Product Reviews

How do you carry your stuff?

by Tyler Simpson on Mar 15, 2023 category Carriers, Product Reviews

This was a BIG nut for me to crack early on, and I’m in the process of fine-tuning. The question of “how should I carry my stuff?” was one I frequently asked other runners. The most common answers were some form of, “do what works best for you”. Never satisfied with those answers, I again scoured the internet for articles, tips, tricks and product reviews to try and find the best solution to my predicament.

When considering my options, the biggest challenge that I encounter is what to use in the warmer weather months. When it’s cold outside, you often have an outer layer, long tights or pants with pockets. It’s easy to stash your phone, keys and gels into your pockets when you have a few to choose from. The trick is when you are trying to wear as little as legally possible, and have no room to spare.

I have found a handful of general options that runners can consider: arm bands, handhelds, running belts, “training bra”, waist bands or running packs (either on the back or around the waist). A few friends of mine choose none of these options and instead go along their intended route beforehand and stash water bottles or fuel in various bushes. That felt like a lot of extra work, so instead I decided to spend a lot of time and a decent amount of money trying various forms of carrying contraptions. Here’s my take on the options out there and what I currently utilize.

Arm Bands

Arm bands have been around for quite a while. My first memory of them was when the iPod first came out, and they were portable hands-free holders. I’m dating myself here, but the precursor to that were the (cutting edge skip-free) discman players with the hand strap. I was gifted arm bands a few times and tried them out but never enjoyed the experience. Despite my incredibly muscular arms, the bands would slip down after a short period of time and become quite uncomfortable. Or I would have to tighten them to the point it would cut off blood flow. The other issue I had with them is that the thin rubber guard for the face of the phone always fogged up and wouldn’t recognize my attempts to touch the screen. My overall opinion on the arm bands is not favorable. But if others like them, then party on!

Handhelds

When I officially started my first marathon training cycle, this felt like obvious choice. I bought the first option I saw by the brand Nathan, which had a hard plastic bottle (8oz) with a little mini backpack on it. The mini pack served a double purpose as a place to put some gels and the strap that helped making holding the bottle easier. Overall it worked ok, but the bottle was heavy enough to be noticeable and as I started drinking my way through the water, it sloshed around constantly as I was running.

After learning that I didn’t love the sloshing, I “invested” in a collapsible 12oz bottle and holder from Camelbak. It could hold a little more water and didn’t slosh but the weight in one hand got to be a bit annoying, even with switching hands back and forth. The other part was that because it collapsed, it quickly lost any semblance of form and felt like I was running around with a large wet noodle that was flopping around. I tried one more time and got a 8.5oz collapsible bottle from Osprey (Duro handheld) before deciding it was time to try something else.

Running Belts

The next progression in my journey was to get a running belt that had places to carry water bottles. I found a reasonably priced one on amazon with spots to hold two 8oz hard plastic bottles and a pouch big enough for a phone. The belt was much more substantial than my first two products, and I felt like Batman strapping on a utility belt. The neoprene material plus 16 ounces of water plus my cell phone was enough weight for the belt to be much more noticeable than I wanted. As a result of the weight, I also had to really crank it tight so it would not fall down or move all over. My last and final beef with the belt is that the water bottles were a pain in the arse to get back into the holders, and I had to stop every time I needed to return them into the holsters.

In addition to the superhero belt, I’ve tried two or three different types of the low profile gel/phone/key running belts that are very lightweight and made from a very stretchy material. The nice thing about them is that they are hardly noticeable, but the challenge is that it can really only fit on thing. They also aren’t very durable, due to the stress on the zipper. I will still bust one that I got free from Lululemon on days that I only need to carry my phone, but otherwise they are in my bin of random running gear.

Fanny Packs

When I’m talking about fanny packs, it’s more about the style factor and how they are worn. I’ve liked the look and idea of wearing them cross-body and over the shoulder. The reason they have been around for so long, is because they are functional and can carry a decent amount of things. I picked up a really good quality one from the Pioneers, but again found it to bounce around too much on either my waist, my chest or my back. I love the quality of it and have used it a number of times, just not for running anything over a mile or two.

Using fanny pack while carrying a child during a Turkey Trot

I gave it a go one more time after seeing a Janji Sling Bag which I knew I could repurpose for a variety of things. I’ve used it while traveling and at times, when I’m out and about at work during the camp season. What I like about the Janji bag is that there a few different ways you can wear it comfortably and it can carry A TON of stuff. There is a short video on the hyperlink that shows all the things that can fit in it.

