Discuss Ryan and I getting dominated by snow on the Osceolas (12/13 trip report). Recapped TARC winter fells 8, 32, and 40 mile results. Talked about my first winter Presi traverse 5 years ago and how I thought the Adams five peaks was actually Adams, Jefferson, Clay, Washington and the rest of Presi Traverse was going to be a piece of cake (wrong). Cutting down your own Christmas tree in the Whites seems fun and easy until you realize you are probably going to end up with a skimpy tree unless you really work for it. Fantasy football blues: fifth in the league in points scored but missing the playoffs. I'm on season 3 of Stranger Things and the bad guy is back somehow and Dustin, the hair guy, and the new girl just cracked the Russian code. Little motivation at the end.

Over the years I have refined my ideal kit and gear for the mountains. Below are some of my favorite pieces of running and hiking gear. By using the affiliate links below, I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the channel! 🙏

⛰️ESSENTIAL TRAIL RUNNING GEAR:

GPS Watch: https://amzn.to/4wT0bQq 

In my experience, Garmin has the best GPS accuracy in thick, dense forest in the Northeast. I trust the mileage and vert data from Garmin over any other watch.

Summer Running Vest: https://amzn.to/4feeEzr 

Salomon has been the gold standard for trail running vests. I have always worn Salomon vests and still have all my original packs. In the summer, I use a 5L because I am usually bringing less gear. 

Lightweight Water Filter: https://amzn.to/4vErYTK 

A water filter top for a soft flask is one of the most essential pieces of gear for trail running. I always bring the least amount of water possible and fill up at any stream. 

Winter Running Vest: https://amzn.to/4aVAoP7 

Solomon has been the gold standard for trail running vests. I have always worn Solomon vests and still have all my original packs. In the winter, I use a 12L because I am bringing extra gear and it all fits fine. 

👟FAVORITE TRAIL RUNNING SHOES:

Hoka Speedgoat 7: https://amzn.to/3RdDZRS

The shoe I have worn for the most miles in the White Mountains. It's a higher stack height but I like that for running fast down steep descents. The Speedgoat 7 is lighter, and slightly reduced stack from the old version and I have been loving it.

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: https://amzn.to/3T1u0Qi 

My top pick for a super shoe in technical terrain. Light, fast, and has really good grip. Mid tier stack is pretty stable but also has some cushion to absorb downhill impact. These shoes want to go.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5: https://amzn.to/4wGHWh5 

One of my favorite pair of road trainers. An uptempo, fast shoe which I use on my road runs to work on turnover and speed.

🎤PODCAST & CAMERA EQUIPMENT:

RodeCaster Pro II: https://amzn.to/4wCO0XR

Initially I recorded the podcasts through my laptop and a mixer box but it was a nightmare. I fully suggest anyone looking for podcast equipment to get an all-in-one audio production studio that handles mixing, processing, and internal multi-track recording. 

Shure SM58 Mic: https://amzn.to/4fdhEvQ 

The gold standard in microphones. 

Insta360 Go 3S: https://amzn.to/3RdE344 

I recorded my first handful of videos using this. Super tiny 4k camera that you can clip to your hat and get really cool POV videos.

Portable Battery Pack: https://amzn.to/4f4rbqb 

This is what I use to run my RodeCaster Pro II from my truck bed. Will run the unit for several hours on a single charge.