If I was asked “What gear is essential to start running?”, the answer is simple. Clothes that are comfortable and don’t chafe, and a solid pair of running shoes that help your body and form stay consistently correct.
If you ask me, “What gear makes running more bearable?”, then that’s still pretty simple. Sweat wicking clothes that keep you cool for as long as possible, earbuds, and a hat or sweatband of some sort.
“What about gear that’s completely unnecessary but nice to have?”, that list is practically endless. Sunglasses, a collapsible water bottle, really nice running shoes, etc. Another perfect example is Hyper-Lite Flipmits.
Completely unnecessary, but nice to have.
Day 5
Let’s be honest, we can all survive a run without Flipmits or gloves in 50-60+ °F weather. On an average summer day, by the end of your first mile or two, your body is warmed up and your hands are fine.
Which is why on day 5 with the Hyper-Lites, I didn’t wear them. The temperature the day before was over 60° and within the first 5 minutes I was rolling them up my wrists because it was too warm. By the end of the run, they were in my pockets.
Fast forward a week though, when the temperature dropped to the low 50s, I was wearing them again. Would I be fine without them? Yes?
Did I want to go without them? No.
The Hyper-Lite Flipmits aren’t an “essential”, they’re a “nice-to-have.”
3 Months Later
Without a doubt the sportier material of these is better than the Heavy-Weight ones. Especially for the summer!
The Hyper-Lites breathe so much more with the thin, stretchy fabric. And they’re noticeably lighter. Although, I would recommend playing it safe and sizing up compared to their size guide.
It will vary person-to-person, but the recommended size is a little small for me in general.
I went a size up last time with the Heavy-Weight Flipmits. However, I should’ve gone up two sizes with the Hyper-Lites because the threads on these have been ripping for the last few weeks.
By the end of each run my hands are a little sweaty, making it hard to slide them off. Almost every time I do I hear one or two threads snap.
Let’s just say they’re “super” breathable now.
The Recap
Products like the Hyper-Lites are genuinely nice to have. You might not use them all the time, but when you do, it’s a little easier to start your run.
You may feel a little princess-like. (I definitely do.) But it’s hard to complain when your hands aren’t freezing mid-run.