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Gear
Asics Novablast 4 – $140
The just-launched Novablast 4 is a hyper-responsive, max-cushioned everyday training shoe (with an 8mm heel-toe drop) that’s cushier, lighter, and more stable than the previous version. It’s been enhanced with a full-length layer of the brand’s new lightweight FlyteFoam Blast Plus Eco cushioning material, asymmetrical engineering within the midsole/outsole chassis for smoother and more efficient heel-toe transitions, and a stretchy, engineered woven one-piece upper for a secure fit and accommodating comfort over the top of the foot. The Novablast 4 is a half-millimeter taller, and has a 5mm wider footprint at both the heel and forefoot to provide more inherent stability. It’s light enough (7.9 oz., women’s size 8; 9.1 oz., men’s size 9) and moderately energetic to be ideal for long runs, recovery runs, and tempo runs. – Brian Metzler, contributing editor
Topo Designs Mountain Gear Bag – $149
I’m always on the lookout for an easy-to-access, all-purpose bag when I’m out the door to drive to the trailhead. I want an adventure bag that’s big enough to hold my hydration vest, a cold fizzy water for after the run, a warm jacket, recovery sandals, and snacks. But often a narrow backpack doesn’t cut it. Here, I think I may have found the solution, a haul bag you can put on your passenger seat. I’ve owned Topo’s Klettersack for over ten years now and it still looks sharp as ever, so I assume this mountain bag will go the distance, too, with several pockets and a waterproof zip at the top (I keep mine lashed open for easy access). – Nicholas Triolo, senior editor, Outside Run and Trail Runner
Rabbit High Country LS Corduroy – $85
It’s the perfect overshirt for a post-run brew. With a warm texture and fun desert pattern, this shirt infuses training with a bit of sun all year long. I love wearing this shirt for work, and also for having it in the car at the trailhead, post-run. – Zoë Rom, editor-in-chief, Trail Runner
Lowa Amplux – $170
For 100 years, Lowa has been making boots worthy of the Alps, where the company got its start and is still based today. Their footwear does not have urban pretensions; they are made for the mountains. So when they released their first line of trail runners this year, I was intrigued. How would their alpine heritage translate to the sneaker game? I tested out the Amplux, the middle weight offering from the ATR Collection (situated in between the lighter Citux and the more cushioned Fortux). Initially, I was skeptical of the fit, after a hot spot emerged on my very first run. But after a break-in period, the Amplux became my most trusted trail runner for rugged conditions. I was won over on a jaunt down the Appalachian Trail in the rain, as the deep lugs gripped wet rocks and roots and kept me sure-footed throughout. – Alex Tzelnic, Outside Run contributor
Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra – $220
This is the trail running super shoe that Tom Evans wore to win the Western States 100 back in June. Although it doesn’t drop until April 15, I’ve logged a few hundred miles in an early wear-testing sample since August and think it will be one of the top trail running shoes for 2024. It’s built on a highly responsive Lightstrike Pro midsole embedded with carbon-infused EnergyRods—similar to what’s in Adidas’ top-tier Adizero Adios Pro 3 road racing shoes—plus it has significant rocker geometry and a grippy Continental rubber outsole. Although it can be a bit tippy on technical trails, it’s fast and relentless on smooth trails and gravel roads. – B.M.
Feetures Trail Max Cushion Mini Crew Socks – $20
I get a lot of people asking me about what socks I wear, which feels only a little unusual, and my first impulse is to say: Feetures. Simply put, they’re just wonderful. They feel right on the feet, with the appropriate amount of performance and simplicity. I’ve loved Injinjis in the past, but their toes blow out too fast for the price. Feetures, on the other hand, do not. I just got a couple fresh pairs of these Trail Max Cushion Mini Crews for the fall and winter and couldn’t be happier with them. – N.T.
Craft Core Trim Thermal Midlayer – $100
I’ll admit I wasn’t quite ready for winter to arrive this year, but running in five-degree weather in Leadville, Colorado, quickly forced me to up my thermal layering game. I’ve appreciated the warmth of this Craft long sleeve/half zip top when I’ve worn it under a running shell on extremely cold days and under a windproof vest on slightly less frigid days. I love that it fits true to size with some stretchiness, has a soft fleece interior and a zipper chest pocket, but most of all, I love the thumb holes at the cuffs that help keep cold drafts from shooting up my arms. – B.M.
The North Face Ripida Run Tights – $120
These are my favorite tights for long winter runs. They have plenty of storage at the waist for snacks, as well as a phone pocket along the side. A drawstring helps prevent sagging, and just a bit of compression helps support hard-working muscles. Perforated, laser-cut holes at the back give you ventilation where you need it. – Z.R.
Shokz OpenRun Pro – $180
While I enjoy the cadence-aligned tunes of a curated playlist, I often would rather avoid the hassle of fussing with headphones and just listen to my own breathing and the ambient sounds around me. That’s all changed since I’ve been running with Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction Bluetooth headphones. Lightweight, cordless, and easy to use, they’ve made running with music (or an audio book) as simple and noninvasive as it should be. – B.M.
