As a runner, finding the best running gear and shoes is essential. In this in-depth review, I’ll be sharing my honest opinions on Hokas and Brooks running shoes, the new Apple Watch (Series 8), and Gymshark running clothes. Let’s get right into it!
The Worst & Best Running Gear
I’m sharing my 100% honest opinions on all this gear, so I’ll be letting you know not only the best running gear but the worst as well.
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor and the information in this article is just based on my personal experience. It should not be used in place of medical advice from a doctor or sports medicine specialist.
We’ll start things off with the most essential gear: running shoes.
Hoka vs. Brooks
The age-old question when it comes to running shoes: which is better, Hokas or Brooks? 😉
I’ll start this off by saying, this is very dependent on a lot of things, and it’s going to vary from person to person. Just because I prefer one or the other doesn’t mean you will. This is just my opinion based on my experience, feet, and running style.
So what I’m getting at is: you should go into a running store to be professionally fitted if you haven’t done that already. Everyone’s different and will benefit more from different running shoes. I can’t tell you the best shoes for you to get because I don’t have your feet.
That being said, I’ll do my best to break down the pros and cons of Hokas and Brooks from my personal experience.
Brooks
Pros:
- Very comfortable and the Adrenaline GTS fits perfectly to my arch/foot (I have a slightly high arch, so again, I’d recommend going into a running store to get a personalized recommendation. This was the shoe recommended to me a few years ago when I had my running tested at a running store.)
- Really cute styles and colors. A ton of different options.
- Different styles for different activities: road running, trail running, treadmill, hiking, walking, etc.
- Long-lasting shoes. Brooks last the longest without wearing down, by far, in my experience. I can easily get 400-500 miles out of my Brooks while still feeling great.
- Lots of space in the toe region. I always run into the issue with most running shoes that my toes feel crunched together. I don’t experience this at all with Brooks Adrenaline.
Cons:
- Honestly, I don’t have many cons with my experience with Brooks. They’re great running shoes! My only con would be that, personally, I like the aesthetic of some other running shoes more. But when it comes to running shoes, comfort/support and avoiding pain is 100% most important. So having the perfect shoes to match your outfit isn’t high up on the list of importance for me.
Brooks I bought:
- The Adrenaline GTS shoes are my go-to running shoes. That’s what was recommended to me at the running store (the 2020 version: Adrenaline GTS 20). I love these shoes and they fit my foot perfectly with awesome support and comfort. I love the pastel color options and ended up buying 2 of these pairs of shoes — one for walking and one for running. I bought the purple/dutch blue/lilac for running and the Kentucky blue/white/rose for walking.
Hokas
Pros:
- Cute colors and styles
- The pair I bought for running (Clifton) has a light/bouncy feel that gives you a little boost each step
- Comfortable/Supportive
- Good walking shoes
Cons:
- They don’t last long at all compared to other running shoes I’ve worn. Mine were already worn down after a few months of wear (not doing long distances).
- You need to replace them often. They’re not cheap, so this adds up if you’re buying new running/walking shoes multiple times a year.
- Not as much toe wiggle room (compared to Brooks)
Hokas I bought:
Hoka Clifton 8 and Hoka Transport
- The Cliftons have been great walking shoes for me. I initially bought them for running, but as mentioned above, they weren’t supportive enough for me and got worn down really quickly. I switched them to my primary walking shoes and love them for walking.
- After putting a decent amount of walking mileage on the Clifton 8, I bought the Hoka Transport to replace my walking shoes. Honestly, these are not supportive enough for walking at all (for me). They’re too narrow as well. I am keeping them as casual shoes to wear out and about but not on long walks. They’re really cute and I’m obsessed with the eggnog color, but they’re not as comfortable or supportive as the Clifton 8 or Brooks.
Final Thoughts on Hoka vs. Brooks
Overall, I will choose Brooks 100% of the time for running. I love my Hoka Cliftons for walking, but they don’t hold up or fit nearly as well as Brooks do, in my experience.
Apple Watch (Series 8) For Running
I’d been using my Series 3 Apple Watch for years and finally decided to level up my watch game a few months ago. I had doubts because it seems like the features are pretty similar, but going from an S3 to an S8 definitely does make a difference.
My favorite feature (that my old watch didn’t have) is the Zone training for cardio workouts.
If you’ve listened to Huberman Lab (or other similar podcasts) you will have heard of zone training. He mentions that Zone 2 cardio is incredible for you and you should be aiming to have a good portion of your cardio workouts in that heart rate zone.
I won’t get into it in much detail because I’m no expert. But you can listen to a quick clip about it from Dr. Huberman here.
Back to my main point: the newer Apple Watches give you the option when doing cardio workouts to see what zone you’re in (1-5). This makes it eons easier to stay primarily in Zone 2 on runs and incline walks.
Gymshark Running Clothes
The last time Gymshark had their semi-annual sale, I bought a major running clothes haul. I’ll break down the pieces I bought, the pros and cons, and which ones are worth the money.
Shorts
Gymshark running 2-in-1 shorts (black/grey) (S)
These are my favorite running shorts by far! They have 2 layers, a loose-fitting top layer, and a form-fitted spandex underneath. They’re super comfortable and stay in place throughout your run. The 2 layers give extra comfort and coverage, so you’re not worried about your shorts riding up the entire run. They have a tie as well to keep everything in place.
I love the neutral color of the black/grey shorts because they match with any top. They have cute bright colors as well!
I find myself reaching for these shorts almost every time I run (when they’re clean.)
2-in-1 pulse shorts (court & moonstone blue) (S)
Ehh… I’m not a fan of these shorts. I bought them after wearing the Running 2-in-1 shorts for a while, hoping they’d be similar, but they missed the mark. The material is not as comfortable and makes an annoying swishing sound when running. They also wrinkle easily.
If you want a pair of 2-in-one shorts, I’d definitely recommend the Running shorts above the Pulse shorts.
Pocket shorts (denim blue) (S)
These are decent spandex pocket shorts but were a little too small in my opinion. I’ve worn a small in all the other Gymshark running gear, so it seems like these shorts just run a bit smaller than the others. They were too tight in the thighs and the waist.
If they fit better, they’re nice shorts and have pockets which are really convenient for running. I’d recommend sizing up if you’re in between sizes.
LEggings
Gymshark running leggings (dewberry purple and black) (S)
I bought two pairs of the Gymshark running leggings. They’re really comfortable and great running leggings, but they do run a little tight. If you want your running leggings to be on the tighter side to make sure they stay in place, that’s all good. But they also have a waist-tie so that helps hold them up even if they were on the looser side.
The colors are nice and I love the dewberry purple. They stay in place really well throughout your run and are lightweight.
Sports Bras
Longline sports bra (titanium grey) (S)
This bra is comfortable and it is pretty supportive for a medium support bra. It’s versatile and can be worn for both running and strength training (or pretty much any type of workout.) It holds everything in place really well for running.
Tops
Gymshark running t-shirt (S)
I love this T-shirt for runs. It’s lightweight and breathable but with more coverage than a running tank or sports bra. It’s nice for summer runs because my shoulders tend to get sunburnt easily, so this protects me from that. The color is nice and neutral (I bought the dark grey) and matches with any of my shorts and colorful running shoes. It’s comfy and has held up well after a lot of wear and washes.
Best Running Gear: In Conclusion
I hope this article helped you to figure out what running gear is worth the hype and what isn’t worth your money. If you have any questions or a specific product you want to see reviewed, drop them in the comments below.
Thanks for reading! <3
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