Essential jackets

SIX OF THE BEST

It needs to be comfortable enough to let you swing freely while offering the protection you need to spend four hours walking in the rain…

Is your trusty rain-repelling layer nearing the end of its useful life? Forking out for a new one is a financial commitment, so you’ll want to get it right. With climate experts predicting warmer, wet

Frostbite will really ruin your mountain day. Lara Dunn and Peter Macfarlane keep their digits toasty with this selection of the best gloves for winter conditions

The Runner’s World team are always sweating the details as we put the latest gear through its paces. Our collective efforts have road-and trail-tested hundreds of products over the past year, and now we’ve compared notes and pored over the data to hand-pick the best of the best. Over the following pages, you’ll find the stand-out kit that has enhanced our running in 2025, all lined up on the red carpet to claim the coveted gongs in the various categories of our annual Gear Awards

Kit reviews from Britain’s most experienced gear-testing team. Here, Francesca Donovan and David Linternn focus on two innovative new outdoor products