Nutrition
Quantum Energy Square – $2.29 each
I’m a snack bar fiend. Granola bars, protein bars, energy bars, chocolate bars—I’ll try anything. But that also makes me pretty picky about what bars I consistently have in my snack pantry. These Quantum Energy Squares are similar to another favorite of mine, Rx Bars, but contain the same amount of caffeine as one cup of coffee. They’re perfect for that midday slump or before a run. My favorite flavor? Caramel almond sea salt. – Mallory Arnold, associate editor
DripDop Electrolyte Powder – $36 (32-count bag of 0.35-ounce packets)
I’ve paid better attention to replacing lost electrolytes over the past year and have found DripDrop packets to be one of the easiest ways to make that happen. They boast three times the electrolytes and half of the sugar of most sports drinks in several great-tasting fruity (but not overly salty) flavors. When mixed with 8 ounces of water, the 35-calorie packets serve up 330g of sodium, 185mg of potassium, and 39mg of magnesium to enhance rehydration, plus 1.5mg of zinc and 70mg of vitamin C to help promote immune support. – B.M.
Reading Material
Becoming a Sustainable Runner: A Guide to Running for Life, Community, and Planet by Tina Muir and Zoë Rom
After listening to sustainability advocate Tina Muir talk at the California International Marathon expo and spending the next morning following the race with her, I came away with a new inspiration about doing little things to help the planet. She reminded me that we’re all on a journey through a complicated modern world, and the individual choices about the products we consume and habits we follow in our daily lives can have big impacts for the greater good. Muir co-authored Becoming a Sustainable Runner: A Guide to Running for Life, Community, and Planet (with Trail Runner editor in chief Zoë Rom), which is a smart and gentle guide (and a great holiday gift idea) to help runners to promote internal and external sustainability. – B.M.
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling
This was one of the best books of 2023 for me, an Indigenous reimagining of the legendary Shoshone interpreter, often cast as a friend of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The author is Salish and re-centers Sacajewea’s voice and power as she navigates the unending brutality of her white captors. A difficult, complicated read, but a necessary one as we continue to recreate on stolen lands. – N.T.
In Our Ears
I’ve been die-hard Radiolab listener for over a decade, and have recently drifted away from their productions, not because they’re not still amazing (Lulu Miller, its new co-host, is one of my favorite thinkers and writers on Earth), but because the podcast ecosystem is just so rich and diverse now in its offerings. In any case, I recently patched back into Radiolab and found this recent episode crazy fascinating. It’s about the body, about this superhighway of fluid channels within tissues in our bodies, something we only recently discovered. Science! Bodies! Entangled, interconnected, hidden systems of communication! This is my love language. Great one to listen to while clipping off some miles. – N.T.
Other Good Stuff
Professional Slant Board – $42
“Buy a slant board!” numerous people told me when I strained my calf in July. I balked. Why do I need a slant board collecting dust in my studio apartment when I can just go hang out with my heels dangling from a stair? Fast-forward to November, when both calves, achilles, and plantars continued to nag me in my sleep. I figured $42 was a reasonable amount to gamble on after numerous $200 massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy appointments. I tossed the slant board next to my desk and newsflash: It’s as effective as everyone said.
Just standing on the board once or twice a day for a couple minutes this month has dramatically improved my ankle flexion (I’ve moved up from 15 degrees to 20 degrees on the board!), which in turn have not only improved my calf and feet pain, but also my SI and hamstring niggles. This particular board is adjustable in five positions ranging from 15 degrees (for us tin people) to 35 degrees (for flexibility gods), to meet you where you are on your mobility journey. Plus, the grippy surface keeps your feet glued in place. If you’re dealing with niggles down the chain, or just want to check every box possible on the never-ending path to perfection, a slant board is a worthy tool to add to your arsenal. – A.L.
Pro-Tee Spiky Massage Ball – $8
When I saw this little number at the “last-minute-buys” section at my local running store, I was both intrigued and confused. I’ve seen massage balls before, but this looks more like a dog toy. After a high recommendation from the store owner, I purchased it and have been using it everyday since then. It can be thrown into my running bag (as it takes up very little space) for breaking up tight muscles after my long runs, but I’ve been mainly using it on the bottoms of my feet. I use it as I sit or stand at my work desk, and it’s been an excellent tool for my plantar fasciitis. – M.A.
Athletic Brewing Upside Dawn Golden Ale – $14 (six pack)
After failing to complete Sober October, I switched my goal to Dry November and succeeded by not drinking any alcohol for more than five weeks. It wasn’t that I’ve had a problem with drinking, it’s that I don’t really like the disruptive sleep patterns I encounter when I have a single beer at night. I didn’t miss the booze, but I admit that I enjoyed a few of Athletic Brewing’s crisp and refreshing Upside Dawn golden ales during the month. Bottom line: They taste great, and they don’t slow me down or wreck my sleep. – B.M.