It’s shaping up to be a toasty summer! That’s not stopping us from running, but it is making us focus on hydration. Whether it’s to keep your body going through a long run, to equip yourself for exercise in high temps or just to feel more comfortable on a run, proper hydration is key for a safe and enjoyable running experience.

So, how much fluid do you really need? To figure out your personal hydration needs, check out our “Sports Drinks and Hydration” article on our Learning Center. As a general measure, if you are well hydrated your urine should be the color of lemonade. To help you make sense of which products can help you achieve optimal hydration, let’s take a look at our main hydration accessory categories.

Handheld Bottles (Capacity: 7-22 oz.)

• Great option for runners who want to keep it simple and just carry fluid and small essentials like keys or id cards
• Can add supplemental hydration for ultra runners who need more than a belt or pack can carry
• Some bottles are thermally insulated, which helps keep condensation off your hand

Our favorite: Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Thermal-Lite 20 oz.

Belts (Capacity: 16-48 oz.)

• Allow you to keep your hands free while you run
• Some belts give you the option of positioning bottles in different ways, so that you can customize the fit
• Some belts are equipped with shock cords that can be used to secure a shell or other lightweight apparel piece as you shed layers on the run

Our favorite: Nathan Speedbelt 4R 2012

Hydration Packs and Vests (Capacity: 50-100 oz.)

• Shoulder strap or vest-like design allows you to be hands-free, and keeps weight off your hips
• Very large capacity to carry ample hydration for longer duration activity
• Many packs have room to store other essentials beyond hydration, so you can equip yourself for an all-day epic adventure

Our favorite: Salomon XT Advanced Skin S-Lab 5 Set Pack

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Nike LunarEclipse+ 3 Men's Running Shoe

The shoe in the Nike Lunar line offering the most pronation support, the LunarEclipse series has a reputation for combining a pillowy ride with a high-feature upper. It’s a pretty light shoe for the amount of pronation control it offers, and with the evolution on the way with the LunarEclipse 3, we expect the hallmarks of the series to continue.

What to Watch For

• New Upper: The most noticeable change is the switchover to Dynamic Flywire. These threads loop from the base of the shoe up to the laces to provide an easily customized fit. The new upper also uses a woven mesh and features a redesigned external heel counter.
• Carryover Platform: The mid/outsole from prior versions carries on, offering Lunarlon cushioning, Dynamic Support and a Waffle outsole design.

Launch Date
January 2013

MSRP
$135.00

Men’s Colors
Grey/Volt/Teal/Silver LunarEclipse+ 3
Blue/Teal/Obsidian LunarEclipse+ 3 (February 2013)

Women’s Colors
Grey/Purple LunarEclipse+ 3
Grey/Fuchsia/Red LunarEclipse+ 3 (February 2013)

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We’re giving away a pair of limited-edition Salomon S-Lab Sense running shoes in size 9. One of only 106 pairs, these Sense shoes come with custom sockliners featuring Kilian Jornet’s course notes from the 2011 Western States 100.

We’re willing to bet that you won’t want to run in this collector’s item. So we’re sweetening the pot with $100.00 toward the purchase of any in-stock Salomon shoe at Running Warehouse. Bam! Dollars and Sense!

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Eric in Illinois, winner of our Dollars & Sense giveaway. Thank you to all who entered!

Matt Running Shoes

Altra Lone Peak Men's Running Shoes

Our Tweet

Take the zero drop experience on the trail with confidence, thanks to the underfoot protection and rugged construction of the Altra Lone Peak.
(View Men’s Altra Lone Peak and Women’s Altra Lone Peak)

Big Features

• Trail-Ready Upper: The abrasion-resistant mesh and a moisture-managing lining provide a comfortable, breathable upper geared for off road.
• Rock Guard: Get protection from rocks and debris with this TPU piece inserted in the midsole.
• “Claw” Outsole: Plenty of grip is on tap with sticky rubber in a multidirectional pattern.
• Trail Rudder: Extending off the heel, this rudder gives you a little extra stability on downhills.

Trail Test

The Lone Peak is an excellent choice for the mid/forefoot striker who needs protection and cushioning for trail runs. Our testers enjoyed its stable ride, serious traction, and sturdy build.

For us, the zero drop design was easier to adjust to on the trail, since you naturally spend more time up on the front of your foot as you navigate trail hazards and change direction more frequently. Testers liked the balance of cushioning and ground feel offered in the Lone Peak. Even with a stone guard in the forefoot, the shoe remains very nimble and gives feedback about the trail surface underfoot. More than one tester noted that in spite of lugs that don’t look like much, the traction of the shoe is impressive over rocks, roots and other debris.

The upper breathes well, especially for a trail model, but the fit was a bit of a challenge for some testers. First, note that we recommend sizing up a half size since the Lone Peak runs small. The straight shape of the shoe, combined with a fairly wide midfoot, made the Lone Peak feel “baggy” in a few spots for some testers. If you have a high-volume foot, the Lone Peak sports one of the most generous trail shoe uppers out there.

