In the greater outdoorsy-Northeastern dialect, “shoulder season” can be roughly translated to “we have absolutely no idea what the weather is going to be like at any given time.” Should you find yourself running one of the region’s many beautiful trails in this lovely time of year, you can expect to find yourself mired in any or all of the spring’s characteristic conditions on any given outing. A run that opens on dry singletrack may well have you postholing through a melting snowpack, skidding on ice, or wading through calf-deep mud before all is said and done—and you’re going to need to be prepared for all of it. Here’s a quick look at exactly what you’re going to need for spring trail running.
Footwear
Keeping your feet as comfortable and as dry as possible is job number one for any trail runner’s kit, regardless of the season. Spring, and its “anything goes” attitude toward weather and terrain conditions, just means you have to carry a little more. A pair of Kahtoola Microspikes will keep you upright on that higher-elevation ice and a pair of Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hybrid Gaiters will keep your feet nice and dry through mud and swollen creek alike. Neither weigh a ton nor do they take up a lot of space in your pack. Throw in an extra pair of socks (like the Smartwool PhD Run Elite Micro Socks) for good measure—you’ll never regret having a pair of clean, dry socks.
Clothing
As with any wilderness romp, layers are the beginning and the end of your clothing system for trail running. For the trail runner, they should be lightweight, packable, and synthetic—“quick-drying” and/or “moisture wicking” are what you’re looking for. Start simple with a t-shirt and a pair of shorts—Eastern Mountain Sports’ Trail Run Ascent Tee (men’s|women’s) and Elemental Active Shorts (men’s|women’s) are a good bet—and round it out with an insulating layer like the EMS Northshield Jacket (men’s|women’s) and a water-resistant shell jacket. A simple hat with a visor (men’s|women’s) will keep the sun and rain both out of your eyes and the Buff Original Neck Gaiter is a versatile, all-season, no-brainer of a piece to always have in your pack.
Gear
Compared to the other outdoor disciplines, trail running is pretty gear-light, but cool accouterments still exist. Lightweight and tremendously handy, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles, with their quick-deploying, three-section, foldable “Z” design are exactly what the doctor ordered on steep and rocky terrain. On the techy side of things, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Watch is a great training companion, perfect for the data nerds among us who value tracking things like heart rate, altitude, distance, duration—the works.
Essentials
Now, of all that fun stuff, only the layers count toward your 10 essentials, the things you really should be carrying on every outing. The rest includes navigation (meaning analog navigation, like the Suunto A-10 Compass and a map), a headlamp (like the Petzl Actik Core), a first aid kit (AMK Ultralight/Watertight 0.3), a lighter and a knife, sun and bug protection, shelter (AMK Sol Two-person Emergency Blanket), and extra food and water. Note that none of those things are incredibly bulky or heavy—there’s no excuse not to have them in your pack.
Pack
Now, something to carry it all: take a look at the Salomon Agile 6 Set Hydration Pack. It’s sleek, comfortable, and can carry what you need for everything from a short jaunt in a local park to a 50k trail race. Built-in hydration capabilities—up to 2.5 liters—make drinking on the go a breeze and, what’s more, well-placed tie in points allow for easy stowage of trekking poles and even a helmet should the route get extra spicy.
