I give this skirt two stars IF you're going to use it for running. The skirt is a bit too short and the liners don't stay put. I seriously feel like my bum is hanging out when I leap over logs or creeks on the trails. I'm 5'10" and 135 lbs. I have a thin athletic build. I am a medium and I bought a medium. This is not the skirt for me. If you like Lole, I much prefer their Sprint Skort: http://www.backcountry.com/lol-sprint-skort-womens. Get this one instead if you're a runner.

I wanted a great casual sneak without laces that I could slip on and off easily. After tons of searching, I found these. They're all that I wanted, and they're cool looking too. People compliment them every time I wear them. And who doesn't want to be told that they're feet look good? They're comfy and fit true to size.

These are great shorts. They look as good on as they do in the pic, which is a good thing to know when you're shopping online. They fit true to size, and they don't stretch out in weird ways after wearing them for an hour.

I like these sandals but I haven't found my sole mate. They're very pretty, they fit nicely, and they're way better than most flip flops in terms of foot support. I'm just picky and I'd like more arch support. For days I won't constantly be on my feet, they're fine, but for days when I'll be moving or standing a lot, I'll opt for sneakers or more supporting shoes. Buy them because they're cute, not because you're expecting the footbed to rock your world.

I got this hat before a trip to Honduras. I ended up wearing it constantly. I really like the wide brim and the soft woven texture. I felt protected and sexy, which (let's be honest) is a rare combo. Be careful when you pack it. Don't bend the brim, lay it flat. And, oh, this isn't the best in the wind for the very reason that makes it so great in the sun.

I've never been a big fan of juicy little energy chews. Until I tried these. The limeade caffeinated are my favorite. They're soft and not too sweet and they pack just enough of a caffeine boost with electrolytes that they are a great addition to the rest of my endurance nutrition pantry. Note that I don't mix these with other brand chews in the same run. I have a sensitive stomach and mixing with Clif or other versions gives me stomach issues. I stick to Honey Stinger only and I'm good to go.

I first tried these at work when I was suffering a mid-afternoon bonk. My neighbor handed me one in a desperate attempt to keep me from sleeping on my keyboard. So delicious! I now take them with me on my long runs. They're tasty, easy to digest, and they don't upset my stomach. The only downside, if you'd consider it that, is that sometimes when you run at a good pace and munch at the same time, you can inhale little waffle crumbs down the wrong pipe. I guess that's a risk you take when you partake of solid food when you're really moving... Don't let that stop you from enjoying serious waffle goodness out there.

I chose the Gravel Flower Power and I love it. I'm a 32 D so I was a bit worried about the shelf bra, but it supports me well enough (I won't be running in it). I also love the back. I'm so tired of the same old dresses that a lot of my favorite brands pump out year after year, that this dress is absolutely refreshing. And I love all the prints too. I am with Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, though, sizing down on this, if you're trim and fit, is not a bad idea. I got a medium, but I'd go for a small if I bought another. The material is a soft knit, like a heavier t-shirt.

I love these socks. They're comfortable, just the right weight, and they fit well. I'm going to buy several pair.

This skort is a good one. I've been trying out several brands and styles of running skirts to find my perfect match. This one isn't perfect, but it's the best I've tried so far. I love the lightweight performance material. The piece is soft and stretchy and dries quickly. The skirt is designed well and fits nicely, not awkwardly as some out there do. They run true to size. I'm a medium and medium is perfect. It also helps that there's a drawstring inside to tighten up and prevent slouching if necessary. My only complaint is that the shorts do ride up a bit. The material is so comfortable, though, that I'm still comfortable (I don't have to pull them down every 100 yards) and I haven't experienced chaffing. If you're looking for your next best running skirt, I'd definitely recommend this one. It may be perfect for you. It's just slightly not for me.

I think how high you rate this skirt depends on what you're doing in it. I'm trail running in it. I bought it because it's cute. And cute it still is. I disagree with Emilie that it's true to size. I'm usually a medium fair and square, but this is a bit big on me. I would definitely size down, especially if you're going to be running in this. The waist is loose and the shorts ride up a bit. I do feel that a size smaller would help. The material is a heavier knit, not as light as high performance running skirts and shorts. I do prefer lighter, faster-drying material. This skirt would be great for hiking, yoga, and casual wear, but it's really not my first choice for running.

