Men's Torin 8 by Altra — I switched to zero drop shoes after many years of running in 8mm drop, and I absolutely love my Torin 8s! They are super comfy and have made a huge difference in how my feet and body feel after a workout. So good! The heel lock is very secure, and the wide toe box feels great, even for my narrow feet.
Hydrate Black by Transparent Labs — Hydrate Black is my favorite pre-workout mix. The black cherry flavor is delicious, and it's got just the right amount of caffeine to help perk me up.
Salty Britches® Chafing Ointment by AWC Tuck Co. — I literally cannot go a day without using Salty Britches for something! It is the only thing I have found that keeps me from chafing everywhere - especially places I can't mention! I use it on my hands for rowing, on my feet for running, walking, and hiking, and...well...let's just say cycling is a lot more comfortable when I use Salty Britches! On the rare occasion I do forget it, I regret it almost immediately.
UltrAspire Lumen 400z 2.0 Waist Light Black by UltrAspire — I live in an extremely hot part of south Texas, so a lot of my outdoor workouts are done in the early morning or late evening when it's dark. I don't particularly care for head lamps, so I use waist lights. The Ultraspire waist lights are bright, durable, and adjustable, and I can see the road or trail in front of me much better than with a head lamp. The pouch on the back (either included or separate depending on the model you get) is great for your phone, gels, keys, or other small things. Don't leave home without it!
Garmin Enduro 3 GPS Watch by Garmin — I have been using Garmin watches for years. I started with the fenix series, but as much ax I loved them, they were very heavy. I chose the Enduro 3 as a replacement for my fenix 7 solar, and I have not regretted it one bit. It does everything I need it to do - and a lot of things I'll likely never use - and it's so much lighter and feels great on my wrist. The display is easy to read even in bright sunlight, the touchscreen is responsive, and battery life is fantastic.
Universal Sidekick ID by ROAD iD — I've been using Road ID for years, and I have just about every variation available! I love the Sidekick because I can fit it on any watch strap I have, one either thr left or right side (I'm a lefty, so this matters). I love having my emergency contact information right there in case I ever need it (hopefully never!). I've also started having inspirational quotes engraved on their 13mm plates and wearing them separately as subtle reminders to keep moving. I literallycnever leave the house without at least one Road ID on me!
Apex - Black Infrared Polarized by Shady Rays® | Polarized Sunglasses — I've been wearing Shady Rays sunglasses since 2020. With very few exceptions, they are generally all I wear. The Apex is my current favorite. They fit really well, don't slip, and provide excellent coverage to protect my eyes. Their replacement program is second to none, and they donate portions of every sale to help children in need. They have a huge variety of styles, frames, lens colors, and sizes, their prices are extremely reasonable, and they have killer sales! By far my favorite sunglasses brand.
H1 by Mount to Coast — I decided to try Mount to Coast after seeing several athletes use them at Cocodona 250, and BOY am I glad I was influenced! The H1 road-to-trail shoe is exactly what I needed where I live, because there's a good mix of road and trails and I needed a shoe that can do both. This is it! These shoes are unbelievably comfortable. I have narrow feet, so these feel good to me without feeling like my feet are swimming in them. Highly recommend.
COROS Heart Rate Monitor by COROS — I wore chest strap HRMs for years and always had issues with them. I hated always having to keep the contacts wet, and it seems like every time I had to change a battery, the sensor would stop working. Enter the Coros armband HRM! So easy to pair with my Garmin and the PM5 monitors on my Concept 2 ergs, and it's optical so no contacts to worry about. Battery life is excellent, and I get a notification on my Garmin and my phone when it needs to be charged. Plus, it's super comfortable and the strap us easy to clean. I also love that it's rechargeable. I will never go back to using a chest strap again!
Junk headbands by JUNK — I sweat A LOT, and wearing one of these headbands either by itself or under my hat keeps the sweat from dripping into my eyes. They are very comfortable and just stretchy enough that they're secure, but don't feel tight. They have awesome designs and all different colors and themes. I dont work out without one!
OpenRun Pro 2 by Shokz — Being outdoors means being safe, and I love that I can listen to music or podcasts and still hear what's going on around me. I chose the mini because I have a smaller head, and that was definitely the right choice. They sound great and are so comfortable I almost forget I have them on.
