The Trail Running Essentials of 2016
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The North Face Runners Hat
Trucker hats block sun and look rad. The North Face took it a step further, adding a mesh sweatband around the rim to keep sunscreen out of your eyes.
Price $30
Nathan ExoShot Bottle
By pairing a soft flask with an internal spine, Nathan made a 12-ounce bottle that doesn’t feel like a jellyfish. The insulated sleeve adds grip and has a pocket big enough to hold a Patagonia Provisions bar (below).
Price $35
Hilly Twin Skin Anklet Socks
The wrong socks can destroy a run. These anklets have two layers of fabric—an outer cotton-poly blend and an inner liner—that rub against each other instead of your skin.
Price $13
The North Face Better Than Naked Tank
Constructed from a quick-drying poly knit with few seams, this top is, to quote Ned Flanders, like wearing nothing at all.
Price $45
Altra Performance Shirt
Mesh panels along the shoulders and upper back allow the shirt to breathe nearly as well as a tank, though more modestly.
Price $60
Patagonia Provisions Fruit and Almond Bars
Made from organic ingredients, Patagonia’s bars are moist yet crunchy, and they’re the perfect size for a pit stop.
Price $24 for 12
Smartwool PhD Shorts
The liner inside the five-inch PhDs is made from a silky, odor-resistant merino blend, which goes a long way toward preventing swamp crotch and chafing. (But you should still wash them.)
Price $60
Petzl Tikka RXP Headlamp
This is the smartest piece of running gear we own: it adjusts the beam’s brightness depending on light conditions (though it’s fooled by oncoming headlights). The body is a hair bulky, but the dual straps in back keep everything stable and secure.
Price $100