The right running gear can help you stay comfortable and happy during any run. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
One of the many beautiful things about running is its simplicity: All you really need are a comfortable pair of shoes, the open road or trail, a love of the feeling of oxygen snaking its way through your body as you clip off another mile, and a willingness to grit your teeth and keep putting one foot in front of the other when things get difficult. Humans have been running for a long time, and we will continue to do so in the future.
To optimize performance and increase comfort — and maybe even just because it’s fun — many runners have become interested in or even attached to the plethora of running gear offered online or at their local running stores. They have a favorite pair of shoes, of course, maybe even one for the road and another for trail, and perhaps a favorite pair of socks, gloves, or shorts, too.
Prod them further, and they might even tell you about their favorite fuel to bring on long runs or tools to help their muscles recover after. Runners, in short, love their gear.
This guide — an overview of the best running gear the experienced and expert iRunFar team has compiled and updated over the years — provides advice and demystifies the running gear buying process. So whether you are a first-time runner looking for a pair of reliable everyday running shoes like the Hoka Clifton 9 or a seasoned trail runner who needs a new pair of shorts like the Patagonia Strider Pro 5”, consider this your one-stop shop for all of your gear needs.
And then, because this is what you do, go for a run.
You can learn more about our testing methodology, read our answers to your frequently asked questions, and peruse our buying advice for choosing the right gear for you after our list of recommendations.
Best Running Gear
Finding running clothing that fits well and looks good can significantly improve any running experience. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
There is naturally no more important piece of running gear than a pair of shoes, and the Hoka Clifton 9 is, by many accounts, a near-perfect road running shoe. Shoes are quite literally the barrier between the runner and their environment.
A close friend who is a running coach always tells his new runners that, contrary to what most people think, running is a contact sport — not between athletes, of course, but between the runner and the ground. Shoes are the most important item that you will purchase.
At 8.9 ounces (252 grams), the Clifton 9 is light, and with 32 millimeters of stack height, it features a lot of cushion. The upper employs Hoka’s breathable engineered knit material. Whether you’re training for another marathon or just beginning your running journey, the Clifton can meet most of your needs — and so it should perhaps not be a surprise that according to Strava, it was the most popular running shoe in the world in 2023.
We’ve trained in Cliftons for years and found them to be reliable on roads, gravel, and even easy runs on non-technical trails. The biggest, and perhaps only, qualm our testers have with the Clifton is that it is not the speediest shoe on the market. Most competitive runners will have a different pair of shoes for track workouts and races.
But if you are looking for a dependable, cushioned, lightweight shoe that can transition between surfaces and comprise the bulk of your weekly miles, it’s hard to think of a better option than the Clifton 9. We’ve named it our favorite overall running shoe in our Best Road Running Shoes guide.
Shop the Men’s Hoka Clifton 9Shop the Women’s Hoka Clifton 9
The Nike Pegasus 41 is a reliable, versatile road running shoe that can be used on multiple surfaces and for many purposes. The Pegasus has been around for more than 40 iterations and has endured as the shoe perhaps most associated with Nike running.
The Pegasus boasts Nike’s historic waffle-inspired outsole and responsive ReactX foam in the midsole, offering a smooth ride on dirt, road, and gravel alike. The Air Zoom unit in the heel of the shoe also increases its responsiveness. While this shoe lacks the cushion of the Clifton, it works for more workouts and uptempo work. The engineered mesh upper and plush tongue make this a comfortable everyday trainer.
If you are looking for a shoe for everyday miles at an affordable price, the Pegasus is a great option, and that’s why it holds a top spot in our Best Road Running Shoes guide.
Shop the Men’s Nike Pegasus 41Shop the Women’s Nike Pegasus 41
If you line up at the start of nearly any ultra trail race these days, you’ll be sure to see the Hoka Speedgoat 6 on many pairs of feet — and for good reason! You can find everyone from top ultrarunners to eighth graders on a cross-country team running in these shoes, which perhaps speaks to their versatility.
