A Couple of My Favorite Brands

Since my post on Nike, I have had a lot of DMs asking about my favorite gear. We all know it’s not currently Nike. :)

I would normally do this type of post on my IG, but after a lot of DMs through LinkedIn, I’m sharing two of my field-tested favorites here—especially since it's Sunday. None of these are sponsored—just two things I use every day.

The pair listed below have hundreds and also thousands of miles on them. If you have something I should be using or testing, please add it in the comments (thank you!).

Favorite Trail Running shoes: Norda. I love a small underdog brand that puts performance above everything.

I learned about these shoes from running in the Canadian Rockies, and they were the perfect mix of the padding of Hoka with the trail sensitivity and grip of Salomon. They have built in descent braking and never trap sweat or give me a blister. The are built to hug your feet in a sock-like upper. I’m hundreds of miles into this pair (on tough rock, rain, and snow) and they are showing no wear (other than a lot of dirt). Even if you just like to walk on pavement, they are dreamy. Maybe not the prettiest, but performance is “chef’s kiss”.

Favorite Smart Activity Watch: Coros. (Garmin fans, don’t come for me).

I bought the basic entry level Coros years ago and traded it in (I love that they offer trade-in) for one with more features for altitude and GPS (that off grid/backcountry stuff). I literally track my world through their platform—whether weights, mountaineering, running, or just walking, and I love the ultra-accurate integrated arm band for heart rate (instead of a chest strap) and it is so light, I can’t feel it on my wrist. The battery life is insane (1 charge it less than 1X per month), and the features are easy to use (you don’t need a PhD in UX design).

My first Coros logged thousands of miles in the worst weather, and this one is the same. I’ve never had a single glitch in 6 years—using it in extreme conditions all over the world. Performs like a beast. I’m a Coros girl—even though I almost never see anyone else wearing them in the wild.

We all work hard to afford the things we buy, and nothing bugs me more than gear that doesn’t last and doesn’t perform. I’m a minimalist, so I like to pinpoint “the one” and run that one into the ground (no pun intended).

From nutrition to gear, recovery, or training plans, we all need our choices to support our dreams and adventures! It doesn’t matter if that’s a first walk in the woods, run through the airport, or a 1000th ascent of a mountain!