So, I had a trusty headlamp I loved since my first foray into 100s in 2009. As the newer technologies came out, I refused to believe I needed 5x as many lumens, and only eventually upgraded because I lost it. Oh what a blessing that was! I went all in and bought myself a Petzl NAO, and it was worth every penny. I can’t believe how much better I can run at night being able to see so much more of the trail. I’d also recommend getting a backup battery, since they are rechargeable. Regardless of what lamp you choose, you’ll want to switch to fresh batteries after 4 or 5 hours. You’d be surprised at how big of a difference it makes! Between the lamp and a backup battery, this is a pricey setup, but I consider it to be one of my most important pieces of gear and one I use weekly on early morning runs. If you are never running in super dark places and races, perhaps choosing something cheaper and lighter might be a better fit, but for a truly versatile lamp that will light up even the darkest of canyons – the Petzl NAO is the standard. (Additional tip: if you’re using the NAO or any other high lumen light, be considerate when you come up on other runners and angle it down. It will overpower them if they have a weaker lamp and create really terrible shadows and they will hate you.)