I’ve had the Petzl  MYO PRX for about 6 months now as my primary headlamp.  It’s a bit pricey but it’s worth it if you do a lot of night time trail running.  This thing throws enough light that when the trail is wide enough to run side by side my running partner (who forgets her headlamp more then not) can see as if she’s wearing the lamp herself and has no troubles tackling technical sections of trails at night. Specs: MSRP – $89.95 Power – 3 AAA batteries Waterproof Optional over the head third strap Programmable Boost mode for temporary extra light Lens to allow for flood or spot Water resistant Regulated … [Read more...]

While running in the McNaughton 200 miler this year I noticed that all the other runners there had trekking poles.  Those that didn't start with them ended up using theirs by the end. I talked to a few of them about this cause it was really obvious that I was missing something.  In hind sight I wish that I had a pair with me, I'd have used them every step of the way.  The most common pole there was the Black Diamond Ultra Distance Z-pole.  As soon as I got home I ordered a pair and have been using them the last few months. Over all I love these poles and think they are perfect for trail running. My buddy and stud ultra runner Steve … [Read more...]

I’ve been looking for a pair of trail shoes specifically for the McNaughton 200 mile trail run in 2012. During the McNaughton 150 thanks to wet trails my feet became water logged. On the second day of running the bottom of my feet were so sore and tender it hurt to put any weight on them, especially running.  I decided to try a pair of Gore-Tex trail shoes to see if water proof shoes are the way to go. Enter the Brooks Ghost4 GTX.  After a few months of running in these and lots of testing on the trail in dry and wet conditions here’s what I’ve found.  First though, some data about the shoes Specs: $120 msrp Neutral running … [Read more...]

  Gaiters are a great way to keep debris out of your shoes during runs.  The best gaiters I’ve found when it comes to cost, weight and performance are the Dirty Girls.  From a performance stand point these are a no thrills stripped down gaiter.  Other companies use water proof material or have a much more elaborate retention system but that’s at a premium cost. Dirty Girls go for $19 a pair and I’ll put them up against any gaiter out there. Dirty Girls come in just over 60 fun patterns and designs. Just don’t ask for black, she doesn’t make them in that color.  The point of these is to not only keep debris out of your … [Read more...]

I recently picked up the Saucony Kinvara and have got enough miles in them it’s time to write about this shoe. First impression is I freakin love this shoe. It rides great and is very comfortable. Specs: • Neutral running show that allows your foot to run uninhibited • Lightweight, flexible • Minimal midsole construction with protection from the pavement • Weight: 7.7oz (LIGHT for a trainer you could absolutely do distance runs in) • MSRP - $90 (listed for $68 at Saucony.com at the time of this writing) The Kinvara has a low heel to toe drop allowing for a much more natural foot strike. This is the design used in the … [Read more...]