Get low, ride high, and stomp everything in between.  New Balance Vazee Summit V2 (Courtesy New Balance) New Balance Vazee Summit V2 ($100) Gear of the Year This year we had our Gear of the Year trail runner from mile one. No other shoe came close to keeping up with the Vazee Summit. It’s everything a fast, technical trainer should be: snug and supremely confident on fast downhills and slope traverses; responsive and tacky on turns; consistent, springy, and smooth on slow, mellow hardpack. Testers loved the way it balanced a close-to-the-ground feel and precise, low-riding midsole with enough cushion

In the age of big foam, the ghost of minimalism lingers— making for versatile kicks.  Saucony Freedom ISO (Courtesy Saucony) Saucony Freedom ISO ($160) Gear of the Year Freedom indeed. “By far the most liberating shoe I tried,” one tester said of this lithe new trainer. The Freedom epitomizes this year’s broader trend, blending the energetic style of minimalism with the cushioning and foam of the fattie era. Saucony ditched as many modern-day luxuries as possible without sacrificing comfort or requiring a delicate, tenderfoot gait. The soft, flexy midsole is just thick enough to cushion average runners but offers an

Suit up, go long, and get after it.  Darn Tough Vertex Tab No Show Ultra-Light Socks (Courtesy Darn Tough) Darn Tough Vertex Tab No Show Ultra-Light Socks ($16) The thin merino-nylon fabric in these socks does a lot with a little: it dries fast, staves off blisters, and makes foot and shoe feel like one.  Buy Now Altra Provision 3.0 Shoes (Courtesy Altra) Altra Provision 3.0 Shoes ($120) With a stiff shank in the midsole that keeps your foot from buckling, this meshy 8.5-ounce shoe helped both road and trail runners avoid ankle sprains. It also made us feel stronger on

Go faster, train smarter.  Strava Premium. (Strava) Strava Premium ($60 per year) In addition to advanced metrics, post-race analysis, and the infamous Suffer Score, Strava Premium now offers an emergency service called Beacon, which lets three designated safety contacts follow your location on a map in real time. Buy Now Balega Silver socks. (Balega) Balega Silver Socks ($15) Balega makes our favorite socks for blister-free running. The polyester-nylon yarn used in this pair is treated with antimicrobial silver to help ward off foot funk. Buy Now Garmin Forerunner 235 watch. (Garmin) Garmin Forerunner 235 Watch ($330) One of the

All you need for city streets and wooded trails.  All Good SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen spray. (All Good) All Good SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen Spray ($22) This push-button zinc spray rubs in without the greasy finish of some other sunscreens and offers 80 minutes of water- and sweat-resistant shielding. Buy Now Fits Ultra Light Runner No Show socks. (Fits Sock) Fits Ultra Light Runner No Show Socks ($16) The Runner No Show plays to folks who value ground feel above all else. The thin wool-synthetic blend hugs without being overly constricting. Buy Now Spy Hunt sunglasses. (Spy