Running Gear
Cardio is more fun when you’ve got good gear!
From road running to trail running, distances both long and short...
below is my favorite gear!
Road Shoes
HOKA Clifton 8 Road-Running Shoes - Women's
I love the support and comfort of these shoes!! I originally started wearing them just to ease back into running after breaking my foot in 2020 but loved them so much I never switched to a stiffer shoe.
Keep in mind, the cushion might make it easier to ignore proper form and “heel strike”. Pay attention to your running form (like you would in any shoe) and these will be you best friend for high impact road running!
Trail Shoes
Salomon Sense Ride 4 Trail-Running Shoes - Women's
These shoes are super grippy and more on the moderate side of cushion. I think it’s important to have a little less cushion in a trail shoe so that you can feel the ground below you better. This will keep you a bit more on your toes, potentially saving you from tripping or rolling an ankle!
Garmin GPS Watch
Garmin Instinct 2S
This is a multisport watch I love for running, snowboarding, weight training, hiking and more! I wanted something less smart-watchy and more durable and this is exactly that BUT you can still get text, call and calendar notifications + sync it to Strava and other apps if you want. :)
Since it’s not a touch screen with colorful text, the battery life is way better than most watches too!
Wireless Headphones
Bose Sport Earbuds, Wireless
Few earbuds stay in my ears while running but these do! The sounds is great and the case holds several charges too. :) I love ‘em.
Socks
Balega Blister Resist No-Show Socks
I love love love these. The padded tab on the back of these socks sticks up just enough so that they don’t slip down and the compression in the middle of the sock makes them super comfortable. They’ve got the perfect amount of padding in the heal and toe zones too. :)
Sports Bra
Nike Women's Swoosh Sports Bra
I’ve been wearing this type of sports bra since Jr. High lol… I prefer compression with no padding in my sports bras and you can’t beat the classic Nike bra. BUT if you like padding, they also make one just like this with removable pads.
Shorts
Janji 3" AFO Middle Shorts - Women's
These shorts are the best!! They’re so lightweight it’s like you’re not wearing anything. They have a thin liner and they dry insanely fast too. I own multiple pairs.
Hydration Vest
Salomon Adv Skin 5 Set Hydration Vest
This vest is comfortable, snug and light. It doesn’t shift around while running, doesn’t make me chafe and has room for your phone and keys up front + a few snacks or a packable layer in the back.
I like that the bottles squeeze down as you drink because you can keep any air out and this eliminates the “sloshing” around of water.
Running Pants
On Running Pants - Women's
These pants both look and feel awesome. They’re light, soft and flexible! The knees have these cool mesh zones in the front and back making it so that when you bend, the pants don’t pull up or down at all.
I wear these for running in cooler temps (if it’s super cold out you might want something warmer) and I wear them as travel pants too. I honestly get so many questions and compliments when I wear them!
Pullover
Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover - Women's
This layer is stretchy, lightweight and fast drying. I really like where they put the super soft, stretchy material: arms and hood. It makes it way easier to put the hood up comfortably and if it’s down, you hardly notice it. For the arms, you can scrunch them up comfortably and they’ll stay put.
It’s packable too!! It folds into a small stuff sack near the hood.
I have worn this layer running and bike touring across Europe. I wore the hood up in the evenings and it fit perfectly under my helmet.
Foam Roller
Recovery is KEY. If you don’t use a foam roller, I encourage you to start.
I like this specific roller with the hard, hollow core more than the full-foam roller because it does a better job of targeting the muscles and is just generally a more durable roller.
I use this post-workout OR whenever I feel tight. It “hurts so good” on the larger muscle groups like quads, hammies, back, and IT band.
Tiger Tail Roller
Another awesome recovery tool! I have had this roller since high school and use it to target knots on my legs or roll out my shins/calves. It’s less intense than putting your body weight on a foam roller and easy to travel with.
Travel-Sized Massage Gun
Hyperice Hypervolt GO - Deep Tissue Percussion Massage Gun
This thing is amazing. I can say with confidence that it speeds up my recovery, making me less sore than I would be without it. I use it all over: shoulders, arms, legs, back. It’s super great to use after a long day of travel too.
PLUS - it’s cheaper than their “big” gun, not very loud, has a long battery life and is a pretty good travel size!
Energy GU
GU Energy Original Sports Nutrition Energy Gel
I use these on longer runs; they’re great for endurance while on the go. I used about 4 during my marathon. You can quickly and easily consume them so they won’t slow you down or make you feel “heavy” like a full-on energy bar might.
My favorite are the caffeinated ones but I have noticed the ones without caffeine help too!
Energy Stroopwafel
GU Energy Stroopwafel
These are super yummy and a great option for more casual, long runs where you might stop to consume it. They have caffeinated and non-caffeinated options. Both give a nice energy boost! I sometimes take them running, hiking and backcountry touring.
Glide
Body Glide for Her Anti Chafe Balm
I rub this between my thighs primarily but you can put it anywhere that rubs. It’s the best! Keeps me from chafing when it’s one of those sticky-sweaty type of days or when a piece of clothing has a high-friction zone.
I also use it while bike touring to keep from getting saddle sores!
…happy running!
