The Best Running Shoes and Gear From This Year (2024)

Running shorts can never have too many pockets. Case in point: the Ultimate Direction Velum Short, which has a waistband that doubles as a running belt. The 4.5-inch deep pockets securely cradle an iPhone 15 and multiple gels without bouncing. The pockets go all the way around the waist and are drop-in-style—they don't have zippers or closures. But, because of the three-layer construction, nothing has bounced out during our testing.—Jeff Dengate

Before you ask, yes—there’s a small zip pocket in the back at the center of the waistband. But these have become my all-time favorite running shorts because of their fit. (I’m not alone. Mrs. Space Cadet, aka Erin Azar, The Struggle Runner agrees!) The inner brief is soft and airy, and if you tug on the outer material, you can actually see the fabric grid that lets the shorts stretch without riding up on sweaty legs. Bonus: The women’s also comes in a 3-inch inseam and men’s with 7-inch inseams.—Morgan Petruny

Bio-based shoe foams still can’t outperform their counterparts made from petroleum. But that’s not true for running apparel. Pressio creates the highest quality, most sustainable clothing I’ve worn. This tee is silky-soft and breathable—it feels much like the performance fabrics used by Tracksmith—and is woven from seed-based yarns and 100-percent recycled materials. In a landfill, it degrades in just over a year. I’ve found it dries fast and keeps stink away surprisingly well, even when I’ve worn it for three runs between washes.—M.P.

I'm rarely impressed with running sports bras because they either don’t have enough support or they feel too restrictive and uncomfortable. But that’s not the case with the Oiselle Boom Bra. In addition to the high neckline (no cleavage with this one!), my favorite feature is simply the material. It feels soft against the skin and still holds everything in place while also moving with you. The molded cups help with that bounce-free fit, too.—Mallory Creveling

Love ’em or hate ’em, if you’re going to compete in any race brief it should be Tracksmith’s. The brief has three gel-sized pockets, one on the back and one on each side. The high-waisted cut and stretchy material ensures these bottoms won’t budge—even if you stash something in every pocket.—Amanda Furrer

I normally avoid running with my phone in my pocket because I don't like the bulkiness and jiggling. But when I'm traveling, I like to bring it just in case I get lost or want to take a quick photo mid-run. I bring these half tights on almost every trip now—they're low-key but they have plenty of space for a phone, snack, and hotel room key.—Theo Kahler

I'd only had this long sleeve shirt for a little bit, but went and bought it in two new colors because I loved it so much. The fabric is more comfortable than other shirts I've worn. Plus it has thumb holes for chilly weather and a slit for you watch face so you dont have to pull up your sleeve to see your pace.—Colin McSherry

Apple's rugged sports watch got a minor refresh this year, with some internal updates that make the watch faster and the screen brighter. Apple also revealed a new feature that lets you double-tap your forefinger and thumb to initiate actions like answering a phone call. It's not super useful for runners, but the Action button remains, allowing you to quickly fire up the Workout app and start a run or take lap splits. Add a cellular plan, so you can use the Watch like a phone, or have full access to the Apple Music library when you leave your phone behind.—J.D.

The Fenix is one of Garmin’s pricier adventure watches and we love it because of its insane battery life and mapping—helpful for off-the-grid runs. All the new Pro models have dual-frequency GPS which makes your run tracking more accurate and they all come with a flashlight, which turns out to be far more useful than you might guess. Plus, the heart rate sensor has been redesigned and we've found that now the readings correspond closely to what we measure with a chest strap.—J.D.

The safest headphones are those that don't cover your ears at all. Shokz has been atop our list of recommended 'buds because they use bone conduction to transfer sound through your cheekbones and leave your ears open to hear potential hazards. Battery life is a reasonable 10 hours, with a five-minute top-off delivering you 1.5 hours of playback. We like the new Mini size version, which has a shorter band that wraps around your head and bounces less.—J.D.

AirPods Pro keep nudging one step closer to all-around hearing devices. Aside from the excellent noise cancellation and transparency modes, the newest model uses accelerometers to detect jaw movements when you begin speaking to somebody else and lowers the volume of your music while boosting the audio it lets in from outside—basically, you never have to take the buds out at the gym. In transparency mode, the digital crackle from wind passing over the mics is greatly improved, but there's still a little (tolerable) wind noise.—J.D.

I’ve been using the same pair of these $100 wireless buds since early 2020 when the whole world was “WFH.” They’ve endured drops, downpours, and sweat through at least a thousand miles of running—and have probably suffered just as many hours of Zoom meetings. The biggest change to the v2 is the updated case, which is now compatible with a Tile tracker. These JLabs fit my ears better than earbuds double their price; not once have they fallen out on the run.—M.P.

