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The sun has already begun to set on our exercise routines—at least for those of us who like to run in the evenings. As we get deeper into fall (and prepare for the dreaded time change), evening and morning runners alike will have to deal with darker runs.
Here are my best tips for staying safe and making the most of the darkness while you're out pounding the pavement.
If you're an evening runner, be warned that this is the season for darkness sneaking up on you. Check the sunset time before you head out, and bring a light source just in case you make a wrong turn or stop a little longer at a water break. I have these USB-chargeable lights, and I keep one in the same belt that holds my water bottle.
You can't totally trust the sunset time to be the time you'll start losing light. When I'm running trails, I've noticed the light starts fading well in advance of the official sunlight time, thanks to all those hills and trees. There may not be cars to worry about in the wilderness, but without sunlight it's a lot easier to stub your toe on rocks and roots in the path.
Even if you’re just walking in your neighborhood, it’s good to be seen. I’ve been in pitch-dark parks where I didn’t realize another jogger was there until they were right in front of me. Carrying some kind of light can help you see people, but it can also help you be seen, and avoid terrifying everyone else.
Light is also important if you’re cycling. You especially want to make sure cars can see you, so put on your front and back lights even if it’s not fully dark yet. The convention (which is also the legal requirement in many areas) is to put a bright white light at the front of your bike, and a red light for visibility at the back. That back light could be mounted to your bike or to another convenient spot, like clipped onto your jacket or helmet.
If you’re a runner, a hand-held flashlight is great, but a headlamp is often more useful. Whatever you use, know the battery life and make sure your light is fully charged before you go. I like my Petzl Tikkina, which can run on either AAA batteries or a rechargeable that's sold separately.
Light colors are more visible than dark ones, and neon-colored high-visibility fabrics can help you appear brighter as the sun is going down. But neither one is a replacement for reflective gear, which shines straight back at a light source like the headlights of a car. If you’re cycling, your wheels and pedals may already have reflectors on them; if not, you can buy some at a bike store. Running shoes and jackets often have reflective accents on them, but they’re often small. Shine a flashlight on your gear to find out just how reflective it is.
If you need to add something quickly and cheaply, a basic reflective vest does the job. For a fancier version, the Noxgear Tracer is a vaguely vest-shaped strap that lights up enough that everybody will see you. You can get it with or without a chest light to illuminate the road in front of you.
Nights are colder than days, so don’t expect your pre-dawn runs to be as warm as your midday ones. Check the hourly weather forecast with one of our favorite weather apps (I use Carrot). Then take my advice on dressing to stay warm while you run.
If you’re cycling, you have to deal with the wind as well. Glasses or goggles can keep wind out of your eyes, and don’t forget to layer up on gloves, too. Consider glove liners or windproof gloves.
When you head out, pay extra attention to your surroundings. That flashlight will help, and it’s best to run without headphones, or to keep the volume very low.
Bring a buddy if you can. A running group is a great option if you don't have friends who can meet you at your preferred times. If you have a dog, you can probably train them to run with you, but remember that they may need to improve their fitness over time to keep up.
Run on the correct side of the road (the left, facing traffic) and stay alert to your surroundings. Plan out your route before you leave to make sure you’re not going anywhere you’re not comfortable with. A nighttime run is not the best time to find yourself lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood or unsure of whether there’s a safe crossing over a busy road.
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
The sun has already begun to set on our exercise routines—at least for those of us who like to run in the evenings. As we get deeper into fall (and prepare for the dreaded time change), evening and morning runners alike will have to deal with darker runs.
Here are my best tips for staying safe and making the most of the darkness while you're out pounding the pavement.
If you're an evening runner, be warned that this is the season for darkness sneaking up on you. Check the sunset time before you head out, and bring a light source just in case you make a wrong turn or stop a little longer at a water break. I have these USB-chargeable lights, and I keep one in the same belt that holds my water bottle.
