Running

More than a million people of nearly all ages lace up their trainers and hit the pavement in a marathon every year. And while running has a suite of health benefits, a long-distance race may not be such good news for the brain in the weeks that follow.

Hoka completely redefines urban-to-mountain footwear with the Speed Loafer – business up top, wilderness expedition down below. The new business casual slip-on marries classic leather with one of the company's most aggressive, trail-biting outsoles.

Kahtoola is preparing to launch its most portable MICROspikes traction aid to date, one so light it calls it the Ghost. It replaces stiff chains with a collapsible TPU web that disappears away in your pack until it's needed for a slick traverse.

Once you've ridden a bicycle with a bell, shouting out warnings to pedestrians seems very loudmouthed and ineffective. Well, the Runbell 3.0 gives runners a finger-worn bell, so they don't have to yell at people either.

Although treadmills do let you vary your running speed, you have to reach down and hit the controls in order to do so. The Kickr Run offers a more natural alternative, in that it automatically adjusts its belt speed to match your running speed.

The fastest any human has ever run on record was Usain Bolt. He was clocked at a ridiculously quick 27.79 mph (44.72 km/h) when he ran a 9.58-second 100-meter dash. Two-legged robots can run even faster, and it looks really weird.

If you want to run faster, it definitely helps if you know what it feels like to run faster. The Airshield was designed with that fact in mind, as it allows runners to train without experiencing any air resistance.

For the first time, scientists have discovered that hippos get significant airtime when they're at full-trot, able to lift their huge barrel-shaped girth off the ground for around 15% of their stride. It's totally unique for mammals their size.

Many runners don't like the way hydration packs bounce with every step, nor do they like holding onto water bottles. Vessel Athletics' Hydroshirt offers what might be a better alternative, in that it incorporates its own snugged-down water bladder.

One of the most outlandish Kickstarters of 2023 is still working to empower superhuman outdoor adventurers. The Hypershell Omega exoskeleton was a $1 million Kickstarter success last year, and Hypershell is preparing to show its latest at CES 2024.

While we've seen a number of quadruped "robotic dogs" lately, they all require control motors to maintain their running gait. An experimental new one, however, keeps running on its own once it's been set in motion.

Smart shades have not had the best run (sorry, not sorry, Google Glass), but there have been aspects of the tech that have shown potential when the focus has been on functionality over fad. It's what the creators of Minimis Glass have made a priority.