Each month the Run Testers try out piles of running products, but there’s a lot of kit outside of shoes and tech that we don’t get a chance to talk about until we do a full round-up.
In this month’s video, we cover running shorts, t-shirts, nutrition, running vests and medal hangers. Enjoy.
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JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
Kieran’s Picks
00:33 – Torq Jellies
01:26 – UYN Five Running Socks
02:56 – Nedao Swiftbreeze Tee
Gill’s Picks
03:40 – Bimble and Bolt – Super Strider Shorts
08:47 – Women’s QiFlow Racing Singlet
10:20 – Monkey Sox Ultra Geo Sports Socks
Tom’s Picks
11:58 – Smartwool Athlete Edition Run Crew Socks
14:40 – Asics Fujitrail Shorts
17:00 – Hexagon Medal Hangers
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Hey Tommy from the Run testers and Welcome to the monthly Roundup this is The video where we talk about all of the Kit and accessories and Tech that we've Tested over the past few weeks that we Haven't managed to talk about in any Other video so let's dive in and see What we all picked this month [Music] So I've got another fueling option for You and these torque energy gels worked Really well for me during the recent Berlin War 100 Miler that I ran at times Where I needed a change from my gel Pouches or the watermelon from the aid Stations they're really soft sort of Zingy Little Sweets made for a welcome Switch up not only in texture but taste Now they're not really really chewy like Shot blocks or some of the ultra chews They actually held their shape okay Crammed into my pack as well what I Enjoyed the most was how easy they were To eat I was managing a really delicate Stomach from around mile 50 at the point Where a whole gel wasn't going to sit Well in my stomach so being able to eat These little 5 G carb sweets over time Took some of that pressure off they're Still sweet but I like the sharpness to Them from the zingy Citrus flavors the Small packs are very belt and vest Friendly and you're getting 30 grams of Carbs in each pack you can obviously eat
Haribo if you want to and I did that as Well on there but if you're looking for A good soft chew as an energy source to Mix into your fueling these are Excellent now I picked the wi five Running stocks last month and I hope You'll forgive the repetition here if You watched last month's video in that I Said kind of as a newcomer to toe socks That while I really found these help my Toe on toe aggression problem in a Little bit of testing I wasn't sure if I'd risked them for something like the Berlin Wall 100 m well update here I Decided to use them for the first 40 Mi Of that run to the first backdrop where I could change into other socks if they Weren't working in the end I ended up Keeping the socks on the whole race the Full 22 hours 102 Miles because they Were simply excellent I've never Finished a race with my feet so intact Now these socks have enough padding with Some thicker Fabric in all the right Places to boost the Comfort but they Avoid being too heavy we ran in 27° Through the day and the ventilation Around the toes man I never felt these Socks got too hot too sweaty too heavy Sometimes you're desperate to freshen Your socks for this reason but each time I changed my shoes in this race I found They were dry and still comfortable I Ran 100 miles with no blisters no hot
Spots no discomfort and crucially my Feet would still in near perfect Condition at the end I can't put all This down to the socks but they Definitely helped and I now am a full Convert to toe socks of which these wind Socks are a very good option it was hot And humid as hell out in Berlin for the 100 mile and even in the morning at 6:00 A.m. it was already very warm and Temperatures Rose very quickly to the Mid 20s like a madman I always wear a Bass lay and races because I've got Bas Layers that I know won't chafe my nipple So I wanted a really light layer over The top and then Nal Swift Breeze tea Was absolutely perfect for this it's so Incredibly thin and light it feels like You're not really wearing another layer On top if you wear it running base layer Free it feels like it's not there at all It's like a naked running top I'd put This up there with a h AO light te for Being one of the best technical te's for Hotter weather if like me you're not Really a vest Runner but you want to Feel just as free this is a really good Option super Light technical tea soft Silky feel next to the skin doesn't hold Moisture can get heavy it dries fast Post run you just got to be aware that The sizes come up small and you almost Certainly want to go at least one size Up in
This after um quite a while off on Maternity leave it's nice to be back and Testing things again I've got the clear To run and I'm starting to get some Reasonable mils in so I feel like I can Start actually giving some opinions on Things again so first up this month is The bimble and bolt shorts they are the Super Strider shorts I've gone for the 6-in option but there is an 8 in option Uh it's a Sheffield based company run by A lady called Hannah um and in the past They've done socks and leggings and now They're going on to doing running shorts As well which makes sense if you've done Leggings Um and I quite like the name bimble and Bolt cuz they um want to serve kind of The Amer Runner and also the Speedy Pro Is the idea uh I don't know of any pros That kind of particularly shout that They wear their stuff at the moment but It'll be interesting to see how that Progresses um but as far as the shorts Concerned you can get either the super Strider or the uh super soft shorts I Think it is um I've gone for the super Strider ones um so I don't know what the Difference is with the soft material but Um and I went for the 6 in I like the Fact that there's a six and an 8 in Because when they're biker shorts like It feels like you're flashing a bit less Thigh um quite a lot of biker shorts
