Accessories Galore: The Little Things That Matter - Jeffrey Hammond
The right accessories can make a good run great and a long race much more enjoyable. This section includes some of my favorite gear beyond shoes and socks—things like sunglasses, watches, headphones, hydration accessories, hats, and other gadgets that have earned a permanent spot in my training and race kit. These are the products I reach for day after day because they improve comfort, performance, convenience, or simply make being outside more fun. Some are essential, some are just awesome, but every item here has been tested through plenty of miles, adventures, and real-world use.
Nike Expedition Shield by Nike — The Nike Expedition Shield Polarized Sunglasses check all the boxes for me. Finding running sunglasses that fit my larger head and nose comfortably can be a challenge, but these fit exceptionally well without creating pressure points or constantly sliding around. They provide excellent coverage around the eyes, helping block sun, wind, dust, and trail debris while still maintaining great visibility.
One of my favorite features is that they stay put. No bouncing, no adjusting every few minutes, and no distractions during long runs. They also pair really well with headphones and bone-conduction headsets, which isn't always the case with performance sunglasses. Whether I'm training, racing, or spending all day outside, these are usually the sunglasses I grab first.
Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire Black 43 Mm by Garmin — The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED has become my everyday watch for just about everything. It tracks my training seamlessly through TrainingPeaks, helps guide me through race courses with navigation and mapping, and even comes with me out on the golf course. The AMOLED screen is bright, easy to read in any condition, and makes the watch feel like a major upgrade without sacrificing battery life.
What I love most is that it can handle whatever adventure I throw at it. Whether I'm training for an ultramarathon, running a 250-mile race, hiking, golfing, or just getting through a busy clinic day, it does it all without missing a beat. The navigation features have saved me countless times on unfamiliar trails, and the training metrics help me stay on track without overthinking things. If I could only own one watch, this would be it.
Suunto Wing 2 Coral Orange by Suunto — The Suunto Wing is, without question, the best headset I have ever used. The bone-conduction design allows me to listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks while still hearing everything going on around me—a huge safety advantage when running roads, trails, or busy race environments.
The battery life is outstanding, and when it does need a charge, it powers back up incredibly quickly. That's a big deal when you're training consistently or heading out for long adventure days. The fit is comfortable, secure, and stays put without causing pressure or discomfort, even during all-day efforts.
I've tried a lot of headphones over the years, and this is the one I keep coming back to. Great sound quality, excellent awareness of your surroundings, long battery life, and reliable performance make it an easy recommendation for runners, hikers, and anyone who wants to stay connected without tuning out the world around them.
Core Glove Black by On — These have become one of my favorite gloves for running and trail adventures. They're incredibly lightweight, pack down easily, and I love the versatility of being able to switch between finger gloves and a mitten depending on the weather. The convertible design gives just enough extra warmth when temperatures drop, while still letting me use my hands when I need more dexterity. They work great with my Leki poles, and the mitten cover does an excellent job of keeping my fingers warm on cold mornings, windy ridgelines, and long mountain runs. A simple piece of gear that punches well above its weight.
Core Beanie Navy by On — This is a simple piece of gear that does exactly what I want it to do. While it's a little snug on my larger head, I found it to be the perfect balance of warmth and breathability. I wore it during some cold overnight sections of Cocodona 250, and it kept me comfortable without ever feeling too hot. One thing I really appreciated was how well it worked with my headlamp—it stayed securely in place, and after a few miles I completely forgot I was wearing it. For runners looking for lightweight warmth on chilly mornings, mountain adventures, or overnight ultras, this beanie is an easy win.
Shoe Pack Magnet by On — There are a lot of shoe bags on the market, but this is one of the best I've used. The quality is excellent, the materials feel durable, and it packs down surprisingly small when not in use. As someone with size 12 feet, I appreciate that it easily fits my running shoes without feeling cramped. I've used these for races, travel, and keeping gear organized in drop bags, and they do a great job protecting shoes from moisture, dirt, and the chaos that comes with long adventures. It's a simple piece of gear, but one that helps keep everything organized and protected. I love having a few of these around for travel, race weekends, and everyday gear storage.
Salomon Adv Skin 12 Hydration Vest Khaki XS by Salomon — After trying multiple hydration vests over the years, this is the one I keep coming back to. I've tested at least four other options, and every time I found myself reaching for the ADV Skin 12 instead. The fit is comfortable, the front pockets are intuitive and easy to access while moving, and the zipper storage makes it simple to organize nutrition, gear, and essentials during long runs. The rear storage compartment is surprisingly spacious and easily holds mandatory race gear, extra layers, and other supplies for long trail adventures. I was even able to comfortably use a 3L reservoir despite the listed 2L capacity, which was a huge advantage during long stretches between aid stations. Whether you're training for your first ultra or tackling a 200+ mile race, this vest has proven itself time and time again. For me, it's the gold standard for comfort, organization, and reliability on the trails.
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp Gray by Black Diamond — This is my go-to headlamp because it does exactly what I need without being overly complicated. The Black Diamond Spot 400 is lightweight, comfortable, reliable, and puts out plenty of light for everything from early morning runs to overnight adventures. The low-profile design sits comfortably on your head, stays put while running, and is easy to forget you're wearing. With 400 lumens of output, multiple lighting modes, and excellent battery life, it strikes a great balance between performance and simplicity.
UltrAspire Lumen 400z 2.0 Waist Light Black by UltrAspire — This is one of my favorite pieces of gear for running at night. While a headlamp is great for illuminating where you're looking, adding a waist light completely changes how well you can see the trail. I love pairing the Lumen 400Z with a headlamp because the waist-mounted beam lights up the ground and terrain directly in front of me, making rocks, roots, and trail features stand out much better. Meanwhile, my headlamp follows wherever I turn my head, giving me the best of both worlds.
I've found this combination especially valuable on technical trails and remote overnight adventures where good visibility can make a huge difference in both confidence and safety. The waist light creates depth and shadows that help you read the trail more naturally, while the headlamp fills in everything else. When you're running through the middle of nowhere in the dark, having light coming from two different angles makes a noticeable difference. If you do a lot of night running, this is one of the upgrades I recommend most often.
