Essential Gear for New Runners

Running is a great sport in that it doesn’t require a lot of high tech, expensive gear. There are, however, a few must haves for new runners and you might be surprised at the items on the list. Most of the items I’ll mention can be bought for a relatively small amount of money, and will make your running experience much smoother and easier.

Basic But Essential Running Gear

Shoes – Ok, this one is a no-brainer, but you don’t have to go out and buy the most expensive shoes you can find. When it comes to running shoes, price does not always equal quality.

You should visit a specialty running store to buy your first pair of running shoes. Most of the staff is likely to be fellow runners and they can share their advice and point you in the right direction. Tell them how long you’ve been running, how much you plan to run, what your goals are and so on.

Make sure you buy shoes that are designed specifically for running and are from one of the major recognized brands, such as Nike, New Balance, Adidas, Brooks, Saucony, Asics or Reebok.

There is quite a variety of shoes available, racing flats, trainers, trail running shoes, even spiked shoes for serious track athletes. You’re best to go with a light weight trainer when you’re starting out.

It’s important to try the shoes on before you buy them. Most specialty running stores will let you jog around in the shoes for a minute or two to see how they feel. If you’re in any doubt, try another pair. In my experience, any time I’ve bought a shoe I’m not 100% comfortable with, the problems just seem to get worse the more I wear them. Don’t be afraid to be a bit picky, you running shoes are probably the biggest gear investment you’ll make.

Watches – Just like running shoes, there is a tremendous variety of sport watches to choose from. Again, price doesn’t always equal quality. A basic multifunction watch that has stopwatch capability is all you really need. There are heart rate monitors, GPS devices and all sorts of gadgets, and they can all be helpful. However, I recommend waiting until you’ve been running for a bit before you get too carried away with these.

Once you’ve got some solid experience under your belt as a runner, you’ll be better able to make use of the more advanced information that heart rate monitors and GPS devices can provide.

Clothing – The one area of running gear where price does tend to equal quality is in your running gear. When it comes to running shirts, “technical” fabrics such as polypropylene wick away moisture from your skin and keeps you much more comfortable than typical materials.

Lightweight shorts or tights are essential. The design and fabrics are pretty much a matter of personal style, but make sure they’re loose fitting and don’t restrict your running movements in any way.

It’s also nice to have a couple of pair of running socks. Not the typical 100% cotton socks.  These are lightweight and made from wicking material that helps keep your feet dry and does an excellent job of preventing blisters.  Proper running socks will make a huge difference in the comfort of your feet.

If you’re running in cold weather, a track suit along with a hat and gloves are essential to stay warm. Gore-Tex is the gold standard for track suit material, it keeps incredibly warm and comfortable even in very cold weather. It is expensive, though, and there are other fabrics that work well also. Talk to your specialty running store staff and find out which of their products suit you best.

When in doubt, ask your fellow runners or look online in the running forums. Most runners are more than happy to share their experience and help out those who are new to the game. That sense of cooperation and camaraderie is one of the greatest things about the sport!

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