Welcome to the innagural Playbook HQ Selection Awards. We are kicking things off in the world of trail running.

As I'm gearing up for the Malibu 100k and Saddles 100 Miler this year I thought I'd share what I'm obessing over. Everything from shoes and waistlamps to sauna's and performance nutrition. Not one brand on this list paid us anything to be included. These are all products I've used or taken insights from the experts I've interviewed over the last year.

Enjoy!

Footwear

Built for efficiency, protection, and long miles.

Your shoe is the most critical piece of gear on the trail. The picks in this category were selected for their ability to perform across variable terrain, protect the foot over long distances, and hold up through the cumulative stress of ultra-distance training and racing.

Speedland | GS — High-stack, carbon-plated trail shoe engineered for ultra-distance efficiency — elite protection without sacrificing ground feel. I'm obsessed with these. I have put around 150 miles on mine with zero blisters or hot spots. The BOA Fit system makes it easy to adjust to any foot size. Plus the fiber lite outsole is manufactured by Michelin. They are true-fit or go up a half size.
Satisfy | THERocker — Built for ultra distance performance across real-world terrain. My favorite part about this shoe is the grip on the bottom and the smooth transition from mountain to road. They are true to fit and lean more towards a narrow foot. Super breathable and comfortable for long miles.
Norda | 005 — Optimally-cushioned ultra distance shoe equipped with a proprietary Arnitel® TPEE midsole that demonstrates benchmark resiliency, strength and mechanical property retention, along with the world’s first seamless Dyneema® upper and an exclusive Vibram® soleplate for unparalleled performance and durability. When I interviewed Robbie Balenger last year he said this will be his favorite trail running shoe forever. Go up a full-size on these. ‍
Mount To Coast | T1 — Crafted from a high-performance woven fabric and reinforced with aramid fibers that are five times stronger than steel. Its anti-siphon knit tongue repels water, ensuring a breathable, fast-drying design that thrives in the harshest conditions. My friend coach Hayden Burdge is obsessed with these. I'm not positive on sizing guidlines.‍
HOKA | Speedgoat 7s — The Speedgoat 7 features a low-profile cushion bed that keeps your foot closer to the ground, and utilizes a firmer material designed to provide an efficient push-off. These were just dropped recently and I ran into ultra legend Eli Wehbe testing them out on his first go. He said they were a major upgrade from the Speedgoat 6's. Better tongue, sturdier, and premium cushioning. My first trail running shoe ever was the Speedgoat 5's which were phenomenal. Go up a full-size on these bad boys if you decide to give them a try.

Performance Nutrition, Fuel, and Hydration

Energy that doesn't break you before the finish.

Nutrition is where most trail and ultra runners fall apart — not from lack of fitness, but from fueling strategies that ignore gut health, carbohydrate tolerance, and the physiological demands of sustained effort. From race-day gels to cortisol management, these are the brands taking sports nutrition seriously.

Maurten | Gel 100 + Gel 100 Caf 100 — Hands-down my favorite gel out there. Their patented Hydrogel technology delivers an optimal ratio of fructose and glucose while reducing GI distress. No added flavors, just natural sweetness. The Caf 100's are the exact same as the Gel 100's just with 100 mg of caffeine.
UnTapped | Maple Syrup Gel — Pure Vermont maple syrup in a performance gel — clean, natural, and effective for long efforts. I've been on the maple syrup train for the last 8 months now and it's been game-changing. Easy on the stomach and unreal taste. They have additional flavors such as Salted Citrus, Salted Raspberry and Salted Cocoa.
Code | Raw Honey + Beetroot Performance Gel — This is the cleanest pre-workout on earth. Made with 100% glyphosate-free honey, beetroot, sea salt, and guarana for sustained energy with no crash. I'm hooked on these. I love the added touch of ginger oil and lemon oil to ease digestion.
Cadence | Core 500 RTD — Zero sugar electrolyte drink that delivers a science-backed blend of Sodium (500mg), Potassium (190mg) and Magnesium (30mg) to support fluid balance, muscle function and mental clarity. These fucking rock. I have one after every run. My favorite is the Citrus flavor (tastes like a salty sprite) but they also have a Cream Soda, Cola, and Melonberry flavor.
Nomio | Broccoli Extract Shots — A natural sports fuel crafted for performance and recovery. These shots contain high doses of ITC to help optomize lactate levels. You take them 3 hours before training. It's literally organic broccoli sprouts, lemon juice, and a little sugar. I was skeptical about this when I first hear it but the science doesn't lie. I'm chatting with their founder Oskar about joining the podcast for a full breakdown soon.
KA-EX | Cortisol Stress Reducer — This is the worlds first fast-acting cortisol stress releaser. Developed in Switzerland this product blends amino acids, bioactive substances, functional sugars, vitamins, and electrolytes. This is the coolest thing in holistic recovery I've seen this year. Full review vidoeo coming soon.
Cheribundi | 100% Pure Tart Cherry Juice — Tart cherry juice for reducing muscle soreness and improving sleep quality post-effort. One of the most cost-effective ways to fight inflammation and support recvoery. I have a bottle of this every week. After having performance expert Andrew Herr (Flykitt founder) on the podcast who mentioned the power of tart cherry juice, I've been a fan ever since.

