Nite Ize Marker Band Review
January 23, 2009 by Bryon Powell · 4 Comments
In addition to making the LED Sports Vest that iRunFar featured on Tuesday, Nite Ize makes what it calls a Marker Band. The Marker Band is an adjustable reflective band that you clip over your bicep. When your situation calls for more visibility than the available reflected light can provide, you can make the Marker Band’s LEDs flash or constantly glow. The Marker Band is lightweight, flexible, and has a replaceable battery. Nite Ize claims the Marker Band is visible for up to a mile. Keep reading for wildly divergent iRunFar reader reviews of the Nite Ize Marker Band.
The Good
Reader Albie W. from Georgia was “a big fan” of the Nite Ize Marker Band, though he admits not having a basis for comparison as he has not used other lights. That said, he describes his use of the Marker Band:
The band is easy to attach, a simple plastic clip on an elastic band that goes around the top of your arm. To activate the light (which comes with a battery), you simply press one side of the band. There are three settings for the light. Off, on, and blinking. The light produced by the band is clearly bright. I turn the band so the lighted portion is on the back of my arm. I figure I can see anything coming at me, and hopefully the light will dissuade anyone from running me over. Thus far, the light has been successful.
In the end, Albie fully endorsed the Nite Ize Marker band:
All in all, I think it is a very simple and very effective way to let cars and bikes know where you are. I would highly recommend the Nite Ize Marker Band.
The Bad
City dwelling ultra veteran Keith K. of Washington, DC was not a fan of the Marker Band and did not mince his words.
I thought it was a piece of crap, personally. I was thinking I could use it as an extra light while bike commuting, but it’s really pointless. The reflective material seems to offer more protection than the LEDs themselves. I really don’t know what these guys were hoping to accomplish with this product, because it’s really a waste of money. Buy a small LED bike tail light instead.
Availability
The Nite Ize Marker Band retails for $15, but you can easily find it online for $10 or less, include from Amazon.com.
Questions
Has anyone else used the Nite Ize Marker Band? If so, where and when? Was it easy to use? Do you think it made you more visible?
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Filed under Other Gear ·
Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell
I have to agree with Keith. I used it once for a night run around Lake Tahoe, but found that it really was just extra weight and somewhat uncomfortable.
If you have enough lights on your head and waist, you can leave this one at home.
Have you ever tried the Firefly products from RoadID? I have several of their Supernova lights and they seem to be very good, people have actually stopped their cars and thanked me for wearing them. I also put one on my dog when I am out in the dark in the woods and that works great too. I have not tried any of the other products but would be curious if anyone has opinions.
Aaron,
I have not tried any of the Firefly products. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of them.
I got one of these as a gift and, in my opinion, it was a total POS. Stick with a headlamp and a reflective vest.