I ordered a small skirt because I'm on the cusp between small and medium and I hate too-big running shorts or skorts. I would definitely get a bigger size if I had to do it over. The skirt is great material and it falls nicely over the briefs, which are a different, stretchy material. The skirt is on the shorter side, shorter than other running skorts that I have. I'd prefer another inch, but it's great for when I'm feeling sassy (which is pretty often). I've worn it hard over the past few months, and one of the seams let loose at the base of the skirt, but it's not a big deal. I love Stoic and I'm psyched about the Thrive collection.

I love this shirt. It's lightweight, breathable, extremely comfortable, and it fits great. I had two, but found that I didn't want to wear anything else, so I bought three more. I have every color, and two of both the coral and the grey. I have purged my running selection of anything but these. Honestly. Come over. I'll show you.

I wrote a review on this pack in 2010. I still love the pack. And give it 5 stars. This ranking is for the bite valve. After two years, it drizzles constantly and is annoying at the least. On cold days, it's awful. Who wants to run with a wet shirt? I've been reading other complaints about the valve elsewhere, and have decided I'm going to go for Camelbak's valve. Here's a great review with lots of comments that may come in handy for you as well: http://www.runningandrambling.com/2009/05/nathan-hpl-020-hydration-vest-review.html

I really like the Wraith. It's incredibly light and thin, making it the perfect layer to take with when you don't have room to pack a layer. It would be absolutely perfect for trail running. Stuff it in your Nathan or Camelbak, and you'd still have room for everything, I mean, everything else you were planning to take.

I have worn this jacket paddle boarding in 70 degree wind and rain (with only my suit underneath), and I have worn this jacket in running in 50 degree wind and sleet (with a long-sleeve merino base layer underneath). Both times, it was the perfect piece. It's incredibly breathable. It's a great wind barrier. And insofar as rain, it is not water proof, but it cuts the drench. I wasn't expecting to be completely dry in either case, but both times, it did the trick in keeping me out there comfortably longer than I would have if I'd not had it.

I'm looking forward to long summertime runs in the Wasatch with this as my secret weapon in case weather sneaks up on me.

I used this pack for a fastpack trip into the Uintas. We took only what we needed for a very minimalist run in and out, with a planned overnight. It was just the right size to hold a lightweight sleeping bag, food, a down sweater, and extra pair of socks, but with all that it was packed super tight. I took two water bottles and a steripen for water - no bladder. With the pack so full, I couldn't get water bottles into the side pockets. An elastic or stretch material on these would be a much better design. As it was, I squeezed one bottle in one side and stuffed the other in the top front pocket. That worked ok, but as I was running over the uneven trail, the bottle fell out a few times. The other thing I'd change is the waist belt. It's very light elastic, so while it serves to keep the pack from flying around, it provides zero support. You carry all the weight on your shoulders. Not a huge deal because it's not made to carry heavy, but it did wear on me after about 30 miles. Overall, this is a sweet little pack. I really like it and would definitely recommend it.

I love this pack. I was introduced to Nathan while crewing for Karl Meltzer in his speed record attempt of the Appalachian Trail. I borrowed one of his packs to run with him on a few 20-mile sections and was hooked. I just recently got this vest and have been so psyched with it. It fits perfectly with the strap adjustments. I've never experienced any chaffing, discomfort, ride or slipping. I love the thoughtful design of the front pockets - room for a cell phone or camera in a zip pocket, with bungee-secured mesh pockets for gels, a flask or bars. The back pocket is a nice size for extra fuel, a light jacket, and keys. Plus there's room in the main compartment for an extra shirt or socks if you're going out for a long time and want to be prepared. The Nathan reservoirs are great. The material is supple and strong, so you don't have to worry about damaging it when yanking it around or cleaning it. They're well marked liters/ounces. They open all the way across the top for easy cleaning, and close securely with a fold and a barette-like sliding clasp. I love the hook inside the pack that keeps the reservoir from slouching down in the pack as you empty its contents. You can clean the reservoirs really well too, so you don't have to taste berry nuun in your water for weeks after you decide you need a little flavor in your hydration. Even with everything you need for a long run, the pack is light and fits well. I highly recommend it!