Storage, Lights, & Essentials

Because access matters when seconds and fatigue compound.

The difference between a good race and a suffer fest often comes down to how well your gear is organized and accessible. This category covers the systems, lights, and small-format tools that make long days in the mountains more manageable. Plus a bonus breathing tool.

Salomon | ADV Skin 12 — The benchmark race vest — lightweight, secure fit, and enough capacity for long mountain days. This vest feels like it's apart of your body and has plenty of room for storage.
Hydrapak | Pocket Flask 500 mL — Soft and pliable material means you can fit it in most pack and larger vest pockets for a snug and secure fit. Topped with our SpeedFill™ Cap for quick refills.
Endorphin | Endorphin Belt — Minimalist bounce-free waist belt for athletes who want access without a full vest. Effortlessly carries your phone, hydration, nutrition and essentials in a sleek package. Sturdy material, plenty of space, and waterproof compartments. Fully adjustable from 24 to 37 inches. I use this everyday on my shorter runs and in the mountains when I know I have water stations at least 6-7 miles apart.
UltrAspire | 600 5.0 Waist Light — The answer to an all night adventure or race that requires a lightweight high-output package. This patented waist light features UltrAspire 3D Lighting which casts shadows across uneven surfaces giving you a better understanding of your terrain. When I had Kilian Korth on the Playbook podcast he said he was a huge fan of this product. Waistlamps are a nice switch up from headlamps to take it easier on your eyes and avoid shadows while running at night.
Fenix | HM65R-T V2 Rechargeable Headlamp — Dual-beam rechargeable headlamp.The new SPORT fit headband is larger, has an improved rotary adjustment dial for more precise control, and includes a built-in emergency whistle.
Leki | Ultratrail FX.ONE Superlite — The best trail poles in the game. They wiegh nothing, have a trail shark grip to propel your body up the mountain, in lightweight carbon.
KT Tape | Precut Strips — Pre-cut kinesiology tape for on-the-go joint support, blister prevention, and muscle stabilization.
Squirrel's Nut Butter | Anti-Chafe & Skin Repair — Coconut oil and cocoa butter create a slick barrier on the skin while beeswax holds the oil and butter in place. All-natural, long-lasting chafe protection for high-mileage efforts. I'm a sucker for the Fankincense and Lavender. ‍
Dream Recovery | Second Wind Nasal Strips — I used to think nasal breathing didn't do much but that opinion quicly changed. Not only do these help with airflow while running but they are great for sleep health as well. These are the cleanest looking and best feeling in the game. Shoutout to Todd Anderson and the team.

Apparel

Built for friction, weather, and repetition.

Trail running apparel gets judged by a simple standard: does it disappear when you're wearing it? The brands here have earned their spots by engineering fabrics and fits that move with the body, manage moisture intelligently, and hold up through hundreds of training miles. From compression tights to packable wind layers, these are the pieces that serious athletes actually reach for on race morning.

