Unconventional Running Gear You Didn’t Know You Needed

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People run because it doesn’t require much gear. Shorts, shoes, socks, shirt, sunnies, and you’re out the door. The fewer pieces of gear you need for an activity, the lower the cost of entry and the lower the risk of equipment failure.  As a dad of four and someone who works full time, I’ve always loved the simplicity of running.

But as a long-time gear tester, I keep my eyes open for new products that make being outside easier, faster, and more enjoyable. I’m not interested in making running more complicated, but if I can find pieces that help me stay motivated, I’m all for it. Here’s some gear I’ve recently come to rely on that might not be on your list, but maybe should be.

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A Collared Shirt

Roark Bless Up Trail Shirt

$89 at Roark $89 at REI

I recently wore this shirt to a wedding and got lots of compliments. Little did my admirers know that it’s also been my go-to hot-weather running shirt. I never imagined running in a collared shirt, but the super-airy, perforated, nylon and polyester design dumps heat like a mesh bag, and I love popping the collar for a little extra sun protection on my poor neck.

On days when I have to squeeze in a run right before my kids get out of summer school, it’s nice to have a shirt that I can wear to pick them up and not look like a total dirtbag. Roark could have skimped on the tailoring details because it’s designed for athletic wear, not fashion, but I found that it fits equally well with a pair of dress pants as it does with running shorts.

Long(er) Underpants

Path Projects Lynx PD Short Liners

$38 at Path Projects

When I first saw liners like these poking out of people’s shorts, I thought it meant they were ultra-marathoners, or just all-around badasses. Why would anyone need bike-bib-like liners unless they were putting in serious miles?

Then I replaced my short’s built-in liner with a pair and discovered that liners made an important difference even when I was only running four miles. The tight fit kept all my junk in place in a way that other short liners can’t, the longer inseam ensured that my running shorts never bunched between my thighs or chafed my legs, and the Polartec material on this pair acted like a lubricant of sorts, moved moisture, and dried ultra fast. I might look like a putz when I’m running shorter stints around my neighborhood in “serious” workout gear, but I truly don’t care.

An Add-On Pocket

Janji Multipass Mini Waist Pack

$38 at Janji $38 at REI

During the week when I head out for just three or four miles, I’m glad to run pack-free. But on the weekends when I try to put in 10 or 15 miles (at a very leisurely pace), I like to wear this waist pack for two important reasons.

First, it holds a little tube of sunscreen so I can reapply when I’ve been under the New Mexican sun for more than an hour. And second, it lets me comfortably carry my phone and debit card so that I can finish my run at my favorite brewery or lunch spot, and have everything I need to refuel, enjoy myself, and get home. The lightweight pack (just 5.8 ounces) fits snuggly on the small of my back and, thanks to a flat mesh panel on the rear, breathes well without chafing.

Bright, Tall Socks

Adidas Workout Socks

$24 for 6 pairs at Adidas

Every time I ride my bike I use blinking lights on the front and back—even during the day. The lights are bright enough to get drivers’ attention so they don’t swerve into me or cut me off in traffic. Now I’m applying the same strategy with my running socks.

I only buy brightly colored running socks like these from Adidas that cover my entire calf because they, too, act like blinking lights to get everyone’s attention. As I plod down the street or the bike path, I’m confident that the sight of brightly-colored socks shuffling along is enough to communicate to drivers and cyclists that I exist and they should steer clear. Sometimes the sock colors don’t match my kit, but I’ve learned to lean into the gaudiness.

A Small(er) Watch

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music Watch

$299 at Garmin $299 at Backcountry

I’ve long loved big fitness watches that deliver a lot of information and come with batteries that last nearly forever. I also admit that wearing a big fitness watch makes me feel important because the form factor screams, “I take my adventuring very seriously!” More recently, however, I’ve been wearing this much smaller offering from Garmin.

About half the size of their big-faced models, the 165 has a 1.2-inch Amoled screen and is significantly less pretentious and much more focused. By focused I mean that it conveys only the most important information about my run (pace, distance, heart rate) and stores music, so I can listen to tunes on my AirPods for extra motivation. When I’m not running, the watch tells me the time and doesn’t distract me with any other information. I’ve come to love the simplicity and now use the watch almost exclusively unless I am on a bigger adventure and need extra features and battery life.