My Trail Running Essentials (and The Best Trail Running Shoes)
I think we can all agree this past summer was… a weird one. Under normal circumstances, Chris and I would have spent our time enjoying cookouts with friends, eating our way through Portland’s extensive food scene, and lounging on the beach, all in close proximity to friends and random strangers. Obviously the virus changed all that, and because of it, I rediscovered a hobby I’d given up several years ago. Trail running! For some time now I’ve been nurturing a fairly consistent road running routine, but looking to change things up a bit, decided to see how running trails felt again after a few years off. Now running trails is one of my favorite ways to spend a sunny weekend afternoon. I love how running up a mountain makes my body feel, it’s better than a stair climber and so satisfying once I reach the top (and even more so once I reach my car). Trail running is a full body and full-sensory experience, I get to see nature and observe the seasons shifting and changing while I challenge myself – I love it.
So why did I give up trail running in the first place? I’ll spare you the gory details, but I will give you this: it has to do with lots of ticks, getting lost on a logging road, and stripping naked in my mom’s driveway in the middle of November (this was back in 2017 and I had just moved back to Maine after living in Philadelphia. I felt like a dumb city slicker). While that was a single bad experience which was a result of my own inexperience, as a woman it can be tough getting over the hurdle of fear of running alone in the woods (at least for me personally, and I’ve heard the same from several friends). Any Murderino worth their salt will tell you to stay out of the forest. But what if you love the forest? Well today I’m not only sharing my favorite trail running essentials and the best trail running shoes, but also my tips and advice for running alone.
Let’s start right there. How do you get comfortable trail running alone? Or hiking alone? My greatest piece of advice is to start small and familiarize yourself with the location you’ll either be running or hiking. If you’re brand new to trail running, seek out some dirt paths that don’t feature too many roots or loose rocks. As you get comfortable, you’ll be able to transition to more technical trails, but don’t try to oush yourself too much, too quickly. The last thing you want is to hurt yourself! When I run trails, the area where I typically run is fairly busy. The trail system is diverse but very family-friendly, so I’m able to link several trails to create a longer, more technical run while families and visitors enjoy the shorter trails. This creates a feeling of safety in numbers, knowing other humans aren’t far off and could hear me if I yelled. I also carry a safety whistle and pepper spray and always share my location and expected time of arrival back to my car with someone, and I text that person as soon as I’m leaving my location. I suggest checking your local laws to ensure it’s legal to carry pepper spray where you live, but both the whistle and spray serve practical purposes – if I were to hurt myself on the trail, the whistle is loud enough to alert someone to my location, and the spray could also protect against wildlife if needed (bears!). Of course, if you have a running buddy, it’s always fun to to run or hike with someone – even if that buddy is a dog. I hope to get more omfortable hiking and running solo on longer trails soon, but for now I’ve familiarized myself with enough shorter jaunts locally to keep me busy.
Now, on to the essentials…
(Click an image to be taken directly to a product). The items above are my trail running must-haves. With the weather changing I’ll be adding some warmer layers, gloves, and a hat soon, but for now, this is what suits me and why:
Leggings: For all my runs and workouts, my gold standard legging of choice is Outdoor Voices Tech Sweat leggings or bike shorts. While a little pricy, these leggings don’t budge. The waistband is super flattering and doesn’t ride down at all, so there’s no need to adjust them while you’re moving. They’re also lightweight and breathable, so much so that I wear them straight through the summer. I also love all the bright color combos they come in.
Sports bra: Another gold standard for me is the Girlfriend Paloma Bra. This bra is so comfortable, compressive, and looks cute all on its own (I’m not a fan of running in extra layers unless they’re truly needed). I’ve even worn it as a bathing suit top.
Longsleeve wicking shirt: For cooler days, I’ll layer on a longsleeve wicking shirt for a little extra warmth, especially in early fall when the temperature is up and down. I like this as a layer because I can easily tie it around my waist without adding too much bulk.
Trail running shoes: Behold! The winners of my search for a new pair of trail running shoes. A few weeks back my old shoes finally bit the dust and caused a debilitating blister in the process - no fun! Thanks to Instagram, I received a ton of recommendations for shoes (more on that below), and i ultamately chose the Salomon Speedcross 5. I love them because the treads are super grippy (no slipping on acorns ), the lacing system is simple and secure, and they’re supportive with a high arch. The one thing I needed to get used to was how formed they are to my feet - not a lot of extra surface area compared to the Hokas I road run in. But I LOVE these shoes so much I even hike in them now. Highly recommended.
Socks: For hiking and trail running, I swear by LL Bean’s socks. They’re thick and cozy but don’t make my feet sweat. I like these because they’re a little taller to protest my ankles.
Run belt: I haven’t yet found a running backpack that’s streamlined enough for me, so for now I use the same belt I wear for road running. It holds my phone, keys, ID, and I can clip my pepper spray to it, and it stays put. Which is all I could ask for.
Lightweight hat: A lightweight running hat keeps sweat, sun, and hair out of my eyes and is easy to throw in the wash when it needs cleaning.
Fitbit: I love my Fitbit way more than I expected to - it’s motivating and I really enjoy tracking my mileage and time.
Large Hydro Flask: How do you drink more water? Buy a giant water bottle! I don’t carry water with me when I run, instead I keep this in my car and drink a ton of water before and after my workout. i’ll usually throw a Nuun tablet in for extra electrolytes, and reful afterwards with either a banana or a MacroBar depending on the length of my run and the time of day.
In the future, I plan to invest in a second pair of trail running shoes to switch out from time to time. I love the Hoka One One Clifton for road running, and the Hoka trail runners all came highly recommended from my Instagram community. I have my eye on the Hoka One One Torrent 2 or the Challengers. I love Hoka sneakers because they’re wider but not too wide - perfect to accomodate my feet, which aren’t wide but oddly angular (Chris says I have bunions, but I’m not so sure because my feet look exactly like my dad’s). I also love the forefoot cushioning that most Hoka One One sneakers feature.
Other brands that came highly recommended for trail running were Brooks, specifically the Brook Cascadia, which I actually tried but decided I needed more support for the roots and rocks of New England mountain trails. The La Sportiva Kaptivas also came recommended by a friend who runs trails out on Colorado. These seemed like they’d work as both trail runners and hikers, like the Salomons, but I chose the Salomons for the lacing system and those grippy teeth.