Monthly Running Essentials: 13 Pieces of Kit Our Team Kept Coming Back To

Introduction

Every month the team ends up with a pile of kit that never quite gets a full review of its own but genuinely earned its place in the rotation. This month that pile is unusually varied: heat-managing race apparel, marathon fuelling, budget compression socks, open earbuds, a headlamp for dark evening trails, and even maternity leggings. Here is everything worth a closer look.

UYN Acceleration Shirt

UYN (the Italian high-performance apparel maker) built this shirt for temperature control in hot conditions, and it got a proper test: 70 miles over two days in temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It is remarkably soft against the skin, light, very stretchy, and the breathable Flex Zones help dissipate heat in key areas. Crucially, it stayed cool without getting sweat-heavy and wet.

It dries fast and does not hold odor badly, which makes it genuinely practical for multi-day adventures or simply doing less washing. The feel is a great combo of snug and cozy but airy, and it moves with you without restriction. It is on the pricier side for a t-shirt, but it feels technical, versatile, and durable enough to last, and it may work as a light winter mid-layer under a jacket. If you are putting together a multi-day ultra or desert stage race kit, it is well worth a look.

1MORE Fit SE S30 Open Earbuds

Open-ear headphones have been the story of the year in running audio, and most of the big names are expensive. The 1MORE Fit SE S30 (a name that is admittedly far too long) costs around £70 or $70, less than half the price of options like the Cleer Arc 2 or Shokz Open Fit, and it is already discounted to around £60.

They sound good for the style, sit very securely thanks to the ear hook design, and deliver 10 hours of battery life with another 20 in the case. The fit holds even with glasses and a hat, though the hook can dig into the back of the ear a little over time, and they are not quite as comfortable or refined as the pricier leaders. For one to two hours of running they are perfectly comfortable, and as a cheaper entry into open headphones they make a lot of sense.

Maurten Gel 160

The Maurten Gel 160 is essentially a bigger version of the Gel 100: the same hydrogel delivery, but with 40g of carbs instead of 25g. That is a lot of carbohydrate in one small packet, and the hydrogel format has proved notably easy on the stomach compared with other gels in marathon use.

For anyone who already uses Maurten’s drink mix for that same 40g of carbs, the gel is a more convenient and lightweight package. It goes down easier than other big-carb gels, which can feel more aggressive on the stomach. It is not cheap, but value is reasonable for the size: around £40 (roughly $50) for a pack of 10 versus around £33 for 12 of the Gel 100. A handy option for long events and race day.

Kiprun Run 500 Compression Socks

At £18 from Decathlon, the Kiprun Run 500 compression socks cost a fraction of premium rivals like CEP, which often run £40 to £50. They do the core job well: your calf muscles feel nicely hugged, and they are comfortable enough for recovery use.

On the run, they are thicker and less comfortable than the pricier options, so the sensible approach is to use these for shorter runs and recovery, and save the premium pairs for long or hard sessions. At this price it is hard to argue with them for everyday recovery wear.

Science in Sport Go Electrolyte

The SiS Go Electrolyte tub is a simple idea: an electrolyte drink powder that delivers 36g of carbohydrates per serving, with some salts, minerals, and vitamins alongside. The real point is the carbohydrate, giving you extra energy for big training weeks.

The strength here is flexibility. Because it is a powder, you can dial the serving up or down: a half serving before a shorter interval session, more before something longer. The taste is subtle and easy to drink, and per serving it undercuts using gels for training fuel. If you are covering big mileage and want something to top your energy levels up without resorting to gels midweek, this fits well.

Soar Flow Long Sleeve Top

The Soar Flow long sleeve sits firmly at the premium end at £90, in a very lightweight fabric woven with tiny holes that let a little light through. It is lovely to wear on crisp mornings: just enough coverage to take the chill off, with the sleeve doubling as a sweat wipe for your face.

It layers beautifully under jackets as winter deepens, and the extra arm coverage is genuinely useful where ticks or undergrowth are a concern. Two small, subtle reflective accents sit on the front shoulder and mid-back. Available from extra small to extra large in 87% recycled materials, in blue and red. A treat-yourself item, but a very nice one.

