Our favorite trail running gear for early summer 2026

Early Summer Gear We Love Right Now

TAYLOR: Summer is here! With it comes the laundry list of adventures we want to go on. Having the right gear can be the catalyst to actually getting out on those excursions. Whether that’s racing, camping, backyard adventures, etc. here are a few pieces of gear we have enjoyed so far this summer.

Apparel

TAYLOR: When the weather calls for lightweight, breathable gear, the North Face Summit Series High Trail T-Shirt and Tank have been easy go-tos. Simply put, they are some of the lightest tops I’ve ever worn, and they breathe extremely well, keeping my body dry and more regulated on hot days.

From a construction standpoint, I could tell that The North Face was meticulous about this shirt. They used a couple of strategic materials: recycled polyester on the front and their Flashdry-Pro wonder-material in high-heat areas like under the arms and on the back. They even went so far as to include comfort-oriented features like bonded seams and mapped panels to make wearing packs more comfortable.

The slim fit may not be for everyone; however, my typical size fits me well. There were no areas where I felt constricted.

SAM: Once upon a time, when I was a younger and dumber reviewer, I thought that a nylon windbreaker was a passe piece of gear. They were all the same, I thought (stupidly), hot noisy shells with narrow use, I said (naively). Well, just about every year, I’ve gotten another piece that’s blown my expectations for windbreakers out of the water, and this year it’s the 7Mesh Northwoods Jacket. Made with a Bluesign-approved wind- and water-resistant ripstop nylon/polyester blend, this windshell is very breathable, very comfortable, and very quiet. At 5.9oz (167g), it’s also seriously light.

It rules at effort, breathing like a champ with full articulation from the more standard cut. But, just like any jacket worth the time, it’s the details here that make the Northwoods truly great. It has a hood, but it also has a stow system to keep the hood from flopping around. The inside collar hood trim is soft brushed tricot. No scratchy nylon against your supple skin. The one pocket sits right under your left armpit. Weird, until you realize that this is an ideal location with single-handed access. You can zip and unzip with one hand without holding another part of the jacket. It also packs into that pocket, and there are elastic store straps if you need to clip the packed jacket onto a vest or a set of handlebars.

This is a truly great jacket that proves me wrong about windshells every time I put it on, which is a lot. I take it basically everywhere now. Show your expectations who’s boss, and pick one of these up.

TAYLOR: Listen, because of my more robust lower half, I’m really particular about shorts — especially those with integrated liners. With that being said, when a pair pops up that I can’t argue with, I know it’s good.

Outdoor Research’s Swift Lite Lined Shorts are atypical for me. One reason is the robustness mentioned above, and another is that they’re longer than my preferred running length. At the same time, none of it was distracting.

The lightweight, stretchy materials allowed unrestricted movement and dried quickly (even after creek crossings). I had no chafing through the groin/inner thighs. Honestly, this is one of the pairs of running shorts that has crossover appeal for other physical activities or for just wearing around for daily life post-run.

The Outdoor Research Swift Lite Line Shorts are really a summer do-it-all kind of garment.

TAYLOR: The summer sun should trigger your sensors to activate sun protection. The older I get, the more apt I am to seek out layers that do the protecting for me rather than lotions or sprays.

The 5.11 Sulli UV Hooded Long Sleeve boasts UPF 50+ sun protection. Admittedly, for running, this garment is on the bulkier side compared to some others meant for aerobic pursuits. It’s really a midweight option for sun hoodies, but the fit and materials were so dang comfortable that I’ve noticeably reached for this option over many of my favorites during cooler morning temps or low-aerobic activities.

The waffled polyester design and relaxed fit were soft on skin and moved with my body, whether I was running, working in the yard, or wearing it casually.

For what it’s worth, the 5.11 Sulli UV Hooded Long Sleeve quickly became the layer that stayed in my car for any scenario throughout the day.

