In preparation for longer days and big adventures, a new pair of socks can be the perfect accessory to make sure your feet stay comfortable. Here is a crop of new offerings for the season ahead that we have tested extensively over the past few months.
Articles by Donald Buraglio
Salomon’s spring 2023 trail run collection features a couple of high-cushioned models built with long days and high mileage in mind. While they are still quite capable of handling high-performance demands, they seem ideally suited for mid to back-of-the-pack runners to use during big training blocks of steady mileage or cruising through ultramarathons.
The latest Speedland shoe was created in partnership with elite ultrarunner Dylan Bowman and is named after Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County, CA, where Bowman first rose to fame and built the foundation of his professional career. We tested the GS:TAM trail shoe through miles of steep, sloppy running, including a few 20-mile outings, and will almost certainly employ the shoes in 100k and 100-mile events later in the year.
The Eliot Runner is designed as a versatile, high-volume trainer for dedicated road runners, and one that would perform well and provide a comfortable ride over a range of speeds. Construction of the shoe started with an interesting premise: the goal was to create the sensation of running on gentle, natural surfaces like a soft, springy pine needle path, even when running on the road.
Staying comfortable during cold weather running is all about the fabrics and fit of your base layers. Ideally, they should wick moisture, insulate (even when saturated with sweat) and feel comfortable during long runs. Here are some options for both the top and bottom to keep your core and extremities warm while out in the cold.
During the holiday season, ultrarunners love to get cozy and relax … but we don’t want to completely abandon our training, either. Here is our annual list of gifts for that special ultrarunner in your life (or, for yourself). Our selections are a great way to end the year in comfortable fashion, while also dreaming about training and racing in 2023.
Wool is becoming more commonly known as a fiber for all seasons, but it’s during the cold and wet months that the performance aspects of this powerhouse fabric are truly appreciated. Our fall sock roundup this year features a collection of wool options and one model that’s also inspired by a wooly beast.
With significant updates to Topo Athletic’s best-selling trail shoe, the Ultraventure 3 was built for athletes seeking a cushioned and comfortable option for mild to moderate terrain. It’s a dependable, workhorse-style shoe that can handle long runs, high volume training and ultramarathons on all but the most technical trail environments.
Simply put, the Enduro 2 is Garmin’s premier watch for endurance activity in all conditions. The watch’s feature set represents a massive overhaul from the original Enduro watch, and even surpasses the newly released Fenix 7 series watches that were Garmin’s top-of-the-line adventure watches until, well, now.
This summer we reviewed the debut Altra Mont Blanc, a trail model built for racing and tested extensively by Altra’s elite athlete team. Altra had already announced that a BOA version of the shoe was in the works, but its release date would be later in the year. We’ve now had the opportunity to test the BOA model to offer some points of comparison.
A new model in the Topo Athletic lineup this year, the Specter, is a highly cushioned performance trainer built for fast training days, paved ultras or road racing, particularly in the marathon distance.
In 2022, LEKI stepped proactively into the post-pandemic resurgence of the trail running industry, making significant changes across their product line, as well as an updated website and even a new logo. This new brand identity is demonstrated in two models we’ve tested this summer, the Ultratrail FX.One Superlite for lightweight speed, and the Cross Trail FX Superlite for more versatility of use.
The Duro LT and Dyna LT vests are minimalist additions to Osprey’s long-standing Duro (men’s) and Dyna (women’s) running hydration lineup. They are designed to carry the bare necessities for distance training, and are something of an in-between option if you want to carry more fluid than a waist bottle can manage but don’t want the increased weight of a traditional vest.
The Forerunner 955 Solar is Garmin’s first running smartwatch with solar charging capability. It comes with a full feature set that matches and exceeds anything in the Garmin lineup (for now), and many of the updates are focused on processing the multitude of metrics that the device collects, with the result of providing much more accurate and insightful analysis for practical use.
Despite building enormous popularity among trail and road runners, one perceived gap in Altra’s footwear line-up in the past has been high performance racing shoes. This year, the company addressed this issue on both the trail and road, with its new speed category of brand new models that include the Mont Blanc trail shoe and the Vanish Carbon road shoe.
This is the season when eye protection is critical, as long days and extended light exposure can cause unnecessary visual fatigue or damage. The key is to find options that provide strong protection without compromising performance or visual clarity, and we’ve tested a number of offerings that accomplish this goal.
