These running shoes and gear will take you higher, faster, and farther.
Inov-8 Roclite 305 The lightweight 305 is super-fast and springy while still providing outstanding underfoot cushioning. The sturdy sole can handle the toughest of trails without weighing down the feet, and the flexible last and mesh upper make it run-ready out of the box. 11 ounces. $85; inov-8.com
La Sportiva Fireblade It’s a trainer with a speedster’s mentality. The low-profile shoe has just enough cushioning and protection to call it a trainer, while still offering superior foot flexion for a light and lively ride. 12.8 ounces. $95; lasportiva.com
New Balance 100 The uber-lightweight trail flats are built for speed—lace up these puppies for distances of 10K or less, and you’ll shave seconds off your personal best. The sole is surprisingly grippy and strong for such a lightweight shoe, and the breathable mesh uppers hug the feet snugly. 6 ounces. $75; newbalance.com Nike Lunar Glide Nike put a good bit of cushioning in the heel, where the most severe impact is, and then carried a foam core throughout the shoe to provide a bouncy, responsive step. The seamless mesh upper also contributes to the snug, comfy feel. The lower heel profile softens the impact and helps you move weight to your forefoot, where it should be. 10.6 ounces. $100; nikerunning.com Asics DS Trainer 14 There’s a reason the DS Trainer is celebrating its 14th birthday when most other shoes barely make it a season: simply put, the DS Trainer is the perfect blend of underfoot protection and lightweight comfort on the roads. Legs feel peppy after double-digit mileage in the DS Trainers, and the durable, long-lasting construction ensures that these trainers will go the distance for you. 10.2 ounces. $85; asics.com
Karhu Strong Fulcrum Ride Karhu’s motion control trainer is still suprisingly lightweight and simple. The only flex you’ll find in the shoe is in the forefoot, and there’s a stiff mid-foot bridge built from carbon that’s designed to transfer your weight quickly to the front of your foot. The result is a slightly noticeable rocker motion that moves you quickly through your stride. Overall, the shoe provides a cush ride that might help ease the average runner into the natural running craze. 11 ounces. $140; karhu.com
ACCESSORIES + CLOTHING
1. Black Diamond Spot Headlamp Don’t let its diminutive size fool you: the Spot packs a powerful punch. Its intense, one-watt beam illuminates the entire trail, and in cool weather, its large buttons enable even gloved hands to operate easily. Best of all, it weighs in under 3 ounces, barely noticeable on long treks. $40; bdel.com
2. GoLite Wisp Wind Jacket A favorite of adventure runners, the Wisp is an ultralight shell that repels water and wind, but still breathes well enough for runners. At 3 ounces, you can roll it up tightly (it fits into its own pocket) and stick it in your pack or shorts in case the weather turns. Because this is the Southern Apps, where the weather always turns. $50; golite.com
3. Patagonia Wool 1 T-Shirt This very lightweight, thin performance shirt blends 63 percent merino wool with 37 percent recycled polyester for a buttery smooth fiber that’s barely noticeable, even for those of us with easily irritable skin. $80; patagonia.com
4. Brooks Infiniti Notch Short This longer runner’s short comes with a built-in compression boxer to reduce chafing and rear holster pockets for keys or gel. The boxer doesn’t provide much compression but it does help reduce chafing, and the shorts are so light, our tester didn’t notice their longer length on several long training runs. $44; brooksrunning.com
EXPERT FAVORITES Balega Socks: “The pill count in them is so high, they feel like butter. And they got it right with the seam-free toe. You don’t feel any lines whatsoever, even on long runs.”
—Aaron Saft, who placed third in the U.S. Trail Running 10K Championship, and 8th in the U.S. Mountain Running Championship in 2009.
RUNNING NATURALLY Why should you bother returning to a natural running gait? To help build key muscles in your feet and legs, reduce painful heel strike, and in the long run, minimize the number of injuries you get from your favorite sport. Here are four shoes that mimick the barefoot stride. Caution: gradually build miles in these shoes.
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek Five Fingers was the first shoe to be used by barefoot running pioneers. It is simply a thin rubber sole that wraps around the feet and toes with snug mesh. The KSO Trek is sturdier, grippier, and more rugged than previous versions. $125. vibramfivefingers.com
Newton Running Sir Isaac Newton uses a system of rubber lugs on the sole that rebound on impact, increasing efficiency by eliminating detrimental heel strikes that are often the result of late mileage fatigue. $149. newtonrunning.com
Nike Free 5.0 The newest in the line of Frees, the 5.0 has been “freed” by a grid of deep cuts throughout the sole, which allow the entire shoe to flex laterally as well as back-and-forth. $110. nikerunning.com
Ecco Biom B
The Biom offers a supremely flexible forefoot coupled with a stiff shank in the heel and mid foot. The result is a laterally stiff shoe that doesn’t flex at all until you’re in the middle of your stride. A lower heel profile also helps transition the runner from heel to toe.
$219. eccousa.com
