Uppervoid’s modern gear fixes so many trail running problems

What You Need To Know

Searching for the upper limit

ALEX: Uppervoid is a newer outdoor brand founded in 2020 by Vis Bi, with roots in both Vancouver and Shanghai. The brand sits in an interesting space between technical mountain gear and modern, minimalist design-focused outdoor culture — which, yes, sounds like a lot of modern brands.

That said, Uppervoid seems genuinely committed to building functional pieces first and then refining the design around them. Its whole philosophy feels rooted in creating gear that performs in real outdoor environments without looking like traditional alpine armor we’ve all become accustomed to.

ALEX: I liked the Awe S jacket immediately because it doesn’t feel like a typical hardshell rain jacket. Or sound like one. A lot of shells feel either stiff and overly technical or super minimal, to the point where they don’t feel protective. This strikes a really nice middle ground — lightweight, comfortable, quiet, easy to move in, but still very capable.

Uppervoid also put a lot of thought into the details. The jacket uses body-mapped construction and vent placement designed around movement and heat management, so it feels less restrictive and clammy when you’re actually working hard uphill or moving for long periods. So many shells I have tested in the past have felt like a tarp with a zipper. The hood design stands out too — structured enough to stay in place and provide coverage without constantly needing adjustment or limiting visibility when turning your head. Small details that matter. I’ve been deep into a long race and felt frustrated with my shell due to a hood that comes down too low, doesn’t stay put, or is just… wrong.

The front pockets are one of my favorite features. In the past, when I’ve thrown my shell over everything during stormy sections of runs or races, I’ve found myself putting fueling and hydration on pause — sometimes for hours and hours — because I couldn’t reach my bottles in my vest. The strategically placed pockets on this jacket make it easy to access your bottles.

The fabric feels softer and quieter than most waterproof shells I’ve worn. It doesn’t have that loud, crinkly chip, tarp, garbage bag, or any other annoying noise feeling, which made me want to wear it instead of just carrying it for emergencies. It layers well, packs down easily, and works really well for high-output movement when conditions are constantly changing.

I also just appreciate the overall look of it. Clean, understated, technical without trying too hard. It feels equally at home on the trail, while traveling, or when worn casually, which will keep me reaching for it.

At $430, this sits firmly in premium shell territory. Breathability is great, but if you’re constantly running hard uphill in warm rain, no 3L shell fully escapes moisture buildup.

Similar to the Awe S jacket, the Awe S pants don’t feel like typical waterproof shell pants. Usually, once I put on shell pants, I immediately start looking forward to taking them off. Often, they’re lined with a sticky-feeling rubbery material that clings to your skin. The fabric on these pants is lightweight, softer, and much quieter than most hardshells, which made them feel way more comfortable during long periods of movement.

Consistent with the Awe S jacket, the articulated fit and body-mapped design allow for natural movement, and they don’t have that stiff, restrictive feeling some waterproof pants get when climbing, running, or hiking uphill. I appreciated that they felt protective without becoming bulky or annoying.

The ventilation and zipper details are also really well thought out. Easy to layer, easy to dump heat, and generally just easy to use. One thing that would make these even better would be ankle zips, so you don’t have to take your shoes off to get them on. Small thing, but that matters a lot once the weather gets bad or you’re tired and trying to make quick adjustments on the fly.

I also liked that they packed down easily and never felt overly technical.

ALEX: This is my favorite piece of the entire collection. Primarily because I run super warm. Which might be counterintuitive when starting a review of a 900 FP goose-down shirt. A short-sleeve down shirt isn’t something I would have naturally reached for, but it ended up filling a surprisingly useful niche.

It perfectly balances warmth, breathability, and weight — it provides surprising insulation for a minimal piece, yet never feels bulky, restrictive, or overly warm. Instead of trapping heat the way a traditional puffy can, it allows enough airflow through the Shindo mesh tape seams and arms.

The short sleeves actually make it super easy to layer. It works well over a base layer, under a shell, or thrown on over whatever you’re already wearing without adding bulk.

This will be on all of our summer trips, and I will reach for it during the in-between moments that come with being outside — before runs, after runs, hanging around camp, crewing races, and on road trips. It packs down small, weighs only 200g, and provides enough warmth when you don’t necessarily need a full jacket.

The Pacific++ occupies a sweet spot between a midlayer and a puffy, providing an impressive amount of warmth for its weight while remaining comfortable, breathable, and easy to wear through changing conditions.

ALEX: This was the first shoe I put on after finishing Cocodona, and honestly, that concludes my review of it.

After multiple days of dust, swelling, heat, and destroying my feet, the Apres Mule felt incredible. The knit upper is soft and forgiving, the toe box is roomy without feeling sloppy, and the cushioning hits a really nice middle ground between soft and supportive. My feet felt badly bruised after the race, and this shoe immediately provided relief.

I also really liked how easy it is to throw on. The collapsible heel makes it feel more like a recovery slipper in the best way, but there’s enough structure that I didn’t feel like I was shuffling around in a slipper. This shoe has quickly become my default: post-run, travel, walking around the house, and “my feet are upset” shoe.

The knit upper breathes well and never felt hot or restrictive, which was a big relief after days in clammy, dusty race shoes. This is one of those products that has become part of my routine because it’s effortlessly comfortable and easy to wear.

Do, however, note that Uppervoid uses European sizing for the shoe, so you might have to do some converting.

ALEX: What stood out to me immediately with this belt was how usable the storage actually is while still feeling surprisingly minimal while worn. There are a lot of running belts out there right now that either feel overly stripped down and bounce around when loaded, or go fully tactical and feel overbuilt for daily runs. This landed in a really nice middle ground.

The layered pocket setup allows for intentional organization without feeling complicated. I could separate gels, phone, gloves, a headlamp, and smaller essentials without digging around blindly, and the storage feels accessible rather than just “there.”

I also really liked the Fidlock magnetic buckle. Small detail, but once you’re tired, cold, or trying to make quick adjustments during long runs, not fighting tiny buckles matters more than you think.

Where I think this will really shine is when paired with a vest to create a more complete system. In recent years, I have stopped overloading a vest with everything and instead distribute weight more evenly across both a belt and a vest. I especially like using belts for carrying calories, poles, gloves, and other small items I want quickly, without constantly putting a vest on and off.