The general build of the SL:HSV, including the stack heights and adjustable component system, is very similar to the original model, but there are a few key updates that make the shoe well suited for terrain in the southeastern United States, particularly the rooty, rocky, gnarly ground and frequent water exposure encountered on the trails.
Think of this new model in the Adidas Terrex lineup as the overlapping Venn diagram of two prominent trends in trail running: one circle is the rise of the luxury performance shoe, and the other is the era of environmental responsibility. Terrex Agravic Pro Trail shoe would be at the intersection of those circles. While the name is kind of a mouthful, it’s an impressively rugged and ready-for-anything trail shoe.
Wool isn’t just for cold weather anymore. All of this season’s sock recommendations incorporate the natural fiber to leverage its inherent performance qualities. Innovative construction techniques ensure that the resulting products are thin and light enough to be comfortable even in hot temperatures, making wool a dependable material for long-distance comfort this spring and summer.
The Timp was introduced to the Altra lineup as a rugged trail running shoe built for long days on moderate to technical terrain. Fans of early versions of the Timp should be pleased to see this shoe re-establish itself as a durable, secure and comfortable option for big training days as well as 100K to 100M races and beyond.
As one of the longest-tenured shoes in HOKA’s trail running lineup, the Speedgoat has established a reputation for durability and performance as a training shoe that is also fully suitable for long-distance racing. The new 5.0 version maintains its strength as a workhorse shoe while incorporating updates that result in improved comfort and performance.
In a move cleverly designed to command the attention of all gear testers and social media simultaneously, on January 18 Garmin launched two complete series of its top-end adventure/multi-sport GPS watches: the Fenix 7 series and the second generation Epix series, which generated some robust side discussions about which series option (Fenix vs Epix) was better suited for particular users.
The MT is positioned in the Topo lineup as a hybrid road-trail shoe for light hiking or fitness running, but it also works well as a high-mileage trainer or race day shoe for those who are more accustomed to minimalist footwear. The latest iteration of this line, the MT-4, has updates from top to bottom, while preserving the same geometry and classic Topo fit that so many customers love.
New shoe releases get a lot of hype at The Running Event, but there are always a number of other items that catch our eye over the course of the two-day showcase. Check out Part 1 of our review for the newest shoe releases, and read on for some cool hydration products and other accessories we’re looking to test on the trail next year.
Our editorial team was enormously happy to be back at TRE, an annual industry showcase that was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. The event’s return was a gathering of running brands from all over the country, allowing our team to interact with companies face to face again and get a preview of items we’ll be testing in 2022. We’ve narrowed our focus to shoes in this recap; Part 2 will showcase other gear and accessories.
Fall demands a little more out of our sock game: more insulation, more durability and more dynamic performance to accommodate rainy weather and dropping temperatures. Here’s a new harvest of styles to keep your feet comfy as the days get darker and colder.
The Allbirds product line has historically been focused on casual and athleisure-type footwear, however, they’ve recently expanded into high-demand athletic use. The Trail Runner SWT (sugar, wool and tree – the shoe’s primary source materials) is their first model built specifically for trail running. So far, we’ve put more than 250 miles on each of our test pairs, and their durability has been quite impressive.
Most of XOSKIN’s apparel lineup consists of light compression-style garments that dissipate heat and moisture while diminishing friction on the surface of your skin. We tested two new products in the XOSKIN lineup: the men’s 3.0 XOUNDERWEAR liner shorts, and the 4.0 Compression Shorts which are offered in men’s and women’s versions.
We tried two new shirt options from Ibex’s summer 2021 lineup. Both are soft, lightweight, odor resistant and temperature regulating; we tested them on cool and foggy coastal trails, as well as temps in the high 90s. Both feature classic styling and exceptional comfort that is true to the company’s heritage, which makes them equally suitable for athletic or leisure pursuits.
Speedland has made an outstanding trail shoe in the SL:PDX. Between the secure fit, responsive midsole and strong traction, there’s virtually nothing holding you back from running fast on all kinds of terrain, and there are enough comfort elements to keep you rolling during ultra-distance outings. If you have enough disposable income and share the company’s “no compromises” approach to your training and racing, this shoe is certainly capable of helping you accomplish those objectives.
Some runners spend the end of the year looking back fondly on their race experiences… but gear nerds also spend time reflecting on the most dependable accessories that helped carry us through our races. As in years past,...
Until recently, if you wanted to run through the night, you needed a big, bulky headlamp with an external battery pack to light your way. Advanced technology has enabled compact lights to improve in brightness without a...