RENEE: I received this shirt prior to the Adidas Terrex Lake Sonoma Races and wore it for the Trail Sisters Half. I’ve been wearing it weekly since then. The entire back side and the underarm area are perforated, allowing airflow and quick drying.

I’ve been wearing a vest with this shirt and appreciate the air flow in those areas. I wore the shirt while backpacking (with a 70-plus-pound pack) and will attest to the odor-control technology. The fit is regular, and as someone who likes/needs a bit of length in a shirt, this is one of the best-fitting running shirts I have. If you don’t like boxy, short cut shirts and need a quick-drying running shirt, I highly recommend it.

RENEE: A necessity for running, a quality sports bra is not easy to find. Now that humid and hot weather has arrived, I’ll have permanent chafing marks across my bra line. The goal is to minimize those marks. The Adi365 bra is a medium-support option, and while I normally go for a high-support bra, I went with a size small instead of my usual medium. The bra band has comfortable stretch, so I’ve had no issues with chafing, and I get a higher level of support. If you’re between sizes in a sports bra, a size smaller for high support is a good idea (note: you might have some sideboob issues, but the bra stretches).

The bra has three pocket areas in the front, although two of those are across the breasts, and I’m not storing anything there for comfort reasons. The middle pocket is useful, and two gels fit there, maybe three if they’re smaller (think Gu-sized gels). The bra has removable pads. I used to remove pads from sports bras, but I find they help with support and reduce movement, thus avoiding chafing across the bra line.

The back of the bra has a cord to store a t-shirt, so if you get warm and are inclined to run without a shirt, this bra is for you. The brand logo is reflective, and there’s a small reflective decal in the back, too. So, if you run shirtless in the dark, you get a safety feature. Side note on quality: In addition to wearing this bra weekly, I wore it for two days in a row (including sleeping) while backpacking, and it didn’t smell. The sweat-wicking quality is noted.

Packs & Belts

TAYLOR: Nearly a decade ago, a running belt very similar to this ruined me forever. Packs were fine, but I loved the more minimal approach and ability to take the weight off my shoulders… Literally.

Welp, it turns out that a lighter, more stable, and breathable version of that is still my jam for day-to-day needs. The Black Diamond Distance Belt has all the features that I originally loved in a trail-ready running belt. Even though I preferred a lighter load in this belt to ensure a no-bounce ride (no more than a phone, 500ml soft flask, remote for virtual dog leash, and keys), it could handle throwing poles in the mix as needed.

The wider waistband sits comfortably on/slightly above my hips, even when it’s packed out. An engineered mesh provided a sense of breathability hard to find in a running belt.

The only true comfort issue I had was when poles were on the back, but I added a neck gaiter as a buffer to assist. At any rate, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, lightweight, quality belt for summer, the Black Diamond Distance Belt is a recent favorite.

ALEX: I used the early versions of the Distance 22L quite a bit for fastpacking and longer mountain days when it first came out, and this updated version feels noticeably more refined. The original occupied a really interesting space between running vest and alpine pack, but this version feels more stable, more comfortable when loaded, and generally easier to move fast in.

What I’ve always appreciated about the Distance series is that it solves the problem of cramming too much gear (I always bring too much) into my standard 12L running vest. Once you add insulating layers, cold-weather gear, extra water, poles, food, and safety equipment, most race vests start feeling like you’ve stuffed a basketball in the back. It makes me irrationally angry when a pack is overpacked.

The updates to the harness and storage layout especially stand out. The vest-style fit feels more dialed, the front storage is easier to access, and the pack feels less floppy when loaded.

I also continue to really like this size for fastpacking — it hits a sweet spot where you can carry enough to actually be self-sufficient without immediately drifting into full backpacking territory. This one is super fun for big days where you’re switching between running, hiking, scrambling, layering, eating, and reorganizing on the fly.

RENEE: I’ve received five hydration vests during the past five months, and the Dyna Pro has a few assets that set it apart from the crowd. At 10L, the vest is an option for ultras, though it’s comfortable and lightweight enough for shorter efforts as well.