Quite short uh which we'll come on to Later on a different item but with these Ones um you can get them in like some Nice colors wine teal Violet midnight Blue black so I went for the um teal Color I know color isn't that important Necessarily but it's quite nice to have Something a little bit different they Have huge Side Pockets so loads of space In those um and got a zip section at the Back as well so I think um I probably Wouldn't use them for like a running a Whole marathon in because I don't think You well you could fit loads of gels to Be fair in the side pockets but you Couldn't fit bottles as well and the zip Pocket at the back I found a little bit Tricky to get the zip open so I don't Think I'd want to be trying to access That um any kind of you know race Bas Effort or anything but as far as kind of Out and about running day-to-day great Could fit massive mobile phone in it Loads of gels all that kind of stuff in The side pockets and it's got really Nice high structured waste so for me Particularly having had a C-section and Kind of coming back I felt like that was Great um I enjoy the high waist anyway It kind of keeps me tucked in and plays To my insecurities about bellies and Things like that um so yeah I've been Really enjoying them I also did a very Very sogging soggy run in them this
Morning and no chafing at all now they Don't actually have any kind of rubber Strip around the um the legs to stop Them riding up I didn't have any Problems with that at all the only thing I would would say that I've experienced With these is that actually I found they Seemed a little bit itchy to start with But as I've worn them more and more That's kind of worn off and it Definitely wasn't a problem today when I Was running in the rain so I think it's One of those things where maybe it could Be my skin is particularly sensitive at The moment or whatever but over time and As you wash it I think that's not a Problem so and I don't know if anyone Else has experienced that it's a very Specific thing but I think they're Probably quite good value as well Because for 40 44 that's actually kind Of at the lower end of some of those Like good quality biker Style running Shorts so that's bimble and bolt and I've been testing the super Strider Shorts in 6 in version is some stuff From nadeo running I think that's how You pronounce it Neo they're a Chinese Company and I first saw any of their kit Kind of in the run up to London marathon When they were asking for anyone who is Sub three to come and see their stand And get a free vest they are kind of Aiming I think for the sort of high
Performance end of things so very um Tailored to as light as possible kind of You know thing that will make you faster So I've been testing um a pair of their Shorts their quarter length running Tights the velocity X ones 4 in inum so Pretty short um and then their key flow Racing singlet as well uh the one cut One So they are designed the shorts are Designed to fit a 250 M milliliter soft Flask 5 to six energy gels and a big Screen mobile phone and various other Bits and Bobs and I can confirm there is Plenty of storage and the waistband has Kind of extra storage as well as the Side pockets and things as well so I Think you know that definitely fits the Bill and I would I would use them for Those long distance uh Runs I one massive thing to say is They're sizing because they're a Chinese Company and in general their population Tends to be slightly more petite um I Had to go for a large in the shorts and I'm a size 10 and they don't make any Bigger ones than a large so that kind of Limits things quite a lot I think and With the vest I was a medium and I'm not Huge up top um so again that's going to Kind of limit people a bit I think That's a real shame um with the shorts They are tiny very short but the thing I Like about them is they feel very much
For racing so it's kind of like you're Wearing racing briefs but not having to Wear racing briefs they kind of like hot Pants basically um and they've got this Kind of rided effect on the material Which although doesn't look great on the Video here actually feels less kind of Um like you're showing off every lump And bump because it's got this kind of Rided effect on the m atal so I really Like that they've also got the Silicon Anti-slip design um around the legs They've got little dots which stop them Uh slipping a all I ran a really well For me at the moment a fast 5k in them And they worked really well for that They definitely felt like a race day Kind of thing and the vest again love The colors it's really fun and I really Like the fact that because of the kind Of sizing weirdly they sit just on your Hip so they're not very long the vest um It feels kind of you know like your Edge Ing towards a crop but you're not doing A crop and they've got these holes in it Which they call Tiny wind tunnels but Actually just little holes in the vest So and it's all seamless it feels very Like slick and nice and kind of floaty Really kept me cool and com um kind of All designed to maximize speed 30 G they Say so I really like the vest I'm Definitely going to be wearing that for Racing in the future and the shorts I