“Training Bra”

If you’ve done any independent looking into this topic before, you may have seen the FreeTrain running vest. The ads for it look awesome, and it provides a completely hands free option to carry your phone, without it slapping into your waist on every step. It was a little more than I wanted to spend (~$30) but it seemed like the next best thing. When it arrived, I realized it was one size fits all, and had no way of adjusting the shoulders or waist/ribs. I’m not a huge guy, and it was pretty tight (around my ribs in particular). I decided to give it a try for one of our group long runs and was pretty immediately (and justifiably) asked why I was wearing a training bra. I’m no slouch when it comes to giving or receiving barbs, and had to admit that it looked pretty ridiculous. The other big problem was the responsiveness of the phone inside the holder (similar to the foggy arm band). I wore it maybe a dozen times before realizing that I needed to make another deposit into the bin of no return.

Running Waist Packs

Confident that I’d figured out the best option for training and racing, I went for gold and snagged an Osprey Duro Solo waist pack. This pack had all the major functions that I was looking for: water bottle holder (that was easy to take out and put back), phone holder and pocket for gels. Naturally it was on the bulkier side, but was very well made and didn’t bounce much. After my brutal first major marathon in Chicago, I decided to use this for NYC. It allowed me to avoid the majority of the water stops (aka mosh pits) and comfortably carry my gels and phone. I ended up using this again for the Boston Marathon but was still looking for something a little more comfortable and a little less bulky.

Waist Bands

With my borderline obsession to find the perfect pack, and my growing interest in learning as much as I could about distance running, I stumbled across a bunch of really great videos by this runner/film-maker called Billy Yang. He has a ton of amazing videos (movies really) on YouTube and I noticed that he was wearing a waist band for his runs, even for some of his ultra races. Side note: an ultra is any distance over a marathon (26.2 miles). I was watching one of Billy’s videos about his favorite running gear and he had his running band on the list!

There are more than a few companies that make something similar, but I decided to go with Billy’s recommendation and get one by Naked. I was impressed by the storage capacity that he referenced in the video, in particular that he often uses it alone when running ultras. At this point I was willing to give anything a try and so I picked one up (the sizing is a little funky, so make sure to really look at it before picking your size). I have had it for almost a year now, and absolutely love it. It’s very comfortable, very high quality and can comfortably carry a ton of things. It’s my go-to accessory for about 95% of my runs, including races.

Wearing my Naked waist band at the Philly Marathon

Running Back Packs

I can’t remember exactly when I got my first running pack, but I vaguely remember getting a really good deal on a Camelbak bag at Marshalls or Sierra Trading Post. It was purchased some time during my training cycle for (or what was supposed to be) for the 2020 Boston Marathon. I had worn it a few times on longer training days, but felt like a bit of a hardo. What finally made me put it aside was during a 20 mile run where my chest and ribs were quite sore as a result of the continual banging of the water bottles. I had been feeling the soreness, but it wasn’t until I refilled the bottles at the halfway point that I realized that they were the source of the pain.

I have since upgraded my running vests and picked up two different sized ones from Osprey – the Duro 6 and Duro 15. They are both excellent, and have tons of storage and reservoirs to carry a sufficient amount of water (1.5L and 2.5L). When I have needed a pack (typically longer cold-weather trail runs), the Duro 6 has been my go-to. I picked up the larger Duro 15 for much longer trail runs and as a lighter day pack for quicker paced hiking.

The Osprey Duro 15 doing right by me on an 18 mile solo trail run in the White Mountains

My Current Favorite

Drum roll please….. if you’ve made it this far, you probably aren’t surprised to learn that the running band and Osprey back packs are my go-tos. The running band is coming with me virtually every time, but there is no substitute for a pack when you have a need to either add or remove any layers. Essentially, what is most important is what works for everyone individually, but the inspiration to write this came from the constant questions I hear on this topic. Hopefully you use my trials and errors to help inform your decision-making process, but either way there is no universally wrong option. Thanks for tuning in again and carry on! See what I did there? 🙂

It’s all about the shoes

by Tyler Simpson on Feb 25, 2023 category Footwear, Tips From An Amateur

Mostly current rotation, with new ones in the back and a pair of retired shoes in the middle

I’ve been a “shoe guy” for a long time. Or at least since the start of High School. I personally can’t stand the term “sneakerhead” because people overuse that term and I’m way too old to use it. When I got to High School, I started to really get into shoes, and once I started working, it was over. I would spend at least half of my paychecks on shoes and remember getting into “disagreements” with my mother about how I was spending my money. My trump card was always, “well I could be spending it on drugs”, and that tended to give me the “W”.

I was mostly interested in shoes for the style, and any performance-related shoes I was getting on the discount racks. I had the backwards mindset of “why spend a lot of money on shoes I’m going to beat up?” As I’ve matured to an otherworldly degree, I have realized that companies often make performance shoes more expensive because (you guessed it) they are better quality. Revelation to my brain.

