Hiking

Image by Matthieu LIENART via Flickr

Great For Trail and Road Running

Running shirts come in almost as many different shapes and sizes as the runners themselves!  Some have got long sleeves . . . some have got short sleeves. . . . some are made for winter trail running . . . . some are made for running in the sunshine . . . some have even got hoods! They’re available in loads of different colors, blue, green, yellow, red, grey, black – you could find yourself a little confused when buying a new running shirt. What special features should you look out for which makes running shirts a little different to the rest?

• Moisture wicking – taking the moisture away from the body for extra comfort when your trail run makes you a little bit hot and sweaty (little bit!!!!!)
• Quick drying – okay, so you might get a little wet, but you don’t want to have to stay wet for the rest of your run do you . . . .quick drying is important for all hiking and running gear.
• Odor control fabric – yes, it really is available for running shirts, using amino acids to help keep you smelling sweet.
• Ventilation and breathability . . . . you can’t rely completely on the odor control fabric can you, you need to know that your running shirt has good ventilation and breathability to keep you cool, dry and comfortable.
• Reflective parts . . . either piping, a logo or just a strip . . . I know that you’re unlikely to be run over by a truck whilst you’re running along a trail, but safety is very important for road runners and a few reflective bits on your running shirt can really increase your visibility and hence safety.
• Sun protection – hikers, backpackers, runners, cyclists, mountain climbers . . . in fact all outdoor types need protection from the harmful rays of the sun, so if you buy a running shirt which is made from protective fabric, that’s a great help.

You go girl . . .  great stuff!