Monthly Running Gear Roundup: Nine Tested Picks for Trails, Racing and Everyday Training

Introduction

This month’s roundup covers nine products that have been tested in real training and racing, including a 100-mile ultra attempt, a 51k trail run and a marathon build-up. The mix spans carrying, fueling, heart rate tracking, eyewear, compression, shoe repair and everyday apparel. Not everything here is for everyone, but each pick earned its place through use rather than spec sheets.

Adidas Terrex Race Vest

The Adidas Terrex Race Vest was picked up at short notice for a 100-mile race and performed better than expected. It is light and minimal, yet there is room for all the obligatory kit, including a waterproof jacket in the sizeable main back compartment. The padded back and harness are breathable, and the front pockets hold two 600ml soft flasks.

Other details work well: adjustable toggle bungee straps up front, a harness that sizes down for a secure, low-bounce fit, and a built-in whistle. The external pouch feels a little too open, and more front storage would be welcome, but for races where you do not need to carry much, it is a strong option.

SiS Tiramisu Go Energy Bakes

These bars sit firmly in the engineered race fuel category, so expectations should be set accordingly. They proved genuinely useful as a flavour change from sweet gels during a long ultra. The texture is crumbly and cakey with a soft centre, not too dry, though you will want water to wash them down.

Each bar delivers 30 grams of carbohydrate, roughly a third of an hourly fuelling target on an ultra, so they work best in combination with other sources. They can get squashed in a pack, and they are vegetarian friendly but not vegan. Flavours include lemon and strawberry alongside tiramisu, which offers a pleasant, not-overdone coffee note.

CooSpo H9Z Heart Rate Monitor

For a budget chest strap, the CooSpo H9Z ticks a lot of the right boxes. It is a no-frills monitor with reliable accuracy and okay comfort. The rechargeable sensor runs around 32 hours per charge, and battery life was barely touched even after a two-hour run.

The strap is a bit rigid where the sensor sits, but it caused no rubbing over repeated wear. There is no onboard storage and no tracking beyond heart rate and HRV, but it beams stats to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. If you want dependable heart rate data for under £40, this is an easy recommendation.

Chorus Heart Rate Monitor

The Chorus Heart Rate Monitor is a lightweight armband costing £79, with Bluetooth connectivity (no ANT+) and up to three simultaneous Bluetooth connections. Battery life is quoted at 38 hours, or 80 days in standby.

The surprise here is how much it has become the daily driver, replacing a chest strap for everyday use. There are no buttons: slip it on, it turns on and connects to your watch, take it off and it shuts down. It has connected easily with a range of watches, mostly Garmin devices, and it is comfortable enough to forget you are wearing it. On a 51k trail run it proved especially convenient, since chest straps pair badly with trail running packs.

Accuracy is good for an optical armband: peaks and troughs matched a chest strap closely, with only a slight lag on intervals. The Polar Verity Sense is a pricier rival with extras like swim tracking and workout storage, but for runners the Chorus is accurate, easy and long-lasting on a charge, comfortably covering several weeks at five to seven hours of weekly training.

SunGod Classics Prescription Sunglasses

SunGod now offers prescription lenses across its lifestyle frames, which is a big deal for spectacle wearers who run. The Classics cost £70 or $90 as standard frames, rising to £160 or $210 with prescription. You enter your prescription online and the glasses arrive a few weeks later, with the usual SunGod customisation for frame colours and lenses.

They have become a go-to for running and everyday life alike: a simple style, a very good sports fit that stays in place, and hardy enough to survive in a running bag in a soft case. Silicone ear grippers (available cheaply online) help on sweaty runs. A lifetime guarantee covers frame damage, though not lens scratches.

CEP Run Socks

CEP’s main compression Run Socks cost £45 or $60. Compared with the brand’s ultralight socks, which suit consistently hot weather, these have a slightly bulkier, more supported feel from thicker fabric without ever feeling hot.

They stayed comfortable throughout a 51k run in Wales and have handled most long runs recently, with an ultra planned in them next. They wash well and hold up over many cycles without stiffening, fit well, and while they take some effort to pull on, they are not annoyingly difficult. For anyone who feels more comfortable in compression on long or hard runs, they strike a nice balance of support, lightness and breathability.

Tailwind Endurance Fuel

Tailwind Endurance Fuel is a powder you mix with water. A 54-gram sachet serving delivers 200 calories, 50 grams of carbohydrate and 1.5 grams of salt. It has been used extensively on longer marathon-training sessions, where carrying a bottle is acceptable, and it doubles as fuelling and hydration thanks to the included electrolytes.

The taste is a highlight: strong on flavour, genuinely nice and refreshing rather than tasting like a typical energy drink, with flavours including berry, mandarin and a favourite Colorado Cola. Carb content varies slightly between flavours but generally sits around that 200-calorie mark. For race day, gels still win on convenience for runners who dislike carrying bottles, but as a training-run drink this is easy to keep using.

Shoe Goo 2

An experimental pick, and a practical one. Super shoe outsoles have been ripping off repeatedly, and ordinary super glues fail because they dry rigid: the moment the soft midsole flexes, the bond pulls apart. Shoe Goo 2 is designed differently, taking a day or two to cure so the bond stays flexible and moves with the shoe.

The results are condition-dependent. Reattaching a section of rubber that has completely torn off works poorly and needs repeated re-sticking. But where rubber is simply lifting at the edge on an older shoe, a dab holds it firmly in place and extends the shoe’s life. Strap the repair with elastic bands or tape for a couple of days while it sets. If your shoes are under warranty, return them; for older pairs with lifting rubber, this works well.

The North Face Summit Pacesetter Shorts

The North Face Summit Pacesetter shorts are designed for trails but work just as well on the road. The standout qualities are how light and thin they feel, loose enough to flap in the wind rather than hug, and how quickly they dry after sweaty efforts or stops.

Pocketing is generous but phone-sized storage is not: a decent back pocket suits keys and cards, side mesh pockets hold gels, and a small internal stash pocket fits hydration tabs, but you will need a waist pack or vest for a phone. The liner is brief-style rather than full length, yet thigh chafing has not been an issue. At £65 they are pricey, but the quality and fit make them worthwhile if you value a good-looking, comfortable short.

Buying Advice

Match each pick to a real need: the Adidas vest for minimal races, the SiS bakes for solid-fuel variety on long ultras, the CooSpo for budget chest-strap accuracy, and the Chorus if you want hassle-free daily armband tracking. SunGod Classics make sense for runners who need prescription lenses, CEP socks for long-run comfort, Tailwind for training hydration plus fuelling, Shoe Goo 2 for rescuing older shoes, and the North Face shorts for anyone after lightweight, quick-drying comfort.

Conclusion

None of these products requires a big leap of faith, because each has been put through genuine training and racing miles. Choose the ones that solve a problem you actually have, and they should slot straight into your routine.