The most useful quality is the ability to compartmentalize items with the numerous pockets. If you like separation between fuel options or other items, the vest offers small pockets for your candy, gels, “real” food, headlamp, jacket, and… well, you get the idea. I ran with the front flasks filled and a 1.5L bladder in the back, and I’m happy to report the vest does not bounce, and it carries weight evenly.

The Dyna Pro offers an upper-area, open-back storage pocket, another zippered upper-area pocket, and an open bladder drop area. The lower back area has a full pass-through pocket. If that’s not enough, there’s another zippered pocket on the left side that runs the entire length of the back. Again, this vest is for compartmentalized items. Instead of one large back pocket, you have five different storage areas. The front storage is fairly typical: two flask pockets, two zippered pockets, and two open storage pockets.

Accessories

SAM: Some things have one tiny thing that sets them apart. One feature that makes all the difference, and suddenly you never buy anything else. Hydrapak soft flasks and their flip-top Speedfill cap are that, for me. Sure, we’ve probably talked about them a million times, but they’re so good they deserve one more go.

The Speedfill cap is such an improvement on a twist lid when trying to refill a bottle with wet, sweaty hands. I never want to use a twist-off lid again. Better yet, Hydrapak engineered these bottles to be ultralight and fit basically any pack or belt. I stuck two in a Naked belt on my last 50-miler, and they fit in there great, even if it looked like I had a donut of water around my waist. Stuck one in a Black Diamond vest, also great.

Not only are they an ideal shape, but you can stand them on the flat bottom with the cap flipped off, so that you’ll never have to dump in electrolytes one-handed again. Get one of these bottles, you’ll never look back.

TAYLOR: Whether it’s a multi-day excursion or just sleeping at the start line before your A-race, good sleep is one of the most difficult things to come by. Luno Gear’s Air+Foam mattress has shown me that an air mattress can actually be comfortable and convenient. I’ve never had that experience and have even refused to go the air mattress route for years. Just give me some foam and the hard ground, and we’ll call it good.

As I said, this Air+Foam mattress turned me around 180 degrees. It’s self-inflating and can take on more air to fit your firmness desires. I didn’t use any machines to get my mattress exactly how I wanted it. It was also very simple and packable.

My favorite aspect (besides obvious comfort) is that it was tailored to my vehicle. It fits beautifully and makes the organization for such excursions that much easier. I also received the 2-person mattress that can unzip in the middle to make separate singles. They can just as easily be thrown into a tent, placed in the back of a truck, or laid out under the stars.

I’m a fan to say the least.

Technology

TAYLOR: Deep in the night, your runner rolls into an aid station. Your headlamp meets theirs. The constant beaming into each other’s eyes is never pleasant. Why not make the support stop a little more comfortable with a Biolite Alpenglow Lantern?

At 250 lumens, the light can hang, be set on a table, or be held. It casts light gently but is bright enough to be noticeable, and you can change the color to lighten the mood. You can even recharge small items with the Alpenglow 250 and 500 models.

I’ve used these lanterns for everything from reading with my kids at night to camping to organizing my pack in the back of my truck before a long run. These little lanterns are fun and useful.

Nutrition

TAYLOR: Looking to switch up the flavor profile of your on-the-run nutrition? I can only take so many fruity flavors, even in short ultras. I recently tried the Naak Ice Mint, thinking that it would be like guzzling some toothpaste. To my surprise, my mouth was blasted by a similar freshness to brushing my teeth, but it went down just as easily as the rest of the endurance gels of the world.

There’s something to be said about switching it up and intentionally livening the senses. That’s exactly how I’ll use Naak Ice Mint going forward.

TAYLOR: A good ol’ Arnie is the flavor of summer! LMNT now offers an iced tea and lemonade flavor with all the same electrolyte-replacement benefits and great taste as before. This particular limited edition also has a little bit of caffeine to swirl into the mix of pre-, mid-, and post-run endorphins. If you ever see me sporting a drink after my runs this summer, you can be sure this is what’s in my glass.