{"id":3895,"date":"2015-03-23T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2015-03-23T19:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=3895"},"modified":"2018-11-11T22:03:29","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T06:03:29","slug":"new-womens-trail-running-gear-for-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/new-womens-trail-running-gear-for-spring","title":{"rendered":"New Women’s Trail Running Gear for Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring is prime trail-running season and we\u2019ve got the scoop on the coolest new trail-running gear from Salomon, Suunto, Patagonia, Lole, Marmot, SmartWool, Smith and Under Armor.<\/p>\n

Going for a trail run provides the ultimate escape, a chance to run away from your daily worries on a beautiful, winding trail. Plus, the gear you need is sublimely minimal: shoes, shirt, shorts\u2014go running. But the right gear, including a few added accessories and clothing items that are as functional as they are stylish, can motivate you to stay out longer and push harder. So here\u2019s a head-to-toe kit for women looking to upgrade their trail-running gear. Now get up and go.<\/p>\n

Salomon Speedcross 3<\/h4>\n

\"Salomon<\/p>\n

The Salomon Speedcross 3 is a beefy yet light running shoe designed for pounding dirt. The exterior of the shoe is water-resistant and breathable, so you can splash through mud puddles or run in dry heat without a worry. It\u2019s not a minimalist shoe\u2014it offers solid ankle support and plenty of padding in the footbed for trampling rocks or branches. But it feels surprisingly lightweight for how tough it looks. I logged long miles in this shoe without feeling weighed down.<\/p>\n

The best part of the Speedcross 3 is the lace-up process: Just pull the grip on Salomon\u2019s signature Quicklace system, cinch down the plastic toggle and the shoe feels effortlessly snug in seconds. The toggle and lace even tuck away into a hidden pocket. The women\u2019s version of the Speedcross 3 has a narrower, women-specific fit, but the shoe is also available for men.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nSalomon Speedcross 3 Trail-Running Shoes – Women’s
\n<\/a>Salomon Speedcross 3 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s<\/a><\/p>\n

Suunto Ambit 3 Sport<\/h4>\n

\"Suunto<\/p>\n

GPS watches have always intimidated me with their many buttons and fancy features. I\u2019m not climbing Everest; I\u2019m just going for a trail run out my backdoor. So why do I need a live altimeter feed? Turns out that even tracking just my distance and pace made me want to run farther and faster. Suunto\u2019s Ambit 3 collection of watches, including the Sport version I tested, has all the futuristic amenities you\u2019d expect\u2014training programs, social sharing, route-finding and lots more\u2014but in a surprisingly easy-to-use package.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s not much the Ambit 3 Sport watch doesn\u2019t do. Navigation? No problem. It\u2019s GPS-enabled to help you track your path and find new routes, and it offers a compass in case you really get lost. You can keep a record of your workout\u2019s time, pace and distance whether you\u2019re running, biking or swimming, and a tiny, Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor invisibly straps around your waist. Wirelessly connect the watch to your phone to snap corresponding photos or videos from select points on your run, then upload details of your workout to Suunto\u2019s app, which also lets you engage with a community of fellow runners. The bottom line: I ran an extra few miles and upped my speed thanks to this watch. So I\u2019m a convert.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nSuunto Ambit3 Sport GPS Multifunction Watch<\/a><\/p>\n

Patagonia Houdini Jacket<\/h4>\n

\"Patagonia<\/p>\n

The beauty of trail running is that you can get far into the wilderness relatively easily. But that also comes at a cost. You might be in the middle of nowhere in a T-shirt when the clouds start spitting. That\u2019s why Patagonia\u2019s Houdini Jacket feels almost like insurance for your trail-running adventures.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s ridiculously lightweight, made with breathable, tissue-paper-thin ripstop nylon, but it\u2019s coated with a durable water repellent finish and has a cinching hood, so it\u2019ll block wind and resist light rain and snow. If you\u2019re still out running when day turns to night and temperatures drop, you\u2019ll be thankful for the extra layer. The jacket\u2019s fabric feels silky smooth next to the skin, so you can layer it over a tank top if you want. When you don\u2019t need it, this minimalist windbreaker, which comes in a men\u2019s and women\u2019s version, stuffs into its own pocket, taking up less space than an apple.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nPatagonia Houdini Jacket – Women’s
\n<\/a>Patagonia Houdini Jacket – Men’s<\/a><\/p>\n

Lole Dash Pants<\/h4>\n

\"Lole<\/p>\n

Running tights have always been functional; rarely have they been stylish. But women-specific brand Lole is out to change that. Their Dash pants are built for running\u2014stretchy, moisture-wicking nylon moves with you without causing overheating\u2014but they\u2019re also admittedly good looking. You could wear these pants out for coffee after your run and not look like you just stepped out of an \u201980s aerobics video.<\/p>\n

