Accessories

The bits and pieces that don't fit neatly into the other categories but can make or break a run. Headlamps for dark winter mornings. Running packs for long days in the hills. Trekking poles for ultras. Recovery tools for the morning after.

None of it's glamorous, all of it matters. We test accessories the same way we test everything else — by actually using them until they either prove themselves or fall apart.

Headlamp lumens are meaningless without runtime. A running pack that fits perfectly empty can chafe badly loaded. Poles need to fold fast when the terrain flattens out and you want them stowed. These are the details that don't show up in spec sheets but show up immediately on the hill.

Coverage is split across the team depending on what the accessory is for. If it involves navigation or tech, Dan. If it involves fell or trail use, Rob. If it involves women's fit or recovery, Kat.