Reviews

A year from the release of the Suunto 9 Peak, the Finnish company has released the newest iteration: the 9 Peak Pro, which is an upgrade to the previous model in battery life, revamped user interface and GPS availability.

Running with cold hands and frozen fingers is the worst. Winter is still in full swing, so to help you prepare for running in cold temperatures, we tested a handful of gloves designed to keep you running happy and warm.

This winter we’ve tested four jackets that provide varying degrees of cold weather protection and weather resistance to keep you running comfortably through the harsh elements.

Inov-8 launched their new trail shoe, the TrailFly Ultra G 280 in October. For those unfamiliar, G stands for Graphene—a material that is 200 times tougher than steel but is remarkably thin and flexible. Following a growing trend—and dire need—for more sustainable options in the shoe industry, Inov-8 touts Graphene as the answer to longer-lasting footwear.

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.

The Mesa Trail II is a minimalist shoe that includes design features to stabilize the foot and keep a good surface connection with trail due to an aggressive lug pattern. Many will find this model to be a fast, lightweight option for runners who prefer a little more protection but would still prefer to be “barefoot” on the trail.

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.

HOKA’s Mafate Speed 4 made its debut this fall, representing a convergence of the previous Mafate Speed and EVO Mafate. The Mafate Speed 4 incorporates elements of both those product lines, while maintaining the same last and midsole geometry as the previous Mafate Speed shoe.

Nike isn’t a brand to roll out completely new models very frequently, so the announcement of this new addition to their trail lineup triggered a lot of anticipation. Named after the fiercely competitive mountain race in the Basque region of Spain, the ZoomX Zegama is a max cushion trail shoe that features the same ZoomX foam found in popular Nike road models such as the Alphafly and Vaporfly.

The Pulsar Trail Pro has been promoted by Salomon as a maximum cushion shoe with light protection and stability, and it’s also a unique looking shoe designed with forward propulsion in mind. The PTP is a more aggressive version of the Pulsar Trail, keeping the key Energy Blade construction, but using a stiffer TPU plate and a sleeker upper construction for improved speed.

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.

The Polar Pacer Pro is a lightweight, slim-profile watch with Polar’s “greatest hits” functionality—perfect for runners who love data but don’t need a robust inventory of high-end features.

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.

Nathan’s VaporAir (unisex) and VaporAiress (women’s) vests have been longtime favorites in the company’s lineup thanks to their combination of minimalist profile and large cargo capacity. Nathan’s new Lite versions of those vests shift the emphasis to the lightweight side and feature a new harness fitting system that allows a customizable fit.

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.

With summer temperatures heating up across the country, it’s important to keep hydration at your disposal. Handheld options provide you enough fluids to maintain short-term performance without excess additional weight to slow you down.

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.

If you’ve spent enough time on the trail, you’ve probably experienced the discomfort of getting something caught in your shoe, and any debris during long outings can cause significant blisters or chafing problems. Enter the trail running gaiter. We tested five models in a variety of conditions, ranging from dry and sandy to wet and muddy, and everything in between.

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.

The original Akasha earned a reputation for combining protection and performance, and this spring’s updated version carries over the underfoot elements of the previous edition with a new upper designed for increased durability and breathability. The Akasha is one of the more cushioned shoes in La Sportiva’s lineup, intended for long runs or ultra-distance races with rough terrain.

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.