If there’s one shoe—under $300—that can go up against the Alphafly, it’s Saucony’s Endorphin Elite. And it comes from a strong franchise: Its predecessors include the Endorphin Pro and the Endorphin Pro+—a past Runner’s World Gear of the Year winner. With a 39.5mm stack height, the shoe is just under the World Athletics cutoff making it legal for racing. The midsole has a carbon-fiber plate and Pwrrun HG foam—HG stands for “highest grade,” meaning higher energy return.—A.F.

I surprised myself when I nominated a sandal for Gear of the Year. I have the typical gnarly runner toenails I choose to mindfully shield from the world. But my Ora Recovery Slides have gotten some serious flyer miles as my go-to poolside, beach, and, yes, walking shoe. I even danced for a couple of hours in these sandals at a party. They cradle your feet on injection-molded Earth-friendly sugarcane EVA. There’s no mystery to why my feet don’t ache if I wear these all day—they have a dual-density midsole. The small foot sizes also accommodate my size 6.5 running shoe / size 4 everything-else feet.—A.F.

Using the same nylon-blend construction that makes its performance running socks durable, Stance rolled out a collab with hat maker Ciele that comes in a fun, stripy design. The fit is super snug and the cushioning is ultralight, making these a good choice if you have a pair of shoes that run on the small side. An anti-microbial finish keeps them from getting funky.—J.D.

In September, the founders of Balega launched another sock brand. After more than 100 miles, my test pair is a mainstay alongside the Feetures and Swiftwicks in my sock drawer. They have a left-right specific fit, and a snug heel hold that doesn’t get baggy after double-wears and multiple washes. There are three different levels of cushioning—I like the cushiest model in my daily trainers, but grab the low or medium options when I lace up snug-fitting racing shoes. The Jogology team tells me crew lengths are on the way.—M.P.

Article One's active wear collection quickly became a favorite because the sunglasses expertly blend performance and style. But we're even more excited about the company's first prescription frames for sports. Made in Italy, there are nine frame designs made with a lightweight plastic that is flexible and comfortable for long runs. The only catch: You gotta get to an independent optical shop that works with Article One.—J.D.

For most runs, a pair of $25 Goodrs work great. But these M7s are specifically built for the terrain you’ll find on the Hardrock 100 Endurance Race course (in Silverton, Colorado). Method Seven refines the polarization and visible light transition (VLT) of its lenses to precise needs of technical trail runners in quickly-changing weather conditions. That means they’re noticeably crisper and clearer for discerning between undulations on rocky singletrack, shadows cast from heavy tree canopies, and glints of sun through clouds and rain.—M.P.

These mittens have saved my hands on more occasions than I can count on my fingers. The gridded fleece lining is soft against the skin, and the wind- and water-resistant outer help keep your hands warm and dry in all but a heavy downpour. I most often pair them with Smartwool liners and the combo is warm enough to make my hands sweat even in single digit temperatures. Also available in a fingered glove if you want more dexterity.—Pat Heine-Holmberg

This cap has it all: a DWR finish to handle the elements; reflective logos for visibility; an adjustable buckle instead of Velcro (read: that running shirt you packed in your duffel won’t get any pulls because your cap doesn’t get stuck to it); and a sizable zipper pocket on the side that can fit a hotel keycard or car key fob.—A.F.

Trekking poles don’t get major or exciting updates very often, but one of the smallest details on the latest Z-poles is just that: The tab used to lock out the poles was reshaped from a button to a longer tab, making it far easier to press in any conditions, and even while wearing gloves.—P.H.H.

Now, any flask can provide safe drinking water access on the trail. This cap is small enough to stash in almost any pocket and fits just about every flask you’ll find with running vests these days (Hydrapak makes them). Pro tip: once you use it, dedicate that flask to filtering water into all your other flasks.—P.H.H.

On’s Ultra Vest is one of the most clever new takes on expandable storage in hydration packs. The Ultra Vest 10L includes a detachable 5 liter water-resistant dry bag to protect extra layers and items during long days on the trail. Take the bag off and you’ve got an ultralight and breathable hydration vest for fast racing.—P.H.H.

The Nix patch and biosensor are worn on the bicep, where they collect sweat, analyze its electrolyte content, and beam that data to your smartphone. It’s the easiest way to know your exact hydration needs—not just the volume of fluids you lose through sweat and respiration but also whether you should replenish with water or a saltier sports drink. My favorite feature is that the app alerts me in real-time when to take another swig. Or, you can plan your race hydration strategy by consulting your personalized sweat profile that it generates after every workout.—M.P.

It's just a simple piece of rubber and leather, but I've grown very fond of this keychain. It's made from "100% World Athletics Certified" track material, and its bumpy surface is so satisfying to rub between your fingers. Everyone needs a bit more running in their daily life.—T.K.