• Buyers Guide 2005 home
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Outside Athelte
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Outside Expidition
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Outside Travel
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Outside Style
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Gear of the Year
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Gear to Covet
  • Buyers Guide 2005 Killer Values
  • Letter from the editor

Browse Outdoor Gear

Gear Blog Gear Guy

Today's Question
I'm looking for the lightest breatheable bivy sack out there, any suggestions? answer

What is the best way to carry water on a hike? answer

Gear Favorites

Buyers Guide 2004

 Outside Buyers Guide 2005

2004 Buyer's Guide: The Essential Trail Runner
Photograph by Chris McPherson


Pick Up the Pace
Set a new personal best with gear and garb that can take a pounding
By Dimity McDowell

SUIT UP » Trail running has its share of hazards: Sneaky roots will instantly take you from vertical to horizontal, while ankle-twisting rocks seem to pop up out of nowhere. Needless to say, your attack plan should include high-performance gear. Start with (1) LOWE ALPINE's DRY ZONE LONG SLEEVED T-SHIRT ($59), with patches of high-ventilation polyester over chest, pits, sides, and spine. On chilly mornings, cover up with the (2) SPIRE WIND VEST ($75) from MOONSTONE—it's got ripstop nylon in front, breathable Polartec PowerStretch in back, and nifty reflective stripes. For your locomotive half, THE NORTH FACE's FLIGHT TRAIL SHORTS ($42) have a supportive CoolMax liner shelled with quick-drying nylon, plus four pockets. For comfort in the cold, try thermoregulatory (3) CONDITIONING TIGHTS ($80) from CW-X, built with a generous helping of CoolMax, plus structured Lycra-and-nylon panels to stabilize your knees. FOOT ARMOR » Blisters suck, so treat your feet to SMARTWOOL's ADRENALINE MICRO SOCKS ($13); they have serious cush down below, a reinforced arch, and anti-blister padding for the heel and Achilles. The sap-sticky, topographic treads on the (4) LA SPORTIVA COLORADO TRAIL AT ($85) invite you to cruise any landscape, from fire roads to boulder fields. ACCESSORIZE » Complete your outfit with some specialized accoutrements: Say sayonara to chilled digits with the (5) COLDOUT MIDWEIGHT GLOVE by DESCENTE ($25). (6) ULTIMATE DIRECTION's EXCEL HHS waist pack ($30) holds a 20-ounce water bottle horizontally, for easy snagging with either hand.