You can't totally trust the sunset time to be the time you'll start losing light. When I'm running trails, I've noticed the light starts fading well in advance of the official sunlight time, thanks to all those hills and trees. There may not be cars to worry about in the wilderness, but without sunlight it's a lot easier to stub your toe on rocks and roots in the path.
Even if you’re just walking in your neighborhood, it’s good to be seen. I’ve been in pitch-dark parks where I didn’t realize another jogger was there until they were right in front of me. Carrying some kind of light can help you see people, but it can also help you be seen, and avoid terrifying everyone else.
Light is also important if you’re cycling. You especially want to make sure cars can see you, so put on your front and back lights even if it’s not fully dark yet. The convention (which is also the legal requirement in many areas) is to put a bright white light at the front of your bike, and a red light for visibility at the back. That back light could be mounted to your bike or to another convenient spot, like clipped onto your jacket or helmet.
If you’re a runner, a hand-held flashlight is great, but a headlamp is often more useful. Whatever you use, know the battery life and make sure your light is fully charged before you go. I like my Petzl Tikkina, which can run on either AAA batteries or a rechargeable that's sold separately.
Light colors are more visible than dark ones, and neon-colored high-visibility fabrics can help you appear brighter as the sun is going down. But neither one is a replacement for reflective gear, which shines straight back at a light source like the headlights of a car. If you’re cycling, your wheels and pedals may already have reflectors on them; if not, you can buy some at a bike store. Running shoes and jackets often have reflective accents on them, but they’re often small. Shine a flashlight on your gear to find out just how reflective it is.
If you need to add something quickly and cheaply, a basic reflective vest does the job. For a fancier version, the Noxgear Tracer is a vaguely vest-shaped strap that lights up enough that everybody will see you. You can get it with or without a chest light to illuminate the road in front of you.
Nights are colder than days, so don’t expect your pre-dawn runs to be as warm as your midday ones. Check the hourly weather forecast with one of our favorite weather apps (I use Carrot). Then take my advice on dressing to stay warm while you run.
If you’re cycling, you have to deal with the wind as well. Glasses or goggles can keep wind out of your eyes, and don’t forget to layer up on gloves, too. Consider glove liners or windproof gloves.
When you head out, pay extra attention to your surroundings. That flashlight will help, and it’s best to run without headphones, or to keep the volume very low.
Bring a buddy if you can. A running group is a great option if you don't have friends who can meet you at your preferred times. If you have a dog, you can probably train them to run with you, but remember that they may need to improve their fitness over time to keep up.
Run on the correct side of the road (the left, facing traffic) and stay alert to your surroundings. Plan out your route before you leave to make sure you’re not going anywhere you’re not comfortable with. A nighttime run is not the best time to find yourself lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood or unsure of whether there’s a safe crossing over a busy road.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
If I told you Apple rolled out a new feature with iOS 26 that allows Maps to track your movements, and save that information for later, what would you think? On the surface, it does sound pretty invasive, especially from a company that typically promotes user privacy. While this really is a new feature, here's the thing: It isn't as bad as it sounds. And, if you really don't like it, you can turn it off.
The feature, "Visited Places," is actually intended to be a private way to keep tabs on the places you've been to, and to easily recall your favorites in the future. When the feature is enabled, Maps will take note of places you visit, even if you don't use Maps to get there. It's like a passive, automatic journal, taking note of restaurants, malls, parks, or simply general locations you venture to day-to-day. According to Apple, all of this information is stored on your synced devices only, and is end-to-end encrypted, which means Apple has no way to access this data.
If you have the feature enabled, you'll find your Visited Places appropriately tucked away in the "Places" menu when you launch Maps. I've only had the feature turned on for a day or so, so I only have three locations currently saved, but all three were destinations I visited without using Maps to guide me there.
Personally, I have no issue with keeping this setting turned on: Nobody has access to the data except for me, and I can imagine it reminding me of the places I've enjoyed visiting during a future scroll.
