What To Wear
The best off-road gear for men and women.
Trail runners must be prepared for the elements. This means versatile clothes that provide coverage yet can be peeled back when you get heated up.
Jacket
Pick an outer layer that protects you from a downpour long enough to run back to your car.
Women: GoLite Ether Jacket, $80, golite.com
This water-resistant shell packs down to the size of a softball.
Men: The North Face Hydrogen Vest, $79, thenorthface.com
This vest's nylon front and mesh back offer enough protection for milder days.
Shirt
Short-sleeve tops with deep zip-neck collars let you cover up in the shade or at higher elevations, then unzip when you're warm again.
Women: Ice breaker dash zip, $75, icebreaker.com
The lightweight wool and mesh panels in this tee naturally regulate body temps.
Men: Patagonia's runshade top, $45, patagonia.com
Constructed of moisturewicking polyester, this top dries quickly and has a UPF rating of 30.
Shorts
Trail shorts should be long and stretchy, or slightly split, so they protect your legs but don't restrict your mobility.
Women: Sugoi's Verve Shorts, $45, sugoi.com
With a five-inch inseam and mesh panels, these shorts provide some cover for legs and a little ventilation.
Men: Pearl Izumi Infiniti LD shorts, $50, pearlizumi.com
These seven-inch, ripstop nylon shorts have a zippered pocket to keep your keys safe.
Look for dark-colored socks that hide dirt and a cut that extends over your ankle bone to keep trail debris out.
Women: SmartWool's PhD Running Ultra Light Mini, $15, smartwool.com
Chiefly made of heat-regulating wool, these socks offer a snug, comfortable fit.
Men: Fox River Ultra Light Velocity, $9, foxsox.com
The plant fibers and recycled poly in this sock make it both eco-friendly and sweatwicking.
Your trail shoe should have fairly deep traction, a toe bumper to protect against rocks, and good torsional rigidity (it should be difficult to wring it like a towel).
Women: Brooks Cascadia 4, $100, brooksrunning.com
Ideal for generally dry trails, the Cascadia has a tread that bites hard into dirt.
Men: New Balance 875, $100, newbalance.com
The all-weather traction of the 875 will help keep your footing steady on wet trails.
For the best new running shoes, click here for the 2009 Runner's World Summer Shoe Guide.
Provided by Runner's World
If you want great active wear, check out www.myfavoritestyles.com. They have great brands such as CW-X, Brooks Running, Pearl Izumi and Moving Comfort. Great prices, too.
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