BEST-FITTING BACKPACK
Salomon’s ADV Skin 8 Set W is the best-fitting women’s backpack we’ve tried. All
our female testers raved about it, no matter their size. The pack has two soft flasks
that sit lower than on many other options, out of the way of your breasts, so you
don’t have to sacrifice comfort for fuel. The pack contours your body and is made
to fit narrower shoulders and shorter torso lengths. It has loads of storage options
for stashing all your gear, bungee-cord loops to carry trekking poles, and a bladder-
compatible insulated sleeve so you can run through the winter. $145BLISTER BEATER
A ton of synthetic
socks promise to keep
your feet happy on
long runs, but the new
Balega UltraGlide
boasts some serious
blister protection in a
thin, lightweight sock.
The company uses
something it calls
“friction-free yarn”
in the lightly padded
areas under the meta-
tarsal heads and heel
that makes the whole
thing feel comfy and
cool on long road
runs. To further boost
protection, the Ultra-
Glide has a tab in the
back, like many other
socks, and another
in the front for a slip-
free fit. $16BUDGET SHOE
This might just be the
best $100 you can
spend on running gear.
Sure, there are pricey
shoes getting loads
of buzz right now, but
for a daily trainer that
still feels zippy, look
to the Reebok Forever
Floatride Energy. It
benefits from a new
midsole compound sim-
ilar to Adidas’s Boost,
called Floatride Energy.
The foam is extremely
lightweight and soft, yet
responsive if you want
to run fast. Sandwiching
the midsole is a breath-
able upper and lots of
rubber for hot-weather
comfort and durability.
There’s nothing terribly
flashy here, but all the
parts work exceptionally
well together. $100
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