Trail running shoes are essential for those runners who want to venture beyond asphalt and pavement. They provide greater traction and stability on uneven terrain and offer protection from roots, rocks, and other aspects of the environment you’ll encounter on trails. The Speedgoat strikes a balance between being lightweight — only 9.8 ounces (280 grams) — being durable enough to handle most trails, having tremendous cushioning with 38- and 40-millimeter stack heights at the heel for the women’s and men’s shoes, respectively, and offering outstanding traction on a variety of surfaces with the 5-millimeter lugs and Vibram Megagrip outsole. There’s a reason this is the brand’s most popular trail shoe.
The Speedgoat has only improved since its inception in 2015. Though there are now many more trail shoe options on the market than there were then, it remains an outstanding option and consistently holds the top spot in our Best Trail Running Shoes guide.
You can read more about this shoe in our in-depth Hoka Speedgoat 6 review.
Shop the Men’s Hoka Speedgoat 6Shop the Women’s Hoka Speedgoat 6
The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 is an excellent shoe for long days on trails and for running a mixture of roads and trails. It excels on non-technical trails and has enough cushion to protect your feet from some rocks and features. Weighing a mere 10.2 ounces (289 grams), it’s a light shoe with a high 9.5-millimeter drop. Featuring the brand’s ReactX foam in the midsole — with a 37-millimeter stack height at the heel — the soft foam is an upgrade from previous versions of the shoe. One of our testers says it provides a soft ride without feeling boggy.
The outsole is the brand’s All Terrain Compound (ATC) with diamond-shaped lugs that provide reasonable traction, especially in dryer conditions. We found them to excel on sandy rock slabs, ball-bearing slopes, and wet dirt. While there are better options for sloppy, technical trails or fast, short trail races, the Pegasus will meet your needs for just about everything else on trail.
Having been around for so long, the Pegasus has developed a loyal following among many, and shoes from the line consistently make our Best Trail Running Shoes guide for their combination of weight, performance, and versatility.
Shop the Men’s Nike Pegasus Trail 5Shop the Women’s Nike Pegasus Trail 5
If there’s a consistent favorite pair of shorts among the iRunFar men’s testing team, it’s the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5”. Despite not specializing in running gear and being better known in the spheres of other outdoor sports and activities, Patagonia produces some of the iRunFar team’s favorite running products.
The shorts are close to perfect, with a brief liner that offers a secure ride, a fabric that feels light and airy without riding up, and ample storage that can fit everything from gels to car keys to a cell phone without noticeably bouncing around. Another popular feature is a drawstring on the outside of the waistband, a clever solution to interior drawstrings rubbing and causing chafing. Some members of the iRunFar team refuse to run in any other shorts besides these, and other members have just recently tried them out and found them to quickly become their favorite running shorts ever.
The shorts also come in a seven-inch inseam model if you want a bit more coverage, and the fabric — which is made partially of recycled materials — is treated with a Hei-Q anti-odor treatment to help ward off smell.
All in all, we don’t think there’s a better pair of running shorts on the market than these, which is why they’ve held the top spot in our Best Men’s Running Shorts guide for years.
Shop the Patagonia Strider Pro 5
The Oiselle Featherweight Roga Shorts live up to their name and have been a favorite for iRunFar testers for a couple of years, which is how they’ve found their way into our Best Running Shorts for Women guide. They are unfathomably light — the lightest the brand offers — and breathable. You won’t find a better, more versatile pair of shorts for the price.
The primary tester for these shorts ran in them for a 50-mile FKT effort, multiple races, and backpacking trips and came away thoroughly impressed. The four-inch inseam provides plenty of protection from chafing and then tapers to shorter on the outside of the leg to provide maximum freedom of motion. The style cuts a clean line, and these form-fitting shorts simply look good.
The Roga shorts also dry quickly, an obvious plus for hot or rainy runs, and boast a clever waistband with an infinity drawstring. A small mesh pocket in the back provides storage for smaller and lighter items — we found it ideal for carrying out wrapper trash from our snacks — but heavier items like cell phones bounced considerably. Their mesh liner is perfectly sized and barely noticeable.
