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Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Irish outdoors while staying in shape through trail running. Whether you are in search of a physical challenge or a healthy social outlet consider trail running. While trail running is a beautifully simple sport it is important to be properly equipped before embarking on your adventure. This is our comprehensive gear guide to ensure that you’re ready to take on the trails with confidence.

1. Trail Running Shoes

Hoka Torrent 3s

If you are planning to head off the trails, especially as we leave summer behind, you will need to invest in a pair of trail running shoes. Trail running shoes are sturdier, and have better grip than your usual road running shoes. They’re built to survive the harder conditions and terrain that you’ll be dealing with on the trails. There are a wide range of trail shoes on the market. They range from cushioned to minimal, grippy to slippy, and specific to multi-use. If you are just beginning your trail running journey we would advise considering a shoe that is as multi-use as possible.

Hoka Speedgoat 5: A popular shoe for good reason. If you attend any mountain or trail running race in Ireland you are bound to see a few pairs of Speedgoat 5s. The Speedgoat line is a staple in Hoka’s trail shoes and the 5 is the latest iteration. It is a comfortable, soft, grippy shoe that is totally at home on Irish trails.

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Hoka Torrent 3: If you have been running on the road and just want a shoe to take off-road while staying on well-maintained established trails the Torrent could be for you. A lightweight daily shoe with less cushioning than the other Hokas mentioned here and a more responsive ride to boot. The Hoka Torrent is a brilliant shoe for light trail use and the occasional Irish race.

Hoka Challenger 7: The ultimate road-to-trail shoe. This is a shoe that feels as good on the road as it does on some easy trails. This would be a perfect shoe for someone who lives a mile or two from a trail and wants to enjoy a multi-surface run. A cushioned, comfortable shoe, the Challenger 7 would feel very familiar to someone who has run in Hoka road running shoes in the past.

2. Trail Running Socks

You might think that the fate of your feet lies in your shoe choice. But you are wrong. At the World Mountain Running Championships this year, Hoka Racer Ricki Wynne got a massive blister on the back of his heel because his socks wore through during the 80km race. A good pair of socks is just as important as shoes and can go a long way when it comes to blister prevention, comfort and foot hygiene. A good pair of socks might set you back €10 – €20 but they are worth it and will last for longer than some shoes. Favourites of ours include merino wool options from Icebreaker and Smartwool and synthetic options from 1000miles and Falke. Check out our favourite trail running socks.

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3. Trail Running Clothing

It is vital to have good trail running-specific clothing for your trail runs. A good pair of running shorts will save you a lot of discomfort. Chafing is a real issue and no matter how much body glide you use, a poor pair of shorts will still chafe. Trail running-specific shorts will also, generally, have more storage in them. This is very important given the added safety component that needs to be considered when running in the hills. It is essential to have space to store some basic safety items on shorter runs.

4. Basic Safety Items

When you venture off-road it is worth being aware that safety becomes an important consideration. Well it is of course important to consider safety regardless of the train you are running on there are a few extra things to be aware of when you take to the trails.

Headtorch:  If you are venturing off-road in the evening, especially in autumn winter or spring time consider bringing a head torch with you even if you expect to be finished before dark. In the event that something were to happen, like a twisted ankle that caused you to move slower than anticipated or you take a wrong turn is important to have a light source if it gets dark.

First Aid Kit: When venturing onto betrayals it is a good idea to have a basic first-aid kit with you. The first-aid kit should include a survival blanket, blister plasters and bandage. Most longer mountain running events will require that participants have a first-aid kit with these items in it. It is worth getting used to carrying one on your trail runs.

Phone with charge: Whether you need to arrange to be picked up, your watch runs out of battery, or you get a bit lost, a phone with a full charge is an essential item to bring with you on all your trail runs regardless of distance or technicality.

5. Running Jacket

In addition to wearing comfortable clothing on the trail, a good lightweight waterproof trail running jacket is also essential. Weather can change in the blink of an eye up in the hills so it’s best to always be prepared. Brands such as Hoka, Salomon, OMM, and Dynafit all have good quality trail running waterproof and windproof jackets in their ranges. All trail running events and races require a lightweight jacket so it’s worth picking one of these up early in your trail running journey.

6. Trail Running Backpack

Due to the nature of trail running and its often tricky terrain, you are going to need a few more items than when you’re running on the road. Firstly, you’ll likely need some water. It’s also a good idea to throw in your newly acquired running jacket and some basic first aid just in case things don’t go your way. Running with a backpack may seem cumbersome, but if you buy the right one, you won’t even notice it’s there. The main things to look out for when buying a trail running pack are hydration bladder compatibility, weight, size, pockets “I love having waist pockets for snacks and other essentials that I like to access on the move”, and of course fit. A good trail running pack should sit snugly and not bounce around. Check out our comprehensive guide to the best trail running backpacks.

7. GPS Watch

If you have already been spending a lot of time running on the road you may already have one. If not, a GPS running watch is a worthwhile investment. As you progress in the sport of Trail running it is really helpful to be able to monitor different bits of information as you run such as distance, time, pace, and elevation. Not only will a GPS watch tell you how far you have run, but now they have many safety features! Some watches come with a feature which sends a tracking link to selected members of your contacts so that can see where you end up! Some of the higher-end watches even come with navigational aids and the ability to play music directly to Bluetooth earphones!

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