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Here’s where to find some of the best gear out there that doesn’t make it into reviews
Because we’ve been wearing it all the time this past month
Anything from running to hanging out to livin’ the good life
We get a lot of gear to review here at Believe in the Run. Sometimes we get a whole seasonal collection to review, but more often than not, we get a bunch of items meant for different purposes. Some nutrition here, a couple hats there, tack on some casual pants and maybe some socks.
If you’re like us, you probably don’t want to read a review about just one pair of socks, or a backpack, or whatever. But if we’re using something all the time– if it’s become part of our running life– we want you to know. That’s where this monthly roundup comes in.
Each month, we give you a list of items that we really, truly love. Everything on this list is something we keep coming back to again and again. Maybe it’s the fit, maybe it’s the performance, maybe it’s just something we can’t explain. But at the end of the day, we love it, and we hope you do too.
Of course, we’re always looking for new gear to fall in love with, so if you have any recommendations yourself, please leave them in the comments below.
Thomas’s Pick #1
I didn’t even know that temperature-controlled coffee mugs existed. I’ve been walking around for years, waiting for my coffee to cool down and drinking it before it got too cold. We mentioned our coffee temp problems on the podcast, and the kind people at Ember sent us tumblers to try out. I now live in an enlightened age of perfect-temperature coffee (turns out I’m a 135º F guy). There are drawbacks: you have to charge it every day and it’s not double-walled, so when the battery dies, things go downhill fast. However, for those 3 hours every morning, life is bliss.
Meaghan’s Pick #1
Thomas was sent these sunglasses to review, but I immediately snagged them when I saw the teal color (my favorite). Sticking with the sustainable theme this month, these glasses are designed with frames made from a bio-plastic derived from 45 percent castor oil. An adjustable nose pad and rubber coated temples create a snug fit that doesn’t slip around while you’re out running. I’ve been loving these glasses – they’re fun, and you can feel good about wearing them.
Robbe’s Pick #1
Yes, this jacket is not cheap. But there’s a reason: it’s the best rain jacket I’ve owned. No detail is overlooked, from the tapered sleeves to the magnetic hood that locks to your back so it doesn’t feel like you’re running with a parachute when it’s down. I wore this on an 18-mile long run in the pouring rain last week and – save for a small amount of sweat inside – I was still totally dry by the end, after 3 hours in the rain. It’s super lightweight and is strategically designed for bodies in motion. Meaning it adjusts to your form, on the run.
Thomas’s Pick #2
I’m sticking to a beverage theme this month. I don’t normally like a soft flask as a handheld. As you drink the contents, you end up with an awkward limp sack. What makes the SkyFlask different is the strap, the easy access lid, and a trick I learned from Robbe.
The strap is split with a finger hole, making getting a good grip easy. The SpeedFill cap is a leakproof lid that flips open, which provides fast refill access. When empty, the bottle packs down to little more than the lid. Finally, to eliminate the saggy bottle feeling, Robbe recommended blowing in a little air through the bite valve to inflate the soft flask so it keeps shape in your hand. Believe me, it works well.
Meaghan’s Pick #2
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about silk-like sheets, but I am pretty much obsessed with these ‘Sateen’ sheets from Ettitude. They’re made from sustainable bamboo with a patented process that produces a 100% bamboo lyocell that’s free of harmful chemicals and plastics. They’re super soft, and definitely help keep you cool throughout the night. I’m loving them. You need these.
Robbe’s Pick #2
I actually put this vest on a gear of the month last summer, except this is the new and improved version of that vest. And it may be my favorite vest ever. Not because it has a ton of bells and whistles and pockets– exactly the opposite, in fact.
This is the first vest I’ve owned that actually holds soft flasks in place so they’re not flopping everywhere or popping out when full (the vest comes with two 500-ml HydraPak soft flasks). A slim pocket and small loop bungee are all you need to keep it perfectly secure.
The body fabric is soft, flexible recycled polyester ripstop with a DWR finish. Two low-profile, stretch front pockets hold gels or a phone, while two sets of elastic loops hold trekking poles. A large back pocket and small top pocket hold everything else. It’s simple, it fits perfectly with no bounce, and it’s the only run vest I’ll be wearing for the foreseeable future.
Ryan’s Pick #1
I know it’s our own cap, but hear me out. In a world full of short-brimmed running hats, I’ve really come to appreciate a little bit more sun coverage and a more traditional “dad hat” silhouette. I have both colorways in heavy rotation since I sweat like a (insert your favorite sweat simile here), and I can confirm that a machine-washable running hat is one of the best things since sliced bread.
Ryan’s Pick #2
So, we’ve reviewed a couple versions of Shokz headphones, but they’re worth bringing up again. Now that the weather is a little bit warmer and I’ve started putting my beanies away, I’ve been rocking the Shokz again and it just feels right. The open-ear design means you can still hear traffic rumbling by, but the bone conduction technology is loud enough that you’re not missing out on your music or podcasts.
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As the founder of Believe in the Run, Thomas’s goal is to help runners pick the shoes and gear that will make their running experience the best that it can be.
More from Thomas
Meaghan signed up for her first marathon three weeks before the race, because it was $10 more than the half she planned to run. She learned everything in running the hard way. Now a USATF & UESCA certified run coach, she loves encouraging friends to go for big goals as she continues to chase faster times. She enjoys a hot cup of coffee, a cold martini, and making bagels for friends and family.
More from Meaghan
Robbe is the senior editor of Believe in the Run. He loves going on weird routes through Baltimore, finding trash on the ground, and running with the Faster Bastards. At home in the city, but country at heart. Loves his two boys more than anything. Has the weakest ankles in the game.
More from Robbe
Ryan is kind of like Robbe’s Igor behind the scenes. He helps to compile and clean up everyone’s reviews, and finds time to get in a few miles of his own. When he’s not running or editing, Ryan writes and reviews for Android Authority, spending time with the latest tech and complaining when things don’t work quite right. If he’s not doing any of that, maybe you’ll find him nose-deep in a crossword puzzle or trying to catch up on an endless backlog of shows to stream.
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