Adidas Run Icons Running Long Sleeve Top

At £38, the Adidas Run Icons long sleeve is the warmer, more affordable counterpart to the Soar above. It is 100% recycled polyester, thin on the outside but with a slightly raised inner weave that traps a little more body heat while staying lightweight.

It has thumb holes, comes in 2XS up to extra large, and the relaxed cut leaves room for a vest underneath as winter sets in. It is basic, but useful and well priced for what it does.

Proviz Antaris Running Headlamp 500

Head torch season is here, and the Proviz Antaris 500 delivers a lot of light for its price, usually $39.99 and currently down to around $35.99. It runs on three AAA batteries (you can use your own rechargeables) with around 20 hours of light, and the thick elastic strap keeps it secure with minimal movement while running.

There are five light settings: red, flashing, spotlight, max spotlight, and floodlight, cycled with a single top button that is easy to find and press even with gloves on. Visibility is solid at roughly 30 metres ahead, and the unit angles down for technical ground or up for distance. The main compromise is padding: there is only the strap at the back, so plan to wear it over a buff, headband, or hat rather than bareheaded.

Shokz Open Swim Headphones

The Shokz Open Swim headphones have become an unexpected favourite for anyone balancing running with more swimming. Around £150 or $150 (with Black Friday discounts likely), they fit securely, do not budge in the water, and their light weight means a swimming cap or running cap sits comfortably over them.

Because Bluetooth does not work underwater, loading music and podcasts requires a cable and manual downloads, which is a little fiddly at first but fine once you have the hang of it. A mode button switches between swimming and everyday mode, and a small pouch keeps them out of the washing machine with your swim kit. Impressive for pool sessions, and usable for runs too since audio is stored on the headphones.

Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity Running Bra

The Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity running bra has stood out for its support and durability, both of which matter enormously as support needs increase. It has washed repeatedly as the go-to bra without shrinking or bobbling, and it still fits well.

The design is genuinely clever: adjustable fit at the back, a clip you can undo at the end of a sweaty run, and a traditional hook-and-eye fastening so you are not wriggling into it. At £75 it is an investment, and it comes in many colors, but for a supportive high-impact bra it has proved worth it, and it is one to watch in the sales.

Nike One Maternity Leggings

The Nike One maternity leggings have a large waistband designed for the bump, and they have become a genuine staple: worn for running, yoga, Pilates, and dog walking. You buy your normal pre-pregnancy size, and they come in different leg lengths at £65.

They are not the most sweat-wicking option and have no pockets for long runs, but for keeping running comfortably through pregnancy they fit really well and are highly recommended.

JBL Sound Gear Sense

The JBL Sound Gear Sense belongs to the new breed of open-air conduction headphones: speakers sit near your ears rather than inside them, keeping you aware of your surroundings while sounding bolder and more customizable than bone conduction can manage. The ear hook design is a little bulkier than some rivals but stays in place well, and you can twist the speaker element up or down to adjust how much awareness you want.

The sound is typically JBL: bold, bright, and customizable through the companion app. Touch controls are responsive, not oversensitive, and customizable too. Battery life is unremarkable, with louder, bassier listening dropping roughly 20% in an hour, but quick charging in the case keeps them topped up. They undercut the Shokz Open Fit and are a strong pick in that category.

Adidas Terrex Experior Merino Base Layer

A good base layer is worth spending a bit more on, and the Adidas Terrex Experior merino base layer has earned repeat wear as the temperature starts to drop. Adidas rates its base layers by conditions, and this one sits around the 150 level: for days that are still mild but cooling, rather than truly cold conditions (which go up to around 250 to 260).

The fit sits close to the skin without being compression-tight, so it is comfortable enough to wear on its own, and it layers neatly under a long sleeve, gilet, or thin jacket for that early-run warmth. Like good merino, it does not smell quickly when you sweat, so it can be reused several times before washing. It is not cheap, but it sits firmly in the category of quality base layers worth the investment.

Conclusion

This month’s picks show how varied a well-stocked running kit list has become: technical shirts and base layers for changing seasons, fuelling built around big training blocks, audio that keeps you aware, and niche but genuinely useful items like maternity leggings and swim headphones. Match each product to your actual training needs and budget, and most of these will earn their keep quickly.