Whether you’re exploring high mountain trails in the summer, or venturing into unpredictable fall weather, there’s really no excuse to get caught without protection from the elements. Each of these ultra-lightweight jack...
You know you’re having a surreal race experience when you find yourself slowly trudging up a mile-long 30% grade and you look about 50 yards to your right and see a group of people skiing down the same hill. As in, snow...
Trekking poles offer several benefits to long distance runners (see sidebar), particularly over extremely hilly or rugged terrain. The catch is making sure the benefit of the poles exceeds the additional weight and logis...
Good summer apparel is inherently deceptive, as the best lightweight garments and simplest designs are usually rooted in high-tech fabrics or construction elements. We’ve tested a handful of summer kits for men and women...
Whether you’re logging long miles between aid stations or long hours between trailheads, hydration packs are your weapon of self-reliance; there’s enough space for all the fluid, gear and supplies you need to cover the d...
Hydration belts can be among the most valuable and dependable pieces of gear in your closet. They carry a modest amount of fluids along with key cargo essentials, and can be used for everyday training as well as a minima...
There’s almost nothing that makes a long run more miserable than the tell-tale burning sensation of friction in your most sensitive areas. Chafing is a year-round adversary for distance runners: in the winter, extra clot...
Winter running jackets present an eternal challenge for clothing designers. The primary objective is to balance two competing needs: enough insulation to keep you warm in frigid conditions, but enough ventilation to keep...
Driving across Utah’s Great Basin the day before the Bear 100, I had mixed feelings about the email notification I received about the race being rerouted. On one hand, I was a little bummed that we wouldn’t run the cl...
It’s our holiday custom to crowd-source gear recommendations from the entire UltraRunning Magazine team for our annual gift guide. This year, they were given the following guidelines: tell us your favorite new product, o...
At its heart, ultrarunning is an old-school discipline: We run for the feelings, the experience, the scars and the stories. However, our sport paradoxically attracts a remarkable number of data geeks, for whom no data po...
We’ve all been there: those agonizing last miles of a race or long training day when the only thought in your mind is, “I can’t wait to get these shoes off my feet!” When your work for the day is over and you’re ready to...
For ultrarunners, summer running apparel needs to be more than simply lightweight. It also needs to be durable and comfortable enough to withstand long days on the trail, with innovative design or fabric technology as a...
Extended daylight hours mean extended strain on your eyes during your outdoor adventures. Long trail outings expose your eyes to harmful ultraviolet rays, high-energy visible (HEV) light, dust, wind, glare and cumulative...
As ultrarunners explore the extremes of location and distance, dependence on hydration becomes paramount. You can’t possibly carry enough water to sustain a day-long adventure run or a multi-day fastpack – but refilling...
Gone are the days when you needed half your pack space to fit a weatherproof jacket. The lightweight shell category is now defined by ultralight jackets that provide exceptional weather resistance, but compress down for...
There’s a lot to be said for simple warmth. While many winter running bottom layers are engineered for compression, musculoskeletal support and a myriad of theoretic biomechanical advances, the primary goal of legwear fo...
California’s San Bernardino Mountains don’t enjoy the prestige of the state’s spectacular Sierra Nevadas, and even in the Los Angeles area, they’re frequently overshadowed by the cross-town San Gabriels. However, this ra...
Here at UltraRunning, we test a LOT of gear – our cumulative mileage in any calendar year is in the tens of thousands – which gives us plenty of opportunities to find what works. Since this is the season of giving, we...
Most people don’t place the common light bulb in the high-tech gear category. However, long-time ultrarunners can attest that lighting technology has advanced at a fairly remarkable clip—especially over the last couple o...
As a companion piece to our fall shoe review, we’re spotlighting a handful of our favorite trail running socks to partner with your new shoes. After all, on any list of “natural companions,” shoes and socks are right up...
For ultrarunners, summertime doesn’t just bring warm temperatures—it also typically ushers in longer training days than we’re accustomed to in winter or spring. Whether we’re preparing for an upcoming A-race or planning...
In the two years since our previous hydration pack review, some things in the industry have changed, while others remain the same. Fortunately, both of these are good news for ultrarunners. Distinct new categories hav...
Although the word is occasionally overused, it’s no exaggeration to say that there’s a renaissance of sorts developing within the athletic apparel industry. In particular, wool performance clothing is more prominent n...