Shop the Oiselle Featherweight Roga Shorts
An excellent running tee and a solid pair of shorts are some of the best investments you can make as a runner, and we find ourselves repeatedly turning to the Ultimate Direction Nimbus Tee. While shoes tend to have a certain mileage threshold, shorts, shirts, socks, and several other items below in this guide can last for several years, if not longer.
Barring a crash or other unfortunate incident, the Nimbus shirt will last you a very long time and be a worthy investment. The shirt is notable for its simplicity and versatility. It stays cool and wicks moisture well on hot days can serve as a base layer on cold days and is the perfect tee for any type of weather in between.
Its excellent breathability comes from the PolarTec Delta fabric, which utilizes a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers to wick moisture from your skin, and its honeycomb weave provides unparalleled comfort across a variety of temperatures. It feels like a thicker shirt at first glance due to the material’s weave, but the fabric technology leads to incredible comfort in various conditions. This tech, combined with the inherent simplicity of the shirt, has landed it at the top of our choices in our Best Running Shirts for Men guide.
Shop the Men’s Ultimate Direction Nimbus TeeShop the Women’s Ultimate Direction Nimbus Tee
The Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt is an iRunFar testers’ favorite for a variety of reasons. First off, it is incredibly soft and comfortable. With a jersey knit of merino wool and polyester, it feels like it moves with you on the trail without being too tight or loose. It’s so light that you might not even remember you have a shirt on.
Second, it can endure multiple wears between washes without developing the dreaded stink and serve as a go-to shirt for runs of any length. We regularly reached for it for anything from a jog around the neighborhood to ultras that took us through many temperatures and weather situations.
We’ve also found ourselves wearing it in casual situations without feeling like we were wearing a technical piece of clothing. And when it comes to sustainability in gear, it meets Patagonia’s strict fair-trade manufacturing standards. It does all of this for a reasonable price.
The only minor issue is that its flatlock seams sit across the top of the shoulders. This may increase the risk of chafing if you’re wearing a hydration pack, though none of the testers had any problems. Since this shirt contains a significant amount of wool, make sure to hang-dry it to avoid shrinking it in the dryer.
Overall, the Capilene Cool Merino Shirt is an excellent choice for any run or outdoor activity, which is why it holds the top spot in our Best Running Shirts for Women guide.
Shop the Men’s Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino ShirtShop the Women’s Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt
Every runner needs a good rain jacket, and those of us on the iRunFar team who need reliable protection when high in the mountains or out on a rainy day in the woods turn to the Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket. At $300, it is expensive, but we believe it’s a solid investment for rainy running due to its quality and capability. It is lightweight and breathable, offers ample protection from the rain, and features a durable material.
The cut is relatively slim compared to other jackets, so it doesn’t flap around in the wind, but we still found that there was enough room to have layers underneath it. With a fairly simple design, this jacket doesn’t have many bells and whistles, but it doesn’t have to. A single chest pocket is enough to store small items, and the hood fit securely over our heads and kept us dry. There are many reasons why we keep this jacket at the top of our Best Running Rain Jackets guide.
Also, it’s a Patagonia, which means you know you are getting an environmentally and socially conscious product.
Shop the Men’s Patagonia Storm Racer JacketShop the Women’s Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket
The Swiftwick Flite XT Trail Mid-Crew socks, designed for trail running and hiking, offer just about everything you can ask for in a running sock. They provide excellent cushion without feeling bulky, are supremely breathable, and have top-of-the-line moisture wicking. Swiftwick, specializing in socks for outdoor activities, designed the Flite XT Trail with a combination of merino and olefin fibers — naturally wick moisture — and nylon, polyester, and spandex, which are breathable and quick-drying.
The socks do not have significant compression but feel secure, even on technical terrain and rocky descents. The bottom of the sock has rows of grippy fabric that help keep them in place, and we never had any issues with them developing wrinkles or scrunching up on our feet. The mid-crew height reaches about halfway up the calf, providing ample ankle protection from brush and other trail debris.
Our tester wore these socks on most of their long trail runs for nine months and said they’ve felt just like a good running sock should: cushiony, secure, and dry. They are excellent socks and have earned their spot at the top of our Best Running Socks guide.
