Shuffling Along . . . . .

Hilly Monoskin Socks

I’ve worn Hilly socks for about 6 years now on every one of my ultra runs, ranging from shorter 30 miler’s up to 450 miles. I mainly wear the Monoskin in black as I do lots of off-road running on the trails around my home & in the Lake District. I don’t usually wear white as it gets very muddy at times & white is just to impractical for me. I’ve tried other socks over the past 10 years since I started ultra running but some wear out in a single run. If you’re paying £10 per pair they need to last at least 12 months which the Hilly socks do. I’ve even got a few pairs with over 1,000 off-road miles in than & no holes. To me socks are one of the most important parts of my kit. I need to be able to rely on them not to give me blisters or hole during a race. They also need to dry fast during off-road runs as having wet feet for too long can play havoc with your feet. 

What’s good?

last a long time

dry fast

no blisters

very comfy

What’s bad?

can’t think of anything, maybe could be a little cheaper?

What’s ugly? 

nothing!

Verdict?

5/5 Recommended

Loads of styles & colours

They also do a very nice T-shirt

Buff® Headwear

If I had to pick one piece of kit which I always take on a run or even when out walking it’s a Buff. They come in loads of different types & lots of colours. My favourites are the Headband Buff to keep the sweat out of my eyes & the Reflective Buff for my night runs. I also use the Visor Buff which is great for keeping the sun out of my eyes & fits in a pocket when not needed, much better than a cap.

On longer events I use a carabiner attached to my backpack & loop one through it to dry while I wear the other one. A good way to keep my head from getting sun burned if I’m going to be out all day. They can also be washed and dried in a dryer, I’m not sure if you’re supposed to dry them in the machine but I’ve been machine drying mine for a couple of years and they still look new.

What’s good?

versatile

dry fast

look good

smaller than a cap

light weight

What’s bad?

price

What’s ugly? 

nothing!

Verdict?

5/5 Recommended