Best Gear for Running in the Heat

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Running in the heat isn’t always ideal, but sometimes it’s necessary. Check out this gear for running in the heat to give you an edge against the sun.

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On Monday, I shared some of my best tips for running in the heat. As discussed in that post, it’s important to be mindful when training in the heat. It’s also important to have some tried and true gear on your side to help you power through!  I’m sharing some of my favorites that help me be my best when running in the heat — or at the very least, spend more time focusing on the run and not the external factors making me crazy!

1 // Sunscreen & Insect Repellant

The best accessory for running in the heat is sun protection. I used to be one of those girls that never wore sunscreen (and I’m so naturally pale — shame on me), and yes, I tanned in the tanning bed. I’ve thankfully wised up and put a lot more focus on sun protection, especially for a long outdoor run. I’m also trying to be a lot more conscious of the products I use these days, so I’ve switched to organic sunscreen. I love this Sport SPF 50 by Coola! The scent is Guava-Mango and it smells amazing. Love it!

I put insect repellant at the top of the list with sunscreen because I absolutely detest mosquito bites. Those annoying little buzzers seem to flock right to me, so bug spray is a must when I’m running in the heat. Like I said, I’m trying to be more mindful of what I put on my body, so I picked up this Repel Natural deet-free spray at Target the other day.

2 // Hydration Options

Hydration is always important, but it becomes even more important when running in the heat! I’ve never been one to carry hydration with me on a run, but I’ve recently changed my tune. I run with a FlipBelt (love it), so I started hunting for a slim water bottle that might work. Thank you, Amazon! I discovered FlipBelt makes a specially designed water bottle that slips inside the belt. I got the 6 oz. size, as well as the 11 oz. and the one I use for the day depends on the length of my run. Something else I like to do is swing by the house midway through my run to refill said water bottle if it’s really, really hot!

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3 // Clothing!

Clothing is so important. First of all, wear light colors, because duh. Second of all, make sure you’re dressed appropriately, literally from head to toe! Shoes, socks, and head gear all matter. I’m LOVING my Brooks Glycerin 14 running shoes. I don’t know why it took me so long to try a pair of Brooks! I recently grabbed a couple of pairs of Feetures!, per a recommendation by Annemarie and I loooove these socks! They keep my feet dry, they’re comfortable, and I love the way they’re cut.

I also grabbed a great pair of shorts (under $15!) at Academy Sports + Outdoors the other day. They’re layered with a compression type liner on the inside that protects against chafing. And that is something I can definitely appreciate. #thickthighclub

4 // Body Glide

Sometimes, the shorts are not enough and you have to bust out the Body Glide. In addition to potentially chafed thighs, Body Glide protects my chest where my bra strap lays. For some odd reason, that’s a sensitive spot for me and the running drives me up the wall. When I trained for my first half marathon, I remember telling my grandmother I was using deodorant on my sensitive spots, but “I’ve heard about this thing called Body Glide.” She bought me some that very next day!

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5 // Fitness Tracker

Finally, I mentioned in my Best Tips for Running in the Heat post that I like to keep an eye on my heart rate when I’m running. I personally use a Fitbit Charge 2 and use the Fitbit app on my phone to track my miles. This works great for me and I always wonder how people ran prior to all of this technology we now have available! If you’re in the market for a new fitness tracker and on the fence about which model is right for you, check out this detailed review on the best fitness trackers by Reviews.com. Spoiler alert: They found mine to be the best HRM!

Question: What’s your must have gear for running in the heat?

Linking up today for Wild Workout Wednesday with Annemarie, Nicole, and Jen!

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