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Runner's World Gear Awards 2023
The votes are in – from tech to apparel, this is the kit our editors rated most highly this year
Tested by The Runner's World Editors
When it comes to testing new running gear, the RW team are always sweating the details. Over the past year, we’ve put hundreds of shoes, gadgets and kit items through their paces, so we can guide you to those most worthy of your hard-earned cash.
Now, we’ve compared our notes and pored over the data to select the best of the best – and the winners of the coveted gongs in the Gear Awards 2023. Keep scrolling to find the gear that has helped us run better, healthier and happier, and which we hope will enhance your running experience for many more years to come.
Shoes
The ‘Best in Test’ winner from our spring/summer shoe guide left On’s reputation for a firmer-feeling ride in its plush, pillowy wake.
A redesigned midsole removes the Speedboard plate and introduces CloudTec Phase – hollow pods inside the Helion foam midsole that are positioned at varying angles, like a line of falling dominoes. The result is a wonderfully comfortable ride. It feels light and bouncy, with the rocker profile ensuring smooth transition from footstrike to toe-off.
An outstanding do-it-all shoe, cushioned enough for easy miles but also light enough for tempo runs and races of 10K and above.
A carbon-fibre plate, sandwiched between two layers of super-responsive foam, and an internal midfoot cage for a locked-down fit, mean this lightweight racer will notch multiple PBs to sit alongside its RW autumn/winter shoe guide ‘Best In Test’ award.
There’s a definite propulsion in the Rocket X2 – a midsole rocker pops you on to your forefoot, while the carbon plate feels great underfoot. The significant stack height (36mm heel and 31mm forefoot) might ordinarily result in some lateral instability, but this is offset by the wide footbed. Highly responsive and super speedy, Hoka’s carbon-plated credentials have lift-off.
The impressively versatile, lightweight second iteration of the Trailfly G 270 combines enough cushioning for long runs with a zero-drop, fast-feeling appeal. ‘A joy to run in straight out of the box,’ said one of our testers, and the super durable graphene outsole is built to last serious ultra mileage on the most challenging terrain. There’s a premium feeling to the details, too: a secure lacing system, a padded tongue and excellent grip on every surface. A zero-drop shoe may not be for everyone, but for those who like that contact-with-ground feel, this should (Trail)fly right to the top of your wish list.
Gadgets
The best bang-for-your-buck running watch around. For just over £200, you get an improved heart rate sensor, 38 hours of continuous GPS, (or 24 days of daily use), dual-frequency GPS, a plethora of advanced training features and feedback, and route mapping, with turn-by-turn navigation. ‘You’re better off saving some money and opting for the Pace 3 than forking out for a few additional features that you probably won’t even use on a premium model,’ concluded one of our testers. A truly excellent running watch at a hard-to-beat price.
Sennheiser’s sports-specific pedigree came through loud and clear to scoop the ‘Best in Test’ award in our running headphones test. Three sizes of ear adapters and four sizes of fins combine to provide a fit that’s customisable and stays firmly in place. ‘Adaptable acoustic’ tech means you can opt to have the ear adapters open, to stay aware of your surroundings but minimise body noise such as your breathing and footfalls, or closed, to block outside noise and immerse yourself in your chosen soundtrack. And the sound quality punches way above the price tag, too.
This is definitely more multi-purpose health and fitness than core running-specific, so it’s best suited to those who do lots of different types of exercise and perhaps have more modest running goals in mind. This watch boasts in-depth sleep tracking, scores your energy levels and sends a health summary as soon as you wake up. If you’re the type of runner who enjoys a little bit of everything, you’ll enjoy the versatility (and the seriously stylish aesthetics) of the Venu 3.
If you’re new to percussive therapy and would appreciate some guidance, our ‘Best in Test’ winner pairs with the Therabody app, which is packed with follow-along tutorials. A single control button turns it on and off and cycles through the speeds, making it a doddle to use and small enough to carry on the go without losing any power. It glides smoothly over the skin, too, with three tips for soothing different areas.
It’s a serious investment in terms of both finance and floor space, but if you’re looking for a top-of-the-range treadmill for your at-home runs, this delivers. You can crank the speed right up to 25km/h, and the incline to 15%, while the ‘Slat Belt’ absorbs impact (and sound) and returns energy, imitating the feel of the best running surfaces. The 27-inch screen offers a home-theatre effect for immersive training and, unlike most other treadmills, it also caters for your cross-training, with a sled mode for strength and conditioning, and a range of classes and workouts that you can follow on the screen.
Accessories
Built for serious adventures and extreme multi-day races, such as the Marathon Des Sables, the Phantom 25 has big-pack capacity and upfront race-vest accessibility. The seven-point harness also spreads weight with excellent control over the fit and load. There’s substantial storage, too: two large zipped belt pockets for all your mid-run essentials; two front pockets that fit 750ml bottles; front mesh drop-ins for gels and snacks; plus a stretch mesh back pocket that extends the capacity beyond 25L. There’s also a removable sleeping mat, it can take a 3L bladder and the durable Cordura nylon offers good weather protection for your kit.
This robust pack has 20L capacity and can hold 3L of water in its bladder sleeve. The multiple adjustment points, from shoulder to sternum to hip, are well thought out, making it comfortable for a day out on the trails or your run commute. The shoulder straps fit snugly, with good padding. The internal frame, with its AirScape system, helps stabilise heavier loads (like laptops) for a breathable fit. There are multiple pockets, making it easy to get to a phone or snack, plus external attachment points, too. The standard fit comes up narrow, but there’s also an extended fit option (£130) for the broader-framed.
The German brand is a relative newcomer to the sock scene, but it really impressed the RW team with its excellent technical performance. Precision engineered construction combines carefully placed breathable zones and underfoot cushioning. The yarn – extremely comfortable over long miles and after multiple spins in the washing machine – is knitted with 100% renewable energy, waste recycling and micro-plastic filtration, so you’re minimising your footprint, too.
The key to a great running jacket is packing the tech to protect you from the elements when required, combined with an ability to be packed away and forgotten when not needed. Enter the Phantom. ‘Rab’s Pertex Shield fabric does a great job of keeping the rain out without making you boil over,’ says multiplatform editor Ben Hobson. ‘And the real plus is the weight and its packability – it’s perfectly stashed away in its own “stuff sack” ready for when you need it.’ And it’s available in men’s and women’s models.
Lightweight and breathable, offering protection from the sun and rain, this is also the only not-for-profit run cap on the planet. Your well-spent money goes towards Campaign Against Living Miserably, a mental health charity doing vital work to prevent suicides in the UK.
Classic crossover styling means these sunnies will serve you equally well for sunny socialising, but they deliver when clocking the miles, too. SunGod’s 8KO lens tech offers great clarity combined with minimal weight that helps these come in at just 25g. The fit isn’t quite as limpet-like as some all-out performance models, but it’s comfortable and secure enough. Plus, they’re so tough, they even come with a lifetime guarantee.
The Icelandic brand specialises in kit that can cope well in extreme cold, so your digits are in good hands with these simple but effective Polartec WindPro Stretch gloves. Delightfully cosy, the soft fleece inners will keep your pinkies warm and functional before, during and after runs in inclement weather.
Women's
Despite the high level of compression, the smooth, sweat-wicking fabric is sure to keep you feeling cool and comfortable. But it’s the innovative design that helps to make this bra really stand out – instead of a standard hook-eye closure at the back, it has ‘swan hooks’ around the chest and adjustable shoulder straps at the front, so you’re able to scale up the support easily. The sizing runs small (so consider going up one size for maximum comfort), but it’s a seriously impressive piece of kit.
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