The drawcord on the inside waistband ensures the perfect custom fit, even if you ate too many pancakes for breakfast, and mesh cuffs around the ankles add flair and breathability. I ran in a slight drizzle in these pants and they kept me warm and dry. A tiny zippered pocket on one side holds a car key or credit card, and a slip-in, non-zip pocket on the other side stores a gel packet or fits some smartphones.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nLole Dash Pants – Women’s<\/a><\/p>\n

Marmot Mirage Shirt<\/h4>\n

\"Marmot<\/p>\n

Marmot\u2019s short-sleeved Mirage shirt for women wins points for its comfy fabric and perfectly fitted but not-too-tight cut. You\u2019ll wear this shirt while working out at the gym, cleaning the house and biking around town. But it\u2019s tailor-made for running, thanks to stretchy, wicking polyester and mesh underarm panels that keep you cool. The fabric doesn\u2019t chafe on your sides and it moves with you, providing a noticeably smooth swiftness.<\/p>\n

A flattering, slightly longer fit (it\u2019ll just barely cover your bum in a pair of running tights) and attractive diagonal seams help this shirt transition out of the workout, too.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nMarmot Mirage T-Shirt – Women’s<\/a><\/p>\n

SmartWool PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks<\/h4>\n

Socks can make or break a run. The wrong pair of socks can lead to blisters, ill-fitting shoes or sweaty feet. The right pair, though, can provide a sense of utter bliss, the kind that makes you not even notice the miles disappearing under your feet. The SmartWool PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks are the bliss-inducing kind. They\u2019re super-low-profile and won\u2019t even be visible above your shoes.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s version of these socks (they also come in men\u2019s) are designed for women\u2019s narrower heels and lower foot volume. Stretchy, comfortable and lightweight, these minimalist wool socks don\u2019t feel smothering like thicker wool socks. Even on warm days, my toes didn\u2019t break a sweat. Ample padding in all the right places underfoot provides support for long and variable trail runs.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nSmartWool PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks – Women’s
\n<\/a>SmartWool Phd Run Ultra Light Micro Socks – Men’s<\/a><\/p>\n

Smith Pivlock Asana or Smith Pivlock Arena Max Sunglasses<\/h4>\n

\"Smith<\/p>\n

The Smith Pivlock Arena Max sunglasses are so light, you\u2019ll barely feel them on your face. That\u2019s why they make such great running glasses. Plus, an adjustable, grippy rubber nosepiece and snug-fitting arms ensure the glasses don\u2019t slip when you\u2019re jostling up and down on the trail. I noticed I wasn\u2019t getting blinded by the sun on my run, but otherwise, I barely detected the glasses, which is exactly what you want.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll have your choice of polycarbonate lenses for all light conditions: clear for low light, mirrored for bright light and brown for everything in between. The lenses swap out surprisingly easily. Just rotate the arm up 45 degrees to remove and replace the lens. The Smith Pivlock Asana sunglasses are the women\u2019s version with similar qualities. These glasses double as great biking shades, too.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nSmith Pivlock Asana Sunglasses – Women’s
\n<\/a>Smith Pivlock Arena Max Sunglasses – Men’s<\/a><\/p>\n

Under Armour HeatGear\u00ae Alpha Print Sports Bra<\/h4>\n

The perfect sports bra provides support, breathability and comfort against your skin. Under Armour has nailed that trifecta with the HeatGear Alpha Print bra, designed for medium-impact activities like running or strength training. On a trail run, I felt no pinching or chafing under the arms; just soft, comfortable fabric that held up no matter how many miles I logged. When I started to sweat, the polyester fabric seemed to magically transport the moisture away from my skin. And the racerback design and durable stretch fabric offered all the support I needed.<\/p>\n

Shop:<\/span>
\nUnder Armour Heatgear Alpha Print Sports Bra<\/a><\/p>\n

Now that you know\u00a0the gear, it’s time to hit the trail.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spring is prime trail-running season and we\u2019ve got the scoop on the coolest new trail-running gear from Salomon, Suunto, Patagonia, Lole, Marmot, SmartWool, Smith and Under Armor. Going for a trail run provides the ultimate escape, a chance to run away from your daily worries on a beautiful, winding trail. Plus, the gear you need […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[326,359,136,651],"internal-tag":[1676],"class_list":["post-3895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-run","tag-megan-michelson","tag-run","tag-trail-running","tag-women","internal-tag-pre-redirect-run"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/run\/new-womens-trail-running-gear-for-spring","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"New Women’s Trail Running Gear for Spring","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/new-womens-trail-running-gear-for-spring","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/new-womens-trail-running-gear-for-spring"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/03\/IMG-2751-e1448307440705.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/03\/IMG-2751-e1448307440705.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000"},"articleSection":"Run","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Angela Crampton"}],"creator":["Angela Crampton"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["megan michelson","run","trail-running","women"],"dateCreated":"2015-03-23T19:00:10Z","datePublished":"2015-03-23T19:00:10Z","dateModified":"2018-11-12T06:03:29Z"},"rendered":"