Shop the Men’s Swiftwick Flight XT Trail Mid-Crew
The Athleta Ultimate Bra is one of the few sports bras that can work both for smaller-chested women as well as larger ones. With sizing from XXS to XL in A to C cup sizes and then a different XXS to 3XL line in a D to DD+ option, there really is a size that will fit nearly any body type. The versatile sizing of this medium-support bra has made it a favorite for the iRunFar testing team.
The nylon fabric is quick-drying and breathable, and its back cutout provides supreme range of motion and breathability. It’s a stylish bra that offers enough support for running without feeling too tight and restrictive. The bra has removable pads that provide extra support, but we found that they trapped moisture, so most of our testers removed them. This didn’t negatively affect the level of support provided by the bra.
This bra is at the top of our Best Sports Bras for Running guide, which is an excellent resource for learning everything you need to know about sports bras and chest support.
If you want a light hat that you can forget you’re wearing but still provides protection from the sun, the Janji AFO Hyperlight Cap lives up to its name. Runners wear hats for a variety of reasons ranging from keeping the sun or rain out of their eyes to wicking away sweat to keeping hair out of their faces. Sometimes, we just wear a hat because we like the way it looks.
Since it weighs just 29 grams, you can barely tell when you’re wearing this hat. It also packs away to almost nothing, fitting into any running pack when you no longer need to wear it after the sun goes down. It has a bungee strap on the back that makes it easy to tighten and adjust if the wind picks up.
The Hyperlight Cap’s foam brim maintains its shape, even after being stuffed away at the bottom of a running pack for many hours and miles, and it’s big enough to protect your face from the sun without feeling excessive. The hat’s 88% polyester fabric dries quickly, and we often found ourselves dunking it in streams during hot mountain runs to help keep our heads cool. The hat is also bluesign certified, indicating that the manufacturing process met strict environmental and safety standards.
While this hat comes in a variety of quite loud colorways for those looking to make a statement or wanting to be bright in their running kit choices, there are also more subdued options suitable for casual wear.
These are just a few reasons we continually include this hat in our Best Running Hats guide.
Shop the Janji AFO Hyperlight Cap
For those runs in the cold, a good pair of running gloves is a must, and we’ve repeatedly turned to the North Face Etip Recycled Gloves for many different weather conditions. While one could argue that a fleece glove is a fleece glove, we appreciated that the touchscreen capabilities of these were better than any other that we tested. This was just one of the features that resulted in us naming them the best overall gloves in our Best Running Gloves guide.
The recycled polyester makes them extra soft, and silicone gripper dots on the thumbs, first two fingers and part of the palms provide solid gripping.
Shop the The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves
While choosing sunglasses ultimately comes down to personal preference and what works for your face, the Smith Motive is an excellent option for those prioritizing full eye protection and incredible optics. Weighing just 29 grams, it’s easy to forget that you’re even wearing these featherweight glasses. They come with two interchangeable lenses, and we found them to be ideal not only for running but also for cycling, ski touring, and a variety of other sports.
These are definitely large-frame glasses designed to fit medium-sized faces. They sit comfortably on the bridge of the nose, and we never had any issues with them fogging, even when we were sweating. The Chromapop lenses are incredibly clear and do an excellent job of bringing out the contrast of trails. Our tester said that she felt like she could see details of the trail better with the glasses on than with just her own eyes. These glasses come with several different lens options, so you can choose the tint that best suits the environment that you recreate in.
While these glasses are admittedly expensive, we found them incredibly durable—even with our sometimes lack of proper care (because who hasn’t stuffed their sunglasses in their pack without a case before)—and we think their optics and fit make them worth the investment.
You can learn more about the Smith Motive sunglasses in our in-depth review.
Shop the Smith Motive Sunglasses
While the Tifosi Sanctum sunglasses won’t provide you with the optical experience that a high-end pair of sunnies will, they are a great option if you’re someone who doesn’t want an expensive pair of sunglasses. Whether you’re someone who has a habit of losing sunglasses, or you drop them a lot, or you want to be able to treat them roughly without worrying about damaging an expensive piece of gear, the Sanctums will provide 100% UVA/UVB protection for your eyes and reasonable optics for a price that is a fraction of higher-end sunglasses. Their quality, price, and performance led us to choose them as one of our favorite budget sunglasses in our Best Running Sunglasses guide.
