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No mountains handy?
Big deal, say the unpaved pacers—who get high anywhere there's a stretch of dirt. Gear up and join their ranks.
On Your Hide
Your first layer has its marching orders: Allow maximum movement with minimum material and banish sweat as quickly as you make it. A ten-inch zipper provides serious A/C on [1] Hind's ATZ Jersey ($50) (REI.com: Hind's ATZ Jersey), and the company's own Transpor fabric, a super-soft poly blend, lends the venting assist. With form-defining princess seams, a front zipper for climate control, and a zipped side pocket, [2] REI's CoolMax Tee ($30) (REI.com: Coolmax Tee), made of DuPont's paper-thin CoolMax Alta, is all you need and nothing more. Chafe-prone regions of the male anatomy will appreciate the supportive, one-seam nylon liner in [3] Pearl Izumi's Infinity Short ($36). When you get compliments on the ripstop nylon bottoms, which have flattering piping on the back and a rear pocket, you will run faster. [4] Athleta cuts its Trackstar Pant ($69) from a thin, wicking polyester blend for women of all heights: The five sizes come in three lengths—petite, regular, and tall. Made of MicroFine, a smooth, substantial DWR-coated polyester microfiber that repels drizzle without creating a storm inside, [5] Sugoi's versatile Investor Jacket ($120) offers detachable sleeves—stuff 'em in the zipped mesh back pocket when the sun comes out. Stretch panels on the shoulders and sides, accented with reflective piping, keep your upper body moving freely. The minimal nylon-blend fabric of [6] Zoot Sports' Dryline Vest ($85) belies the warmth it provides on chilly mornings; going up hills, the vest moves sweat out and on its way.
On Your Feet
If your dogs aren't cushioned and comfortable, you're gonna be hurtin'. A padded toe and heel in [7] Thorlo's Trail Runner socks ($12) (REI.com: Trail Runner socks)—a blend of wicking CoolMax, acrylic, and nylon—make roots and rocks a bit less antagonistic, while a cuff and instep bolstered with spandex prevent slipping. Not only do Fox River's women-specific Wick Dry Running Socks ($8) (REI.com: Wick Dry Running Socks, crew) mirror the shape of a female foot (wider toe, slimmer heel) up to size 12.5, small ventilated panels over the toes let your little piggies keep their cool. Although [8] Saucony's Grid Shadow 7 OR trail runners ($80) sport the brand's signature roomy toe box, your feet won't slosh with every slanted rock; an arch support anchored to the shoe's midsole keeps a comfortably snug fit. Sporting aggressive Stealth rubber soles, the [9] Five Ten Access ($85), now available in a women's last, helps you maintain balance on the trail, thanks to a higher-than-average cuff and a stable outsole.
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Accessorize
[10] Nike's Mojo shield sunglasses ($79Ð$89) bestow mega peripheral vision—for spotting mountain lions or your buddy passing you. A ventilated rubber nose grip and large rubber tips on the temple pieces cling to a sweaty face. For specs that don't scream "runner," try [11] Bolle's hip Swisher ($60Ð$100), a lightweight nylon frame with no-slip temple tips that wraps nicely around smaller faces for protection from sun and trail detritus. [12] Lowe Alpine's Dryflo Cap ($19) features alternating panels of solid and mesh Dryflo, a hyper-wicking stretchy material with a UPF rating of 50, a one-hand drawcord rear closure, and a reflective stripe. Wee-hour jaunts seem less torturous when your teeth aren't chattering: The tightly woven nylon-blend Vapor Dry fabric in [13] Brooks' sleek Racer Cap ($16) snugs to your head so warmth stays put, while [14] Brooks' Thermolite Gloves ($14), of thin but effective Thermolite polyester, cozy your palms. A staple for epic runs, [15] Asics' Eagle Trail Backpack ($60) boasts a 51-ounce reservoir with an optional insulation envelope to keep refreshments chilled; three pockets; and a bite valve with an on/off function, so it doesn't dribble. A 20-ounce water bottle and a four-ounce holder perfectly sized for packs of bee-produced superfuel, Honey Stinger ($1.40), mean hydration and nutrition are both within reach on [16] Ultimate Direction's Access Plus ($25) (REI.com: Access Plus) waist pack. Sure, a great trail run shouldn't be about the numbers, but don't you secretly want to know? After calibrating [17] Nike's SDM Triax 100 wristwatch-and-data pod ($235) at a track, take to the dirt, where the pod, which sits atop a shoe's tongue, records mileage, speed, and time. Access that info with the watch, which also lets you program the speed at which you'd like to run and graphs your pace over intervals. Unless you're training for Olympic fame, [18] Polar's affordable S-120 heart-rate monitor ($99) (REI.com: Polar's S-120 heart rate monitor) has everything you need: It displays current and average heart rate and total time, calculates maximum heart rate, times intervals, counts laps, and stores your last workout's data. Don't carry a leash for your pooch—make him do it. [19] Ruff Wear's Quick Draw ($12) (REI.com: Quick Draw) is an adjustable 15- to 27-inch reflective nylon lead that clips to his collar and attaches to itself—just the thing for road crossings.
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