Think definitely feel like a kind of Race day thing so an interesting company Need to sort their sizing out but maybe Want to keep an eye on finally a company Where full disclosure I really like Their ethos and um the people behind it Before I've even tested any of their kit So that said I'm going to try and give Them full testing but this is my initial Opinions I've been trying monkey socks Um spelled s Sox I've been trying the Ultra Geo sport socks in the um ankle Length ones they're from a husband and Wife team uh the husband got diagnosed Um with Ms and they decided to do these Mismatch socks so they look kind of odd But complimentary socks to kind of um Portray the um the issues that you Suffer with Ms with coordination and Things like that they have a little Monkey on the back so they're quite a Striking design and they're Intentionally mismatched but but kind of Complimentary um and they're made in Small batches in Portugal so again it's Kind of not that kind of mass-produced Stuff um so I've been really interested To try and try and try these and um try And Sport this company if the product is Good they have a nice thick toe they've Got kind of double layer around the Ankle which keeps them in place really Well racing I've done a again a very a Decent length 7 Mile very very wet run
Where like my feet got completely soggy I've not had any chafing they've not Slipped at all they've coped really well With that and the mud's washed out of Them really well I've got a little bit Of bubbling on the toe um so we'll see How that progresses over time as I kind Of get more into the weed of marathon Training and long distance but they've Got this kind of cushion foot bed and Then the breathable bit on the on the Top of the foot where it's like a bit More of a mesh a mixture between the Mesh and the thicker material which I Really like because it keep my feet nice And cool I don't like having hot feet But I like having something around the Ankle that really keeps um the the foot In like the sock in place rather than Kind of a complete trainer tab uh sock So I've been enjoying that and then um They've got the seamless toe box which Lots of socks have to be fair these days It's not such a big thing but it Definitely is you know seamless there's No rubbing there so far I've not had any Issues with toast so so far so good £7 For socks quite expensive you can get Cheaper ones out there but I do think That supporting a company like that and They give quite a lot of their um Profits percentage of their profits to Ms Charities as well so if you're going To buy a nice sock to look good look
Cool and have a good quality sock as Well then maybe supporting someone like That is a good idea My first pick this month is the Smart Wool athletes Edition uh run crew socks Now as uh anybody is aware who watches The channel I'm not really bothered About exciting colorways and things like That so I really like these nice dark Colorway um but if you're not aware of Smart wool they are a really good sock Brand so they make really high quality Uh socks they last a long time they uh Have a lot of thought going into the Pressure points and the uh way that the Fabric is woven across the the socks uh And they just feel really really Comfortable as well they these ones Specifically have a nice balance of Cushioning and breathability sometimes You get socks that are quite thick uh And they only work with certain shoes Sometimes you get socks that are really Thin that only tend to work with race Shoes these are a nice balance so it's a Good option if you're looking for a sock That just takes a lot of boxes they have These mesh venting areas across the sock You can't really see them but they're Essentially areas of the sock that have Um soft lighter fabric so that they're a Bit more breathable they have a seamless Toe which is designed to be more Comfortable and stop you getting things
Like blisters and stuff like that which You can get from socks which aren't made With that they also have something Called a 4 degree Elite fit system uh That's essentially the fit of the sock So it's designed to just fit in the Right areas all the way across the sock So you don't get slippage on various Bits and bits of the foot and it just Holds in really comfortably and stops You um having problems with rubbing and Things like that within the socks uh and I think that it's made with something Called instru indestructo W or something Like that which is meant to be really Hard long lasting uh designed wool so That you don't end up having to get them Repaired or uh getting rid of them um All the time uh I think on the website As well smart will also have a 2-year Guarantee on their socks so if something Goes wrong with them you want to contact Them and get them replaced they will Sort that out for you based on uh what It says on the website so you can check That out on the website as well if you Want to find out about that that Guarantee but all in all it they're just Really solid good comfortable socks soon As you put these on they just feel very Soft and uh hugging the foot quite Nicely um also I've had no issues Wearing these at all I've been wearing These quite a lot recently and um I've
