The Nike ACG Pegasus Trail is a Trail Running Shoe Built for Road Runners
Nike has updated and improved the ACG Pegasus Trail as a smooth-riding crossover shoe for mild to moderate trails.
Merino wool for summer running? Yes, the natural cooling abilities of wool are ideal for hot-weather runs.
If you’ve been outside recently, then chances are you’ve noticed that it’s really starting to get soupy out there. With big fall races on the horizon, skipping out on long training runs is not an option even during a heatwave.
We’ve been putting Smartwool’s latest tops, shorts and socks to the ultimate test during this heat as we splash right into summer. While reaching for Merino wool when it’s sweltering might seem counterintuitive, it’s actually the ultimate summer hack. Thanks to its natural temperature regulation, superior breathability, and elite moisture-wicking of Merijno woold, this gear didn’t just keep us dry, it kept us remarkably cool, even as the mercury spiked past 90 degrees.
Kyle: At first glance, this may look like any old T-shirt, but woven within are performance fabrics that keep you cool no matter how high the mercury rises. Being a runner in South Florida in the summer is not for the faint of heart. The thing you learn very quickly down here is that the gear you wear is directly correlated to how bearable your run will be. Frankly, it doesn’t matter how gritty you are; if you’re not wearing the right gear, you’re going to have a BAD time. Slipping into Smartwool’s ZQ-certified Merino wool with TENCEL Lyocell fibers is simply a SmartMove if you plan on crushing miles this summer. Of course, you’ll still sweat a ton, but the way the shirt wicks moisture makes it so it doesn’t stick to your skin. Not to mention, this shirt comes with odor resistance, which is really a premium feature for your running buddies.
Brian: One of my favorite warm-weather running secrets—and one that still surprises people when I mention it—is merino wool. Instead of technical synthetic fabrics, I’ve been reaching for merino T-shirts on summer runs in Colorado for years now, which is why I have enjoyed running in the Active Ultralite Short Sleeve in the warmer-than-normal weather in Boulder since mid-May. The logic makes sense: In a dry, high-altitude climate where the sun is relentless but the humidity is nearly nonexistent, merino manages heat and sweat in a way that synthetic fabrics simply can’t replicate.
Where a polyester shirt soaks through and clings, merino wicks moisture away from the skin and releases it gradually through evaporation, which creates a natural cooling effect that feels almost counterintuitive the first time you experience it. The wool breathes, regulates, and keeps you feeling drier and cooler than you’d expect from a fabric most people associate with winter sweaters. But in Colorado’s thin, dry air, it’s become my default warm-weather layer and one of those small gear discoveries I keep telling other runners about whether they ask or not.
Brian: My feet sweat. A lot. It’s just a fact of my running life, and it’s why I’ve become borderline evangelical about the Smartwool Run Ankle Socks for trail running. The merino wool construction manages moisture better than any synthetic sock I’ve tested—wicking sweat away from the skin, resisting the kind of soggy, blister-prone buildup that ruins long efforts in the heat — while still feeling light and unobtrusive inside the shoe. On trails, where your feet are working harder, flexing more, and dealing with whatever the terrain throws at them, that combination of cushioning underfoot and natural moisture regulation is exactly what you want between your foot and the shoe.
Kyle: Florida man checking back in here. The most important piece of gear a runner can invest in is a solid pair of shoes, but the right socks are a close second. Once you get going, your feet quickly become the warmest part of your buddy. When they start to sweat, and your socks get wet, the discomfort can become unbearable. Normal socks soak up and have no way to escape, causing moisture to pool up in your shoes. Quite soon after that is when you’ll become most vulnerable to blisters. Once those bubble up, BOOM, the run is over! For me, running in a pair of Smartwool socks in the summer is a non-negotiable. I opt for the No Show socks that somehow make the sweat disappear, keeping my feet happy for miles. Not only are they woven with high-tech Merino wool, but they also come with a sewn-in binder and internal heel gripper offering a secure fit. With the Florida sun closer to earth than it will be all year, I go with the No Show look because I could do without the farmer’s tan! Smartwool Run No Show Socks are the game right now!
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