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...]

  The ProGrid Peregrine is a stripped down no frills trail shoe that is perhaps the best trail shoe I’ve run in. It won Runner’s World Editors Choice 2011.  This is a low to the ground shoe that allows and encourages a natural gait.  It performs equally well for hard and fast miles as it does long slow miles. The Peregrine is extremely responsive; it feels great to run in. If you read my review of the Cascadia it’s a great shoe that has a lot of bells and whistles.  Brooks did it right (arguably over-engineered though) and it is a wonderful shoe, however Saucony built a lighter and faster shoe with no bells and whistles at … [Read more...]

  I’ve been running with the Nathan’s Race Vest HPL #020 since March of 2010.  This vest came highly recommended by numerous ultra runners and I have to say, I absolutely am in love with this pack.  I’ve used various other brands of hydration packs and while they have all done well, none of them fit as comfortably as the Nathans.  If you are looking for a hydration pack this is the one.   Specs: 3-way Propulsion Harness 2 liter Hydration Bladder with a Slideseal™ top closure and bite valve Dual front Power Stretch Mesh pockets –– one with zipper closure Two zippered rear … [Read more...]

  I've been using the Ultimate Direction Fast Draw Plus on the vast majority of my runs (training and racing) for almost 4 years now.  This hand held water bottle fits all of my needs and I choose Ultimate Direction over any other brand without any reserve.  I've tried a few other brands and they just do not match the comfort and performance of this hand held.   This hand held is a staple at ultras.  I do see other hand helds from time to time, but I never see as many as I do the Ultimate Direction Fast Draw Plus.   US MSRP: $18.00  (at the time of this writing it's $13.55 at www.zombierunner.com) Storage … [Read more...]