Sorry, sent before adding one vs the other opinion. So how do I choose which to use?
The vest light is my go-to light for road running. It is comfortable, can be warn with any running clothing, has the extra visibility options in the reflectors and rear flasher, and it allows me to wear whatever headgear I want to (I wear a cap 99.999% of the time.) I can turn it on and off very quickly if I don’t want the light on. It is great as a “be seen” light and does a nice job lighting the road to see obstacles. It has two primary drawbacks. The first is that it aims where your chest aims, so if you want to see something not directly in front of you, you have to turn your torso as you run (awkward.) The second is brightness. It is not as bright as the newer lights out there, so When I tried it for trail running it was passable but not great.
The headlamp is amazing for trail running. It is amazingly bright, it illuminates where you look, and is fairly lightweight. It is comfortable, and I almost forget it is there, but it still is a light strapped to your head. I have to forgo wearing a hat when I wear it or wear a cap backwards. I have not tried it with a beanie or stocking cap yet, so I don’t know how it will work for that. I like that the Tikka does not have a rear battery or a top-of-the-head strap. I have used other lamps that have those and this stays put better. For morning runs, it can be a bit awkward if you have a short time between the run finish and getting to work. My kids have given me the “What’s that red spot on your forehead?” more than once from the pressure point of the lamp.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
JP