Monthly Running Kit Roundup: 8 Picks We Rate This September

Introduction

Some of the best running kit never makes it into a headline review. It arrives quietly, gets used week after week, and earns its place through sheer usefulness. This monthly roundup covers eight products that did exactly that: recovery tools, wearables, and small accessories that proved themselves during marathon training blocks, speed sessions, and a stretch of genuinely hot weather.

Therabody Recovery Air Jet Boots

Compression boots are essentially long sleeves for your legs that fill with air to deliver a structured massage designed to promote recovery between hard runs. They are expensive, and skepticism is reasonable, but after several weeks of marathon training with higher mileage than usual, the difference in how the legs felt the day after tough sessions was hard to ignore.

The Recovery Air Jet Boots stand out from other sets mainly because they are completely wireless, which makes them far more portable. Battery life is rated at 240 minutes, and each boot has its own console so you can adjust pressure and session time directly. They also pair with a companion app, though it is not essential to get the most from them. One caveat: in very hot weather, wearing insulated boots on your legs for long periods is not comfortable, so consider your climate before buying.

Garmin HRM Pro Plus

The HRM Pro Plus is Garmin’s new top-of-the-range heart rate monitor, and it is waterproof, making it a solid choice for swimming. It tracks advanced running dynamics such as ground contact time and vertical oscillation, and it can measure running power and beam it natively to many Garmin watches without needing a Connect IQ app. It also adds running pace and distance, useful for indoor running, which were not available on the original HRM Pro.

The most meaningful change is hardware rather than software. The previous model required unscrewing four tiny screws to change the battery, an awkward process that risked damaging the battery port. The HRM Pro Plus replaces that with a plastic cover and a twist-lock battery compartment, so you can swap the coin-cell battery without endangering the strap. At £120 or $129 it is not a necessary purchase, but it packs accurate heart rate, running power, and dynamics into one comfortable strap that lasts a long time on a single battery.

Montane Soft Flask 360ml

Sometimes the smallest pieces of kit make the biggest difference. This 360ml (roughly 12 fluid ounces) soft flask turns out to be a genuinely useful size for runners who carry their own drinks. Standard 250ml flasks mean more refills, while 500ml versions bounce too much when running hard in a marathon.

The 360ml hits the sweet spot: in testing over several hard runs carrying two of these in a running belt, there was no bouncing at all. It also has a wide opening that makes filling and cleaning easy, and the anti-leak valve has been completely reliable. If you carry your own drinks and run fast, this size is a real efficiency upgrade.

Melon Pace Hydro Cap

At £50 this is a lot of money for a running cap, but it proved its worth during a hot stretch of weather. Beyond being a comfortable, good-looking cap with a conventional style you would happily wear around town, it has one feature that genuinely works: a rubber channel under the rim that funnels sweat and moisture out from the front of the head so it drips down the sides instead of over your face. In testing, sweat never dripped into the eyes even in serious heat.

The cap also has a water-resistant exterior, packs down small while retaining its shape, and is machine washable, which matters a great deal if you wear a running cap most days. There is temperature-lowering technology built in that is hard to feel in practice, so buy it for the sweat management and comfort rather than that claim. If you are deeply into your caps and want the extra features, it is a good investment; otherwise the price is a real consideration.

New Balance London Edition Q Speed Jacquard T-Shirt

New Balance makes some of the best-fitting running t-shirts around, largely because of the cut. The fit is slightly trimmer through the arms, shoulders, and chest while staying relaxed around the midriff, which suits a wide range of body types better than the overly tight or overly baggy extremes many brands land on.

This London Edition Q Speed Jacquard version is also exceptionally breathable, with perforations running through the fabric that keep airflow moving. The material is loose, light, and soft against the skin, which is rare in a performance t-shirt, and it stayed comfortable during speed and interval sessions even in hot weather, in black no less. New Balance tops also hold their shape for years, which makes the understated colorway easy to recommend.

Bolle Icarus Sunglasses

The Icarus is technically a multi-sport sunglass rather than a running-specific one, but it performs brilliantly on the run. The fit is secure and comfortable, with Thermo-Grip covering on the arms, and there was no slippage during testing. The visor-style shape is also more subtle than many alternatives, and they look good enough to wear off the road too.

There are several lens versions. The base model starts at £115 and offers standard UV protection. The Volt Plus polarized version tested here costs £165 and claims 30 percent color enhancement, better depth perception, and high-performance polarization; in practice, vision stayed natural and comfortable in bright sun without the distortion some sunglasses introduce. A Phantom version with photochromic lenses, anti-fog coating, and high-impact resistance runs about £185. Worth noting: they are often available considerably cheaper at other retailers than the list price.

Balega Enduro Women’s Running Socks

If you usually buy cheap multipack socks, premium socks can seem like an indulgence, but the Balega Enduro no-show socks convert skeptics quickly. The material is nice and thick, yet even in hot weather they never made feet hot or sweaty. They feel genuinely plush the moment you put them on, and they are the pair you find yourself digging through the drawer to find.

They use a women’s-specific fit, part of a wider trend of brands designing around differences in foot shape rather than offering a one-size approach. At £14 they are not cheap, but they make a reliable gift and a worthwhile upgrade for runners who like cushioned shoes and a plush feel.

Only Curls Satin Running Cap

A niche product, but exactly right for the runners who need it. Designed for people with long curly hair who run with a ponytail or bun on top of the head, this cap has a satin inner lining, the same principle as a satin pillowcase or overnight hair wrap. Rougher materials cause friction and frizz, and the satin lining aims to reduce that while you run.

The back opening leaves plenty of room for a ponytail or bun, and the front coverage solves a problem visors cannot: in humidity or drizzle, exposed hair at the front frizzes dramatically, while this cap keeps that area covered. At £16 it is reasonably priced, works for everyday wear as well as running, and avoids the technical look of many running caps. The trade-off is less ventilation than a full visor in serious heat, so it is best suited to milder days, winter running, and drizzly conditions.

Buying Advice

The strongest all-round picks here are the Garmin HRM Pro Plus for anyone already in the Garmin ecosystem who wants running power and dynamics without fuss, and the Montane Soft Flask for marathoners who carry their own nutrition. The Therabody boots are a luxury that genuinely helps during heavy training blocks, while the Melon Pace cap and Balega socks are comfort upgrades worth the money if the details matter to you. The Bolle Icarus suits runners who want secure, natural-feeling eye protection, and the Only Curls cap is a small, thoughtful solution for curly-haired runners.

Conclusion

None of these products is essential, but each one earned its place through consistent performance in real training. Match the purchase to your actual needs: recovery support, accurate data, sweat management, or simply a more comfortable run, and there is a well-tested option here for most runners.