These glasses follow the prevailing trend of large-lens sunglasses without going overboard with the lens size. They fit medium to large faces well and aren’t so technical-looking that we don’t want to wear them in more casual settings.
Weighing only 26 grams, these sunglasses sit lightly on the face. The integrated hinge and nose pad mean that they won’t snag hair if you put them on your head when it’s cloudy or you want to run into a store for a second. We found that the lenses provided better optics than other budget sunglasses, and several lens options are available so that you can get one that fits your running conditions.
Read more at our in-depth review of the Tifosi Sanctum sunglasses to learn more about them.
Shop the Tifosi Sanctum Sunglasses
Many runners — perhaps because of commitments during daylight hours, efforts that start before the sun rises or end after it sets, or simply preference — run in the dark. Headlamps are their antidote to that darkness, and our top pick is the Petzl Iko Core. We named it our favorite headlamp in our Best Running Headlamps guide for many reasons.
Emitting 500 lumens of light with three lighting levels, made with a highly comfortable silicone band and LED panel, weighing less than 2.5 ounces, and fitting into a pack or pocket when not in use, this headlamp ticks all of the boxes that a trail runner might have for a light source.
The strap system of this light is unique in that it’s not a floppy band. Instead, it’s a flexible silicone that fits gently around the head and tightens with a small bungee cord in the back. This system prevented headaches since we didn’t have to tighten it down too much in order to keep it from bouncing around.
The headlamp also takes AAA batteries in addition to the included rechargeable battery, though switching out the battery during an all-night run proved challenging. That is a minor qualm, though.
To find out more about the features we loved about this headlamp, head over to our full Petzi Iko Core review.
Shop the Petzl Iko Core Headlamp
A running vest, also known as a hydration pack or simply a running pack, is a near must-have for long days on the trail to store water, food, and anything else you need to carry. We found ourselves reaching for the Salomon Adv Skin 5 more often than not when we needed a pack for our gear. We also turned to the Salomon Adv Skin 12 when we needed more volume.
Even the Adv Skin 5 holds a ton, especially for a low-volume pack, which is one of the reasons we named it our favorite small pack in our Best Running Vests guide. There are two expandable pockets that hold 500-milliliter flasks, plus a separate bladder sleeve that can hold 1.5 liters of liquid. In addition, there are seemingly infinite nooks to store, well, anything you can think of bringing: gels, phones, maps, keys, headphones, potato chips.
This pack also finds the perfect balance between comfort and function while remaining durable. It’s tight enough to prevent bouncing but not so tight that it compresses your chest. Our team has worn this pack for hundreds upon hundreds of miles of running in all types of terrain, and it remains the go-to for many of us.
Though there is a women’s version of the same pack, all of our testers preferred the unisex version for men and women. You can read more about the details of all of this pack’s features in our Salomon Adv Skin 5 review.
Shop the Salomon Adv Skin 5 Running Vest
The Naked Running Band remains, in the eyes of our testers, the industry’s best belt, and it remains at the top of our choices in our Best Running Belts guide. Running belts have become popular for runs that don’t demand a full pack but still require some storage. They offer enough storage without reducing airflow around your torso if you just need to carry keys, a soft flask, or a few snacks. Many offer storage for trekking poles, too.
This belt’s open pocket configuration allows you to store things exactly where you want, and it remains stable while you run. Large elastic bands will hold running poles and can even fit a full-size soft flask in its large back pocket. Notably, the Naked Running Band is stretchy, stable, and breathable — and it comes in 12 different sizes, so it’s easy to find one that fits you well!
While there are GPS watches of all sizes and shapes and filled with seemingly endless features, the Garmin fēnix 7 rises to the top of the pile for the iRunFar team. For many runners, a GPS watch has become a permanent attachment to their wrists, and the combination of features of this one lands it at the top of our Best GPS Watches guide. It’s no surprise that two years ago in 2022, the fēnix 6 was also the team’s top pick.
