🌙 Training safely in the dark: how to become truly visible

Reflection is your first line of defense. Here's what you need to to be seen by others when their light falls on you — think of cars, cyclists, or other runners.

Reflective gear works passively, but extremely effectively:

• Shirts, jackets and tights with reflective prints

• Reflective bracelets and ankle straps

• Reflective lines on shoes

• Caps and hats with subtle reflection

Reflection makes a huge difference: without reflection a runner is only seen at 20–30 meters, with reflection often already at 150–200 meters.

👉 Reflective = always wear as soon as it gets dark.

Reflection only works when someone else shines a light on you. But what if it's really dark? Then you have active lighting necessary.

Illuminated running vests — including lights on the front and a red flashing light on the back — keep you are always visible, regardless of what the environment does.

Advantages:

• You are seen 360° all around

• Also visible to cyclists and pedestrians without lights

• Super light, rechargeable and easy to wear over any outfit

This makes it perfect for urban runs or dark polder roads.

👉 Step 2 = actively make yourself stand out.

From the moment you can really see very little where you are walking, you switch to a headlamp.

Why? Because a headlamp not only makes you visible, but also helps to:

• irregularities visible

• recognize mud, holes, roots or pavement

• to maintain safety and confidence while walking

Headlamp = sight + visibility in one product.

This is the phase where most dark runs take place: through parks, along canals, on quiet cycle paths.

👉 Step 3 = active light to orient yourself.

For long training sessions, technical trails and ultra runs, you need more than “something light”.

Then it is about:

• extreme range (up to hundreds of meters)

• wide beams of light

• high lumen values

• longer battery life

• good balance between headlamp and battery

This type of light is used when you're truly on your own—no streetlights, no others, just you and the path. Think of training in the woods, dunes, hills, or mountain trails.

Bee Trail.NL we have lamps from o.a. Petzl, Moonlight, Fenix, Nitecore and Black Diamond for every situation: from 150 lumens to 2500+.

👉 Step 4 = maximum visibility and maximum view.

The best approach is often multiple options at once:

• Reflection for basic visibility

• A vest with lights for 360° visibility

• A headlamp for the trail

• Extra red rear light for dark polder areas

• And in mountainous terrain: a strong flashlight + backup light (the NU20 Classic is my favorite backup. Super light!)

This way you are visible to everyone, and you can always see enough yourself to walk safely — and with confidence.

In our store, we'll help you find exactly the right combination for your route, speed, and environment.

From reflective clothing to high-performance headlamps, we have everything you need for those winter miles.

Trail.NL — Chasing Trails, even in the dark.