Can We Please Share the Road Until Springtime?
For a brief time every winter, we runners are forced onto the roads with the rest of the world. Can't we all just get along and share the road?
Here are 6 pieces of cool running gear we’ve been wear-testing this month that we really love.
Speaking of trail running cool: bucket hats have become the rage in trail running, both for hanging out post-run with friends, crewing at races, and, for some, even the lid of choice for running and racing. The Summer Nights GOBucket hat ($75) from Ciele offers 360-degree UPF-rated sun protection, cooling and moisture-wicking performance, and a fun aesthetic that captures the vibe of urban run clubs, nighttime running, and running in the heat of summer.
The hat is part of a limited-edition, seven-piece Summer Nights apparel collection that was created in collaboration with Portland, Oregon-based visual artist Drew Tyndell that fuses performance-driven gear, a vibrant look, and pure running fun. Ciele has been at the forefront of cool running headwear for a decade, so this fits right in. — B.M.
London and Denver are about as far apart as two cities can be—geographically, culturally, and stylistically. London style is known for its eclectic mix of edgy, quirky, and traditional elements, creating a unique and diverse fashion scene. Casual, outdoorsy Denver is at the edge of the Old West and the new frontier of trail running wild lands of the Rocky Mountains. Well, London’s SOAR Running teamed up with Denver-based Altra to create one-of-a-kind trail running kit, and it has some serious drip.
The kit, which launches July 15, is a great example of why collabs are often so cool—mostly because they bring together two very different brand visions that you wouldn’t normally expect in a mash-up. The kit includes Altra X SOAR carbon-plated Mont Blanc Carbon trail shoes ($260), plus an ultralight, UPF 50 race top ($200), compression race shorts with built-in bungee cords for storage ($285), and a lightweight printed run cap ($65)—all in a limited-edition Prism colorway. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s on the leading edge of trail running cool. — Brian Metzler
Running and coffee often go hand in hand. Whether it’s for the caffeine boost before a workout, the social outlet, or just the simple morning ritual, most of us, and runners in particular, enjoy it in some way. I happen to enjoy it in all of these ways. That said, I can’t drink it after 3 p.m. or it will mess with my sleep. And sleep is gold, so that ain’t happening! However, there are many days (OK, most) when 2:30 p.m. rolls around and I’m fading due to training or work or both. Enter RareBird Px Coffee. Made with a caffeine derivative called paraxanthine (aka “Px”), RareBird has all the benefits of coffee without the caffeine.
Px is the primary human metabolite of caffeine—a condensed way just to say “the main substance your body turns caffeine into.” It has many of the same benefits as caffeine—decreased drowsiness and the feeling of fatigue, but also increased alertness and a slight jolt of energy—without the jitters, anxiety, irritability, and nervousness that sometimes comes from the peaks and valleys of caffeine.
The bottom line: RareBird ($60 for 12 pack of 12-oz. cans.) offers a delicious cup of joy without the side effects. The game has been changed, my running friends. Drink up! (Available in ground coffee, pods, cold brew cans, and instant coffee.) — Rebecca Trachsel
Noogs Sour Energy Chews are sour candy-flavored energy gummies that are rich in flavor and full of quick-digesting carbohydrates and essential electrolytes. They were the brainchild of Paige Foote, a registered dietician, marathoner and running coach, who couldn’t find the ideal flavor and texture of energy chews she wanted when she was training for the New York City Marathon. She and her husband, Ben Foote, then a second-year University of Virginia Darden School of Business student, got to work and wound up creating their own sports nutrition startup company.
Noogs ($2.95 for a 1.9 oz. package or $35 for 12 1.9-oz packages) are made from a blend of glucose and fructose and include 150mg of sodium and 50mg of potassium per serving. The flavors (Electric Watermelon, Lemon Zinger, and Wicked Apple) are robust, and the dime-sized gummies are easy to chew and swallow. Each 1.9 oz. package includes two servings. — Peter Maksimow
If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s running in socks that are soft but stretched out, have no distinct form, and wind up bunching up awkwardly in my shoes. These men’s SockWell Pulse Quarter Socks ($23) — and Pulse Micro Socks ($22) for women — offer firm compression with ultra-light cushioning that helps create a precise fit and snug feeling around my feet.
Made from a blend of Merino wool, bamboo, rayon, and nylon, these socks help my feet better integrate with my shoes, give me a heightened proprioceptive feel for the ground, provide exceptional arch support, and effectively wick moisture away from my skin. When I first got them, I was worried that the firm compression would feel too tight, but instead they’ve permanently changed what I want my socks to feel like. — B.M.
I have narrow, low-volume feet, and occasionally shoes just don’t fit in an ideal way. That’s normal for everyone, but I’ve found there’s a way to make any shoe fit better. After running in a pair of shoes a couple of times, I sometimes remove the standard sockliners from the awkward-fitting model and insert Blumaka NonSlip Insoles to enhance the fit, feel, and ride of those models. These performance-oriented, after-market footbeds help keep my foot in place, fill up excess volume, and provide some additional cushioning without sacrificing stability or comfort.
The best part is that they’re made with scraps of recycled foam collected from shoe factories. Those reclaimed pieces are chopped up and formed into insoles that are softer, cushier, and more responsive than the standard sockliners found in most running shoes. Plus, they’ve also been designed to provide more internal grip (reducing foot slippage, fatigue, and stubbed toes on the trails) and thus allow me to experience greater stability, agility, feel for the ground, and push-off power. Yes, sometimes these insoles add too much volume, but I invested in both levels of thickness (low profile, $55, and maximum, $60), so I can choose the option that provides an optimal fit. (Three levels of arch support are available in each model.) — B.M.
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