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I love this breezy top for the look and the feel. It’s perforated throughout so it allows lots of airflow, has a high neckline which is nice for high-impact activity (particularly for bigger chests), and has a fitted bottom which helps it stay in place on the run, while also offering a flattering look.—Mallory Creveling, Shokz Headphones On Sale

I didn’t think that on-the-run hydration methods had much left to improve upon, but the makers of these soft flasks made some bold claims. Hydrapak is the name behind the soft flasks and bladders you’ll find in almost any hydration vest these days, but they make their own gear, too. The most intriguing feature is the flip-top cap, which they say will make aid station refills quicker.

There’s a learning curve to get the cap open and closed quickly on the fly, and I wouldn’t necessarily trust them to be secure on race day—if you fall and catch the latch, goodbye water!

I’ve found these best suited for grabbing some last-minute water on my way out the door for hot training runs.—Pat Heine, Video Producer

Allbirds is committed to making a performance running shoe that doesn't stray from the company's sustainability commitment. The second shoe in its running line, the Tree Flyer, is slightly lighter and bouncier than the Dasher 2, thanks to a new foam made from castor bean oil. It's on the feet of our shoe testers now, and we look forward to seeing how it performs after hundreds of miles.—Jeff Dengate, Runner-in-Chief

Aloha has been under my radar, especially since I've self-designated myself as the energy bar taster on the Runner’s World team. My dietitian is big on adding carbs and protein into my diet and I've found Aloha hits that spot pre-workout, post-workout, or when I need a sweet snack. The chocolate espresso flavor has a fudge-like texture that's perfect for stowing on the go (no crumbs). The plant-based bar is soy-, gluten-, and dairy-free, and A Part of Hearst Digital Media Lemon Cashew.—Amanda Furrer, Test Editor

These look classy enough to wear casually, but have the performance chops to get through sweaty runs. Hand pockets boost versatility, while the polyester made with coconut charcoal fibers banishes stench.—J.D.

I love wearing short sleeves while running ever since I had armpit chafing when training for a marathon through the summer. I love this one because it is so light and airy and super silky soft. It also just looks nice! I was nervous the fit would move around too much when trying to clock fast splits, but it did no such thing when I raced a 10-miler in it. The slits on the bottom add even more airflow and never get in the way when picking up the pace.—M.C.

The giant shield of the Hypercraft keeps wind and junk out of your eyes, plus blocks the sun from nearly any angle. It was just too big for some faces, so now there's the XS. Runner's World video producer Pat Heine is taking these on hours-long training runs to see if they have what it takes for his upcoming race—a 360-km run in the Swiss peaks.—J.D.

Many adjustable dumbbells are difficult to switch from one weight to the next, but the transition on these is super smooth and easy—just turn the dial and the weights adjust, anywhere from 5 pounds to 50 pounds. This is convenient if you’re mixing upper and lower body exercises, say alternating between bicep curls and squats and you want to quickly swap the weights.

Besides just being a nice set of adjustable dumbbells, you can also connect these wights to Alexa and then ask her to adjust the weight for you, saying things like “set the weight to 10 pounds,” “increase the weight by 5 pounds,” or “set the weight to squats.” This feature can be glitchy at times—and you have to make sure you set the weights back in their spot correctly and that you don’t pick them up until the weight is properly adjusted, or those can be finicky, too—but when it all works, it’s the perfect set of weights for efficient strength sessions.—M.C.

These have almost been the only gels I'll use on race day (while mixing it up with other sources in ultras). At $68 for a box of 20, the price is steep for everyday use, but they provide the most calories in a standard size gel packet I've found yet. Spring's Awesome Sauce uses natural food sources to pack in the calories. They taste just like cinnamon applesauce, go down super easy, and don't sit heavy in my stomach like stickier gels do.—P.H.

I like a hat that offers full coverage from the sun (no thanks, truckers). This squish-able lid is stretchy and gets over my big head even when I badly need a haircut, but can be snugged up for smaller heads, too. I like the floppy brim that lets me stash this in my waistband at times when I just need to yank it off mid-run.—J.D.

Hyperice positions this as the ultimate travel recovery device because it's smaller than other massage guns. In reality, it's just about 2 inches shorter than the Hypervolt 2 and 6 ounces lighter. The nice point is that it costs $100 less and offers a quiet massage.—J.D.

Watches that cost about $300 are the sweet spot these days. For $200, you can get a basic GPS tracker. Or for $700 and up, you can get a premium watch that does mapping and lasts days (or weeks) between charges. But the Pacer Pro is an example of the ’tweener that has a lightweight build yet gets trickle-down features from its pricier siblings. For example, this sleek watch has a barometric altimeter, calculates running power, and functions like performance tests and Strava live segments.—J.D.

This is basically like having a personal trainer with you wherever you go. You get set up with a coach, go through a movement assessment, talk about your goals, and the coach creates a personalized program for you, based on the days of the week you want to work out, how much time you want to dedicate to your workouts. You can also chat with the trainer right in the app to give feedback on the workout and have some accountability (my trainer checks in almost daily!).

The app also connects with the Apple Watch so your coach can see you completed the workout and what your heart rate was throughout the session—plus the activities you complete outside of the scheduled workouts.—M.C.

The Swiftland 5 has loads of pockets for all your snacks and gear in a compact vest. Two adjustable side straps and bungee cords over the shoulders help you dial in the fit depending on the load. It includes a 1.5-liter hydration bladder, but if you, like me, prefer soft flasks, two front pockets will hold those securely. The mesh shoulder straps are nice and airy, but the pocket materials are a bit heavier and not as breathable as what you'll find on more expensive packs. But it's getting harder and harder to find hydration systems for under $100, so it's a great deal that will give you most of the standard features for less.—P.H.

Some old-school trail runners wore button-down shirts and it always looked a bit pretentious. But Rabbit is making it mainstream. I was skeptical until a few friends in our local running group started showing with them on Saturday mornings. I intend to see if I can spiff up my style.—J.D.

On shoes have always been tuned to feel a little race-ready. The Cloudmonster is the first we've found that has easy run comfort, thanks to those massive foam cloud pods underfoot. Our shoe testers are putting miles on their test pairs now to see how it stacks up against plush models from Hoka, Asics, New Balance, and more.—J.D.

Ultrarunning legend Scott Jurek gave me this tip and I’ve used it ever since: Rechargeable battery packs for headlamps are great, they reduce waste and save you money, but they can be heavy. Whenever I am racing, I use the AA battery pack and throw in these lithium AA batteries—they’re 30 percent lighter than alkaline, and you can buy them almost anywhere on the planet. They’re not the most eco-friendly option, and are relatively costly, so I only use them for race day, but they're reliable and reduce the strain on your head and neck for long nights on the trail.—P.H.

Sometimes I just need something to help me wind down at night, especially if I'm feeling wired from the day, and these gummies do the trick. In addition to CBD, they contain melatonin which is meant to support your sleep-wake cycle. It could be the placebo effect when I pop one of these, but about a half hour after, I'm ready to hit the pillow.—M.C.

Long live Boost. In an age of superlight and squishy foams, the thick slab of TPU in the Ultraboost is a blessing on long runs and for tired legs. Sure, it makes a shoe heavier than if Adidas had swapped for a different material, but it seems to run forever without packing out—our team is trying to see how far we have to run before the foam loses its cush.—J.D.

I like the shorts, but am not sure about the liner just yet. Early highlights are the plethora of pockets—three on the outside include a zipper, drop-in, and envelope type, while there's a big pocket on the liner's thigh that can hold an iPhone. But the liner extends nearly to the knee, which is much longer than I'd normally prefer.—J.D.