Manzella Unisex Windstopper Balaclava

Good running gear is good to have at all times of the year. That is if you really into running or trail running. Be comfortable while trail running is more important to some people than others.. Look no further if you need some new equipment to keep you running longer and harder.

So where do you turn for the best rough and tumble stuff? There are few manufacturers—though the list is growing—specifically designing clothes or equipment for adventure racing. Aside from those specialists, racers find what works for them among companies offering lightweight, durable, breathable, and water-resistant clothing and gear.

Feet first
There's no better place to start than your feet. They're going to take the biggest pounding, and are the equipment failure most likely to end your race.

"You're on your feet for the whole race," says Karen Lundgren, who raced on Team Hi-Tec in the 1999 and 2000 Eco-Challenge and in the on-going Hi-Tec Adventure Series. "One little blister can ruin your whole race."

Many racers start by coating their feet with a lubricant to shed water and bacteria and to keep the grit that gets into your shoes from "sandpapering" off skin. Louise Cooper, a long-time Ironman participant, ultramarathoner, and adventure racer, swears by Sport Slick. She likes it because in addition to lubricants, it has aloe, vitamins and other soothing ingredients. An 8-ounce tube is $8 at HiTek Racing, a runner's supplier store.

TRAIL RUNNING

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