Vuori has brought a technical update to its Kore Short with the HardKore version this late winter. With a more breathable liner and a more durable ripstop fabric, the HardKore Short has handled some of my intense gym sessions and threshold runs already. During these, the liner has felt super airy and not holding onto the heat generated. I’m interested to see how these continue to hold up and perform as the weather warms.
Read More: Best Workout Shorts
Anytime Arc’teryx provides an update of a flagship product, you know it’s done so for a purpose. With the Beta SV Jacket, Arc’teryx has made its most technical Beta yet. Made for severe mountain conditions (hence the SV moniker), this shell is going to handle anything Mother Nature can throw at it thanks to a three-layer 100D Gore-Tex Pro ePE fabric (one of Gore-Tex’s most advanced, PFAS-free fabrics).
The beefed-up big brother of one of the best received runners of the last few years adds new materials and features without reinventing the wheel. The upper is now water resistant and there are reinforced panels around the toebox, while the Continental rubber outsole is outfitted with small lugs for better grip.
As Williams says of the new version of the Evo, “These aren’t quite trail ready, but on bad weather days or side streets—like when I ran four miles just after a rainstorm dodging on and off the sidewalks—the hardy new additions bring the bouncy, beloved Evo SL ride to more surfaces.”
The new AmazFit T Rex Ultra 2 is like a super computer on your wrist, that’s also durable enough for any environment you could use it in (including -30° C air temperature and 45 meters underwater). It boasts over 180 different sport modes and claims 30 days of battery life, something we’re looking forward to determining ourselves this spring.
Read More: Best Fitness Trackers
Releasing March 1, Hoka took one of its most technical trail running shoes in the Mafate and made a hiking boot version of it. Extremely plush with a dual-density midsole and lightweight (just 13.10 oz), it’s made to hike fast. The upper accompanies this by being made from a breathable, hydrophobic Matryx mesh for ultimate breathability.
Read More: Best Hiking Boots
The plate carrier weighted vests from 5.11 have been in our guides and Men’s Health Fitness Awards multiple times because of their durability and practical design.
As fitness commerce editor Charles Thorp, NASM says, “This latest design from the purpose-driven brand favored by first responders offers maximum mobility for everything from rope climbs to deep squats.”
Read More: Best Weighted Vests for Men
Uplift’s standing desks are some of the best solutions for WFH setups. And the brand now has an under-desk option for those looking to get some steps in while talking calls and meetings at the stand-up workspace. It offers a 7% incline capability and just 4 mph speed, so you won’t be doing anything more than walking on it. But that’s exactly what under-desk treadmills are for.
Yeti is getting into the backpacking realm with the new Skala Hiking Pack. Utilizing its acquisition of Mystery Ranch a couple years ago, the Skala utilizes the infamous Y-zipper (called Rip Zip) for super easy access. I got to use the pack in Jackson Hole this past fall and found it to be comfortable and on-par with several industry-leaders you’d expect. Stay tuned for our full review of the Skala on the site soon.
Read More: Best Hiking Backpacks
Sony has always offered stellar sound quality and crystal clear calling, and both those high standards are met with the new WF-1000XM6 earbuds. Finding the right fit can be a little tricky, but once you do these are certainly a top-end offering for those in need of noise-cancelling earbuds.
Read More: Best Workout Earbuds
We’re deep in the NBA season and have about a month-and-a-half left in the regular season. So these new Homage x Starter NBA Jackets are gearing us up for our favorite teams’ playoff pushes (the Knicks version is currently sold out… ), harkening back to the ’90s when these were the coolest things you could wear.
The cooler brand Oyster made waves years ago by developing a hard cooler with a thinner wall that still performed just as good at keeping things cold as other category leaders. But now the brand has developed an integrated temperature monitoring system, which gives users that real-time measurement of the internal temperature. While it’s not something on the level of a Dometic (an electrically-cooled cooler), it does add an extra bit of prowess by knowing how long you can keep things at certain temps.
Last year, Clarks debuted its first-ever performance shoe in the Pace. This spring its got a lighter, more breathable version for the warmer weather ahead in the Pace Rise. It still has that really comfy S-curve heel I dug on the first iteration, but now adds a mesh upper and an elastic lace toggle system for ultimate spring city strolls.
Read More: Best Walking Shoes for Men
2026 is the year of the open earbud, and we’re here for it. There’s not much of a better option for workouts, and JBL’s new Endurance Zone offering has already been a comfy and effective addition I’ve been utilizing. Sound quality is great, the ear hook is non-intrusive, and the haptics are pretty simple. I have had a few issues here and there with one of them swinging off during a run if the speaker isn’t fully locked in, but that could also just be user error.
Takeya’s water bottles have been go-to options for the gym for lots of MH editors over the years. The newest 22 ounce Sport keeps water plenty cold and has a spout that’s very intuitive for in-between-set sips (without making a leaky mess to boot).
Read More: Best Water Bottles
This highly anticipated air bike from REP Fitness features a patent-pending Variable Pitch Resistance that lets you adjust resistance by adjusting the fan blade angle. This machine brings the durability, versatility, and quality that we expect from one of the more trusted equipment brands.
As Thorp says, “Anyone with experience with air bikes knows that they are one of the best tests of cardio and a great way to improve VO2 max.”
Read More: Best Exercise Bikes
Red light therapy can have skin and hair benefits (to a degree), and the technology is getting included in all sorts of products lately. The newest is into a shower head filter from Higherdose. While we’ve yet to test it out ourselves, filtered shower heads can work wonders for better shower quality. And combine that with some red light therapy at the same time, and this might be the next big home wellness trend.
There is a big push at the moment from outdoor brands to start using natural fibers while moving away from the plastic-derived ones that can lead to microplastics. This wool-insulated, packable hoodie from Ibex is right in line with that. It still provides great insulation, while also offering a shell fabric that’s a PFC-free DWR nylon for weather-resistance.
The Brooklinen Super Plush line gets a revamp for even more softness and fast-drying thanks to a new fiber construction method and a lower GSM. The result is still an incredibly fluffy robe (or towel) that is the perfect after-shower companion.
Peak Design’s camera straps are some of the most useful and approachable ones out there. So it makes sense the brand has now made some crossbody straps for your smartphone. While not for every situation, these can make sense when you’re really trying to pare things down and might also be shooting photos.
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear and tech. Baseball, surfing, and camping occupied most of his time growing up. He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He is also a Certified Beer Server and previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
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