Even though I ran track throughout college, all of my shoes (trainers and spikes) were provided by the team. I never gave much thought to what I was wearing, and definitely felt like I’d made it because I was being given “free” shoes whenever I needed them. One reason I was interested in the decathlon was because that qualified for a few more event-specific spikes. It wasn’t until after about a 12 year hiatus from running that I started doing some research about running shoes and learned A TON about the differences.

There are many things to learn about and consider with running shoes. My goal is to give you my idiots guide to understanding the different aspects of shoe buying to be aware of. After all, I am firmly planted in the amateur category (at best) but I have spent a lot time researching and talking to former trackmates in the running shoe industry and I have learned a decent amount. The following information is in no particular order.

Stack height

You have likely seen this more than you have heard about it, but the general thing to know about stack height is that it is the amount of cushioning that is in the sole of the shoe. A brand that is known for having a higher than average stack height is Hoka. Hoka has become very popular in the last few years, even for non-runners. A big reason for their popularity is that their shoes are wildly comfortable and provide a lot of cushioning underfoot. I know a few runners that were previously unable to run due to various injuries and pains that have been able to run again with Hokas. I had a pair of Hoka Speedgoats that I grew to love, but they felt very “tippy” at first. It took me a while to get comfortable running in them.

Note the difference in height between the shoes

The most common reason that I’ve heard of against wearing shoes with a lot of cushioning is that it can actually weaken your foot muscles. When this happens, your likelihood of a foot injury can increase, so you will want to compensate to help prevent that. One easy way to do that is to walk around your house barefoot as much as possible. One other downside to having high-cushioned shoes is that the tread typically wears out quite quickly. I had a pair of On Cloudmonsters (pictured above and below) that started to show a good bit of wear after only 50 miles. Ideally you want to see more rubber on the soles to help prevent this.

There is a notable difference in the amount of rubber underfoot – both have similar mileage

Wearing a shoe with a higher stack height can be very beneficial to runners who are doing longer efforts. You tend to see a lot more people wearing these types of shoes in ultras (anything over marathon distance). After being on your feet for 3+ hours, it can be much more manageable if your feet have more protection. Other than that, I haven’t heard a compelling reason to get a higher stack shoe.

Drop

If you have started looking into running shoes more thoroughly, you have likely heard a shoe described by its “drop”. The easiest way to understand drop is that it is the difference in the height between the heel and the toe. Most shoes that I’ve seen have somewhere between a 4-10mm difference (always shorter in the front). There are a few brands that focus on having a “zero drop” which ultimately means the sole is flat.

From everything I’ve read, the reason the heels are generally higher is to help protect your feet from heel striking. Heel striking is very common, and happens when a runner’s heel is the first point of contact when running. It’s not the ideal position for your feet (from an injury-prevention and running efficiency standpoint), and shoe manufacturers try to help. Zero drop shoes are becoming more popular, with brands like Altra leading the way. If you read up on these shoes, the general recommendation is not to jump into a zero drop shoe too quickly. Due to having less protection in the heel, you really want to be landing closer to your toes, otherwise you can increase your chances of injury.

Toe box

The toe box is referring to the front of the shoe, where your toes are. Some brands are known for a narrower toe box, but there are more brands doing the opposite. Research is showing that the more movement your toes have, the better. If your toes are too cramped, it’s never a good thing and can (again) increase your chances of injury. Altra is also leading the pack by having a wider toe box than most of the other brands.

Carbon plate

The carbon fiber plates have been much more common in the last few years. Don’t quote me on this, but I’m fairly certain Nike was the first to mass produce a shoe with a carbon fiber plate in the sole. Now almost every major shoe brand has something similar in their racing shoes. The basic benefit of the carbon plate is that it helps propel you forward, which reduces your effort and lowers your time (Nike’s 4% shoes were billed to take 4% off your race times). I remember getting my first pair of shoes with a carbon plate and there was a notable difference in feel and took a little while getting used to.

In my experience there are a few things to consider about the carbon plated shoes. First is that they don’t really do anything for you when you are running at an “easy effort”. They actually feel quite unstable at slower speeds. The real apparent difference is when you are running at faster speeds, and they do feel like they are propelling you forward. The second consideration is that they actually beat your feet up quite a bit and the general guidance is that they are not a daily trainer. Lastly is that the carbon fiber doesn’t generally last as long, so don’t expect to be able to get the 300-500 miles that most shoes advertise.

