On-trail objectives offer a wide variety of style, speed, terrain, season, and duration. You can thru-hike a single route for months. There are fast and light runs that make you feel like you’re flying, and slower, longer runs that require more gear and cover huge swaths of terrain. Winter hikes. Summer alpine traverses. Gear for daily movement. The list goes on. With each type of objective, you can choose the type of gear that best suits your style of movement, your goals, and the type of terrain you are moving through. A running vest-informed daypack and trail running shoes with extra sticky rubber may be the right choice for a technical, scrambly ridge traverse, while a short day hike may call for more cushioned shoes and a lightweight waist pack.

The best trail running and hiking gear protects you from the elements, doesn’t add unnecessary weight, and offers breathability and optimized temperature regulation so you can stay comfortable in a variety of conditions while putting in strong efforts. That requires trail running apparel and hiking gear that’s made of the most technical fabrics out there — like durable GORE-TEX PRO ePE and breathable Fortious Air 20 — with innovative construction that maximizes product benefits while reducing worn weight.

Whether you’re layering up in cold-weather tights and technical fleece for a winter hike through the snow or opting for lightweight gear that gives you that ‘wind at your back’ feeling on your next mountain run, choosing the right trail running gear and hiking accessories is key.

What are some common trail distances?

Trails around the world come in all distances, difficulties, and environments. There are thru-hikes and runs that cover vast deserts, connect peaks across a ridgeline, travel from sea to summit, cross glaciers and snowfields, and traverse every kind of terrain. The longest officially recognized trail in the world, the Trans Canada Trail, spans 17,000 kilometres (10,560 miles) across our home country. But you can find trails nearly anywhere, and there are plenty that clock in at less than a kilometre. Some common racing distances in ultrarunning are also common distances for trail runs and hikes, including 5-kilometre, 10-kilometre, half-marathon, marathon, 50-kilometre, 100-kilometre, 50-mile, and 100-mile distances.

What socks are best for hiking and trail running?

Socks that are made of natural fibers (like wool and cotton) and blends (which offer the best of synthetic and natural fibers together) often fight odour, can withstand multiple days of wear without washing, provide necessary cushioning for long and demanding days, are more temperature-regulating, and can last for years. Technical socks made specifically for trail running or hiking usually have customized cushioning and foot-mapping to provide comfort without adding bulk. Usually, trail running socks are lighter with a thinner fabrication or knit for optimal temperature regulation, while hiking socks are often thicker with more cushioning for longer treks.