I'm a running coach: this is my long run survival kit for all eventualities, from the best watches and vest to the ideal phone to carry

Saucony, CamelBak, SealSkinz, Garmin watch on an adventure-themed background — (Image credit: Saucony, CamelBak, SealSkinz, Garmin, Edited by Gemini)

By Lily Canter published 10 May 2026

I’ve been running for the past decade, and somewhere along the way I went from couch to coach. Since gaining my coaching qualification I’ve supported around 100 runners, from people taking their very first running steps to those tackling ultra marathon distances.

One thing I didn’t expect when I started coaching was how often I’d become an unofficial kit helpline. Athletes ask about everything: what shoes to buy when they don’t know where to start, which is the best running watch, and how to pick a hydration vest that doesn’t bounce you into next week. And I get it, because kit is overwhelming now. There’s more choice than ever, a lot of it is expensive, and almost everything is advertised as essential to peak performance.

I also spend a good amount of time testing gear for running publications, so I’ve built up a slightly ridiculous amount of hands-on experience. My own running ranges from parkrun to 100-mile races, plus multi-day races, overseas trips, and plenty of hilly and mountainous days where you learn very quickly what works and what absolutely doesn’t.

Through thousands of miles on the road and trail, I’ve curated a collection of my favourite kit which I reach for year after year. This isn’t “the best kit money can buy”, it’s those tried and tested – and sometimes stinking, fraying-at-the-edges – pieces of kit I cannot run without. Check them all out below, and click "View Details" to learn more about each one.