New This May: Shorts With Pockets, Running Fuel Worth Trying, and Swimsuits That Keep Up

I think we skipped through spring and are heading straight towards summer!

Whether you’re hitting the trails, spending more time outside, or just ready to swap out the heavier gear, we’ve rounded up some fun pieces of gear for this season.

If there’s a brand you think we need to try, drop us a comment!! Or have you tried one of these, let us know we’re always looking for more feedback on what’s working and what’s not.

FlipBelt Trail Run Compression Shorts

The FlipBelt Trail Compression Shorts are a great option for trail runners, ultrarunners, and anyone looking for comfortable shorts with lots of storage.

These compression shorts fit true-to-size. In my typical size, they were comfortably tight without feeling restrictive. I often struggle to find shorts that fit both my thighs and waist, and I did not have that problem with these shorts. The waist did not budge.

The legs feature silicone grips, intended to prevent movement of the shorts along the thighs. The grips helped but the legs did ride up a bit for me, but not to the extent where I was constantly adjusting.

These shorts have 4 pockets along the waist and 2 long pockets along each leg, all the storage you could possibly need! I love the addition of the zippered pocket for extra security, as someone who is afraid of losing my keys on trail.

The pockets are large and versatile, large enough to fit a flask, phone, dog treats, or any fuel. There is also a rear pole carry system with large bungees.

I particularly liked this for securely storing layers. I will use these for my trail adventures that require a lot of fuel, or in lieu of a running vest.

• Sizes: XS-XL
• Colors: 19
• Pockets: 4 pockets along the waist and 2 long pockets along each leg
• Available from Amazon.com starting at $48

-Jennifer, Gear Tester

Title Nine Swim Suits

Tired of trying to figure out what swimsuit is going to look best on your body??? Ya me too!Title Nine has tried to make this process a little more enjoyable with their SwimSuit Finder.

You’re able to pick the type of style that you’re looking for, and the website gives you a list of the best swimsuits available for that season.

Whether you need a lot of support, or like me not so much, whether you need a one piece that feels flattering or a two piece that fits an athletic body, they’ve got you covered.

Extra bonus points here, because the swimsuits are designed for movement. You’re not going to have to worry about it shifting around as you’re in the water, on an adventure, or just hanging around the pool.

We especially love that TitleNine always carries pieces that fit a variety of body shapes. Swimsuit sizing ranges from 2 to 14, with a wide range of fits for bigger-chested folks.

• Sizes: XS-XL
• Band Size: 32-38
• Cup Size: B-DDD
• Styles: 12 different types

Check out the full video to see why I’ve been using them to find a swim suit for like 4 years now! I need things that stay put when I want to have some fun, but I still want to look cute!

-Coach Amanda

Aenergy WB Hooded Jacket

The Mammut Aenergy WB Hooded Jacket has been the perfect addition to my gear closet during this abnormally windy spring here in Colorado.

I’m no stranger to windbreakers – I’ve been running in a Patagonia Houdini for years. While the jackets are similar, I find the Aenergy jacket has a more athletic feel to it, thanks to a slightly stretchy fabric that actually moves with me and feels more breathable than the Houdini.

The adjustable hood features an internal attachment loop to help anchor it to a hat or helmet for a more secure fit in the wind. The Aenergy jacket is slightly heavier than the Houdini but still decidedly ultralight and packs into its own chest pocket for easy storage.

Although the forearms are reinforced with a thicker fabric for durability, the fabric overall feels fragile.

I would be a little nervous taking this jacket out on technical terrain (whether scrambling or rock climbing), but this will be a staple in my running vest any time I hit the singletrack. Plus, the silver sage color looks incredible!

• Sizes: XS-XL
• Colors: 2
• Folds up for easy carrying
• Available from Amazon.com starting at $139

-Alyssa, Gear Tester

Vallon Watchtowers Sunglasses

I admit that my favorite type of swag has always been the cheap sunglasses from merch tables at races and events.

As someone who is constantly stuffing sunglasses into pockets or at risk of dropping them off mountains, I’ve always been really skeptical of the lifespan of quality sunglasses. So getting a pair of the Vallon Watchtowers was like upgrading from a 30-year-old Honda Civic to a brand new Lamborghini. These sunglasses are the real deal. First, the shield style looks cool.

I let my 74-year-old father try them on and even he looked like a world-class athlete in them. The cheap freebies could never.

The Watchtowners don’t just look like real athlete sunnies – they perform like them too. With 100% UV protection and 14% VLT (VLT is the percentage of light that passes through the lenses – these are designed for days with variable cloud cover), I know my eyes are protected for long days above treeline.

Even better, Vallons are sunnies that you can feel good about. The frames are made from recycled fishing nets and for every pair sold, Vallon cleans up 1 kg (that’s 2.2 lb for my fellow Americans) of plastic waste in projects across the globe.

Overall, the Watchtowers look awesome, feel comfortable (they come with 3 separate silicon nosepads so you can find the best fit for you), and are clearly high-performers. How resilient they are is yet to be tested… but if I do accidentally huck them off a cliff, Vallon has a great warranty and repair program. Hope I don’t need to use it.

-Alyssa, Gear Tester

Chaco’s Chillos

These are a great adjustable option, so you can throw on with big socks after a cold run, but needing your feet out, or wear in the summer.

Unlike other post-run sandals, these have a firmer underfoot feel, so not a recovery shoe like the Hoka slide, but a recovery slide that’s got more support and likely better for folks with plantar fasciitis.

And what can we say, they actually look really stylish which isn’t the case for a lot of recovery shoes. Throw these on with a summery outfit and you’re all set!

• Sizes: 5-12
• Colors: lots available
• Available from Amazon.com starting at $49

-Coach Amanda

Skratch Watermelon Flavor

Nothing screams summer like watermelon-flavored anything.

This flavor was so popular in the past that Skratch has brought it back!

Perfect to throw in your hydration bottle or for making into a post-run popsicle, this flavor is very refreshing. It’s not too overly powerful in terms of taste and of course you can change up how strong it is based on the amount of scoops that you use.

One serving has 19g of carbs per 12-16oz of water.

• Try the watermelon flavor or others from Skratchlabs.com
• Code AMANDARUN20 will get you 20% off your purchase

And checkout our new article comparing cost per carb on a ton of sports nutrition!

-Amanda

Is there a piece of gear you’ve been dying to know about or an area you’d love to see us focus on? You know the drill: drop a note below, and we’ll be happy to get the team on it if we can!

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