Apple says you will be asked to turn on the feature when you open Maps after updating to iOS 26, and, in my experience, that was the case. However, for CNET writer Zachary McAuliffe, the feature was already enabled without his input. As such, it might be smart to double-check that the feature is set to whichever setting you prefer, lest you allow Maps to track your movements without your knowledge.
To check whether the feature is turned on or off, head to Settings > Apps > Maps > Location. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Maps. Either way, check the toggle next to "Visited Places."
You can also delete any Visited Places without needing to turn the feature off altogether. Open Maps, tap "Places," then "Visited Places." Here, you can swipe left on any place to delete it, or choose "Clear History" to delete them all. Plus, you can choose how long you want Maps to store your Visited Places: The default is "Forever," but you can also select "3 Months" or "1 Year," if you wish.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
If I told you Apple rolled out a new feature with iOS 26 that allows Maps to track your movements, and save that information for later, what would you think? On the surface, it does sound pretty invasive, especially from a company that typically promotes user privacy. While this really is a new feature, here's the thing: It isn't as bad as it sounds. And, if you really don't like it, you can turn it off.
The feature, "Visited Places," is actually intended to be a private way to keep tabs on the places you've been to, and to easily recall your favorites in the future. When the feature is enabled, Maps will take note of places you visit, even if you don't use Maps to get there. It's like a passive, automatic journal, taking note of restaurants, malls, parks, or simply general locations you venture to day-to-day. According to Apple, all of this information is stored on your synced devices only, and is end-to-end encrypted, which means Apple has no way to access this data.
If you have the feature enabled, you'll find your Visited Places appropriately tucked away in the "Places" menu when you launch Maps. I've only had the feature turned on for a day or so, so I only have three locations currently saved, but all three were destinations I visited without using Maps to guide me there.
Personally, I have no issue with keeping this setting turned on: Nobody has access to the data except for me, and I can imagine it reminding me of the places I've enjoyed visiting during a future scroll.
Apple says you will be asked to turn on the feature when you open Maps after updating to iOS 26, and, in my experience, that was the case. However, for CNET writer Zachary McAuliffe, the feature was already enabled without his input. As such, it might be smart to double-check that the feature is set to whichever setting you prefer, lest you allow Maps to track your movements without your knowledge.
To check whether the feature is turned on or off, head to Settings > Apps > Maps > Location. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Maps. Either way, check the toggle next to "Visited Places."
You can also delete any Visited Places without needing to turn the feature off altogether. Open Maps, tap "Places," then "Visited Places." Here, you can swipe left on any place to delete it, or choose "Clear History" to delete them all. Plus, you can choose how long you want Maps to store your Visited Places: The default is "Forever," but you can also select "3 Months" or "1 Year," if you wish.
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
Early October Prime Day Deals are here, and some good ones are rolling in. Amazon devices have big discounts right now, and that includes Kindle readers. Right now, Amazon is offering Prime Members bundles for the Kindle, Kindle Colorsoft, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Scribe, where most of them are cheaper than getting the standalone tablet, making the decision to go for the bundle an easy one. Here are the deals.
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
Early October Prime Day Deals are here, and some good ones are rolling in. Amazon devices have big discounts right now, and that includes Kindle readers. Right now, Amazon is offering Prime Members bundles for the Kindle, Kindle Colorsoft, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Scribe, where most of them are cheaper than getting the standalone tablet, making the decision to go for the bundle an easy one. Here are the deals.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.
Summer and fall are the perfect time to prepare for standardized aptitude tests. Prepping through summer will help you be ready for a fall exam, giving you enough time to retake for a higher score it in the spring, if needed, or you can prep through fall and target that spring test. Even if you studied all summer, fall is the ideal time to review and cram down to the last minute. And no matter how you tend to learn, an app can probably help. Here are some of the best ones available on iOS and Android (some are available on a browser, too).
Khan Academy, a nonprofit organization and partner of the College Board, has become synonymous with test prep. They have free courses in various AP classes, a variety of subjects, and, of course, standardized tests like the SAT and LSAT—which means if you start with Khan while you prepare for the SAT, you can stick with it all the way through wherever your educational journey takes you.