The watch is durable, has a clear display, and boasts several cool features, including Spotify streaming playback and the best mapping abilities among watches designed for ultrarunners. With a 57-hour battery life when using GPS only and 40 hours using all satellite systems, it’ll last long enough for nearly any run and doesn’t require excessively frequent charging for day-to-day use.
It’s durable, too. One tester who wore it exclusively for more than four years, including spending more time scrambling over rocks than partaking in the normal running motion, can attest that the screen doesn’t scratch easily, and the band stays intact.
There is also a solar edition to this watch that has all of the same features but can charge on the go if you’re in the sun. You can read more about that version of the watch in our in-depth Garmin fēnix 7 – Solar Edition review.
Many times, running is a solo, time-consuming endeavor, and when we want to add music or a podcast to our run, we’ve found nothing better than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Of course, you can’t walk down the street without seeing these headphones in the ears of at least a few people, but they have also proven to be very adept for running as well. They are secure without discomfort, their noise canceling feature is pretty sweet, and their battery life extends to six hours. We’d love it if they lasted longer, but we’ll admit that they get us through most of our runs without a problem. We’ve been testing Apple AirPods since they came out and have extensively tested the third generation, but we think this option is the best of the three.
We appreciated that the controls on these headphones are easy to use, but we did find that podcasts didn’t sound as good on them as music did. Still, their overall quality put them at the top of our list in our Best Running Headphones guide.
Shop the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
If you’re like many of us, a running workout does not stop when you reach your destination and stop your watch — recovery also needs to be considered. The Roll Recovery R4 Body Roller can help the process. Recovering from a run, tough, longer efforts, is a key part of staying healthy and fit, and foam rollers can help you stretch out tight muscles, potentially helping to prevent injury.
This roller is firm and built with high-density foam to put solid pressure on muscles throughout your legs, back, and even arms. Its surface has a texture that digs a bit deeper, and its rounded curves make it easy to alter the intensity of the roll. It is also incredibly versatile. You can use it for almost any muscle.
Our single gripe with this foam roller is that it tends to pick up pet hair, so if you have a dog or cat, you might want to consider putting a yoga mat underneath to keep it a little cleaner. That said, there are countless features that keep this foam roller in our Best Foam Rollers guide.
Shop the Roll Recovery R4 Body Roller
Whether before, during, or after a long run, fueling your body properly is essential, and Gnarly Nutrition Fuel20 has become a favorite for many on the iRunFar team. Most professional runners are obsessed with the amount of carbohydrates they take in during long runs — the current number du jour is 100 grams of carbs per hour — but there’s less chatter about the right amount of electrolytes.
While you can consume an overwhelming number of things during a run to fuel yourself (gels, powders, bars, regular food), we found that this drink mix provided a good mix of both calories and electrolytes. While you probably don’t need anything but water for a run shorter than 60 to 90 minutes, adding carbohydrates and salts to your run as it gets longer can keep you fueled and moving forward.
Our team found Gnarly Nutrition Fuel20 to be light and refreshing. At 100 calories per scoop, it’s easy to customize the amount you need depending on your effort. Significantly, bulk bags are Certified for Sport by the NSF, which means the ingredients are tested for contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals as well as substances banned by national and international doping oversight organizations. Strangely, individual packets are not.
Several different flavors are available, as well as those with caffeine and those without.
Shop the Gnarly Nutrition Fuel 20
How to Choose the Best Running Gear
Basic Necessities for a Run
One of the many benefits of running is that you don’t need much to do it. The most significant essential, of course, is a reliable pair of shoes (or two) that can withstand the training level you want. When it comes to good all–around shoes, the Hoka Clifton 9 and Hoka Speedgoat 6 were our top choices for road and trail, respectively.
If you’re interested in other options, check out our other guides for specific types of shoes available. If you’re spending a lot of time on dirt, take a look at our Best Trail Running Shoes guide. Those who run primarily on pavement can peruse our Best Road Running Shoes guide.
There is certainly no shortage of information on different shoe options, but the best way to find a pair of shoes that fits you is to go to a running specialty store and have your gait analyzed. An expert can help you choose a shoe that fits your running mechanics and needs. They can help you determine if you need a stability shoe to guide your gait.
