Gear index
Every product referenced across the guides, grouped by sport. Links are affiliate links, and each entry shows when its details were last checked.
Trail Running
Trail shoes
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoka SpeedgoatHoka | Technical, rocky terrain and long days on tired legs | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Salomon Sense RideSalomon | One shoe for mixed terrain when you only want to own one | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Brooks CascadiaBrooks | Runners who want stability and a rock plate for all-day efforts | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Altra Lone PeakAltra | Wide feet and runners who want a zero-drop platform | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Saucony PeregrineSaucony | Shorter, faster trail runs and soft or muddy ground | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Nike Pegasus TrailNike | Door-to-trail runs that start and end on pavement | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Vests
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salomon ADV Skin 12Salomon | 50K to 100 mile races with a mandatory kit list | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Nathan Pinnacle 12Nathan | Long training days when you want capacity without the flagship price | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Salomon Active Skin 4Salomon | Runs of one to three hours with one aid stop or none | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Ultimate Direction Race VestUltimate Direction | Racers who want a minimal cut and front-loaded storage | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Hydration
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HydraPak SoftFlask 500 mlHydraPak | Replacing the flasks that came with your vest | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Headlamps
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petzl Swift RLPetzl | Fast night running on technical ground | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Black Diamond SprinterBlack Diamond | Running headlamp duty where a rear red light matters | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Nitecore NU25 ULNitecore | A backup lamp for the mandatory kit, or short dawn runs | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Petzl Actik CorePetzl | A first proper headlamp that also handles camp duty | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Poles
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Diamond Distance Carbon ZBlack Diamond | Mountain races with serious vertical gain | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Accessories
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-cut trail gaitersVarious | Any trail with loose scree, sand or pine needles | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Merino trail running socksVarious | Wet-foot days and anything over two hours | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Pickleball
Paddles
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOOLA Ben Johns HyperionJOOLA | Aggressive players who drive and put balls away | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| JOOLA PerseusJOOLA | Players who want spin and control without giving up pace | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Selkirk Vanguard Power AirSelkirk | Players who want reach and a large hitting area at speed | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Selkirk SLK EvoSelkirk | A first real paddle to replace whatever came in the starter set | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Paddletek Tempest WavePaddletek | Dinking, resets and soft-game players | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| adidas Adipower Pickleball Paddleadidas | Players who want a known brand at a mid-market price | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Court shoes
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Adizero Ubersonicadidas | Fast, light lateral movement on hard courts | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| ASICS Gel-RenmaASICS | Players who want a pickleball specific shoe with cushioning | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Skechers Viper CourtSkechers | Comfort-first players and a first proper court shoe | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Apparel
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas court appareladidas | Hot outdoor sessions where cotton stops working | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| JOOLA pickleball bagJOOLA | Carrying two or more paddles, balls, shoes and a change of shirt | Mid-range | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Balls and accessories
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin X-40 outdoor ballsFranklin | Outdoor play, and the ball used at many tournaments | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Pickleball overgripsVarious | Fixing grip size and grip slip for a few pounds | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Protective court eyewearVarious | Anyone playing at the kitchen line, which is everyone | Budget | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
Cycling
Helmets
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giro road helmetGiro | A first proper road helmet with rotational protection | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Bell trail helmetBell | Trail and gravel riding where you want more rear coverage | Premium | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Glasses and gloves
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling glassesVarious | Every ride, in every weather, all year | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Cycling glovesVarious | Palm protection in a fall, and hand comfort on long rides | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Cycling shoes
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano SPD mountain shoesShimano | First clipless shoes, gravel, commuting and anything you walk in | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Three-bolt road shoesVarious | Road riders chasing efficiency on long days | Premium | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Pedals
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano SPD pedalsShimano | The default first clipless pedal | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Pinned flat pedalsVarious | Technical riding, beginners, commuting and anyone who wants to dab | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Bikes
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance road bikeTrek Domane and similar | Long road rides where comfort over hours matters more than racing | Flagship | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Gravel bikeTrek Checkpoint and similar | One bike that has to do road, trail and everything between | Flagship | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Hardtail mountain bikeTrek Marlin and similar | A first mountain bike, and trails that are rough rather than brutal | Mid-range | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Full suspension mountain bikeTrek Fuel EX and similar | Technical descending and long days on genuinely rough trails | Flagship | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Hybrid or fitness bikeTrek FX and similar | Commuting, errands and fitness riding on paths and roads | Mid-range | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Electric commuter bikeVarious | Hilly commutes, longer distances, or arriving without needing a shower | Flagship | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
Lights and locks
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front and rear light setVarious | Every ride, including daylight | Budget | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| D-lock or folding lockVarious | Anywhere the bike is left out of sight | Mid-range | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
Tools and spares
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tube, levers and mini pumpVarious | Carrying on every ride, without exception | Budget | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Floor pump with a gaugeVarious | Home, weekly, before things go wrong | Budget | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
Table Tennis
Bats and blades
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOOLA pre-assembled batJOOLA | A first real bat to replace a hardware-store paddle | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| JOOLA all-round bladeJOOLA | A first custom build, where you choose the rubbers separately | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Rubbers
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverted attacking rubberVarious | The standard choice on both sides for most players | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Short pips rubberVarious | Close-to-the-table hitters and blockers | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Tables
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOOLA indoor tableJOOLA | Home or club indoor play with a serious bounce | Premium | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Outdoor table tennis tableVarious | Garden and patio tables that live outside | Premium | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Balls and accessories
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three star plastic ballsVarious | Matches, and any practice you want to translate to matches | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Soccer
Cleats
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas firm ground cleatsadidas | Natural grass in normal conditions, which is most games | Premium | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Soft ground cleatsVarious | Wet, muddy, churned-up winter pitches | Premium | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Turf shoes (TF)Various | Older artificial turf, training and small-sided games | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Indoor court shoes (IN)Various | Futsal and indoor hard courts | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Shin guards and balls
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shin guardsVarious | Every player, every match, mandatory in almost every league | Budget | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
| Match soccer ballVarious | Matches and any training you want to carry into matches | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Goalkeeping
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper glovesVarious | Keepers at any level, matched to the surface you play on | Mid-range | 2026-09-08 | Check price |
Watches and Wearables
GPS watches
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 265Garmin | Runners who want training analysis without fenix money | Flagship | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Coros Pace ProCoros | Long battery life on a smaller budget | Premium | 2026-09-07 | Check price |
| Garmin FenixGarmin | Multi-day efforts and mountain navigation where the watch must not die | Flagship | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Garmin InstinctGarmin | Long battery and toughness without paying for mapping | Mid-range | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Apple Watch UltraApple | People who want one watch for daily life, notifications and training | Flagship | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Entry level GPS running watchGarmin Forerunner, Coros Pace and similar | A first GPS watch, and most runners who are honest about their needs | Budget | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
Straps and trackers
| Product | Best for | Price band | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest strap heart rate monitorVarious | Interval training, and anyone whose wrist readings look wrong | Budget | 2026-09-09 | Check price |
| Fitness and sleep tracking bandVarious | Sleep and daily activity, without wearing a large watch to bed | Budget | 2026-09-09 | Check price |