🧭 The trail running gear that deserves praise. Packs, poles, lights, recovery tools, storage systems, and little mountain sidekicks that help make long days more fun, functional, and slightly less chaotic.
ULTRATRAIL FX.ONE SUPERLITE by Leki — These poles are a superpower. Easy to pack up, and I'm obsessed with the shark hook for quick release.
Lumen 800 Solstice by UltrAspire — What's great about this light is that you have the option to carry extra batteries, so you don't have to worry about running out of juice (or keeping it charged) in the middle of the night!
Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs - Standard Black by Hyperice — I experimented with using my Normatec boots during sleep breaks on my Long Trail FKT effort, and it worked. They helped calm down that “what did you just do to your legs” buzzing feeling when I’d finally lay down and kept my legs feeling surprisingly fresh throughout the effort. Also love them for normal day-to-day recovery after big training weeks and long runs.
Anti-Chafe & Skin Repair Compostable Tube, Original, 2.0 oz by Squirrels Nut Butter — Chafing is preventable if you plan for it. I don’t chafe often, but when I do it’s annoying. I always keep Squirrel’s Nut Butter in my vest and running bag. Lube up or regret it.
COROS APEX 2 Pro by COROS — The COROS battery life is unbeatable.
Crew Drop One by SILO — I am so pumped on this drop bag! In prepping for the Vermont 100, which I’m planning to do with just my husband crewing and no pacers, I’ve become weirdly excited about getting this thing dialed. The internal compartments are ridiculously clutch for organization, and the separate shoe compartment means I can swap shoes without needing separate bags or turning the rest of my gear into a muddy disaster.
PlayOn Pain Relief Spray by PlayOn — This was so helpful during my hundred miler! My crew sprayed it on my legs during aid station stops, keeping transitions efficient and helping my legs feel a little less wrecked as the miles piled up.
Petzl Swift LT Headlamp Black by Petzl — I love this tiny torch because it stashes so easily, I’ll often keep it in my back pocket so I’m never without a headlamp. It’s also the perfect complement to a waist belt setup, giving you light for climbs when you need to look up. The updated version of the Petzl Bindi, it’s about as minimal and functional as it gets.
B01 Trail Running Belt by Dera Running — No commission, just genuinely hyped on this product. First dial-fit running belt I’ve used, and it legit holds two flasks without feeling like you’re wearing a floaty around your waist. The included flask fits perfectly and actually locks in place. Big fan of the longer zipper pull on the back pocket too, easy to grab from behind while moving. Also has little grippies so you can tuck a shirt through the back. Haven’t tested poles with it yet, but overall really impressed by how it manages to feel both stretchy and secure at the same time.
Vertix 2S by COROS — Technically I have the older Vertix 2 model, but this thing is unreal. I once ran 290 miles with no charging in between and still had 34% battery left. The map mode rocks, and COROS keeps pushing updates that make the watch even better over time.
StormLoft™ Down TopQuilt by Outdoor Vitals — Bought this for my unsupported Long Trail adventure, and it brought an absurd amount of comfort and warmth during a really hard effort. It packs down to about the size of a Nalgene, which made tossing it in my bag for a little fly-to-pace-Cocodona car camping setup absolutely perfect.
Petzl Swift RL Headlamp Black by Petzl — A reasonably priced bright & compact light. The reactive feature is helpful in getting longevity out of a full charge.
Julbo Fury Sunglasses by Julbo — <p data-start="0" data-end="263">Huge fan of Julbo’s Reactiv lenses. They just make sense. I have mine in prescription, which was a game changer, especially during those dusk and dawn hours on trail when the light gets flat and it’s way harder (for me at least) to pick out rocks and roots.</p>
<p data-start="265" data-end="640">I made a point to get them before the 2025 Cocodona 250 and ended up wearing them nonstop. What surprised me most was how much less fatigued my eyes felt over time. I think that translated into me staying more awake, alert, and honestly just more “in it” throughout such a long race. <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "SF Pro Display", "SF Pro Text", sans-serif;">They’ve definitely earned a permanent spot in my kit.</span></p>
ULTRATRAIL FX.ONE by Leki — These were my first-ever poles, bought for the inaugural Cocodona 250. They quickly became an extension of me — I didn’t even want to put them down after the race. Obsessed.
Nathan Pinnacle Pro 12 L Hydration Vest by Nathan — With a mandatory 4L water carry and the notoriously tough first 37 miles of Cocodona 250, this vest handles it all.
