There is so much stuff out there and so many deal alerts that it can be confusing sometimes to find the things that work the best for you or what you find people like. I am just one more guy on the internet but I have certainly come to the stuff that I love for running. To help you avoid all the trial and error it took for me to get to this list of stuff, here is what is and what is on sale for Black Friday!
Black Friday Deals on My Favorite Running Gear
Electronics
A couple of decades ago, people would throw their running shoes on and go out for a run. Well, that has changed over time for many people, myself included. I have quite a few different pieces of electronics that go with me on the run – not necessary but certainly helpful.
GPS Watch
I have tried/owned most of the GPS watches that have been on the market in the last 10 years. These have come a loooong way! My current watch (obtained at a killer price) is the Garmin Tactix 8 47mm AMOLED. This thing is a beast, it is basically a Fenix with some extra features for tactical operators and so it commands a higher price. This watch is normally $1,299 but is on sale for $1,049. Totally overkill for most people, myself included. But, that is what I am currently rocking on my wrist.
If I didn’t want this rugged one, I would go back to the Garmin Forerunner 970 ($649 on sale right now) which has its first sale right now and is the best in running that you can get. It is lightweight, big screen, loud speaker, and works very well! I had to move on from mine because the battery life wasn’t enough for my last 100 miler.
If that price is still too high, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is at a great price – $199. This is a watch one of my sons is currently using. Other favorites would be the COROS Pace Pro (awesome watch at a new low price of $299) and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (currently on sale for $699).
Earbuds
This is somewhat a personal choice because everyone’s ears are different. I cannot run in the Apple AirPods Pro – as much as I would love them! If I move my jaw a bit, they fall right out. So, my earbud of choice for the last several years is the Beats Fit Pro. Unfortunately, these are not on sale this year as they have been discontinued to make way for the Beats Powerbeats Fit – which is also not on sale.
I have been using the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 a bit lately and these are on sale. I personally really prefer the Fit earbuds for the way they “fit” but the Powerbeats are also pretty nice. My son runs in the Shokz which I just tried out and these are very awesome! The SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 are on sale for $124 for Black Friday so give them a try if you are interested.
Camera
I do like to run with a camera on some of my more interesting runs. For my everyday runs, my iPhone works just fine. For everything else, it will depend on the type of surroundings I am running in. If it is just a general run in a cool area, I go with my Insta360 GO Ultra on a headband. Works great and the images and videos are awesome (finishing up my Grand Raid 100+ miler video now – much of that was shot with the GO Ultra).
If I am in an area like a cool city or awesome nature, I carry my Insta360 X5 on this little hand grip. It not only folds up nice but has extra power in it to let you get hours more of recording. The X5 captures in 360 so I can reframe afterwards or upload to YouTube to let people pan around and check out all the surroundings. This is on sale for $464, down from $549.
Power
Not needed for a 5K but running a 100 miler may mean you need to charge up something – whether it is a phone, earbuds, or camera (maybe even watch). This is my new favorite power bank – an ultra slim that magnetically attaches to my iPhone to charge it through Qi or I can use the USB-C port to charge the phone faster or something else. On sale for $38 and an absolute help! Anker Nano Power Bank
If you need something with more charges, check out the Anker Zolo magnetic power bank with a built-in USB-C cable – perfect for charging up anything you have with you! This is on sale at a great price of $29, down from $49.
Shoes
It will really depend on a variety of things for what you enjoy running in. Running shoes have come a very long way and have a ton of things built in to them. If you are running shorter races, racing flats are very good for that. I don’t have any because I rarely race a 5K. But, here is what I use.
Daily Running Shoes
I have been a fan of the ASICS Kayano models for 20 years. They work for me, that’s all I can say! They are stability shoes which help because I have some overpronation (my foot turns in on landing) so they give me stability in the middle of the inside of my foot while also giving me some nice cushioning.
I normally buy one model year old because that is where the deals are. Still looking because I cannot find my normal great deals on them! But, if you want to give them a try, head over to ASICS and order a pair from them. You can wear them around the house and return them if you don’t like the feel. There are other running stores that will let you even run with them outside and return them in 30 or 60 days if you don’t like them.
