Off season training mode in full effect, at least for me. That means - less focused, more space for other things to take priority going into the winter.. getting the ski gear organized, tournament time for my elementary girls basketball team (we made it to the city semi-finals again this year!), and getting my daughter’s Y-Ball team organized for the winter season. Oh and as I’m here finalizing this newsletter.. I’ve got the flu =(
(some pics from a lost Merrell Agility Peak 6 Review - accidentally deleted my camera footage ugh)
It also means colder, and darker runs - so I’ve been busy trying out a bunch of merino apparel, GORE-TEX shoes, gloves, headlamps, and even some rain gear. Keep an eye out for some Fall/Winter roundups coming very soon!
Top Trail Trainers
I know - many, many shoes can tend to fit the bill these days.. But I wanted to focus on affordable options here that are just easy to run in. Around the same time I did this review, Ruth Croft won Diagonale Des Fous in the Adidas Terrex Agravic SL. Not bad for a $160 shoe!
The Cadi and Altamesa 300 V2 are both solid options, although I think those two definitely lean more “training shoe”. The Cadi offers decent ground feel to go with a plush upper. The 300 V2 is a versatile option for wide feet.
Road Comparison - On vs Diadora
Two shoes here with different types of runs in mind..
The On Cloudsurfer 3 is a drastic change from V2, which I previously tested alongside the Cloudsurfer Max. V3 is now super plush, with a re-oriented CloudTec Phase setup which gives a super smooth ride. This is definitely one that lands in the “comfort trainer” category, and even a top pick as a “comfort walker”.
The Diadora Corsa on the other hand definitely leans into no-nonsense speed. The very supercritical EVA midsole in combination with dynamic geometry just begs to go fast.
Diadora calls it an “Energetic Daily Trainer” and I’d say that sounds about right.. it definitely doesn’t feel like a shoe for slow miles.
Cloudy Day Testing
..just cold enough to start some GORE-TEX shoe testing, and perfect for the Tifosi Moab XC shades with Fototec lenses.
You can see I’ve got my Injinji Courtney socks on in this one - yes, the Prodigio 2 GTX toebox is nice and spacious for those. IMO, you don’t want to be cramped up in a shoe designed for winter running. Space = warmth.
Love this Fototec lens from Tifosi - it was clear when I left the house, then it adapted to the overcast conditions. That makes it a great option for dawn/dusk runs with the lesser daylight hours on tap.
I tested a previous version of SoundPeats Clip headphones, and this POP Clip2 update brings some key improvements including louder sound (it’s an open ear design) and physical buttons. For $50 (maybe less on sale), they’re a great value for running.
PandaPrank busting out of the gate
If you watched my PandaPrank Orbis videos, you could probably tell that I’m pretty high on this shoe. Enough so that I just had to put it up against one of the top shoes of the past couple years, the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro..
I found that the Orbis has a more cushy feel to it, while the Prodigio Pro’s noticeable rocker makes it a speedier feeling “mountain” shoe. Of course, lots of details on the run in this one, including some thoughts on potential future PandaPrank refinements.
Best Running Belts - updated for 2026
I’ve got a couple of new options in the mix here - including the UltrAspire Lightning and the new Dera B01. How do they stack up against previous “benchmark” models in my quiver?
No it’s not a belt, but it does fit, given Raide’s “system” type approach to storage.. so I threw it in here - what do I think of the Raide LF 5L? Is it perhaps too minimal?
I’m looking to round up a few new belt models for the next roundup, thanks for the suggestions in the comments!
Humble Hat Update
Fabric samples have been finalized, and they’re going to production! They will definitely be available for early 2027, perhaps a bit sooner, so definitely shoot me a note if you’d be interested. It’s going to be a limited shipment for now.
As usual, find all the products featured here in my tailored Rendezvu list below -
Products provided at no cost for test and review by the various brands. Please see my support page for disclaimers regarding my testing and review process.