Peter Stuart's 2017 Running Shoes and Gear of the Year

Article by Peter Stuart

BEST RUNNING SHOES OF 2017

Tie for 1st Place!

New Balance NB 1400v5 (RTR review) and Nike Zoom Elite 9 (RTR review)

Man, oh man are these both terrific shoes! They are both on the light side and for some they may be more race shoe than daily trainer. That said, both the NB 1400v5 and the Nike Zoom Elite 9 worked great for me for everything from 5k races to 20 mile training runs. In fact, each of these shoes were used in a 20 mile workout in which I raced a 5k about halfway through the run. They are light, fast, cushioned enough to withstand long miles and really fun to run in. The Zoom Elites have lasted for more miles than the NB's but they are both nearly perfect shoes.
Shop for the NB 1400v5 at Running Warehouse here
Shop for the Nike Zoom Elite 9 at Running Warehouse here

2. Skechers  Performance GOMeb Razor (RTR review)

Skechers GOmeb Razor PC: www.jonfrederickphotography.com

The Razor was a real jump forward for Skechers. It's got a great knit upper, is firm and fast but has a decent amount of cushioning. It's a really great shoe and the new version on the horizon is going to be lighter still. I raced a marathon in them and felt great the whole way.
Shop for the GOMeb Razor at Running Warehouse here

3. Under Armour Charged Bandit 3 (RTR review)

This was the surprise shoe of the year. I haven't particularly liked any previous UA shoes and only got this one on a whim (and the recommendation of Seth Hasty). It's a terrific Swiss Army Knife of a shoe. The transition is smooth, the upper is comfortable and they are built to last. Mine are showing zero, and I mean zero signs of wear after 100 miles. These are my go to shoes and have taken the place of the Nike Pegasus in my shoe rotation.
Shop for the Charged Bandit at Running Warehouse here

BEST & MOST INNOVATIVE RACE SHOE

Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% (RTR review)

This is the only shoe I've ever worn that actually lives up to the hype around it. It ACTUALLY feels different than any other shoe I've run in. It's got a bounce and feel that no other shoe even comes close to. The first run I did in them made me want to sign up for another marathon just so I could run long in them. People have griped about the durability, but mine are just fine.
Shop for the Zoom Vaporfly at Running Warehouse here (limited availability)

OTHER GEAR

Naked Running Band (RTR review)

This belt has been with me on about 200 runs this year (maybe more). This is a perfect solution for carrying everything from a phone to a headlamp, gels, a soft flask and even some other stuff. It's a step-in elastic belt with pull tabs to open each of the 4 sections. There's a key holder to keep your key from disappearing and there's even a place to attach a race bib. Great piece of gear.
SHOP RUNNING WAREHOUSE FOR THE NAKED RUNNING BAND  HERE

Stance Crew Socks

I've spent years wearing the thinnest no-show socks I could find. I randomly tried a pair of Stance Crew socks and now have trouble wearing anything else. They're a good thickness and have just enough compression that I feel the support--especially at the end of long races.

Shop for Stance Running Socks at Running Warehouse here

HEADPHONES

My two favorites are the Plantronics Backbeat Fit and the Aftershokz Titanium.

Both of these allow in some ambient sound and provide good enough audio quality. Most importantly both of these stay on your head, are sweatproof and easy to use. If you really need to stay aware of your surroundings I'd recommend the Aftershokz.

APPAREL

Tracksmith Long Sleeve Harrier Shirt www.tracksmith.com
This thing gets better with every wash. Super comfortable.

Run Rabbit Shorts and tanks (RTR review) www.runinrabbit.com

Run Rabbitt is a great company with a great aesthetic

Sunscreen 

Kinesys (RTR article ) spray on sunscreen is BACK!!!

The only sunscreen I can deal with. It's not sticky and is very easy to apply.

See Sam Winebaum's Best of 2017 article here
See Jeff Valliere's Best of 2017 article here

Disclosure: Some products mentioned were provided free of charge, others were personal purchases. The opinions herein are entirely the author's. 

For Peter's bio see our Reviewers Bio Page here

Watch our YouTube Channel for 2018 Run Previews and Wearable Tech Reviews HERE

Visit our Index Page HERE for over 80 in depth 2017 shoe and gear reviews

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