Trail Shoes
I recently started using the Hoka Mafate 5trail shoes. One of the reasons was how many people recommended them to me for my Grand Raid Diagonale des Fous race. One of the cool things about these shoes is that they are named after the beautiful and difficult Mafate region of the race.
They are really great and I also loved the Mafate 4. I used to be a Salomon guy but have not liked the cushioning in the last ones I tried so now I am a Hoka fan! These are not cheap but I got them on previous deals for a deal. It appears that they no longer sell the color I have (seen here) and the ones they are selling are currently sold out in my size.
Race Shoes
I have long been an ASICS DS-Trainer user for races of marathon length and below that I wanted to truly race. While I still like them (they no longer make them), I recently started using the ASICS Novablast and ASICS Metaspeed Sky+. These are neutral and not supportive shoes but I found that they work ok for me when I am running sub-7 minute pace and paying more attention to my cadence.
The best deals could actually be found on Dick’s Sporting Goods – the Novablast 5 Lite versions can be had for under $100!
Clothes and Accessories
Clothes
I run in previous race shirts or Under Armour shirts and always use Under Armour shorts. Under Armour has some great sales going on right now so head over there to take advantage of them! Don’t forget to go through Rakuten because you can get 15% cash back. If you aren’t signed up yet, you can do it through my link and we each get $50 cash back!
For socks, I have been using Hylaea no show running socks. They are comfortable and I rarely get blisters with them. These are 20% off right now.
For winter, I use Under Armour winter hats and TrailHeads running gloves. These are awesome as they can be gloves or mittens.
Belts/Hydration
For carrying my phone and anything else I need on shorter runs, I use SPIbelt. These are awesome and I have worn them all the time for about 15 years. They have a 25% off site wide deal for Black Friday so check them out!
For longer runs, I started using the Raide LF 2 liter running belt. This is an unusual one in that you step into it instead of just putting it on your waist. This makes sure it stays more snug on you. It comes with a 600ml flask for the back pocket. I love this for runs from 13 miles to 20 miles! It is on sale directly from them.
But, when I am running a 100 miler or long, solo runs over 20 miles, I go with my Salmon Adv Skin 12. It comes with two 500ml flasks and it worked great for my last 100 miler. I was out there with it for over 60 hours and it carried several pounds of mandatory gear and it never felt heavy. In fact, I actually forgot it was on me often!
Accessories
When I run with a hat, I use my NNormal running cap. It is lightweight and handles sweat very well.
When I am running at night or in 100 milers, my absolute go-to running light is the Fenix HM65R-T2. This thing is a beast! It lasts easily all night with plenty of light, even on the lowest setting. It isn’t heavy and charges via USB-C with a rechargeable battery. You can definitely find cheaper but I have tried many and often the cheaper lights bounce around on the head or slide around or die too quickly. If you want a light that will last two full nights, this is the one! They have a sal going on right now with 20% off site wide.
For chafing concerns, I recently started using Salty Britches. It’s a funny name but it works great! I didn’t get a single blister on any part of my body where I put it during my last 100 miler (but I forgot to put it on part of my feet when I got one foot taped up so that area got blisters!).
For fueling, I am a big Bare Performance Nutrition fan. I use their Go Gels for all my long runs as well as their Go Bars for ultra marathons. I also fill my water flasks with their Electrolyte powder.
For sunglasses, I have used Oakley Flak Jacket 2.0 for years – when I wear them. I don’t wear them for most runs because it is not as sunny here as it was in Greece so I like to take all the sun I can!
Bags
Lastly, there are two new things I have added to my gear closet. One is because I have started run commuting. It is an 11 mile run from my house to my work. I don’t do it everyday but normally at least twice a week. The concern is always having to bring clothes to leave there ahead of time – but not anymore! This isn’t on sale but if you want something you can pack your clothes and shoes and even a laptop into for when you get to where you are going, the Commute Pack from Zip Running is what you need! It works fantastically well, keeping all the gear bounce-free and distributing the weight enough that it feels pretty light. And it has flask pockets in the front to carry your water.
And for the races where you can do drop bags, check out Silo. They have 20% off for Black Friday with BF2025. This bag is awesome for not just a drop bag but works for the gym as well.
Bottom Line
Yeah, that’s a ton of gear! But, I have narrowed down everything I use to what I have found works best (for me) over the thousands of miles I run each year. Hopefully, you may find something that works for you as well!