Beyond having a deep selection of study materials, Khan Academy serves up information in video form, with clips that go through practice problems similar to the ones you could face on your exam. For real-deal practice questions, you’ll need to use the desktop version of the site, but the app-based videos are great to take on the go.
What I like about Khan is that some of the videos and articles are informational. For instance, you can read about calculator policies for the SAT or watch a quick clip that gives you an overview of what the test is and what to expect. Studying material is one thing, but being prepared for the experience is another, and this app is well-rounded there.
Magoosh flashcards and practice quizzes go over English and math concepts you should know for your test. Out of all the apps, the Practice & Prep offering is unique because it's dedicated purely to the SAT, but it is customizable. The first time you log in, you're prompted to share when your test is so the app can configure what you should study between now and then. There will be a difference in how you approach it if you have one month or one year to get ready and Magoosh's app knows that.
Like Khan Academy, this platform gives you information on the test itself, too, offering up a landing page of articles on how to prepare. Beyond that, you get practice questions, videos on the reading and writing sections, and practice tests. While flashcards and study games are useful, practice quizzes are pretty crucial, too, because they give you a better sense of how you'll perform when you're facing down a large volume of content.
Bear in mind there are two apps from this company: I like the Practice & Prep, obviously, because it's so customizable and helpful with the quizzes, but there is a separate flashcard app available if you learn better that way and want to double up on the methods you use for studying.
Varsity Tutors is another well-known name in the studying space, and the company's SAT app is thorough. When you log in, you have the option to take a diagnostic test to see where you're struggling, run through a practice test, or complete flashcards and other study methods designated by concept.
The underlying goal of Varsity Tutors' app is to funnel you into working with a paid tutor, so be advised there, but the tests you can take to prepare for English and math are robust. You get a breakdown of your correct and incorrect answers, plus details on how long it took you to answer questions compared to others studying the same thing.
I love the Brainscape app and use it to study for certification exams or just to learn new things. The beauty of Brainscape is that while it's a flashcard app and those are a dime a dozen, it has some legitimacy attached to it because the company works directly with the governing bodies that oversee tests when it creates flashcard decks. AP tests, certification exams, and the SAT are just a few of the options you can study with the knowledge that the questions you're reviewing are actually relevant to the test. Like other apps, Brainscape has an option for reviewing user-generated flashcard decks, too, and that's great—but start with the deck that's been created with the SAT organization itself.
Crucially, Brainscape uses a version of the Leitner method to quiz you. When you finish answering a flashcard, you indicate how well you knew the answer on a scale of one to five. That determines how often that same card is shown to you, with the lesser-known cards cropping up more frequently and the better-mastered cards popping up less often— it forces you to study more effectively, which is a winning strategy.
Finally, if you're a student or learner of any kind, not just an SAT-prepper, I recommend Google's NotebookLM AI tool. It's like any other AI chatbot except that it doesn't pull its responses from the Internet. Instead, it relies only on information you feed it. If you have SAT prep tests or study materials from school, a tutor, a guidance counselor, or online, you can upload them into NotebookLM and ask the software to generate a practice quiz, flashcards, summary, or even a "podcast" that features two voices discussing the content. No matter how you learn best, NotebookLM has a feature to support you.
Importantly, it only uses the materials you upload, like I said. This means you won't get any random or incorrect content from the far reaches of the Internet; you'll only get information you select and input. ChatGPT gets things wrong all the time (and I have seen it generate complete nonsense when dealing with people I tutor in writing), so this is a welcome resource if you like using AI but are worried about being misled. It's available on iOS, Android, and your desktop browser.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.
Summer and fall are the perfect time to prepare for standardized aptitude tests. Prepping through summer will help you be ready for a fall exam, giving you enough time to retake for a higher score it in the spring, if needed, or you can prep through fall and target that spring test. Even if you studied all summer, fall is the ideal time to review and cram down to the last minute. And no matter how you tend to learn, an app can probably help. Here are some of the best ones available on iOS and Android (some are available on a browser, too).