Not had any problems with blisters or Anything like that it's been quite hot They feel quite breathable they are Quite expensive so they I think they are RP I couldn't find them on the website At the moment I think um need some new Stock on there but the RP is normally Sits around £25 but on search I did on The internet that you can find them Around5 uh in in different colorways as Well so um well worth looking at that so Yeah that's the athlete Edition uh run Crew socks my next pick this month are These A6 Fuji Trail shorts now I really Like these um they are designed for the Trails and the reason they're designed For Trails is they have lots of storage In them so there's loads of these like Elasticated storage areas so you can put Your gels and snacks and things like That in when you're when you're out Running on the trails uh other things Related to the trails is it has a Carabin that sits on the side so if you Wanted to uh strap something maybe like Your jacket or something um if it if it Packed up you can put it on that carabin Nice little touch um it has a big pocket On the back or relatively big it's meant To be a phone holder I use a Google Pixel 8 Pro so it is not big enough for My phone but if you got a smaller phone You can use that back pocket uh and zip It for that um it also has these uh
Little straps as well on the side so um And that's the one I showed before these These little straps so you can put other Things on so you can tie little bits and Pieces around those so loads of storage It's basically a really lightweight Storage short the design of the um the Shorts they feel very light lightweight And thin they do have a little inner in Them which is this sort of lightweight Material uh it isn't um a leg line so it Doesn't go all the way down it's just Like a little pant liner um but the the Material itself feels really really Lightweight I normally um wear baggier Shorts when I'm out running I don't like Shorts that are really tight to my leg These are actually sit quite in the Middle when I actually put them on they Do sit quite close to the leg so they do Feel quite lean on the on the leg um but They they're quite um stretchy and loose So they do feel very very comfortable They are Trail shorts but I use them for A lot of Road stuff as well cuz they're Just they feel lighter and more Comfortable than a lot of my uh a lot of My road shorts that I use for training So well worth looking at if you just Want a solid pair of shorts that going To last you a while um the aex is making Some good stuff with the future Trail Range at the moment and this is a really Good example of some really solid shorts
That you could basically if you bought These you could use them for the trails Or you could use them if you're doing Races and you wanted to store gels in Them um just a solid all round Lightweight pair of shorts that are Really really comfortable my my third Pick this month is uh medal hangers now I have actually bought these ages ago And they're normally something that I Saved for the Christmas gift guide but Uh I really really like these I I was Trying to find a solution I recently Moved into a new house and I wanted to Put on my medals and I'm not a fan of Those metal hangers where you just Loop Over the medals and just they just hang Down I think Nick has them in the back Of his video um and I wanted to find a Solution that I thought actually looked Quite nice on on my wall Um so I've got these I they're all on The wall now so I can't hold them up and And show you but uh you'll get a cut we Of them they're just really just work Really really really well you just put Them up on the wall you can design them In any way you want you can buy multiple Packs you could have them all over your Walls you could draw a picture with the Hexagons if you wanted to um but the Reason why I put those up there is just Cuz they they look very nice with uh the Design of my um my room that I've got
Them in they are magnetic so you can Take things out and and you can put Other the medals in if you want to if You're continuing to doing races and You're getting new PBS or new races that You care about take out an old one put a New one in and it just stay in the place In the wall you don't have to refit them Or anything like that the back of them Is a sticky uh material that you pull The sticking yourself and you just stick Onto the wall so you don't have to drill Them into the wall or anything like that Uh so they're just a really nice way to Put up your medals if you're trying to Find uh a more um interesting way of Putting them up instead of having them Hung over uh hangers and things like That there are loads of places you can Buy them from so it's not from one Specific brand you can get them from Amazon you can also get loads off of Etsy and a lot of the people that make Them also do other designs as well so Even though the hexans are designed to Hold medals you can get some where They've designed actual race routs on The wood designs and things so you can Create like a a collage of designs from The races and surrounded by medals Things like that so uh interesting thing To get if you want to do some nice Design with your medals or if you want To buy gift some body who has lots of
Medals and doesn't actually know what to Do with them that's it for most this Month on our monthly guide thanks a lot For watching don't forget to like Subscribe click the little bell and if You go to catch Ino you can find a link To our podcast which comes out a couple Of times each month thanks lot for Watching catch you next time [Music]
