Year’s Best Gear

6. Drymax Trail Running Socks — As the name says, Drymax socks are made to keep your feet dry, be it from sweat or water seeping in during a trail run. A proprietary fabric mix moves moisture away from the skin, preventing blisters. I wore a pair for two days while backpacking in Colorado. My shoes were wet on and off, but the Drymax Trail Running crew sock kept my feet happy. Dense padding provided comfort. Tight cuffs on the ankles kept out sand and debris. And the company’s special “dry” fabric helped to pull moisture off of my skin. $12, www.drymaxsports.com

7. Castelli Sottile Cycling Jacket — It may feel like reinforced plastic sheeting. But the lithe Sottile Jacket, which weighed a mere 3.3 ounces on my scale, offers a significant layer of protection against the elements. Made for cycling, the $80 wisp of a jacket is listed as “transparent” in color on the company’s website. The see-through polyester material, which is wind- and water-resistant, packs small enough to stuff inside a pocket. Full Gear Junkie review: https://gearjunkie.com/castelli-sottile-jacket

8. Leki Carbonlite AERGON Antishock Poles — Field tested on a climbing trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains as well as a multi-day adventure race, the Carbonlite AERGON poles survived miles of abuse. They telescope from 26 to 53 inches in length. They weigh a feathery 7 ounces per pole. A slight spring feature provides cushioning, and the Carbonlite’s handle — which has a rounded top that sits nicely in the hand — offers a palm-grip option for knee-jarring downhill hikes. Caveat: The $199 price tag is about as expensive as trekking poles come. Full Gear Junkie review: https://gearjunkie.com/mountaineering-gear-test-on-alta-peak

9. GoLite DriMove BL-2 Longsleeve Zip — As a category, base-layer shirts have seen serious innovation in recent years. The $55 GoLite DriMove top includes a heavy, textured weave and a face fabric that is embedded, improbably, with volcanic minerals. In my tests, the Longsleeve Zip worked alone as a top for hiking and running on cool days, breathing well for hours at a time outside. The natural lava rock ingredient — ground to a fine dust and added as a fabric treatment — protects from UV sunrays and adds antibacterial odor control. Full Gear Junkie review: https://gearjunkie.com/base-layers-long-underwear

10. Saucony ViZi-PRO Collection — The obscene-orange color of Saucony’s ViZi-PRO Collection has one purpose in life: To make you as visible as possible to drivers when running near roads. The line of apparel, including tops, jackets, gloves, and hats, is made with “the brightest, most reflective fabric on the market,” the company cites. I found it to be so bright it almost hurt to look at. Bonus: Extra visibility touches include reflective fabric swaths and LED “holsters” on sleeves that encase included mini lights that blink bright white as you run. ViZi-PRO Collection products cost $15 to $90. Full Gear Junkie review: https://gearjunkie.com/saucony-vizi-pro-running-apparel

—Stephen Regenold is editor and founder of www.gearjunkie.com.