Lugs

The lugs on the bottom of your shoes are more specific to trail running shoes, but are important nonetheless. If you’ve seen a pair of trail runners, one of the first things you will notice is that the tread underneath is much more aggressive. There are knobs sticking out all along the bottom of the shoe, which are very important for grip and stability off-road. Not all trail shoes are alike, and shoes with longer lugs are made for more technical terrain. Those shoes will be better on challenging trails, but will not transition as well to the road.

Gore-tex

I’m sure most people have heard the term gore-tex before, but if you somehow have not, it is a material that is known for being waterproof. It is pretty much the industry standard in waterproofing, and found in all the high quality rain and snow gear on the market. Given that running is a year-round activity and often done in rain or snow, there are a number of shoes with a gore-tex option. While these shoes will do a great job of keeping moisture out, the opposite is also true. They are not nearly as breathable, so the inside of the shoe will trap your foot sweat inside. While that is far from being a reason to avoid them, it’s definitely worth considering prior to purchase. If you think you will be running in wet environments regularly then it is likely a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, it’s ok to have wet feet once in a while.

Brands

There are a lot of shoe brands in the running market, and you’ve probably heard of most of them. All the biggest brands make running shoes, and there are a number of other brands that tend to focus primarily on running. Asics, Saucony and Brooks come to mind but there are plenty of others (some of which I mentioned earlier). Your best bet is to head down to a specialty running store and try out a few different options. Many of these smaller stores also have these incredible machines that can analyze your feet for any consideration. For context, if you are looking for a high quality running shoe, you should plan on paying between $125-150 (sometimes more, sometimes less). Once you know what brands and models you like, you can often find good deals at various online stores. I don’t think I’ve ever paid full-price for a running shoe.

Usage

As you get more into running and training for various races, you may find that not all running shoes are created for the same purpose. They are obviously all for running, but there are actually a few different types of runs that you might find yourself on.

Tempo/Speed

For improving your speed, you will likely want to incorporate tempo runs into your mix. These involve periods of running at faster paces, even if they are broken up into intervals. For this type of running, you will look for a bit more of an aggressive shoe that is built specifically for speed.

Long runs

When training for longer races, the long run is a staple in the mix and is often done at a slower (or conversational) pace. The point of these runs is to build up your endurance and spend more time on your feet, so that your body gets conditioned for running longer. Shoes for these efforts are often a little more cushioned (think stack height). I’ve made the mistake of doing long runs in a tempo shoe and have felt it afterwards. It’s not to say that it isn’t doable, it just may hurt a little more during and after your runs.

Racing

This gets a little more granular because many brands make different racing shoes for different events. The shorter the distance, the more aggressive the shoe. A racing shoe is generally going to be notably lighter than a training shoe and this is where you will see the carbon fiber plates. It is far from a requirement to get a racing shoe, but they can make a recognizable difference once you start trying out different shoes. Bear in mind they do tend to be more expensive…

New Balance RC Elite – my race shoe for the past 2 years

Trails

Trail shoes are an entirely different breed and have a few key differences from road shoes. There are three primary things that I’ve seen. A reinforced toe box for protection against rocks and roots, a firm sole (also for protection) and aggressive, rubber grip. Similar to road shoes, there are a variety of options when it comes to the trails. If you plan to run on the trails on any consistent basis, I recommend picking up some trail shoes. I have ran with a few new trail runners, and they have marveled at the difference after picking up their first pair.

Recovery

It’s becoming more common to have shoes and sandals that are specifically designed for recovery. Ultimately that means high cushioning for your sore feet. There are a few brands that are focused almost exclusively on this market – most notably Oofos and Kane. Footwear like this has become more popular and other brands are making their own versions of recovery shoes. I too succumbed to the interest here, but have mostly relegated my recovery slides for odds and ends. After a few minor foot pains, the most common advice I’ve received is to walk around the house barefoot, so that’s been my go-to.

Breaking shoes in

The general advice I’ve always received is to walk around your house in new shoes for a while before going out for your first run. This is especially important before doing a run over 3-5 miles. I’ve made the mistake (recently…) of skipping this step before and have ended up aggravating my foot, which took a few weeks to recover from. Be smarter than me 🙂

Conclusion

There is a LOT to the shoe buying process, and I hope this has been a helpful high-level overview for you. While this was a lot of information, it is far from being all encompassing. This was mostly geared to newer folks, but hopefully some of the veteran runners out there learned something new too. You might have noticed that I have (what some might say is) a lot of running shoes. There are a few reasons for that. One reason is that I do a decent variety of runs on roads and trails, and each shoe serves it’s own purpose. The other reason is that you can injure your feet if you run with the same shoes every day and on the same terrain. The variety helps prevent injuries so you aren’t sidelined unnecessarily. For those of you who think I might have too many shoes, I’ll tell you as well… at least it isn’t drugs.