The Best Running Gear for Safety in 2024, According to Run Coaches

Colors: 2 | Weight: 1.1 oz. | Construction: Open-ear

Classic headphones or in-ear buds are great for most of life’s practices, but running is not one of those. Often, when you wear your normal earbuds on a run, they slip out thanks to sweat, bounce around like a kid on a trampoline, or take away any ability to hear what’s around you, which is not safe. Enter these Shokz, the second iteration of supremely popular running headphones that marathoners and newbies alike love.

These are fantastic to bring on race days, since they last a whopping 12 hours, require no charging case, and, of course, are the best running headphones out there. These babies somehow allow for stellar audio quality while also keeping your ears open to allow for what’s going on around you (cars, people, energetic dogs) to be heard with ease. The water-resistant headphones use the science of bone conduction to get to your ears without any buds needed. They’re fantastic. They don’t slip, bounce, or budge. Our only complaint is that if you have long hair in a ponytail or braid, it very well will tangle up with these. But it’s worth the extra brushing to be safer and hear more cheers on training runs and race day. 

Sizes: One size fits all | Colors: 3 | Features: Mirrored reflective lens, semi-rimless design

Yeah, these are pretty much the least subtle sunglasses ever, but we run because it’s fun and it makes us feel badass — so why not dress like it? These iconic sunglasses from Goodr are anything but subtle, and that’s what we love most about them. They’re perfect for race day because they make you feel like a superhero (and, of course, protect your eyes from the sun, yada yada). What’s more, they’re enhanced with anti-slip grips so they don’t slide or bounce when your strides start getting sweaty.

Colors: 4 | Size: 14 osz. | Special features: Pockets, handle

Two things every runner needs to finish a race or long-distance run strong: hydration and fuel. This glorious water bottle ensures you’ll have both thanks to its 14 oz. liquid capacity and added pockets for fuel storage. The compact bottle is easy to hold thanks to an ergonomic handle, and it can fit between two and four gels, depending on the size. We’ve tested this on training runs and on marathon race days, and it’s never failed. In fact, it’s helped us PR. Most major marathons allow handhelds, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find another shorter race that doesn’t, so you can feel confident with this no hand… literally.

“A handheld is an easy way to access hydration during your runs. It allows for continuous running without stopping at water fountains (though it is 100% ok if you do need to stop at fountains along the way!),” says Linda LoRe, a NASM-certified personal trainer and RRCA coach in NYC. “A reusable handheld could also allow you to bring along other hydration and nutrition (electrolyte drink or carb drink mix) besides just water, which you could choose to use during a race as well.”

Size: 2.5 oz. | Application: Glide on

Not the sexiest thing on this list or in your cabinet, but BodyGlide is a necessity — even for non-running activities. Rub it anywhere you chafe to prevent the annoying stinging and clinging of skin. It works like a charm. Our editors use it before workouts, on hot days when they’re in dresses or shorts, and before putting on tight clothing.

“Chafing can sometimes be unavoidable in hot and humid weather or if you are unlucky in trying new gear that rubs you the wrong way (pun intended). Bodyglide allows for a barrier and keeps everything moving around comfortably,” says LoRe.

Colors: 12 | Sizes: XXS – XXL | Materials: 92% Micropoly, 8% Lycra

If only, as runners, we had more hands to carry everything we needed. Until evolution gets us there, we’ll rely on this running belt. It’s jam-packed with storage thanks to four slots that allow you to pack in as much as you want. This thing can fit a lot. One editor fit her iPhone XL, 8 gels, and her Airpods for her marathon (and nothing fell out mid-race). It’s easy to snag things out of thanks to the larger openings, but somehow keeps everything in place. This is essential for any runner, especially since it allows for safety gear to be easily accessible.

“If you’re running for more than 60-75mins, you’ll need to have a nutrition source to give you continued energy,” says LoRe. “Having pockets to store your gels (or nutrition of choice) makes accessing easier and more comfortable.”

Colors: 4 | Battery life: 19 hours | Special features: GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, activity profiles, custom training plans

If you don’t have a fitness tracker yet or could use an upgrade, we couldn’t recommend the Garmin 165 enough. This running watch is packed to the brim with features you will use – and benefit from — every day. Our favorites include GPS tracking, HRV status display, body battery readings, recovery recommendations, and its wide variety of activity profiles. More importantly, Garmin has safety features that can save your life. It has incident detection that will send a message with your lice location to emergency contacts once it’s paired with your smartphone. A run coach and safety net in one. What more could you need?