Published August 31, 2026 08:00AM
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Gear Our Editors Loved in August 2026
Yes, a button-up shirt can be part of your training wardrobe.
(Photo: Outside Run)
As a seasoned runner who knows what works in training, I’m typically slow to adopt new gear favorites. I fear change! But this month, I’ve found a few new favorites, including apparel and shoes. Are they ousting my longtime go-to pieces? Not yet, but they’re firmly in the rotation, which is a win for them.
Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Linen Button-Up
Look, I know what you’re thinking: A linen blend button-up for running?? But this isn’t the first time Tracksmith has stretched the idea about what’s considered running gear (tbt to the Commuter sweater top and slacks). In typical Tracksmith form, the button-up is impeccable in style.
It can’t be fully linen because you’d sweat right through it, so I like how it uses a Coolmax to make it more run-friendly. Although it’s been too hot to run in any sort of long sleeve, I’ve loved the top around the house and for cooler morning (or evening) walks. It makes perfect sense to be in the Run Cannonball Run collection – cover up in effortless style after a full day at the beach.
– Heather Mayer Irvine, contributing editor
Altra Carbon Vanish 3
I tried to give Altra a chance when it only offered a zero drop, but my Achilles’ tendon did not care for them. Which was a slap in the face to my bunion, who really liked the wide toe box. And then Altra introduced a 4-millimeter drop shoe, and I was happier. The latest Super Shoe from the wide-toe-box-lower-drop company rivals my go-to carbon racing shoe (the Puma Deviate Elite Nitro 4), but thanks to collecting various rocks on a rail trail in the sole cutout, it hasn’t taken over the Pumas—yet.
(Read our full review here)
– HMI
Sarah Marie Running Co. Biker Shorts
I love a good biker shorts (for running), and a new release from Sarah Marie Running Co. checks all of the boxes: stay-put thighs (thanks to silicone grips), comfortable back pocket for gels and side pockets if you need to carry your phone, and a comfortable, flattering high-waist fit. I’ve worn these for speed workouts and long runs, and they’ve become part of my regular rotation, alongside these On Running biker shorts, which are one of my favorites.
– HMI
Uniqlo Dry-Ex T-Shirt Patterned
I’ve got a very specific preference for my running shirts. They must have a tighter neckline, loose sleeves, and hems that don’t fall below my butt. This shirt is it. Uniqlo released this line of apparel earlier in the summer, so you may find them on discounts down to $20.
What I really like most about this shirt is that its fabric isn’t like a slimy polyester but has a more coarse texture to it so it remains lightweight, flexible, and a bit rugged. No brand advertising, no walking billboards—just a simple pattern that looks good.
– Saqib Rawda, assistant editor
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
Hemp seed hearts are one of the few plant foods with a complete protein profile, so you’re getting all nine essential amino acids alongside a solid hit of omega-3s and magnesium, which is exactly what beat-up muscles want post-run. I ditched granola for them because granola is basically sugar dressed up as health food, while hemp hearts give you protein and healthy fat without the crash. They have a nutty flavor that works on yogurt, smoothies, and oatmeal. I buy whatever brand is on sale (cheaper than granola, too), but I’ve liked this brand’s taste the best.
– Ali Nolan, senior editor
Wide Open Lightweight Merino Socks
Wide Open socks are marketed to people with wide feet, but I have the opposite problem: I have trouble snugging laces tight because the eyelets meet in the middle closing over my low-volume instep. Increasingly, Wide Open socks are all I’ll wear. That’s because, despite my narrow heel and mid-foot, I have a wide forefoot and toes I’ve trained to splay since smart podiatrists convinced me it was essential to foot health in the years leading up to minimalism.
Despite the shoe world abandoning minimalism for maximalism, increased forefoot width is one of the movement’s lasting legacy, and something I insist upon in my running shoes. Socks, however, have not followed suit: most are narrow throughout and tapered at the toe. Their stretchiness allows some splay, but they still cramp my style. I didn’t realize how much until I tried Wide Open socks, which are knit on a wider pattern and have no toe seam limiting their stretch.
They were immediately more comfortable than any socks I own, and after wearing them for a few weeks, I found I could no longer bear the feeling of other socks scrunching my toes—particularly when wearing Correct Toes, which I do most of the time these days to counteract a developing bunion. As for quality, Wide Open socks are knit by the same proven experts that make Darn Tough socks, and the attention to detail shows.
— Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, gear