What were they thinking?

What were they thinking?

I was ready to love these, but I didn't. I've been wearing these shoes for the past 5 weeks on muddy, wet, sloppy spring trails. While the waterproof lives up, I agree with the reviews here that state that these are just not good for long miles because of the lack of any real cushion in the toe. The balls of my feet get incredibly, almost unbearably achey. The truth is, in the Wasatch, even wet trails have rocks, and the pain has been so acute with these shoes that I have to be careful and tentative with each footfall. This is definitely not what I want in a trail shoe. I need my shoes to be bomber, so I can lean into my runs and be aggressive. I can't do that with the XA Pro. I am going to retire these for now and keep them for snowy months only, when the trails are softer and there are no rocks to make my feet scream.

I am in search of the perfect training partner watch/HRM/GPS unit. I am testing and trying and WANTING to find my match. As an autobio, I'm a multisport endurance athlete. This is closer to what I need than the Garmin 405 (see my review of that one, if you're interested) but it's still not "the one." First of all, the positives. The GPS tracks well, though I do lose the signal in very heavily wooded areas or deep in canyons. I have not tested the altitude feature extensively because my training is not centered on this factor. The computer interface and data reporting is exceptional and can even be addicting. I love the auto multisport features and the display screen can be adjusted to report to you the information that you need to know. One frustration is that you can set the screen displays for both running and biking, but those screens are not the default screens when the watch is in multisport mode. You have to hit the buttons to get to the screen that you want to see. (If you're not in auto multisport mode, you don't have to do this.) But the biggest let-down of the 305 is that again, similar to the 405, the battery life is just too short for long endurance athletes. Ten hours tops, but most of the time, I got 8-9 hours worth of tracking. So even though I don't wear it during the Ironman swim (it is not waterproof and is not intended for use in the water), I can't even get all the way through the run without a dead battery. And that's when I most want to know how I'm doing. It's hopeless on long training days and adventures too. So while I would definitely recommend this watch for any single- or multisport athlete who needs tracking only up to 8-9 hours, I cannot give the thumbs up for the rest of us. I'm still looking for my dream tracker. I'll let you know when I find it.

I travel to races - Ironman and 70.3-distance triathlons. I need to haul gear. Lots of it. And safely. The Juggernaut is the best piece of luggage that I've ever used. The frame and heavy-duty nylon give the bag shape and stability so you don't have to deal with floppy sidewalls while packing and it stands substantial on its own. It's super durable, well designed with thoughtful considerations (removeable zip-in mesh bags; well-placed, durable zippers; a comfortable handle; bottom bumpers for stability and protection; and cross-purposed strap/handles that clip across the top of the bag for extra reinforcement and easy carrying). I can fit all my tri gear (but the bike) and all the extras I need in it and still easily manage wheeling it around while I lug my cumbersome bike case behind me as well. I highly recommend it. Highly. I love it.

HEED is a pure concoction of electrolytes and long chain aminos, but it is sweetened by stevia, which is in fact, quite sweet and has a very unique taste. Note that it is sweet, not sugary. There is a difference. Some people love it, some don't. I don't. I have a super sensitive stomach and dislike sweet drinks while training and racing, so it doesn't work well for me. I have friends who swear by it. I would test it out by buying a small package from a local bike or running shop (since Backcountry doesn't sell single servings) before going for broke and buying a jug. As alternatives for electrolyte replenishment, you may want to also try nuun or Elete.

I love ProBar. I love Koka Moka. But note that there are 20g of fat per serving/bar. Twenty grams is approximately 1/3 the "daily allowance." That is a lot. On long tours or all-day excursions in the mountains, the high fat content could be a perfect addition to all the healthy, organic ingredients that are packed into each bar - or it could just be irrelevant. But the fat content is something worth noting if you're just looking for a healthy mid-afternoon snack. If you don't give a damn about a few grams of fat, try the ProBar sweet and savories as well. With tasty little numbers like Sesame Goji, Cocoa Pistachio, Maple Pecan, Kettle Corn, and Cherry Pretzel, you may never count fat grams again.

I would not eat these for racing, but for long, long runs or rides or skis in the mountains, these are perfect. They're real food. You know what I mean. After hours and hours of sucking down gels or gnawing on "energy bars" or drinking paste as nutrition, there's nothing better or more welcome than a delicious bite of something that is real and simple and...good. The ingredient list will impress you, with no fancy science words and nothing you can't pronounce. And all those ingredients that you can pronounce? Yep, they're organic.

These tights are the reason I can ride when it's below 0 and windy as hell along the Wasatch Front in January. They are warm, comfortable, flexi and wind-shielding. My life would be miserable without them. Another testament to their greatness is that all my girlfriends (who ride with me on those gnarly days when no one else is on the road) wear them too. They're just plain necessary.

I'm a triathlete and I go out for open water swims with my lab, Frank. I love it when she swims right beside me, but I found that when we'd get out a good distance from the shore, even though she's a born waterdog, she'd panic a little bit and try to crawl up on me. It wasn't a huge problem, but it disrupted my stroke and her nails put holes in my wetsuit. So I bought her her own "wetsuit" to give her a little extra confidence in the water. It's very adjustable so it fits well around her little body and there's a great pocket in the back for her ball. Now I can swim for miles and not have to worry about her or my wetsuit.

I've known about nuun for a long time now, but because sports drinks have always upset my stomach while training and racing, I never tried them. Until I was stuck in the Where's Karl? RV with Karl Meltzer, Matt Hart and Senior during Karl's Appalachian Trail speed record attempt this summer. Karl and Matt drank nuun instead of plain water always. The standard dialogue at each crew stop was: "How much water do you want in your pack? How many tabs of nuun?" I decided to give it a try. Besides being super convenient and easy to manage (you don't have to deal with mixing messy powders or diluting syrupy drinks), they're not too sweet and they are absolutely great for electrolyte dosage. Plus, they don't upset my stomach. For the first time ever, I'm able to get the electrolytes that I need in a drink. That's huge. I'm a big fan of the tri-berry. It's my first choice and I rarely drink anything else. Lemon+Lime and Citrus Fruit are good too. But Cola? Can't do it. Won't do it.

I'm choosy when it comes to socks. Dry, blister-free feet are happy feet. And happy feet make a happy runner. I like the thinness and the low profile of the Ultralight. I like the softness of the sock. I like that even when I run through mud puddles, water puddles, or snow puddles (I know that snow doesn't come in puddles, but I like the sounds of it), the wool does it's wicking and fast-drying wool thing and takes care of my toes. Plus, Teko is a great Eco brand.

Teko is my new go-to running and cycling sock of choice. I alternate between the Teko Ultralight and the Teko Light Mini, depending on what I'm up to. I wear the Ultralight on road running days, but I opt for the Light Mini when trail running, mountain or road biking. I appreciate the snug fit of the thin sock. And the EcoMerino provides better-than-anything-else wicking and faster-than-anything-else drying, and that translates into warm, dry, blister-free feet.

I wear this shirt on every run on every unwarm day in the fall/winter/spring. It's great alone on cool mornings or under a fleece and jacket on cold ones. I love the longer sleeves that pull over my hands, which, because of Reynaud's, turn to iced-up clubs at any given temp below 55 degrees. The thumb hole allows me to pull the sleeves down and over my liner/running gloves for added warmth. I've found over the years, that if my wrists are cold, my hands are cold. This shirt does the trick. I love the neck zip for temperature regulation. It's soft as your favorite blanket and because of the merino, stays odor free use after use. I know. Like I said, I wear it every day (and I don't do laundry every day). But, just so you know, if it ever gets to the point where I can't imagine wearing it one more day without washing, I plan ahead to get it ready to go in time for the next morning run. Because I'm not going out there without it. I treat this shirt well, washing in cold water and hanging it to dry. I'm not sure if that's necessary, but I want it to live for a long, long time.

I'd used the Garmin 301 for years for tri training and loved it. I wore the thing smooth and mourned its premature (and violent) death when I drove off with it still on the roof of my car on a mountain biking and running trip to Moab. So after I dried my tears and pulled myself together, I decided to upgrade to the best of the Garmin line. I figured they'd rightfully earned my loyalty. But unfortunately, I have never in my life been so disappointed in something that I was so looking forward to. First of all, the 405 does not have multisport capabilities. I should have known this because I actually did do research on the thing before I bought it. But I wrongfully assumed that since it was "higher end" than the 301/305 versions, it would have tri-compatible functionality. Nope. One sport at a time, with a hell of a lot of bezel taps and turns in between to get it to track another sport. Second, the design that initially seemed cool, the bezel touch system, soon became nothing but a nuisance. The slightest touch of the bezel would change the settings. Even when I locked the bezel, I always hit the unlockable two button controls on the side of the head, which would start or stop the timer. (Imagine a too-big watch on your wrist. Imagine where that watch falls when riding a bike. Imagine it hitting the top of your hand.) Third, the life of this battery is only 8 hours. Eight hours! On any given day, any endurance athlete could be out there getting after it for more than eight hours. It is simply not enough. I'll even go so far as to say that it is useless for the go-long set. The tools that this Forerunner features are bigtime tools. Why not pair them with a battery that's worth a damn? So here's the story: I wore the 405 religiously every day for 3 months. Finally I got so frustrated with it that I cleaned the thing up, repackaged it and sold it on eBay for half of what I paid for it. I'm not totally down on Garmin, just mostly. And I'm not sure yet what I'm going to replace this with. So if you have any great suggestions, please let me know.

I'm big on arm warmers for both cycling and running. These are nice. I wore mine yesterday on a 5 hour ride starting out in the cool temps of the morning (45 degrees F) and ending in the "heat of the day" (around 70 degrees F). I wore the warmers the whole time and was exactly comfortable. Exactly. Granted, I was out there for hours by myself, and I had a ton of time to think, but I actually noted how comfortable the warmers were. CoolMax's breathability and moisture control work well not just to keep you cool, but to keep you warm enough. And that's the point. These are warmer than many lycra options out there. But you don't necessarily get too hot when the temps rise.

Also (and this is important), I like Defeet's cuff and the snug fit. These don't fall down. Even while I'm running.

The material is soft and comfortable. More like socks for your arms than lingerie for your limbs, which is how I feel sometimes when I'm sporting the lycra.

Not that there's anything wrong with lingerie.

I broke these in on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia and Tennessee in a week of back-to-back 20-mile runs. I had problems at all with them right out of the box. I like their stability, their traction and their fit. I use a Powerstep Pinnacle insole for more cushioning, especially for the balls of my feet. Great shoe. Highly recommended for narrow footed, neutral striders.

This is one of the Nathan Packs that Karl used on the Appalachian Trail during his speed record attempt this fall. I borrowed our friend Billy's Zone 2.0 on the days I accompanied Karl on the trail and I am not exaggerating when I say that I absolutely fell in love. L-O-V-E. I've always used Camelbak, but after running with Nathan, I'm a convert. The reservoir is marked in ounces, so you can gauge how much water you take with you for a set distance; the fit is snug so you don't get chaffed; and the pockets and bungees are thoughtfully placed. It's good.

K. So I'm a girl that likes the pink. I like long hard triathlons, I like fast muddy cross races, I like sweat, I like blood, I like grass stains and I like pink. I don't ever choose color over performance, but if I can have both, I'm happy. Thanks to Oakley, my pink Radars match my pink racing bike, my pink racing helmet and my pink kit. What's cool about this affinity for the blush is that at every race, little girls on the route cheer for me like crazy. And if I can inspire them to be badasses by wearing pink, then that's a hell of a good reason to wear pink.

Hammer is my fuel of choice but I can't stomach countless gels over the course of long hours. My endurance fuel of choice is to mix a thick cake-battery paste of Hammer Perpetuem with Hammer Gel and a little water. I go for plain or vanilla on the gel because I can't handle too-sweet flavors on long, long days. (If you do go for the mix option, try using a food processor to get a nice smooth consistency.) Now Backcountry needs to start selling Perpetuem.

I wear a 41 in Shimano bike shoes, but I wear a 43 in Sidi. Plan for these to be small. I also have a very narrow foot, which means I have to cinch the straps down hard around my feet for the performance fit. Sizing up and cinching down can be a little tricky. But I do like the shoes a lot and I do recommend them.