Spring has sprung, and after a long, dark winter, it’s finally time to get back in stride and and crank up your run routine. With longer days, warmer temps and restless legs Spring is not only when runners everywhere begin tackling more miles, it’s also the perfect opportunity to take stock of your running gear. Updating your run gear can provide a great motivational boost to your running, and get you properly prepared to fly along the trails and roadways that were blocked by snow for the last several months.
Following on the heels of our Spring Road and Trail Shoe Guides, here are eight essential pieces of running gear selected by our editors to help you ramp up your training this Spring.
Personal Identification: Road ID
Spring beckons us from dark, stagnant gyms, and unyielding hours on the treadmill, to the open roads of sunny days. As you venture into the outside world and begin to ramp up your mileage, the top of your gear list should include Road ID. Favorites of our team include the Wrist ID Elite and the the Wrist ID Slim, both of which provide a way to communicate emergency contacts and information about severe allergies or other chronic conditions. The Wrist ID Elite and the Wrist ID Slim offer a line of lightweight, unobtrusive and customizable ID band. Simply put, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you can’t speak for yourself, your Road ID will speak for you.
Road ID wrist ID’s are available in an array of colors, styles and sizes from www.RoadID.com, MSRP varies depending upon product.
Smith Optics Approach
Spring time means more sun exposure, which means more harsh UV rays, all of which mean bad news for unprotected eyes. Whether you’re tearing up the trail, or pounding the pavement, Smith Optics designed the new Approach with runners in mind. The wide wrapping profile gives you an increased field of view, and shock-absorbing nose pads help these shades stay put on rough trails. Even better, each frame comes with 3 sets of lenses so you can match your sunglasses to the light conditions outdoors. Go ahead, grab the Approach Sunglasses and be prepared to blow through your normal six miles and lose count as your body, soul, and terrain meld into one.
Smith Optics Approach, available April 2013, $159 MSRP
Soleus Running GPS Fit 1.0
If you are serious about your running, a gps-enabled watch can be a powerful tool for tracking, measuring and improving your performance and helping you keep pace during race day. Unfortunately they can also be cost prohibitive. Enter the new GPS Fit 1.0 from Soleus Running. After listening to customer input, Soleus went back to the war room and updated the GPS 1.0 with larger numbers you can read at a glance, a customizable screen, 4 light modes and a more breathable band for increased comfort. In short, the GPS Fit 1.o offers attractive style, powerful performance and user-friendly function in a running watch that won’t exhaust your wallet.
Soleus GPS Fit 1.0 available now in four colorways from www.SoleusRunning.com, $99 MSRP
New Balance ICE
Fresh blossoms and melting snow aren’t the only things that come along with Spring. For many of us Spring also means a warm dose of sunshine. So for spring 2013, New Balance is introducing NB ICE, a cooling technology designed to lower the skin’s temperature as an athlete heats up during a workout. Garments composed with the NB ICE fabrication also provide UV protection (UPF 40), so you can run with impunity under the sun’s harsh rays. Even better, every item in the NB ICE collection offers impressive next-to-skin comfort and breathability for maximum comfort, ensuring this will be a layer you reach for time and again. NB ICE will be featured in the new Impact collection of lightweight running tops.
New Balance ICE Collection available April 2013: Impact Sleeveless (MSPR: $38.00), the Impact Short Sleeve (MSRP: $40.00), Impact Long Sleeve (MSRP: $40.00) and the Impact Hoody (MSRP: $65.00).
injinji 2.0 Performance Socks
Our recent love affair with injinji may actually have room to grow. Building on the success of the original Performance Series, injinji has expanded their line by fine-tuning the fit, increasing durability and integrating features designed to specifically benefit various sports and activities. Whether it’s the increased tactile nature they provide, the blister prevention, or increased comfort factor, once you slip into the five toed goodness, you may never wear another run sock. A hands down favorite of our run team, this new line will give you the warm fuzzies from your head right down to your ten individually wrapped toes.
injinji 2.0 Performance Socks available in an array of colors, styles and sizes from www.injinji.com, MSRP varies depending upon product.
Helly Hansen: Speed Jacket
True, most of your Spring days will be spent reveling in a warm dose of sunshine, but Spring comes with no guarantees. For the days you need a little extra protection, turn to the Speed Jacket from Helly Hansen. Form meets function in this lightweight windbreaker offering modern style with high-performance features. Lightweight breathable shell and two-way stretch fabric work with you on those daunting training sessions. Reflective zippers and tape offer enhanced visibility in low light scenarios while perforated panels ensure plenty of ventilation. What we’re trying to say is that the Helly Hansen Speed jacket will be a mainstay of your run gear for years to come.
Helly Hansen Speed Jacket available now from www.HellyHansen.com, $170 MSRP
Ultimate Direction Hydration Vests
You wouldn’t drive a minivan in a car race, so why take your typical day-hiking hydration pack on your long runs? The athlete-designed Signature Series Vests offer an ideal combination of storage space, low weight, and a runner-specific harness system. Designed by top runners Scott Jurek, Anton Krupicka, and Peter Bakwin, the SJ Ultra Vest, AK Race Vest, and PB Adventure Vest all include advanced feature sets, contemporary design elements, and cutting-edge fabrics. So whether you’re a thirsty runner, or just a runner with an unquenchable thirst for miles and miles, the Signature Series Vests have got your back.
Ultimate Direction Signature Series Vests available now from www.UltimateDirect.com, MSRP varies.
ashmei Carbon Racing Vest
For those who prefer the performance and feel of Superfine Merino, look no further than ashmei. Made from a new BESPOKE yarn using Merino Wool and Carbon, the ashmei Carbon Racing Vest features distinctive European styling with a powerful level of performance whether you’re out for a training run or aiming for a new PR. The merino helps keeps you warm when a chill hangs in the air at the starting line, but then helps keep you cool once your engine hits full stride. Carbon increases the performance of the fabric by speeding up the wicking and drying so your vest remains drier longer. And because it’s ashmei, the vest includes thoughtful details like a rear gel stash pocket with reflective trim, flatlock seams for increased comfort and a MP3 earphone router so you can enjoy your music without the hassle of a your cable going rogue.
ashmei Carbon Racing Vest available now in men’s and women’s $78 MSRP
WIN YOUR OWN ROAD ID!
To help kickstart your Spring run routine, Road ID has generously partnered with Gumption Gear Review to provide two of our readers with a promotional code to customize and purchase their own Road ID. Every reader has three methods available to enter this contest. Enter by any one method, or use any combination of method one, two, or three for up to a total of 3 entries!!! Winners will be announced on March 27, 2013.
Methods of entry:
1. Leave a comment telling us which of our Spring Running Gear Picks you’re most excited about.
2. Follow @GumptionGear and @RoadID on Twitter and tweet the following:
Check out @GumptionGear’s Top Running Gear Picks for Spring & Enter to win your own @RoadID http://bit.ly/ZFR6pC
Be sure to come back and leave a separate comment with the link to your tweet.
3. Like RoadID and GumptionGear on Facebook, and then leave a message in the comments telling us that you did so.
GOOD LUCK!