Still in search of the “perfect” lamp for night running, I recently purchased the UltrAspire Lumen 600R waist light belt. The Lumen 600R has the same power output as the Lumen 600 2.0 but features a more minimalist design. According to the UltrAspire website, the Lumen 600R “allows for significant increased running speeds due to the power of the light and the weight.” The conical shape of the Lumen 600R allows it to sit comfortably on the hips and waist, and is easily adjustable via the single sided release buckle.
Features:
- Super bright; no-bounce feel; water-resistant (IPX6); design is one size to fit most
- 600 Lumen output; up to 36 hours in a low rate with the rechargeable battery included
- Lightweight and simple design; Small stretchy mesh pocket to store extra batteries
- Full feature light with great stability and comfort
- Recommended for both road and trail nighttime running
Details:
- Stable, breathable waist belt materials
- Lightweight and simple design in one size fits most feature
- Single sided release buckle for getting in and out of belt
- Small stretchy mesh pocket to store extra batteries
Specifications:
- Fit: Unisex
- Size(s): 22″-42″
- Color option: Pitch Black
- Lumen Output: 600
- Battery Included: 18650 3.7V (rechargeable)
- Water Resistance: IPX6
Lumen Rate / Burn Time:
- 600 (high) / 8 hours
- 231 (medium) / 13 hours
- 24 (low) / 36 hours
- 55 (SOS) / 32 hours
Lumen 600R Product Overview:
Usage
At just over 5.4 ounces, the Lumen 600R is super-minimal and really comfortable once you’ve dialed in the fit via the adjustable strap and buckle. 5 different settings can be selected via the one-touch button on the end of the lamp body – Off, Blinking, Low, Medium, High. The high setting is very impressive and probably the brightest lamp I’ve ever used. The aluminium housing can easily be rotated 90 degrees up/90 degrees down, for a full 180 degrees of directional rotation.
Burn time at the high setting is quoted at 8 hours which I’ve found to be pretty accurate. One thing to be aware of though, is that the light automatically dims from the high setting down to the medium setting after about 30 – 60 minutes of use. I believe this is a design function that helps conserve power and reduce the heat/wear on the battery. Max brightness can be reselected by cycling through the settings – slightly annoying, but not a dealbreaker for me.
The mesh belt is designed to be breathable and the elastic binding further enhances fit and comfort. The belt also features reflective highlights for excellent low-light visibility. Unlike the Lumen 600 2.0, there is no storage on the belt aside from a small stretchy mesh pouch on the front which is ideal for carrying a spare battery. Speaking of batteries, the 600R uses the included 18650 3.7V rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Additional batteries can be purchased for $9 on the UltrAspire website – useful for multi-day stuff or long ultra races.
Charging is carried out via the included USB cable which connects to the light’s rubber-covered port. There’s also a charging indicator light which is red during charging and turns green when fully charged. Note: be sure to align the pin on the battery cap with the groove on the inside of the threaded opening before tightening. It can be a bit tricky.
Field of vision is excellent on both medium and high settings thanks to the focused center beam and wide-angle peripheral light. Better detail and clarity means quicker reaction time and increased confidence for faster, more efficient night time running. The low setting at 24 lumens is really only suitable for emergency use, as can be seen in the photographs below taken at last weekend’s Rocky Raccoon 100. I wouldn’t recommend running on this setting at night.
Over the years I’ve experienced numerous comfort issues with traditional headlamps, but as stated above, the 600R is super-comfortable and provides bounce-free, wide-angle lighting on the run. I’m really looking forward to logging more nighttime miles using the 600R, and it should help during any 100 milers or 24-hour events I get to run later this year. Definitely recommended. Buy one today!
Testimonial:
Having just recently tried the waist lights from Ultraspire. It’s fair to say, running at night with one of these is like running during the day. They are awesome. No more bounce, they cast shadows because of the position, and the battery is strong all night…Just sayin’ – Karl Meltzer
Photos:
