UltrAspire Waist Lights Gear Review

A review and comparison of UltrAspire’s Lumen 600 4.0, Lumen 850 Duo and Lumen 800 Solstice waist lights.

The three UltrAspire waist lights reviewed in this article: Lumen 600 4.0, 850 Duo and 800 Solstice.
The three UltrAspire waist lights reviewed in this article: Lumen 600 4.0, 850 Duo and 800 Solstice.

This article goes on to explore why waist lights are becoming increasingly in vogue in place of a traditional headlamp. One of the brands lighting up the way here is UltrAspire, offering a wide variety of lights at a range of price points. The best waist light, or any light or that matter, for the individual athlete depends on the desired features and intended use. Below Team RunRun Coach Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott shares what sets three of UltrAspire’s most popular waist lights apart. 

Comparing 3 UltrAspire waist lights:

Where to buy UltrAspire waist lights: 

UltrAspire lights are not hard to find! Check out the UltrAspire website, REI or Running Warehouse.

Usage:

Headlamps vs waist lights

The headlamp was once a runner’s go-to illumination choice for nighttime training, lengthy adventures and ultra distance races. However, head mounted light systems have their flaws: they don’t cast shadows or provide definition in the darkness. With blotted-out headlamp lit surroundings, athletes are often forced to slow down, needing more time to decipher the terrain.  

The introduction of UltrAspire’s 3D waist light systems resolved this issue. Mounting a light lower on the body allows the casting of shadows, creating 3D-like imagines at night. This allows athletes to read the landscape with the same or similar efficiency as daytime. Observing the increasing number of waist lights at every race I participate, it’s clear runners of all levels are beginning to recognize their benefit.

Best use? What did you use this piece of gear for most? Roads, track, trails, long runs, post-run, workouts, racing? 

I personally utilize three lumen waist lights in the UltrAspire line up: the Lumen 600 4.0, 850 Duo and 800 Solstice. The waist light I select depends on the application and type of light beam I require. That said, purchasing a separate light for every situation is  not at all required. Having a single one of these options in your night kit would be sufficient.  

All of these lumens perform excellent on all terrains -both trails and road- and for outings of any length. In addition to running and hiking, I also use these  lights for climbing, mountaineering and skiing. Meticulously thought-out features make using UltrAspire’s lumens intuitive and convenient. The battery life of each model is stellar (see below descriptions for specifics). Plus, a color-coded light on the side of the product indicates battery level, removing the need to guess when a fresh battery might soon be needed.

Basic features and brightness of UltrAspire waist lights

The large on/off/toggle button allows ease of use even while wearing thick winter gloves… or when your fine motor skills have been lost at mile 80! To prevent accidentally turning on the light, I loosen the screw on battery compartment cap about 2-3mm. Protective cases are also available to prevent an unintentional turn on and/or shield your investment in the chaos of drop bag transport. 

The standard brightness settings on each model are: low, medium, high and blinking. I normally keep the light level to medium and still feel like a lighthouse! Regardless of brightness level, each selection broadcasts an outstanding amount of light across the running surface and surrounding terrain.

This is an absolute must on the highly technical local trails I train on. There are also a variety of large and sometimes aggressive wildlife in my region, and with any UltrAspire Lumen, I feel confident I will see their glowing eyes well in advance of getting too close to lions, grizzlies, moose, etc. Note, I do sometimes pair my waist light with a Lumen 800 Catalyst Headlamp. I don’t need it for extra brightness and keep it on low or off. However, having a headlamp option does allow me to illuminate the sides of the trails by rotating my head instead of my body. In my opinion, this is any waist light’s only limitation.  

UltrAspire waist light Lumen 600 4.0 view.
UltrAspire Lumen 600 4.0 view.
UltrAspire waist light Lumen 850 Duo view.
UltrAspire Lumen 850 Duo view.
UltrAspire wasit light Lumen 800 Solstice view.
UltrAspire Lumen 800 Solstice view.

Sizing Comments: 

UltraAspire Lumen waist lights fit a wide range of waist sizes from 26-38 inches. The soft and flexible band is secure, comfortable and provides enough stretch to allow for deep breathing during high aerobic output activities. It can be worn on the waist as intended or situated on the chest or low waist/hips if desired without fit issues. The buckle is fatigue free and allows for easy on/off with gloves or when everything is a challenge later in an ultra. The light itself is also adjustable to achieve the preferred angle for your personal line of sight.  

Durability:  

As an athlete, I relish running, climbing and skiing in extreme environments. The durably and reliability of my gear is of utmost importance in the rugged environments I move through. I am not at all gentle with my equipment. In the name of efficiency, I don’t have time to treat items delicately. My UltrAspire waist lights have been subject almost every condition thinkable, from -20F to 90F temperatures, sand, mud, altitude, snow, rain, wind, getting bashed on rocks while climbing and more. They all (even my oldest) work like new and the waistbands, despite some fading on my oldest version, still hold all their integrity. These products are built to last and withstand hostile mountain/desert conditions. As such, the upfront investment in UltrAspire’s durable and reliable lights will actually save you money in the future!

Any problems with UltrAspire waist lights?

The one odd issue I had was with my Lumen 600 4.0 during its first use. The protective glass over the bulb shattered for an unknown reason while I was wearing it in completely open terrain. The bulb was still functional and performed fine on its own during the run. I just wrapped the light in a mid-layer after sunrise for protection and it survived the next 40 miles without further damage. After contacting customer service, I was promptly sent a replacement part. The problem has never happened again, so I put this issue down to a rare factory defect.  

Changes for the next model:  

While I can’t think of anything, I’m sure their research and development team will come out with exciting new innovations! 

The true test:

If your friend were looking for a piece of gear in this category, would you recommend they buy it and/or would you give this as a gift to that friend because you like it so much? Would there be something else you recommend they get instead because this gear doesn’t fit their needs? 

I highly recommend any of UltrAspire’s waist light lumens to anyone who recreates in the dark, whether I coach them or not. I view a waist light is a non-negotiable part of a nighttime running kit.  

Coach Dandelion adventuring at night with an UltrAspire waist light.
Coach Dandelion adventuring at night with an UltrAspire waist light.

Keeping it honest: 

While I am currently an UltrAspire sponsored athlete, I was using the Lumen 600 3.0 several years prior to joining the team. I purchased the 850 Duo myself, won the 600 4.0 in a raffle and received the 800 Solstice as a prototype. I wrote this article independent of my relationship with the brand and received no benefits for this review.

Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a multisport outdoor athlete, ultra-runner and certified coach. She is passionate about collaborating with driven athletes who love to explore, train and play outside.