerous. But the right headphones make a difference. These offer great sound quality, a tight fit, and sweat-proof qualities. And the reflective detailing makes them a smart choice for dark runs.