Best Running Gear This Month: 8 Tested Picks Worth Knowing About

Introduction

Every month a lot of kit crosses our test bench, and a handful of items genuinely stand out. This roundup brings together eight products that impressed us recently: two trail shorts, a sun hoodie, a running cap, a classic running tee, a training short, a pair of open-ear earbuds, and a pair of running socks. Each one solves a clear problem, and none of them overpromise.

Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra 7in 2-in-1 Shorts

2-in-1 shorts can sometimes feel heavier than regular running shorts, but the Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra 7in strikes a happy balance. You get the longer trail feel and protection of a twin short, paired with light, flexible fabric and a simple cut. The inner liner is not too compressive, stays put, and gives a locked-in feel, and there is enough room to layer your preferred running undies underneath instead.

Storage is generous: one zippered rear pocket that can swallow a large phone like an iPhone 15 Pro, plus two stretchy mesh side drop-in pockets. The fluorocarbon-free DWR coating adds wet-weather protection, and the shorts dry quickly if they do get soaked. They also hang nicely, with a length that is neither too tight nor too baggy, making them a versatile choice for everyday runs and longer ultra adventures alike.

Altra Fuji Trail 7in Shorts

The Altra Fuji Trail 7in shorts are incredibly lightweight, lighter than the Inov-8 pair, and made from a thin, stretchy perforated fabric. Big side splits boost freedom of movement, which helps if you have chunkier thighs. There is a brief liner inside; if you are not fond of that style, these are light enough to layer over your own running underwear.

A toggle waist lets you dial in the fit without worrying about drawstrings disappearing in the wash. The zippered pocket is on the small side and will not fit an iPhone 15 Pro, though it handles smaller phones, and the zip has a proper toggle that is easy to use with cold hands. Plenty of drop-in stretch mesh pockets around the rest of the waistband round out the storage in a very lightweight package.

The North Face Summer LT Sun Hoodie

If you are a layers person, this one is for you. The North Face Summer LT Sun Hoodie is a versatile top that doubles as a run-pack backup layer for long trail days or post-run protection from the cold. It is designed for sun protection, with fast-wicking UPF fabric acting as a thin, airy UV barrier.

The long sleeves, roomy hood, and baggy airy fit make it easy to layer for added warmth when evening chill kicks in. It is a good top to have at the ready on ultras when you want a bit of extra warmth but are not ready to switch to full nighttime gear, and it packs down small enough to stash without weighing you down.

Buff Speed Cap

Caps matter for both sun protection in summer and keeping rain out of your eyes in winter, and the Buff Speed Cap earns its place as a warm-weather pick. It is very lightweight and comfortable, and it rolls up reasonably well to stuff into a pocket when you do not want to wear it.

The real selling point is how quickly it dries. If you sweat a lot, taking it off lets it dry fast, and even while wearing it the sweat wicks away quickly. The fabric is not cottony; it has a very thin, papery feel, which presumably explains the excellent wicking. It is a great all-round cap, especially for summer racing when you want something light that will not clog up with sweat and feel heavy.

Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Tee

The Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Tee is one of the brand’s classics, and this version wins us over with a subtle colorway: a lighter blue sash across a darker blue body, far less noticeable than some of the louder sash designs. The bigger reason it stands out is the fit. If you are well built up top, running tees can be hard to size, but this one fits well in a medium: relaxed around the waist and stomach while holding nicely on the arms without being too loose.

The lightweight material does a genuinely good job of keeping you dry. It dried off quickly after a sweaty hill run, so it works at a performance level as well as looking good. It is on the expensive side, but the quality suggests it will last a long time, and it comes in five color versions.

Lululemon Pace Breaker 5in Lined Shorts

Lululemon has increasingly moved into running, and the Pace Breaker 5in lined shorts show why. The liner runs all the way down the legs, giving support and stopping your legs from rubbing together, a real plus if chafing is a recurring problem. These are thicker than race-day shorts, which makes them better suited to training.

They feature two deep side pockets, useful after a run when you stop at the shops, plus a zipped pocket on the right-hand side for keys and cards while running. A drawcord is there if you need it, though the elastic held fine on its own, and there is a minimal line of ventilation at the back. As a balanced training short for running, the gym, and everything else, these are excellent, and the quality is exactly what you would hope for.

Cleer Sona (Civa) SO2 Open-Ear Earbuds

If you like the idea of the Shokz OpenFit but balk at the price, the Cleer Sona (Civa) SO2 open-ear earbuds deliver similar performance for a lot less money. They are smaller truly wireless-style earbuds with an ear hook design that is no longer fully rotatable, but the fit remains very good, and a slightly smaller, lighter build addresses one of the main criticisms of the first version.

Physical controls have been replaced with touch controls, which are good enough for general running even if racers might prefer buttons. The sound is open-air conduction style, with wearable speakers placed beside the ears rather than inside them, and it is genuinely balanced and enjoyable out of the box, holding up well against wind and ambient noise. Battery life comes in around up to 10 hours, with louder listening dropping roughly 10% per hour of running, which matches the claimed numbers.

Darn Tough Crew Lightweight Running Socks

Good running socks are easy to overlook, but the Darn Tough Crew Lightweight pair is a find worth sharing. They look like normal socks, so you can wear them casually, and if you are travelling they could plausibly be the only pair you pack.

They are predominantly merino wool and designed for trail running, which sounds thick in theory, but in practice they worked beautifully for road running too, never feeling overly tight in road shoes. Other materials in the blend add stretch, support in the right places, and resistance to sagging. They survived repeated washes, and crucially, a month of testing showed no wear at the toes, usually the first place socks start to fail.

Buying Advice

If you trail run or race ultras, the Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra and the North Face Sun Hoodie are the standout trail-day pairings. For pure lightweight speed, the Altra Fuji Trail shorts are hard to beat. For everyday training, the Lululemon Pace Breaker and Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Tee cover both comfort and looks, while the Buff Speed Cap is a cheap-feeling-nothing summer essential. The Cleer SO2 earbuds are the budget-friendly open-ear pick, and the Darn Tough socks are simply a sensible upgrade for anyone tired of worn-out toes.

Conclusion

Eight products, eight clear use cases. Whether you are building out a trail kit, refreshing your training wardrobe, or finally replacing that battered pair of earbuds, there is something in this month’s roundup that should earn its place in your rotation.