When I first got into trail running, I knew I had to invest in some gear. A hydration vest, soft flasks, and shorts with good pockets.

What I ended up buying was "anything cheap." Soft flasks from Amazon "because they're probably good enough." A hydration vest from Temu because "how much of a difference will it really make?" And shorts? Oh, don't even get me started.

Here we are, roughly two years later, and all that gear is now unused or broken.

Whether you are new to trail running or an experienced path seeker, if there's one tip I could give you, it's to invest in good gear from the start. Don't waste your money on low-quality gear that won't last (whether because it’s not durable enough or you simply outgrow it).

Once you experience quality gear like these items from Outopia, you won't go back. And you won't have to, because this gear will outlast anything else.

Let's take a trip through the Earth and Wonderland of Outopia and discover their best gear for trail runners. ⤵️

The obvious flagship: Outopia's Panacea Hydration Vest. While relatively new, this one is a champion. It's extremely light, and the fit is tight. Absolutely ZERO bounce.

The vest comes with two soft flasks from HydraPak. If you, like me, are used to cheap flasks from Amazon or other places, you'll be very pleasantly surprised. These make your water taste like, well, water. Not plastic. I didn't even know that was possible. Like I said… never going back.

The rest of this vest's design also leaves little to be desired. Pockets for gels and snacks? Check. Loops for a pole quiver? Check. Loops for your poles directly on the vest? Check. A small zipper pocket for keys? Yep.

I ran a 50k race (with aid stations but no other support along the route) using this vest and loved pretty much everything about it. The one thing I struggled with was finding a good spot for my phone, as the front pockets were stacked with gels and snacks. But this was anything but a problem, since I was wearing the Soul Run Short Tights (see next section) and had plenty of great pockets in those too.

On shorter runs where I'd take fewer snacks or only one flask, the problem doesn't exist at all.

For the vast majority of trail runners, this vest will work for all your runs, whether that's a 50k race or a 30k long run.

Oh, and… it looks gorgeous, too.

There are a few things that can be super annoying when it comes to shorts. They ride up. They don't have enough pockets. The pockets are badly placed. You see every tiny sweat mark. They leave you with the drawstring digging into your skin.

Meet the Outopia Soul Run Short Tights. I thought I already had a favourite pair of shorts, but… they've been kicked off the throne by these. When I wore them during the 50k race (5.5 hours, sweaty, in the sun!) they carried plenty of gels and my phone, and had to deal with so much sweat and mud.

End of the race? Not a single sweat mark. Incredible. And that while they are GREEN! I still can barely believe it. Even my black shorts would, at some point, start showing marks. But these guys, wow.

And did I mention the pockets? They are big. And there are so many.

These tights will quickly become the “overachiever” in your kit. A true Jack of all trades.

I also wore these shorts during the Lisbon Half Marathon. They might be “trail shorts”, but they’re better than any road shorts I have. Perfect for carrying everything during a half marathon, too!

The Earth Merino Blend Short Sleeve has easily become my favourite new shirt. It combines soft merino wool with breathable, plant-based Tencel Lyocell for what Outopia calls natural temperature regulation and odour resistance.

Basically… you won't smell so sweaty. You don't always need to wash it. And even though it feels warm, you can wear it in sunny weather too. Breathable, wickable, and cooling. One shirt to rule them all 👀

Besides that, I love the tie-dye design and the illustration.

A long sleeve that's thick enough to keep you warm, but breathable enough to not make you overheat. Perfect for early spring, late autumn or just a chilly morning. It is so soft. The type of long sleeve I like to put on when it looks grim outside, and I'm just going for an easy run. That’s the Outopia Wonderland Merino Blend Long Sleeve.

It has little loops inside the sleeves for your thumbs, keeping it in place, and some reflective elements on the outside, making you easier to spot when you’re out before the world wakes up.

This is the shirt that says "let's go" on a grey morning 🙏

I'm usually not one to wear running caps. They fly off easily, they don't have a good spot for a ponytail, and they just make my head sweaty. So much so that I'd rather run with the full sun in my face.

But this unisex cap from Outopia is different. It is SO light. And you can easily roll it up and tuck it away somewhere in your vest or those Soul Shorts. Best bit? The stretch-adjustable back strap. This cap can really be adjusted to your size.

I wore this cap for the full 50k, and I have never done that before. And it looks incredible too. 100% recommend.

If there's one thing that can easily be avoided but truly ruin a race, it's blisters.

Experienced runners know that investing in the right socks is just as important as investing in the right shoes. Good socks reduce friction and protect your feet. These Compression Crew Socks from Outopia do exactly that. Race day or a long training run, it doesn't matter. You can lace up knowing your feet are taken care of.

Worth every penny.

I wouldn’t write this guide if I didn’t genuinely recommend and love Outopia’s gear. While they provided me with the items, I got complete editorial authority. All words and thoughts are my own. If you have any questions about any of these items, feel free to email me at [email protected]!