With more and more lower offset shoes providing a bit of cushioning entering the road and trail markets, you might say that the Lone Peak is ahead of the curve. We found the shoe to be well thought out and sturdy enough to help you handle all kinds of terrain with a lot of confidence.

Runners Say

“I wasn’t sure what to expect with this shoe but came away pretty impressed by the rock protection and the durable overlays. I had no problem chugging ahead in the shoe.” – Matt

“Good padding when running with a forefoot gait. The midfoot was a bit too wide for me but with a comfortable fit in the heel and forefoot, I felt secure.” – Lauren

“I could easily see the Lone Peak handling long-haul trail training and racing. This is one tough shoe.” – Daniel

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Mizuno is on a quest to improve the experience of thousands of runners over the coming months by launching the invite-only Mezamashii Run Project. What’s “mezamashii”? It’s a Japanese word meaning “brilliant.” Mizuno wants to help more runners enjoy brilliant runs by trying out a new pair of Mizuno shoes – for free.

We’re giving away an invite code to the Project (learn more at mezamashiiproject.com) to one lucky winner. The contest is open until 4:00 pm Pacific Time on Friday, July 6, 2012, and we’ll announce the winner next week on Facebook.

Congratulations to Deepak in Illinois, Melissa in Nebraska, and Adrienne in Texas – winners of our Mezamashii Project promo! Big thanks to all who entered and thanks to Mizuno for letting us invite 3 customers into the Project.

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We get a lot of great stuff from Japan. Well-built cars, anime, bonsai trees, origami, sushi, Hello Kitty. OK, maybe not that last one. But add to the list the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen, a premier racing flat for the Japanese market that is coming to the U.S. after selling more than 60,000 pairs in the land of the rising sun.

“Takumi Sen” is a Japanese phrase that roughly translates to “artisan of the highest order.” The shoe gets this name because it uses premium materials and high-quality construction throughout. It’s designed for mile to marathon race distances, with a 6mm offset and weight of just 6.4 oz (Men’s size 9).

What to Watch For

• Light, High-Performance Cushioning: Forefoot and midfoot Adiprene+ in the midsole provides lightweight cushioning.
• Traction Where You Need It: DSP rubber outsole in the forefoot for maximized traction with minimal weight, and Continental rubber at rear heel for improved traction when cornering.
• Racing Upper: A quick-dry mesh upper featuring high-quality suede overlays designed for low weight, a close fit, and supreme flexibility throughout the gait.

Launch Date
February 2013

MSRP
$150.00

Color
White/Black/Pink Men’s Takumi Sen

Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen Outsole View

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Saucony Virrata Men's Running Shoes

The brand-new Virrata’s name may be difficult to say at first (it’s pronounced vur-ah-tah), but here are three things about it that are perfectly clear: (1) zero offset, (2) extremely light, (3) highly flexible. The Virrata is part of the Saucony Natural Series, which includes the award-winning Kinvara 3 and upcoming Mirage 3.

We got a chance to run a few laps in a pre-production model of the Virrata, and let’s just say that this shoe is set to offer the smooth ride and barely there feel that many runners crave.

What to Watch For

• Zero Offset: The Virrata is dead level, with only 18mm of material underfoot front and rear. Still, the shoe has a pretty cushioned feel.
• Featherweight: At just 6.5 oz in Men’s 9 and 6.0 oz in Women’s 8, the Virrata is Saucony’s lightest training shoe.
• Big Flex: The deep tread pattern with springy pods and accentuated flex grooves helps to make the Virrata extremely flexible. (See the outsole view below.)
• No-Sew Upper: Bootie construction utilizing a breathable mesh means you can go sockless if you’re into that sort of thing.

Saucony Virrata Outsole View

Launch Date
February 2013

MSRP
$90.00

Men’s Colors
Black/Red/Citron Saucony Virrata
Citron/Blue Saucony Virrata
Grey/Orange Saucony Virrata
White/Black/Red Saucony Virrata

Women’s Colors
Black/Citron/Pink Saucony Virrata
Grey/Green/Pink Saucony Virrata
Orange/Red Saucony Virrata
White/Purple Saucony Virrata

Saucony Virrata Women's Running Shoe

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OK, kids, don’t try this at home. Badwater is pretty much the baddest mammy jam of a race out there, and it’s reserved for only the most die-hard ultrarunners on the planet. This 135 mile slog from the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California (elevation -282 feet) to the Mt. Whitney Portal (elevation 8,371 feet) actually contains 13,000 total feet of elevation gain over several mountains. Oh, and then there’s the heat. Temperatures of 120 degrees or more in the shade (what little there is of it) are not uncommon in Death Valley in July.

As you’d expect for a race in such extreme conditions, many stories of extreme athleticism and perseverance have emerged over the years. Search Google for such legends of the race as Al Arnold, Marshall Ulrich, Scott Weber, and Arthur Webb. Or just pick any year at random and you’ll no doubt find a story of achievement that’s hard to believe, but true.

Badwater is an invitation-only race, so if you’re looking for an extreme hammering in the highs and lows of California, plan to start proving yourself in some other tough ultras first. We salute all the runners who have attempted and finished this grueling race, and look forward to hearing more about the adventures to come in 2012.

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