The ongoing global pandemic has most of us spending the lion’s share of our time hauled up in our abodes, working from home and seldom venturing outdoors, with very few exceptions. As a result, running has gone from a routine and widely practiced form of exercise to a much-needed escape to the outside world, where we can not only catch a breath of fresh air but also enjoy a change of scenery and the boost of endorphins that come with pounding the pavement. So, in light of this reality, we’ve compiled this running-oriented loadout to help you make the most of your precious time out in the world. Rather than focusing on products geared towards hardcore marathon runners, these items lend themselves to the more casual jogging crowd, while still offering numerous clearcut benefits to your roadwork sessions.
The Friendly Swede Sweatband Wallet
Cleverly-integrated into an existing functional piece of activewear, The Friendly Swede’s Sweatband Wallet is one of our favorite pieces of workout gear as it solves an age-old problem for runners: offering a convenient and secure storage space for small essential items like keys and credit cards, without having to worry about said items annoyingly bouncing around in your pocket during a run — or worse, falling out.
Timex Metropolitan S Smartwatch
With a built-in heart rate monitor, onboard GPS (and step-counter), and 14-day battery life, Timex’s Metropolitan S is the perfect smartwatch for runners seeking to take their workouts to the next level with hard data. Water-resistant to 30 meters, the Bluetooth-connected watch features a 36mm bead-blasted aluminum alloy case, and a customizable AMOLED touchscreen display fortified beneath an ultra-rugged Gorilla Glass lens.
Roka Cambridge Performance Sunglasses
While looking like your average pair of high-end shades, Roka’s Cambridge Performances glasses do a remarkable job remaining in place, even amidst physical activity. Weighing just 22-grams (or 0.048lbs) the glasses feature dark carbon polarized lenses and Roka’s patented GEKO fit and retention system, a proprietary elastomer used on the nose and temple pads that was inspired by the sticky feet of the little green lizards.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport Bluetooth Headphones
Whether you’re pumping yourself up with a high-energy workout playlist or just enjoying an audiobook while taking a brisk jog, true wireless headphones hugely elevate the experience of running, and few sports models can hold a flame to Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay E8 Sport. IP57-rated, these durable Danish-made earbuds boast the latest Bluetooth and Qualcomm aptX transmission tech, a fully-customizable EQ, a collectively 30 hours of battery life, and the company’s signature HiFi sound.