After 41 iterations, the Nike-Pegasus 41 is still an iRunFar favorite. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Socks, too, are another basic necessity for running, and the best ones — like the Swiftwick Flite XT Trail Mid-Crew and other favorites in our Best Running Socks guide — last a long time. A good pair of shorts and a quality shirt can also be considered necessities for a safe and comfortable run.
Somewhere between the category of a basic necessity and a nice-to-have are GPS watches, like the Garmin fēnix 7. Because they can track time, distance, routes, and more, most runners would probably feel naked without wearing theirs, but they are also not completely necessary. That said, it can be surprisingly refreshing to run without a watch if yours happens to die in the middle of a run.
Nice-to-Have Gear for Running
When thinking about what else you need to run, outside of the essentials listed above, the most important factors to consider are your running goals, what you’re training for, where you’ll be running most of your miles, and how much money you’re willing to invest.
Let’s start with the first: Maybe you’re training for a 5K, a 100-miler, or something in between. For shorter races, the bare necessities — shoes, socks, shirts, shorts, maybe a GPS watch — will likely suffice, but for an ultramarathon, you’ll need those plus a hydration pack, like the Salomon Adv Skin 5, and most likely some type of running fuel, like Gnarly Nutrition Fuel20. If you’re running at night, you’ll also want a headlamp like the Petzl Iko Core that will let you see the trail clearly and not die unexpectedly from low batteries.
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks scrambles at sunrise with a Petzl Iko Core headlamp and The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Where you’re running also matters. If you’ll be putting in the majority of your miles on trails or in the mountains, a good pair of trail running shoes like the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 (plus some other gear from our Best Mountain Running Gear guide) would be a wise investment. If you live in an area with lots of precipitation, a rain jacket like the Patagonia Storm Racer would be a useful addition to your repertoire. If most of your runs occur under a blazing sun, you might be interested in a reliable running hat and sunglasses. No matter where you’re running, some solid recovery tools, like the Roll Recovery R4 Body Roller, would also qualify as nice-to-have items.
Finally, it’s also important to consider how much money you want to invest in your running. Many of the products listed in this guide — and others that you’ll find in your search for running gear — are, in a word, expensive. It is unnecessary to break the bank to become a good runner, though finding and investing in some of your favorite, reliable products can pay off in the long run.
Fit and Sizing
When it comes to running clothing, you should be able to stick with the same size as you wear for everyday casual attire. Still, there are some things to consider when looking at options.
Firstly, you should consider whether you like your running gear—specifically shirts and shorts—to feel snug or loose. Some people like their shirts to fit tight, while others prefer a looser fit. If you’re between sizes, consider your personal preferences when deciding whether to size up or down.
The Ultimate Direction Nimbus Tee features PolarTec Delta fabric, which wicks well and dries quickly. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Many products, including the Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket, also have a slimmer fit, so be sure to check a company’s sizing guide before purchasing. Many products made in Europe also come with a slimmer fit.
Second, consider the material the product is made of to determine which feels the best for you. Running clothes come in a variety of materials, but two of the most common, important features are comfort and breathability. That’s why we loved the Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt and Swiftwick Flite XT Trail Mid-Crew socks, for example. All of the clothing items we recommend in this guide feature materials designed to keep you comfortable throughout a variety of conditions. We believe it’s worth investing in a high-quality running wardrobe and gear. After all, you will be spending hours and hours using it all.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) continue to be the iRunFar team’s favorite earbuds for running. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Why You Should Trust Us
Because this guide is a compilation of the top selections from iRunFar’s specific product guides, it contains information from thousands of hours and miles of testing. iRunFar’s experienced testing team comprises dozens of runners of varying levels who have tested products in all types of climates and on all sorts of terrain around the world.
We test our products thoroughly — at least 100 miles — before forming an opinion. Our testers live in deserts, forests, mountains, coastal climates, and everything in between. We rank gear based on a variety of factors, including its functionality, durability, value, and appearance. Our goal is to find gear that will last you a long time and perform the function you need.
