Donald Buraglio

This year, Garmin released Pro versions of both the Fenix 7 and Epix lines on the same day. Since we reviewed the Fenix 7X watch last year, this time we tested the Epix Pro in part to see if we could identify any major differentiation between the model lines.

Long summer days demand clothing that is comfortable over long distances and helps manage heat and humidity. We’ve tested a variety of options to keep you moving and performing your best when the sun shines bright, and the trails heat up.

For anyone who is contemplating the Leadville 100 but is uncertain of the terrain and altitude, the Silver Rush 50 is a much lower-pressure environment, providing a perfect test lab for anyone who wants to find out how their body, gear and nutritional strategies will perform under the stress of big miles and high altitude.

Topo has made extensive efforts in sustainable material sourcing and manufacturing over the years, and this spring they incorporated several of their best process practices with the new Ultraventure 3 Eco. The shoe has an identical spec weight, geometry, fit and feel as the regular Ultraventure 3 and thankfully, it also has an identical price tag.

Sometimes there’s nothing that helps the miles pass more quickly and comfortably than listening to your favorite music or podcasts. We’ve spent several months testing a handful of headphone options best suited for ultrarunners. All of the products use wireless conduction, eliminating the hassle of plugs and cords, and allowing complete freedom of movement.

This year’s update to the Petzl NAO headlamp has significant improvements in increased brightness and decreased weight, along with Petzl’s exceptional Reactive Lighting technology. The result is Petzl’s top-of-the-line option for fast movement over long distances across all kinds of terrain. If that wasn’t enough incentive to consider this model, Petzl also dropped the MSRP by $30 from the previous version.

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.

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.