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You need less than you think
Every January the internet decides that before you can run round the block you need a watch that talks to satellites, headphones that cost more than your first car and a powder that promises you'll fly. You don't.
I started running in 2007 with a Nike+ sensor stuffed in my shoe and an iPod Mini. I ran a 1:31 half marathon in kit I'd laugh at now. Gear has never been what stopped me, and it won't be what stops you. Turning up a few times a week is the whole game.
So read this the right way round. It's not a shopping list. It's what's in my kit drawer after nearly 20 years of running on and off, sorted by when (and whether) it's worth spending your money.
Start here: shoes, and that's about it
If you're just starting, the only thing worth spending on is a pair of running shoes that fit. Go to a running shop if you can, try a few on and run up and down the shop like a lunatic. Everyone does it. Nobody's watching. Well, they are, but they've seen worse.
Then add a couple of pairs of proper running socks, because cotton socks and blisters are best friends. Everything else you already own: shorts or leggings, a T-shirt that isn't cotton if you have one, and the phone in your pocket, which can track a run perfectly well for free.
I've written more about this in what you actually need to start.
The kit, sorted by tier
Tap a tier to filter. The note on each card is why it made the cut.
Worth it once it sticks
Once you've been running for a couple of months and it's become a thing you do rather than a thing you're trying, these two earn their place.
Garmin HRM 600 chest strap. I couldn't live without this. Your watch can read heart rate from your wrist, and for easy runs that's fine. But wrist sensors can wobble, especially in the cold or when you change pace, and I do most of my running by heart rate. A chest strap is the one I trust. If you're only going to upgrade one thing, make it this, not the watch.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. These sit just in front of your ears rather than in them, so you can hear your music and the world at the same time. Cars, bikes, the cyclist who doesn't believe in bells, someone shouting that you've dropped your keys. For running on roads, that's a big deal. The sound is good for what they are. It's not AirPods good, but it's not meant to be.
Nice to have
None of these will make you faster. All of them make me happier.
Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2). Confession: I'm a watch junkie. I've tried pretty much everything over the years. I've had this one since it came out, and I still haven't found a single reason to upgrade, which for me is a minor miracle. Lovely bright screen, battery that lasts, maps when you get lost. But a much cheaper running watch, or your phone, does the important bits. Buy this because you want it, not because you need it.
AirPods Pro 3. The sound is a lot better than the Shokz. The catch is fit. They can work loose when I'm sweating, so mine come out in winter, when I'm not sweating like a piggy. In summer it's back to the Shokz.
My pre-workout. I have a scoop before every morning run and gym session. Caffeine is one of the most researched aids for endurance performance (and that's my excuse). Two things to know if you try one:
The itchy face is normal. Lots of pre-workouts (mine included) contain beta-alanine, which gives a lot of people a tingly, itchy feeling on the face, ears or hands for a few minutes. It's harmless and it passes. The first time it happens you'll think something's gone badly wrong. It hasn't.
Go easy on the caffeine. Start with a smaller scoop than it says, don't have it late in the day unless you enjoy staring at the ceiling, and count your coffee too. If you're sensitive to caffeine, pregnant, have a heart condition or take regular medication, check with your GP or pharmacist first. And it's not one for under-18s.
You don't need a pre-workout. A coffee does a very similar job for a lot less money. I just like the ritual.
Never again
[EDIT: Paul, one or two things you bought and regretted. The funnier the better. A gadget that lasted a week, a "running belt" that bounced, shoes bought because they looked fast. If you'd rather skip this section, delete it and the grid will just show two tiers.]
How the links work
If you buy through one of these links, Amazon pays me a small commission. The price is the same for you. It helps cover the cost of running this site and keeps the blog free.
I'll only ever list kit I use and would buy again with my own money. If something gets replaced or lets me down, it comes off the list. And if I'm ever sent something for free, I'll say so on the card.
The best kit is the run you actually do
I've owned a lot of gear. None of it ran a single mile for me. What kept me going in the end wasn't a watch, it was people noticing when I didn't turn up.
That's what the PKS Training Club is for. A small weekly promise, a daily log where a walk counts, and a group who'll notice if you vanish. No kit required.
Have a great week, folks.
Paul
