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The days may be shorter, but this does not mean that your running must be like this.

When we dialed back the clock on November 7th (hint: mainly rolls our eyes), the sunrise time in New York City is 6:34 am and the sunset time is 4:52 pm, and the daylight will not get shorter until the winter solstice in December 21st.

This means that whether you are running in the morning or at night, you must have the right reflective equipment.

When running safely in the dark, the goal is to be seen. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 80% of pedestrian fatal accidents—that is, being hit by a car—occur when it's dark. According to data from the National Safety Commission, when using ordinary headlights, the driver's visibility is only 250 feet, and when the high-beam headlights are turned on, the visibility doubles to 500 feet.

But thanks to the continuous improvement of technology, there is no shortage of clothing and equipment that can make you stand out.

You will see clothing advertised as high visibility or reflective. They both help the driver see you when you are driving in the dark, but they are two different things. Mike Orton, Brooks Running's apparel product line manager, told Runner's World that clothing deemed "highly visible" uses color and contrast "to provide greater visual recognition."

Orton went on to explain that this is why it is so important that high-visibility equipment not only makes runners visible but also recognizes runners as humans. (More on Brooks' Run Visible line and how it helps drivers treat runners as a human form, later.)

"Studies have shown that the brain is easily confused when there is insufficient light," Orton said. "When we glimpse something in the dark, our eyes have a hard time understanding what they are seeing."

Then comes the reflective or retroreflective material, which reflects the light back to where it was originally—for example, a driver with his headlights on, Orton said.

Although the reflective material may be better in a dark environment, it only works when the light source shines on the fabric, and in many cases, if the reflective sheet is not cleverly placed, it may be difficult for the driver to distinguish between him or her. What is it?

At the end of the day (or at the beginning of the day!), you only want traffic to see you while running in the dark. The more you can see to yourself, the better. This may mean wearing high-visibility and reflective gear, and carrying lights or headlights. You can make a decision based on how dark it is and whether there are sidewalks or street lights.

Although any light will make you more easily seen by the car, flashing lights will be more noticeable. Placing light-emitting or reflective devices on moving parts (arms, feet, ankles) will also remind the driver that you are a moving object.

Boots on the ground are the best way to determine whether a product meets standards, especially in terms of safety. We brought this equipment (or talking to other runners who tried it) onto the road in areas with little or no lighting before the sun rose or after sunset. (But no, we did not directly enter the traffic for testing.)

Although a reflective or highly visible piece of clothing or equipment is great if it can make you stand out, it won't help if it bounces around or is uncomfortable, so we also considered this.

Usually I only wear a hat in the sun or when it rains. But this hat has 360-degree reflective material, so you can hardly miss it on the road. The side panels have ventilation holes to keep your head cool.

The disadvantage is that although the hat is adjustable, the strap requires some professional fingers to manipulate to get the correct fit.

You need to pair this hat with another reflective or high-visibility material, or place a light on your chest or back to increase visibility.

For dark winter running, tie it up and wear a Tough Headwear reflective skull cap. It is light in weight, but very roasted, and is very popular with runners and cyclists. With nearly 8,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, Runner's World considers it a top winter hat.

However, the reflective strips are small, so you may still need additional lights or reflective or high-visibility equipment. (Be sure to choose black/reflective color when purchasing; this is the only option with a reflective strip.)

If you prefer a headband, the Nathan reflective headband uses a medium-weight wool material to secure your hair and keep your ears warm. Reflective details add some visibility in low light conditions.

One tester stated that the reflective strips on the headband are too narrow to provide much benefit, although "better than nothing." She also pointed out that if the headband is adjustable or elastic to fit more comfortably, it will do better.

Place one of the lights on your chest and back so that you will stand out from the crowd in both directions. These lamps are available in two pieces, small and light, and can be clipped firmly to your shirt or vest. Slide the clip back onto the hem of the shirt, neckline, vest opening, or running belt.

The light has two settings: steady (57 hours battery life) and strobe (110 hours). Moreover, they are weather resistant, so they can continue to work even in sweat, rain and snow. A tester said that only a switch can solve the problem, she does not need multiple modes. The battery is not rechargeable, which means that you must keep the CR2032 button battery on hand in case it runs out.

For those unfamiliar with trails, running with a headlight may seem extreme, but this is the best way to see and be seen. Even if you are running in an area with street lights, if you wear huge headlights on your head, the car is most likely to see you.

The biggest complaint of wearing headlights is bouncing! This is not the case with BioLite's 3D slim structure, which is designed to hold the strap in place even when you are sweating. Depending on the brightness you want, BioLite has a variety of models. 330 provides 330 lumens of light, four light modes, including strobe and dark red floodlight, and rechargeable batteries. (In low battery mode, the battery can last for 40 hours, while in high battery mode, it only takes 3.5 hours.)

We also like the Petzl Tikka outdoor headlight, which can stay still and provide 300 lumens of light for up to 120 hours. However, unlike BioLite, Petzl uses a triple A battery, so you must replace it instead of recharging it. However, this is not necessarily a spoiler. Although we like being able to charge everything, for example, carrying triple-A batteries instead of charging bricks during night trail running can reduce the burden.

The headband is separated from the light, so you can wash it between runs.