Khan Academy, a nonprofit organization and partner of the College Board, has become synonymous with test prep. They have free courses in various AP classes, a variety of subjects, and, of course, standardized tests like the SAT and LSAT—which means if you start with Khan while you prepare for the SAT, you can stick with it all the way through wherever your educational journey takes you.
Beyond having a deep selection of study materials, Khan Academy serves up information in video form, with clips that go through practice problems similar to the ones you could face on your exam. For real-deal practice questions, you’ll need to use the desktop version of the site, but the app-based videos are great to take on the go.
What I like about Khan is that some of the videos and articles are informational. For instance, you can read about calculator policies for the SAT or watch a quick clip that gives you an overview of what the test is and what to expect. Studying material is one thing, but being prepared for the experience is another, and this app is well-rounded there.
Magoosh flashcards and practice quizzes go over English and math concepts you should know for your test. Out of all the apps, the Practice & Prep offering is unique because it's dedicated purely to the SAT, but it is customizable. The first time you log in, you're prompted to share when your test is so the app can configure what you should study between now and then. There will be a difference in how you approach it if you have one month or one year to get ready and Magoosh's app knows that.
Like Khan Academy, this platform gives you information on the test itself, too, offering up a landing page of articles on how to prepare. Beyond that, you get practice questions, videos on the reading and writing sections, and practice tests. While flashcards and study games are useful, practice quizzes are pretty crucial, too, because they give you a better sense of how you'll perform when you're facing down a large volume of content.
Bear in mind there are two apps from this company: I like the Practice & Prep, obviously, because it's so customizable and helpful with the quizzes, but there is a separate flashcard app available if you learn better that way and want to double up on the methods you use for studying.
Varsity Tutors is another well-known name in the studying space, and the company's SAT app is thorough. When you log in, you have the option to take a diagnostic test to see where you're struggling, run through a practice test, or complete flashcards and other study methods designated by concept.
The underlying goal of Varsity Tutors' app is to funnel you into working with a paid tutor, so be advised there, but the tests you can take to prepare for English and math are robust. You get a breakdown of your correct and incorrect answers, plus details on how long it took you to answer questions compared to others studying the same thing.
I love the Brainscape app and use it to study for certification exams or just to learn new things. The beauty of Brainscape is that while it's a flashcard app and those are a dime a dozen, it has some legitimacy attached to it because the company works directly with the governing bodies that oversee tests when it creates flashcard decks. AP tests, certification exams, and the SAT are just a few of the options you can study with the knowledge that the questions you're reviewing are actually relevant to the test. Like other apps, Brainscape has an option for reviewing user-generated flashcard decks, too, and that's great—but start with the deck that's been created with the SAT organization itself.
Crucially, Brainscape uses a version of the Leitner method to quiz you. When you finish answering a flashcard, you indicate how well you knew the answer on a scale of one to five. That determines how often that same card is shown to you, with the lesser-known cards cropping up more frequently and the better-mastered cards popping up less often— it forces you to study more effectively, which is a winning strategy.
Finally, if you're a student or learner of any kind, not just an SAT-prepper, I recommend Google's NotebookLM AI tool. It's like any other AI chatbot except that it doesn't pull its responses from the Internet. Instead, it relies only on information you feed it. If you have SAT prep tests or study materials from school, a tutor, a guidance counselor, or online, you can upload them into NotebookLM and ask the software to generate a practice quiz, flashcards, summary, or even a "podcast" that features two voices discussing the content. No matter how you learn best, NotebookLM has a feature to support you.
Importantly, it only uses the materials you upload, like I said. This means you won't get any random or incorrect content from the far reaches of the Internet; you'll only get information you select and input. ChatGPT gets things wrong all the time (and I have seen it generate complete nonsense when dealing with people I tutor in writing), so this is a welcome resource if you like using AI but are worried about being misled. It's available on iOS, Android, and your desktop browser.