I’ve put together a Denny’s-style Grand Slam of running gear this week. We’ve got two race-day trail running super shoes, two daily trainers for road runners, and two hiking shoes that will do the distance. Still hungry for more? Of course you are.
That’s why you’ll also find some extra-cool accessories to keep you moving. Those include new tech like Baseus open-ear headphones and Garmin’s first screen-free smart band, as well as tees, anoraks, and even an option to build your own running belt (including sweet designs).
Find all that in this week’s special edition of Emerging Gear.
Merrell MTL SpeedARC Peak
Merrell has come a long way since its heyday as a hiking boot brand. Trail runners, in case you didn’t know, have become the preference for many an outdoorsy hiker (myself included). And while Merrell has already released many popular trail running shoes, the brand has spent the last 5 years on a mission to “build the fastest trail racing shoe on the market.”
The result is the race-day MTL SpeedARC Peak. Merrell claims it went through 154 prototypes and 13,000 miles of testing for this pricey super shoe ($290). It sports the three-layer SpeedARC midsole, composed of a top layer of PEBA-based racing foam, FloatPro cushioning technology on the bottom, and a lightweight carbon fiber FlexPlate between them. The shoes also have a Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole and a Lightweight Maytryx Upper.
MTL SpeedARC Peak launches as part of Merrell’s 45th Anniversary collection, and comes in bright colors inspired by the ’80s — Merrell’s founding decade.
ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2
For yet another race-day trail running super shoe, we have the ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2. Trail runner Tom Evans wore a prototype of these during his first title win at the 2025 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), and now it’s coming to shelves near you.
The MetaFuji Trail 2 has a 5mm heel drop and combines FF LEAP cushioning with FF BLAST PLUS cushioning for what ASICS calls “explosive energy return at toe-off.” It has a full-length, trail-specific carbon plate, streamlined ankle collar, and integrated lace pocket. Another pricey super-shoe aimed at elite runners, it costs $280. The shoe becomes available on August 1, but you can place your order now on the ASICS website.
HOKA Clifton Pro
Don’t worry, road runners: We’ve got some cool releases for you, too.
HOKA has been steadily gaining loyalists for years now, for both roads and trails. This summer, the brand kicked off its Pro line, the first release of which is the Clifton Pro. An upgraded remake of HOKA’s popular trainer, the new Clifton has a ProGlide+ midsole, more aggressive rocker profile, and “precision-tuned geometry,” the brand said.
At $165, the Clifton Pro costs $10 more than the Clifton 11 and is available for both men and women. The Pro isn’t a replacement, however: “It’s an expansion that will give competitive runners a more dynamic, pace-oriented tool,” HOKA said in a release.
January Scignal
January is a new kid on the block. This emerging shoe brand for road runners, founded by Wei-En Chang, aims to challenge the status quo of modern footwear. Namely, that superior cushioning requires excessive stack height and bulk. That would certainly run against the ethos of thick-stack brands like HOKA.
With its first release, the Scignal, January’s founder said he’s designed the “first shoe in the industry to feature a single-piece dual-density midsole.” It’s plush at the heel and firmer toward the front of the foot. Powered by KineXion, the brand’s proprietary supercritical, aerospace-grade TPEE foam, Scignal delivers “soft landings, fast rebound, and long-lasting performance,” the brand said in a release.
They also look pretty spiffy, if you ask me. You can preorder a pair of Scignals now for $195. They ship out in August.
Nortiv 8 Hiking Shoes
You don’t have to empty your wallet to get a pair of shoes that get you where you need to go. Nortiv 8, a U.S.-based brand owned by a Chinese parent company, sells affordable hiking sneakers and hiking boots that offer many of the same features as pricier brands. Nortiv 8 received a “Hiking Shoe Product of the Year” award at the 2026 Outdoor Innovation Awards, alongside other winners from well-known brands like Marmot, Big Agnes, and Rab.
Its newest collection, the DualStride Armadillo FieldLite, includes a pair of ankle-height “hiking sneakers” and a taller pair of more traditional hiking boots. Both options are available for men and women. The models are designed to accommodate wider feet and are waterproof. Both styles also have what Nortiv 8 calls “4-in-1 Rebound Technology,” which includes two layers of the DualStride dual-density EVA midsole, an EVA Strobel insole, and a supercritical foam insole.
Best of all, the collection is on sale on Amazon right now. The sneakers cost just $63, while the boots are even cheaper at $60.
Danner Radical 451
With 94 years of history, the Portland, Oregon–based brand Danner knows a thing or two about solid boots. Its latest release, the Radical 451, combines a classic silhouette with full-grain leather, waterproof protection, a Danner Basalt Outsole, and enlarged lugs for extra traction.
Danner calls it a “crossover boot” that will keep your feet cozy during any “outdoor application, from weekend hikes to long days in the field.” The Radical 451 also has an abrasion-resistant, PU-coated cap and heel for durability against thick brush and rugged terrain. Moreover, the Terra Force Trail platform offers lightweight cushioning with an exposed TPU arch, so those in need of arch support may find these to be extra helpful.
This boot is also “recraftable,” meaning Danner’s team will resole and refurbish the boots through the brand’s recrafting program. They cost $200.
Garmin CIRQA Smart Band
Screen fatigue has become very real these days — but that doesn’t mean athletes want to stop tracking their health and performance. That’s why more brands are jumping on the bandwagon for screen-less wearables after Whoop proved the concept’s reliability.
So it’s not too surprising that Garmin has now released a screen-free smart band of its own. Garmin’s CIRQA Smart Band tracks fitness and wellness — and doesn’t even require a subscription to use. With up to 10 days of battery life, the band offers around-the-clock health monitoring and tracking for 80+ activities.
It works with the Garmin Connect App, where users can view health metrics, sleep insights, activities, and training data collected by the wearable’s sensor. The CIRQA Smart Band is available for $200, along with an optional arm band accessory for $60.
Baseus Clip-On Earbuds
Earbuds have become almost as ubiquitous among runners as high-stack shoes. But blasting music while sharing the road with vehicles is risky. That’s why earbuds designed to leave room for external noise have become more popular. And while bone-conduction earbuds work decently well, I’m already much keener on the Baseus Bowie MC2 Open-Ear Earbuds I started testing this week.
The clip design sounds better to me than the bone-conduction headphones I’ve tried, while making it even easier to hear when there’s a car coming up behind me. With the case, they offer 55 hours of battery life. They also sport IP67 water and dust resistance. Best of all, they’re currently on sale on Amazon for just $50.
Build Your Own Running Belt
SPIBelt, a small brand based in Austin, Texas, makes some of the best running belts around, with lots of design options and even more colors. (I’m partial to the Starry Night Sky–themed belt.)
For the brand’s 20th anniversary, SPIbelt just launched SPIbelt by You, a new program that lets you build your own SPIbelt. You can mix and match the pocket, belt, and zipper colors to “create something that’s uniquely yours,” the brand said. They’re all handmade in Austin, Texas.
Raide RaceTech Tee
Colorado-based Raide Research makes some of the best running apparel around, and their latest in the TrailTech System offers the brand’s “lightest and most packable additions to date”: the RaceTech tee and UL Shell Anorak.
The RaceTech Tee ($150) is a featherweight, packable tee made from 63gsm, microdot air fabric. “It’s engineered for hard efforts in hot conditions,” Raide said. There’s also the UL Shell Anorak ($350), which Raide calls “the lightest 3-layer fully waterproof shell on the market.” At just 128g in size, it packs down small.
Both the tee and anorak officially go out in August, but are available for preorder now on the Raide website.
