4 min read
Tracksmith Mission Top Loader Bag
With a rugged canvas body, metal hardware, and leather reinforcements, this top-loading sack will endure years of abuse. The canvas is wax-coated to keep water out and won’t rip should you overstuff the bag. It also has an undeniably cool retro vibe, complete with a zippered compartment to separate stinky shoes from clean clothes. $168; tracksmith.com
Brooks Ghost Short Sleeve
Heavy sweaters, do you fear leaving a puddle on a piece of equipment? Not with this nearly see-through T that has an abundance of ventilation where you need it—chest and back. The trim cut stops it from bouncing around when you’re doing high-intensity exercises. A women’s version has a plunging V-neckline front and back. From $45; brooksrunning.com
WillyB Shorts From RunBK Apparel
The guys from the Scranton Running Co. recently set up shop in New York City’s most populous borough and teamed with Villency Design Group on a line of apparel. Their camo-print shorts hit at midthigh and have a stretchy boxer-brief liner suitable for tempo runs and lunges. Three water-resistant pockets (two drop-ins and a zippered pocket) secure electronics. $65; brooklynrunningco.com
Oars + Alps Face Wash
In a twist-up container like deodorant, this solid stick of men’s face cleanser won’t leak in your bag. Just rub the stick over your face and massage in with your fingers; activated charcoal exfoliates as the natural ingredients clean. $14; oarsandalps.com
Jabra Elite Sport Head-Phones
Free of wires like Apple’s AirPods, this model is ideal for runners, thanks to an in-ear heart-rate monitor and a companion app for on-the- run coaching. The battery lasts three hours. $250; amazon.com
Nike Auralux Solid Club Bag
With a polyester shell and plush-lined pockets, this duffel keeps your gear safe but won’t scream gym bag. $75; amazon.com
Wahoo Fitness Tickr X
This heart-rate monitor tracks your running form and counts reps in the gym. Pair it with Wahoo’s 7-Minute Workout app to be guided through 12 moves, each 30 seconds, with 10-second rest breaks. $100; amazon.com
Polar M600
Built upon Google’s wrist-based operating system, the M600 delivers alerts from your phone and tracks your moves 24/7. It also has an optical heart-rate monitor, motion sensors, and GPS. $330; amazon.com
Orange Mud Modular Gym Bag
This classic duffel is huge and has removable bags for wet clothes, toiletries, and shoes. $170; amazon.com
Janji Rift Valley Capris
The trippy print is inspired by artists in Kenya, and a wide waistband holds tight during quick movements. $74; runjanji.com
Nike Dri-Fit Tank
Seamless construction, crisscross straps, and body-hugging fabric are irritation-free. $65; amazon.com
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant
The best chemical-free deodorant we’ve used. Get the bergamot and lime for an all-day whiff of citrus. $9; amazon.com
Lululemon All Day Tote
This tote has an urban style that complements its tough-as-nails build, plus space for clothes, shoes, and your laptop. $128; amazon.com
Camelbak Chute
This 20-ounce vacuum-insulated bottle has an angled spout so you don’t end up wearing your beverage. $28; amazon.com
Under Armour UA On The Run Tote
This versatile tote has a water-repellent treatment to keep all your gym wear clean and dry. The exterior features a durable mesh layer that adds style. The handles are large enough to throw over a shoulder, but an extra-long strap is included when carrying heavy loads. $55, amazon.com
Asics Fit-Sana Tote
This fun tote has wide, comfortable straps for shouldering a bag full of gym clothes, running shoes, and essentials. For extra versatility, you can convert it to a backpack with included straps. We like the small zippered pocket on the front, perfect for protecting small valuables. $68, amazon.com
Olivers Hathaway Duffel
This classic barrel-shaped duffel has a water-repellent duck canvas body to keep your stuff dry in every day use. Cotton webbed handles are soft yet durable, and vegetable tanned leather zipper pull adds a touch of style. While the perfect size for a daily gym hauler, it’ll also make a fashionable overnight bag. $98, oliversapparel.com
Aer Duffel Pack
One gripe with most gym bags is that, well, they look like a gym bag. And they don’t really carry your laptop well, so you end up toting along a second bag anyway. But this hybrid backpack/duffel swallows up shoes (in their own vented compartment), clothes, plus it has a sleeve for a 15-inch laptop and side pockets for all your cables, chargers, pens and other small items. It boasts enough style for trips to a New York City office, yet is built from tough materials that still look new even after a year’s worth of weekend trips and vacations. $168, aersf.com
The North Face Homestead Road Soda Pack
This roll top backpack is completely waterproof and insulated—so it’ll keep your gear dry but can pull double duty to keep some drinks cold for a post-race refresher. Padded shoulder straps and back panel make it comfortable if you’re wearing it for long stretches. $100, thenorthface.com or amazon.com
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner’s World and the director of product testing. He has tested and reviewed running shoes, GPS watches, headphones, apparel, and more for nearly two decades. He regularly tests more than 100 pairs of shoes each year, and once had a 257-day streak running in different models. Jeff can usually be found on the roads, racing anything from the mile to a marathon, but he also enjoys racing up mountains and on snowshoes. When he’s not running, you’ll probably find him hanging from a ladder making repairs and renovations to his house (he’s also director of product testing for Popular Mechanics).