We regularly test new products and update our guides as needed. Our goal isn’t to constantly promote new products—in fact, many of our guides stay essentially the same until we find new products that really stand out from the rest. We end up using some of the same products for years and years—they are our favorites, after all—and we can speak to the durability of everything we recommend.
iRunFar’s Alli Miles opts for the Smith Motive sunglasses for running, cycling, and ski touring. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Running Gear
What gear is good for running?
The short answer to this question is whatever feels comfortable and keeps you injury-free! Those factors will keep you happy and in this for, well, the long run.
The longer answer is it depends on your goals, location, and budget. For experienced runners training for an ultramarathon, a solid GPS watch like the Garmin fēnix 7 and other nice-to-have items will likely be in their repertoire. A solid selection of cold-weather running gear is a must for a runner who lives in climates like the Northeast or the Rocky Mountains. You can check out our Best Cold Weather Running Gear guide for in-depth product reviews and guidance. For someone trying out running for the first time, the best gear for running is whatever will keep you feeling comfortable and healthy — because that is what keeps you running! A reliable pair of shoes like the Hoka Clifton 9, a few lightweight pairs of shorts like the Patagonia Strider Pro 5”, and a reliable running shirt like the Ultimate Direction Nimbus Tee would be a solid place to start.
What is the best thing to wear for a run?
The biggest consideration, of course, is the weather. Make sure to check it before heading out of the door and dress accordingly. A moisture-wicking short-sleeve shirt like the Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt, shorts like the Oiselle Featherweight Roga Shorts, and a hat or sunglasses will be adequate for a warm day. But if it’s cold, you’d obviously want to put on long sleeves, gloves like The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves, and maybe a hat and multiple layers, depending on the temperature.
Regardless of the temperature, you want clothing made with wicking and breathable material. Whether you choose wool for its odor-repelling and insulating properties or a polyester blend for its softness and stretch, you want clothing that will move sweat away from your skin so that it can evaporate quickly. Quick-drying and wicking clothing will keep you dry and minimize the chance of chafing.
Other than that, finding the brands and specific products that are reliable, comfortable, and fit with your lifestyle and budget is probably the best place to start.
The Patagonia Strider Pro Shorts 5″ have been an iRunFar favorite for longer than we can remember. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
What are the most comfortable clothes for running?
Running clothing is generally made of breathable, wicking, and quick-drying materials such as wool, polyester, and elastane. Many people are partial to specific materials — like wool — for their running clothes, and some people couldn’t care less about what materials are in a shirt or pair of socks as long as they function as they want. Most good running clothes — like the Athleta Ultimate Bra and Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt — are made of a mix of materials that capitalize on their various advantages of each: the odor-resistance of wool, the stretch of elastane, the durability of polyester.
You want to avoid clothing that holds on to moisture — basically anything made of cotton. Cotton clothing can make you susceptible to chafing and can be dangerous if you get wet and then caught out in the cold. While cotton is comfortable and casual and great for hanging out after a run, we recommend investing in a running wardrobe that will keep you more comfortable.
The Janji AFO Hyperlight Cap comes in a variety of colorways, some of them brighter than others. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Expert Advice About the Best Running Gear
For Anna Mae Flynn, a professional ultrarunner and coach in Colorado, the first thing to consider when buying running gear — specifically shoes — is clear. “Number one,” she said, “is assessing what kind of training environment you have access to.” If you’re running on technical terrain with lots of elevation gain, you will buy different gear than someone running on fast, flowy trails or the road. For the former, the iRunFar team recommends a reliable trail running shoe like the Hoka Speedgoat 6; for the latter, a solid road shoe like the Nike Pegasus 41 would be a good choice.
After that, Flynn said, another key consideration when navigating the plethora of running gear is simple: “What’s most comfortable.” She recommended going to your local running store to try on the gear, using the treadmill, or running a lap around the building to test it in action.
Finally, Flynn said that word of mouth can be a powerful tool to help determine what type of running gear is best. “Connect with other runners in the community who aren’t novices,” she said.
Call for Comments
- Do you have a favorite piece of running gear that you can’t live without?
- Do you like to try new gear constantly, or do you stick with your tried-and-true items?
A GPS watch like the Garmin fenix 7 is integral to many runners’ kits. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
