2024 Running Gear of the Year: Six Standout Picks for Trail and Ultra Runners

Introduction

A year of testing running kit across training runs and tough races, from a multi-stage desert ultra to dark winter miles, produced a clear list of standout products. These six items earned their place by solving real problems without adding fuss, and they are the pieces most worth a closer look if you are building your own trail and ultra running setup.

Best Sun Protection: Soar Sahara Cap

The Soar Sahara Cap earned its spot during a 220 km multi-stage desert race through Wadi Rum, where it was worn for the entirety of the event. The cap is built from extreme sun-blocking, quick-drying and highly breathable mesh panels, so lightweight that it barely registers on your head. A generous brim shades the face, a pull cord at the back handles adjustability, and the standout feature is the featherlike cape at the rear that shades the ears and neck during the hottest part of the day. It is not the cheapest cap on the market, but few pieces of kit made a bigger difference in that harsh environment.

Best Head Torch: Fenix HM65RT V2

The Fenix HM65RT V2 is the latest version of a head torch that has been the go-to choice for nighttime running for years, and it has never let its owner down. Build quality is excellent and genuinely bombproof, with strong brightness and a long battery burn time. What really separates it is how easy it is to adjust on the move: a BOA-style dial on the headband tightens and loosens with a twist, and two large buttons on top of the unit make it simple to flick between settings mid-run. That combination makes it a strong pick for ultramarathons where a big chunk of the race happens in the dark.

Best Running Shorts: Soar Motion 8” Shorts

The Soar Motion 8” Shorts have been worn almost exclusively for two to three years and have become a firm favorite. The length is the sweet spot, not too short and not too long, and the fabric is comfortable enough that it has never caused irritation or rubbing, even across long, tough races. Notably, they ship without an internal mesh brief liner, which suits runners who prefer to pair shorts with their own endurance running underwear. Two zip pockets add everyday practicality, making them just as useful for casual wear and travel as they are for training runs.

Best Trail Poles: Harrier Havelin Pro Carbon Z Poles

The updated Harrier Havelin Pro Carbon Z Poles take an already excellent design and refine it. The upgraded carbon fiber makes the poles stiffer, so more power transfers through each push, and the overall setup is lighter than before. The mud baskets at the tips are smaller and the whole design is sleeker, which helps when stowing the poles away or deploying them quickly from a quiver. At £105 they compare very well against similar poles on the market, and Harrier’s website carries an extensive range with options to suit most budgets if the carbon model is out of reach.

Best Pole Carry System: Instinct Trail Running Twin Quiver

The Instinct Trail Running twin quiver pole carrying system stood out immediately on first look, and it has proven to be a genuinely ingenious solution. The build quality, functionality and attention to detail are typical of this French brand. Carrying two poles in the twin quiver balances them better across your back, so there is far less movement and noise while running. More importantly, it makes grabbing the poles out for a big climb or breaking them down and stowing them away before a technical descent much quicker and easier.

Best GPS Watch: Coros Pace Pro

The Coros Pace Pro closes out the list as the most impressive recent test. Coros has added a new 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, and it changes the experience completely: super bright and very easy to read on the move. That comes alongside improved GPS and mapping, with navigation that worked well in real testing, plus the brand’s legendary battery life. Anyone who has been happy with an older Coros watch will find this display alone makes the Pace Pro a meaningful step up.

Overall Buying Advice

Each product here solves a specific problem well. Hot-weather racers should start with the Sahara Cap, night runners will get immediate value from the HM65RT V2, and anyone wanting a versatile daily short will appreciate the liner-free Motion 8”. For mountain ultras, the Havelin Pro Carbon Z poles paired with the Instinct twin quiver form a complete climbing and descending system, and the Coros Pace Pro is the upgrade that touches every run. Match the item to the condition you actually run in most often, and it is hard to go wrong with any of these six.

Conclusion

These six products all proved themselves in real conditions over a full year of testing, from desert heat to dark forest trails. Whether you are preparing for a multi-stage ultra or simply upgrading your everyday running kit, each one delivers on its core job with very few compromises.