Spring 2026 Gear Guide: Versatile Gear for Both Runners and Hikers
Shop all the products below, featured in our Spring 2026 print issue!
Whether you call it fast hiking or hike-run, the point is the same: to cover more distance in less time. Enter these run-hike hybrids.
Hydration Station
$240; pingora-gear.com
A snug-fitting pack is a must for moving fast. Pingora’s new Flow 8L Vest forgoes the usual adjustable sternum straps, relying on zig-zagging side-pulls instead.
Versatile Pants
$182; tenthousand.cc
At this time of year, a pair of pants, like the Ten Thousand Session Pant, is a safer bet than a pair of shorts. The lightweight polyester fabric deflects light rain and wind, while being very breathable, fast-drying and sweatwicking.
Weather Protection
Jacket: $275, Pants: $190; rab.equipment
Because it doesn’t take a big swing in the weather to turn a sweaty hike into hypothermia, pack a waterproof breathable jacket and pants like the Rab Phantom.
Temperature-Regulating Base Layer
$100; rossignol.com
Sweating is a good way to get cold. It’s an outdoor irony that the Rossignol Sapa Trail Running Tee helps to avoid.
The Right Shoes
$199; scarpa.com
The Scarpa Ribelle Run 2 mixes trail running and technical hiking features to create a speedy and versatile shoe.
Poles
$270; leki.ca
It’s the grips that elevate the Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL poles from hiking to gliding down the trail. Borrowed from Leki’s run specific poles, the ergonomic grip encourages smooth propulsion, and the mesh strap is light, quick-drying and easy to adjust.
Insulation at Rest
$330; mountainhardwear.ca
An insulating jacket will often feel redundant, but it will feel essential when it’s needed, so pick a light one that packs outsize warmth, like the Mountain Hardwear Kor Alloy Jacket.