Woloco | Full Distance Tight — Compression-engineered tights designed for the specific demands of ultra-distance running. I got these right before I ran the Avalon 50 miler. High quality material, sleek phone pocket, and convenient gel compartments.
Croft | Running Shorts — The shorter the better. These 2 inch shorts are light and let your junk breath with ease. Made of recycled polyester with great stretch and feature side slits for enhanced mobility
Creepers | Toe Socks — Individual toe socks built with merion wool that eliminate blister-causing friction — a must-have for multi-day efforts.
Satisfy | Rippy Modular Windbreaker — Packable windbreaker with a distinctive aesthetic — modular design adapts to changing mountain conditions. One of my favorite things to grab when temps drop below 45 degrees F. The detachable sleeves turn the jacket into a vest in seconds if you get hot.
ASRV | Tetra Lite Liner Shorts — Premium performance fabric meets minimalist design — one of the best liner shorts for trail running. ASRV might makeup 60% of my wardrobe. Huge fan of their quality.
Bandit Running | Vento Men's Running Inglet — High-cut singlet built for heat, freedom of movement, and maximum breathability on long mountain runs. An evolution of their classic performance singlet, now made in airy Vento™ fabric. Updated with high front neck drop and wider racerback for more coverage. Bonded finishes prevent chafing.

Training Tech, Tracking & Accessories

Data, direction, content, and sharing.

Trail running has become increasingly data-driven, and the technology in this category reflects that shift. These tools help athletes pace smarter, navigate with confidence, and capture the experience along the way. From GPS watches with multi-day battery life to autonomous follow cameras, the products here were chosen because they solve real problems for athletes training and racing in the mountains — not because they're the flashiest option on the shelf.

COROS | Pace 4 — Lightweight, ultramarathon-optimized AMOLED GPS smart watch with best-in-class battery life and trail-specific metrics.
Garmin | fēnix 8 Pro— The Ferrari of adventure watches. This premium multisport AMOLED GPS smartwatch does everything. Access satellite networks with their inreach tech. Phone-free voice calls and texting. Up to 27 days of battery life. Plus enhances map navigation with pre-loaded trail maps and routes.
Shokz | OpenFit Pro 2's — Innovative open-ear noise reduction. The fit on these are amazing and sound quality is impressive.
Insta360 | GO 3S — Compact action camera built for capturing trail adventures. The quality and easy-of-use is next level. Swith between different angles, modes, get hand free POV shots all in 4k quality. Plus you can remove the camera from the action pod and attach to anything metal, use the hat clip accesory, or necklace. The cameria is also waterproof up to 33ft.
HOVERAir | X1 Self Flying Camera Drone — This pocket sized autonomous follow-drone captures dynamic footage without a dedicated camera operator — built for athletes in motion. This thing takes off from the palm of your hands and has 5 built in flight patterns: orbit, follow, hover, zoom out, and bird's eye. Plus it fold up to a phone size and weighs 4.41 oz. You can easily dowload your vidoes from their app.
Share Aura | Athletic Expression App — The coolest way to share your runs and workouts in 2026. Plus they are working on a tracking feature. Founder Zach Pogrob is one obsessed legend for creating this.

Recovery Tech

Longevity is part of the race.

Training for trail and ultra distances breaks the body down in ways that require intentional recovery — not just rest days. The products in this section represent the best of what's available for athletes who treat recovery as a performance variable, not an afterthought. From precision cold therapy to foot health and active recovery footwear, these are the tools that help you absorb training, stay healthy across a long season, and show up ready on race day.

Hyperice | X2 Knee — Smart knee compression device combining compression, heat, and cold therapy for targeted joint recovery. This has been a lifesaver for my knees. I hit 15 minutes of cold then 15 minutes of hot every night. It's portabl, easy to use, and the battery lasts suprisingly long.
SISU | Crew Cabin — The research on sauna's for not just recovery but overall longevity is endless. The finnish people just know what's up. I had SISU founder Pete Nelson on the podcast recently and the detail that goes into these is next level. As long as you are hitting some form of heat therapy (dry, IR, steam) it will elevate your recovery no doubt.
Plunge | All-In Chiller & Heater — Premium cold/hot plunge unit with precise temperature control — the gold standard in home recovery systems. The heating feature is wildly underrated. I cold plunge purely for the mental health aspect but it forsure helps take away the pain after those 20+ mile runs.
Kane Footwear | Motus Strength II — Active recovery footwear engineered to support natural foot mechanics. I've been on the Kane's since they launched. Can't say enough good things about this product and brand.
Vivobarefoot | Motus Strength II — Minimalist barefoot recovery and strength shoe that encourages natural foot function and proprioceptive training. Every pro-trainer I talk to now has their athletes in Vivo's. These are a part of my everyday wear and strength training routine.
Spacer Mobility | Toe Spacers — Toe spacers that restore natural toe alignment, improve foot strength, and reduce common trail runner foot issues. Mick (founder) is the man. These are a reset for uncramming your feet from what shoes do to them.