Convenient, portable and simple items for fall that our editors are raving about this month:
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SKLZ Hydro-Roller, $40
This is a genius idea! SKLZ combined a stainless steel water bottle with a therapeutic foam roller. Why is it so smart? Because of its dual-purpose functionality. I have a gazillion water bottles and several foam rollers, but they're not necessarily with me when I need them. For example, I took the HydroRoller with me to a half marathon last weekend and when I got back to the car, the water was still icy cold (the foam from the foam roller helps keep fluids insulated!) and I was able to use it to roll out my right hamstring and hip after my cool-down run. Knowing my upper leg was still tweaky, I took it with me on a business trip and used it every day in my hotel room after running or spinning in the gym. It's durable, well-constructed, lightweight and easy to pack, not to mention environmentally friendly. If only we could combine more things this simply and smartly.—Brian Metzler, editor-in-chief
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Voormi River Run Hoodie, $129
If you think “warm, sunny weather” and “wool-blend hoodie” don’t belong together, the Voormi River Run Hoodie will challenge your preconceptions. This versatile top is made with an incredibly lightweight fabric—just 100 grams per square meter of cloth—crafted with Merino wool on the outside and moisture-wicking synthetic fibers next to the skin. The result is a 6-ounce shirt that’s as useful for blocking the middy sun as it is for warming up on a crisp morning. The fit is more athletic and trim than boxy, and the generous hood doesn’t flop around too much. I chose this good-looking piece for aprés workouts more often than running in it, but it still proved a great choice for relaxed trail runs. Thumb loops are a nice touch for cooler weather; this is as close to a true four-season top as you’ll ever find.—Mark Eller, contributing editor
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LED Lenser Neo, $25
For early morning or late evening runs (and now that it's officially fall with less daylight), this lightweight headlamp comes in handy. With 90 lumens of light and a 150-degree ultra wide beam, the Neo has three settings: power, low power and strobe. Plus, it has a rear red light that notifies people or vehicles you can't see from behind. It's my favorite headlamp because of its simplicity and inexpensive price point. It stays on, provides long-lasting light (about 40 hours worth on low power), and doesn't bounce on my head. It's as if I'm not wearing a headlamp at all.—Emily Polachek, associate editor
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Chaco Kirkwood Flips, $85
I wear running shoes every day and that's a good thing. But sometimes my feet want to be free, especially after wearing running shoes for a long, hot run. These Kirkwood Flips have been my go-to recovery shoes for the past few months. They're comfortable, easy-on, easy-off leather flip-flops with a style that blends classic and chill. The undercarriage is made from a combination of a soft polyurethane and foam that serves both smooth-riding comfort from heel to toe as well as a little bit of support. The rubber outsole has a low-profile tread that's ideal for walking on trails, roads or sand.—Brian Metzler, editor-in-chief
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The North Face HyperAir GTX jacket, $249
Every so often here in San Diego, strange drops of water fall from the sky. We think it’s something we’ve heard about called “rain.” And whenever that happens, I pull The North Face’s HyperAir GTX jacket out of the closet. This shell is basically a single tissue-thin layer of Gore-Tex Active material that keeps you dry as a desert inside, yet it’s highly breathable—and, obviously, very lightweight. For such a streamlined jacket, it’s also got a few decent-size pockets and an adjustable hood. It’s easily the best rain jacket I’ve come across. And even though it doesn’t get wet here very often, The HyperAir GTX is nice to have when it does.—Adam Elder, managing editor
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Brooks Greenlight Cuff, $18
I don't like carrying stuff in my hands when I run and stuffing a car key in my running shorts usually isn't all that comfortable or secure. (I don't like wearing running belts with pockets either.) I only came across a Greenlight Cuff recently, but it's been the perfect accessory to carry small necessities on the run. It has reflective highlights so it helps me be seen running at night and the pocket is big enough to carry a car key, an ID, a credit card, cash and an energy gel. Plus, it doubles as a sweatband, so I can wipe the sweat off of my face. Simple, comfortable, lightweight and very functional, it's ideal for short to long runs from a trailhead or my office.—Brian Metzler, editor-in-chief
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Sneaker Balls, $10 for 6-pack
If you're someone who gets smelly-running-shoes-syndrome (like me) then these are a shoe-saver. I like to keep a pair of running shoes in my car, just in case, and after a particularly sweaty long run, it's impossible to keep them stored in my car where the smell becomes especially pungent. But these shoe deodorizers eliminate the smell with a simple twist of opening it up and dropping one into each shoe. They last up to six months and can be used in gym bags too!—Emily Polachek, associate editor
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