Boise-based trail runner Sarah Barber reviews the Infinity X1 700L Headlamp. Product was provided at no cost for the test and review.
Quick: what do early morning runners have in common with folks who time their trots after sunset?
They’re all runners! Thanks for that Captain Obvious, but there’s more. Both need one essential piece of gear, and it’s not running shoes (I’m sure the barefoot running movement is still alive somewhere). Even during the optimal lunar phase, a light source is a non-negotiable if you want to run safely, quickly, and confidently—especially on trails.
Lighting the way on the trail
Names like Petzl and Black Diamond dominate the market when it comes to wearable illumination, but I recently came across a new alternative: the Infinity X1 700L Headlamp. Infinity X1 is a company known primarily for flashlights, so the addition of a headlamp to their inventory is a logical leap.
With sustainability at the forefront, Infinity X1 has prioritized a movement “away from single-use technology,” which translates to hybrid power sourcing. In a nutshell, their products can all be powered by either disposable or rechargeable batteries, giving the user a choice. For example, if MacGyver is out in the woods and unable to plug the rechargeable battery into a wall socket, he can simply exchange it for the three AAA batteries stashed in his pocket as backup. Even better, the dry-cell batteries slot into the exact place where the rechargeable battery fits. In this case, versatility does not add size!
Excellent illumination
Still, at first glance the Infinity X1 700L Headlamp struck me as a touch bulky compared to other headlamps I’ve used for trail running. However, when I fired it up at o-dark-thirty in a woodsy trail network outside of town, I knew immediately that this perceived bulk had a purpose: hello, midnight sun! I was ready to interrogate a suspect. Or blind my running partner with little more than a glance.
With six different light modes, including red light to preserve night vision and a broad view option that provides 220 degrees of brightness, 700 lumens is an impressive amount of visible light. This is a good thing, as no one running trails in the dark is looking for the ambience of a candle (which offers about 12.5 lumens). For perspective, that iPhone in your hand? Only about 40-50 lumens—woefully inadequate unless you enjoy tripping over your own feet and jumping out of your skin at every odd noise that emanates from the surrounding blackness.
Other features
The adjustable strap fits nicely on the noggin, and with the rechargeable battery installed, it weighs in at under 4 oz (110 grams). The nerd in me determined that using alkaline batteries adds 0.4 oz and subtracts 100 lumens, but who’s counting? I am, as it turns out. After about 5 hours of use in its brightest mode, the Infinity X1 Headlamp was noticeably dimmer. This isn’t a problem for me, as I’ll just be mindful to recharge on a more frequent basis. But for a 100-mile ultra or anything that involves a full night of activity (ahem…) those AAAs are going to come in handy.
Sarah Barber sporting the Infinity X1 700L Headlamp.
Anyone looking for an affordable, versatile, durable—and did I mention waterproof?—lighting system for trail running after dusk and before dawn will find the Infinity X1 700L Headlamp easily meets their needs. Daylight hours will continue to get shorter until the winter solstice, but your runs don’t need to. Infinity X1 is here to help you light up the night!
Editor’s Note: To read more articles and reviews by ATRA’s gear wrangler Sarah Barber, click here.