We know that running in a sports bra does not really match running in the dark-as the days get shorter and shorter, the weather gets colder and colder. but! There is no doubt that we are experiencing (and will continue to be in some form) untimely weather, and for those running, you still need to be seen.

The nightlife color scheme of Drive 3 Pocket Run Bra is very bright. It does not reflect light, but this material has high visibility, almost as if it glows in the dark. Since the neckline is higher than most sports bras, there are more fluorescent materials, which means more visibility.

In addition to visibility, the Pocket Run bra is very comfortable, you guessed it, it has three pockets to hold things. The back pocket is enough to hold your mobile phone, but it’s a bit difficult to get in halfway.

The disadvantage is that this sports bra is made of detachable pads, these pads will all become clumps when washed. If you plan to make bras with pads, leave them in place!

I also like Puma High Shine Crop Top, it definitely needs a sports bra in it, even the smallest breasts. There is a 360-degree reflective pattern on the top, which is a bit like an animal print, but I am not completely impressed by the actual reflectivity. You can pair it with High Shine leggings to create a matching look and increase visibility.

Last year we covered the entire Brooks Run Visible Collection and it continues to serve us. Let me start by saying that I can't take off my jacket. It fits comfortably on the base layer without being too tight or too loose. Although the latest model does not have a thumb hole, the sleeves are cut slightly longer, and the top of the hand is covered with a reflective strip. The reflective strip will move with your arm and hand.

This jacket has zippered side pockets and several inner pockets to provide additional storage space. The lightweight reflector can be folded up, so you can put it away when running dry.

As for reflectivity and visibility, this jacket is the most important. White fabric alone can make runners stand out in the dark. The clothing (including jackets) of this series uses 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black stripes to reflect light. This reflective material is cleverly placed to mimic the shape of a car from a runner 600 feet away to a car traveling at 35 miles per hour.

"Through research, we learned that most runners pass suburban routes in low light and night conditions, and the speed limit is an average of 30 miles per hour," Orton said. "With this as our benchmark, we need to be able to see the runner's equipment from at least 450 feet away, so that the driver has enough time to recognize what is in front of them and react if necessary."

So what happens at 625 feet? Or 38 miles per hour? Orton said that in the Brooks Run Visible gear, the runner may still be visible, but not clearly identified as a human.

"Ultimately, we want the driver to see a person on the road, not an object (such as a deer)," Orton said, noting that the company cannot install reflectors for wild animals.

Of course, you can buy a cheap vest designed for night shift builders, but if you want to wear it often, then it's worth paying for it. Nathan's Streak reflective vest fits better than those vests; in addition, it is lightweight and can avoid scratches caused by arm swings.

"It fits very well," a tester said. "It's adjustable, and it's usually difficult to fit the adjustable thing perfectly, but it's perfect."

The vest has a 360-degree reflectivity and provides a visibility of 1,200 feet. Our tester said that she felt very comfortable on dark country roads because of the reflective strips on the already bright vest.

"I can be seen from all angles," she said. "I will not change anything in this vest."

If you want to improve your vest competition, this can solve the problem. We have seen this vest in the overnight relay race, and it basically turns you into an avid reveler. The 6.5 oz vest has front and rear lights, which can change the color and mode (flashing or steady). Although rechargeable, these batteries do not last as long as headlights (six to eight hours). Critics are satisfied with the brightness and quality of the vest, and the price is reasonable.

As part of the Brooks Run Visible collection, Brooks adopted its popular Ghost 14 shoes-a neutral, cushioned sneaker-and used the same materials as the Run Visible clothing for night running. Bright yellow soles are popular, yes, but the reflective details on the outer layer of the shoes add a moving reflective effect to those dark running shoes. For the first time, Ghost shoes are a bit weird.

They are headlights... but for your feet. The NightRunner 270 brand has existed for several years; in 2016, the company appeared on Shark Tank, during which time runner and shark Robert Herjavec reached a deal with them.

Slide these shoe lights onto the shoelaces so that they are close to the tongue, and they will remind the car to pay attention to moving creatures. The weatherproof, rechargeable lamp will project 30 feet of light forward and can last up to five hours at standard settings.

I am hesitant about these Swiftwick socks; I run in their low-top socks and they often slip and fall on my heels. But the Aspire Four fits comfortably on the calf, making them a popular cycling socks. Considering compression, I am impressed with comfort, which is the main billing method for Aspire.

Yellow and green are considered high visibility, and in the pre-dawn running, they did not disappoint. I feel like the plutonium rod that Homer Simpson throws away in the introduction to The Simpsons, but it may be less toxic. These socks are a great addition to my morning workout wardrobe, especially if I don’t want to add a lot of extra equipment.

If you are looking for an ultra-cheap but effective reflection option (such as five times faster), try HiVisible reflective tape. The four-piece set is only $16.99, and you can strategically and safely place the strap on your arms and legs so that it can be seen as a moving object from 800 feet away.

Let your phone operator do more. The Tribe wristband can not only fix your phone, keys and earphones, but also made of reflective material to help you be seen in low light conditions.

One potential disadvantage: Without additional reflective or high-visibility devices, the car may only be able to see the reflective tape from one side. You need additional reflectors to see from all directions.