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This story is part of our end-of-year series This Year in Gear, rounding up the most notable releases of 2023. For more stories like this, click here.
The end of another year is upon us, and whether you reached your fitness goals or not, well … don’t sweat it. All you can do at this point is refocus and reload for the next round — and now’s the perfect time to stock up for when the calendar turns.
These items have not only caught our eye over the last 12 months, but they’ve also been thoroughly researched and tested by our team, so you can be sure they’ll help you hit the ground running in ’24.
Highlighted by an all-new Lift and Run Chassis System for versatile support across a range of fitness activities, the Nano X3 also features a revamped heel shape for better lockdown and comfort and a fresh tread pattern sure to give each step ample grip.
Thanks to a moisture-reactive film, tiny winged vents strategically located around high-heat areas like the chest and upper back can sense sweat building up on the skin and automatically open to let your skin breathe. They can also close back up as you cool down, making this jacket the ultimate climate control system.
Born Primitive may be well-known for its stylish workout apparel, but this all-new cross trainer has the brand vying for dominance in footwear, too. The Savage 1 boasts a streamlined design offering stability in Olympic lifting, flexibility for short-distance runs and a unique tread pattern to stay grounded through it all.
Made primarily of a fleece-like cotton/polyester blend, Lululemon’s comfy oversized hoodie just might be the perfect post-workout athleisure garb for the cold days ahead. There’s a bit more than meets the eye, too, courtesy of hidden media and coin sleeves within the spacious kangaroo pocket.
If you’re a fan of the barefoot movement, these updated gym shoes from Xero are for you. A wide toe box allows for effective toe splaying, ideal for those big-time lifts, and a grippy outsole and adjustable midfoot tensioning system help ensure each progressive step is as confidently locked in as the last.
Ciele’s Performance Run collection carries the comfort and style of its popular running hats over to the rest of your wardrobe. This singlet boasts reflective details and COOLmatic Plus micro mesh — which is also used in many of the brand’s high-performance caps — for lightweight, quick-drying performance.
Launched early this year, the Saucony Endorphin Elite is the brand’s fastest, lightest, most energy-efficient silhouette to date. With all-new PWRRUN HG foam underfoot for unrivaled springiness as well as a sleek and stylish upper, these racers are sure deliver a fast, fun race day experience for those who invest.
Long winter runs can call for extra coverage, but as the miles pile up — or you just hunch your shoulders for warmth — your back can get strained. Forme’s patented techn enables the body to relearn its best alignment to keep your spine straight, reduce stiffness and elevate performance.
These kicks made headlines when Tigist Assefa absolutely smashed the women’s marathon world record wearing them. What stands out? The incredibly light weight (4.87 ounces), a giant Lightstrike Pro foam forefoot rocker that propels you forward like no other and, yes, a price that will make your head spin.
We already named the Kore Shorts the best shorts for yoga disciplines; that style and performance now has a little more legroom, literally, with the Kore Jogger silhouette. Perfect for finding your flow or relaxing on rest days, these cozy pants boast a modern athletic fit, built-in liner and more.
A plated sneaker that’s a damn fine daily trainer? While most high-energy running shoes of this nature are reserved for tempo work or marathons, here’s the goldilocks of the bunch; the Pebax plate provides enough spring to keep your routes speedy yet the Mach X still delivers some plush cushioning underfoot.
Somewhat similar to Ten Thousand’s excellent Interval Short, the A-L’s feature a design that’s functional, comfortable and stylish. Warp-knit fabric with Proplyo Stretch helps retain shape regardless of your activity, and the 7-inch inseam is sure to look good when powering through a WOD or strolling about town.
Building off the success of Norda’s original trail runner, the 002 profile boasts a lighter 8.78-ounce frame as well as a lower stack height for improved ground feel. The shoe is still tough as nails, though, thanks to a Dyneema upper primedd to conquer the dust, muck and debris you’ll encounter off the beaten path.
The lightweight polyester blend of these shorts sits effortlessly across the thighs during movement, but what we loved in testing was the Stay-Put waistband. Soft material keeps everything in place without digging into the hips, and the flat interior drawstring eliminates any bulging knots along your midriff.
The carbon Flyplate combines with the ZoomX midsole foam for a ride that’s snappy yet comfortable enough for extended wear. The Vibram Megagrip outsole is plenty grippy for wet and muddy conditions alike. These features add up to make Nike’s first plated trail runner quite possibly its best shoe of the year.
Toe-sleeved socks can be excellent options for those wanting more blister protection, and Injinji has become an industry leader in this area. These socks boast the lightest bulk across the brand’s stable, plus a mesh top and COOLMAX EcoMade Fiber construction for premium breathability.
Did you know they make walking-specific fitness footwear — and it makes a difference? Featuring a unique constant curvature geometry that accentuates your natural walking stride, the Keen WK400s have quickly become the go-to kicks for beneficial pedestrian sessions.
Reebok
Nike
