Yeehaw, it’s Part 4 of our “Must Haves of 2021” series and in this one, we’re featuring our favorite sporting accessories and gear that we’ve loved this nutty year. And it’s stuff we’ll certainly be using in our 2022.
From Kristin:
It feels like I’ve tried nearly every single running belt out there. Belts specifically designed for a handful of small water bottles, belts for a single larger bottle, belts for soft flasks, bottles carried horizontally, and bottles at an angle. Being female with hips and a waist, the fit was always problematic–the belts would invariably ride up to my waist and bounce all over (so annoying!) or slide down my backside and interfere with my stride. Then there was the question of where to put the phone. It was decades of frustration!!!
Queue the Flipbelt. This Colorado-based company has nailed form, fit, and function when it comes to shorter-distance running (under two hours). I have no idea what their secret is for this belt staying put, but I have never had my Flipbelt creep up or slide down. There’s room in there for my iPhone Max, a car key, a few gels, or a 500ml soft flask. I like this one from Solomon. Yep, this was a game-changer for me.
For longer distances, I’m a fan of the Osprey trail running series packs. I have this one, which is women’s specific and fits my body like a glove. Fit and comfort are key when it comes to hydration packs and Osprey just works for me. Even when the bladder is full, I don’t feel any bounce and I’ve never experienced any chafing. Another, perhaps more important, reason I love Osprey as a company is their track record of environmental stewardship, their focus on diversity, equity, and inclusivity, and their commitment to the Native People of the region around Cortez, Colorado where Osprey continues to employ local Navajo sewers at their warehouse. Impact matters and I think Osprey are doing really good work.
Happy trails everybody.
From Maggie:
Living in Colorado allows for some fun and serious adventures. For those who have worked with me, they know I am big into hiking and mountaineering. However, I also love to run and bike around Denver. That being said, there are a few must-have pieces of gear that I cannot live without.
My absolute favorite thing is my Camelbak. I know it sounds simple, but I use it on my long runs, my bike, my hikes and even when I ski. Staying hydrated during the off-season can sometimes be tricky and my Camelbak makes it much easier. It goes perfectly into any larger pack or is great in it’s own – highly recommended if you don’t have one yourself!
Second on my list is my new Garmin. I splurged recently on a Vivoactive 4S and it is such an exciting gadget. It is a great motivator, because it gives you such good stats that you become more aware of your training and your health stats to train smarter. A few of my favorite features? The sleep monitoring, the hydration tracking and of course, the stress tracking – I feel so informed about my health. Call me late to the game, but I love it!
From Dina:
I find my Zone-Flow-Therapy when I’m in the woods or in the mountains. And good ol’ dirt/farm roads work for me too. To keep my feet comfy and blister-free, there are 2 keys: good shoes and socks. Seems obvious, eh? Except it can take forever to find the magical combo that works for the long haul.
For shoes, I’m a humongo fan of Altra Running. They are my Go To for trail running (my fave shoe is the Lone Peak), hiking, road running, work attire (ha ha), and I even wear my oldie Altras for my strength workouts. I love the bigger toe box, the work they’ve done to design a better fit for the female foot, and the different cushioning options. I also respect the diversity and inclusion efforts of the company, along with the movements to destigmatize mental illness and their attention to trail maintenance. They’re doing good stuff while they keep the tootsies happy.
For socks, I give props to SmartWool, a Colorado-based company that I fell in love with eons ago. I never knew “performance wool” until I met SmartWool. The unique blend of fibers make for durability and comfort, while their attention to seams, ventilation, cushioning, and different sock heights equal a #1 in my Sock Book. Big props goes to the company for their commitments to social impact and climate-positive action in their 10-year roadmap plan that includes increasing their BIPOC brand ambassadors, enabling regenerative farming practices for their sheep farms, eliminating single use plastics, and promoting ‘product circularity’ to reduce landfill and environmental impacts. Check out their Second Cut Project where you can recycle ANY of your socks to keep them out of the landfill and help make dog beds. High five to you, Smartwool.
My last shout out is to BOCO Gear, a Boulder-based hat and athletic gear company. While I’ve worn many of their hats and visors over the years, the staff helped me to design Nutrition Mechanic visors in a non-stress and fun-filled process. After having a previous bad experience with another custom hat company, BOCO remedied my pains and gave us new schwag to sport.
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Kristin, Maggie, and Dina