Gear we Love: 7 Fall Picks for Women’s Running

October 21st, 2015 • BY Erinn Morgan

[This Gear we Love feature is part of our monthly series featuring the best season- and activity-specific gear picks from the highly inspiring female athlete ambassadors from Outdoor Research. They are runners, climbers, skiers, mountaineers, and more—all breaking down barriers and pushing the edge.]

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Paige Patillo lives in a cabin at the base of Washington’s Manastash Ridge, where she’s poised the gateway to the some spectacular and challenging terrain. Her running repertoire includes trail marathons and ultras plus an abundance of backcountry running.

Here, this Outdoor Research ambassador shares her top 7 women’s running gear picks for the fall season—plus a few intriguing personal details.

1. Essence Zip Top ($69): Breathable, long-sleeve goodness. A solid base layer or stand-alone piece, this top is made with merino wool plus treated with FreshGuard® for minimal smell factor.

2. Helium Hybrid Jacket ($62.50): Makes for a wonderful outer shell  on chilly morning/fall runs. Waterproof on the shoulders and hood. I don’t typically like hoods on running jackets but the design on this one is spot on, with no irritating flaps or zippers to hinder your form on the trail.

3. Echo Hoody ($29.50): This time of year makes for some awkward layering dilemmas as the temperatures can change so dramatically throughout the day. This hoody is my solution when the forecast is clear but I’m heading out before the sun has time to warm things up. Super easy to stash in any hydration/running pack for when things warm up.

4. Ignitor Tee ($24.50): Here in the PNW we get some great t-shirt running weather clear through October. This is an awesome tee that offers a female-specific contour without hugging you so close you feel restricted on more technical running routes that require us runners to use those things called arms. Bonus that it has a pocket for stashing fuel etc. when you ditch your pack on the trail and finish your run with a high-effort scramble.

5. Melody Beanie ($28): Another great option for keeping warm on early or late in the day adventures now that the temperatures are starting to get a little chilly again up in the high terrain. Radiant fleece keeps the sweat at bay.

6. Women’s Flyway Zip Hoody ($79): Relaxed fit, easy to layer over or under, and aesthetically on point, achieving a casual appearance in a technical/performance package for high exertion adventures.  

7. Advocate Cap ($25): Super-cute cap to hide my post-venture hair.

WM: Best thing about fall?

Paige: My favorite thing about fall is how dramatic the days are. You wake up and the air has that bite again, but by the time the sun peaks mid-day you are stripping off layers and diving into an alpine lake to cool off. When you get home it’s cold enough to put your hooded sweatshirt back on and feast on some cozy cups of chili.

WM: Favorite time of day to run?

Paige: First thing in the morning and right at sunset. Running before people wake up is honestly the best. I feel like I am witnessing the morning rituals of all the forest creatures before they go into hiding from us darn humans. Things are so quiet but nature is just buzzing like crazy at the same time.

WM: Fav run recovery dish you’re cooking up right now?

Paige: I am all about the quinoa-lentil combo lately. You get the almost the entire profile of amino acids (all that good protein stuff) and your carb fix. Make a simple veggie curry to layer on top of it and you are golden. This time of year my go-to curry ingredients include Kabocha squash and  zucchini

WM: Fav non-running, non-backpacking outdoor activity?

Paige: Gardening

WM: What’s playing in your car/iPod right now? (You always have the best music picks!)

Paige: I’m so glad you like my picks! Dustin Tebutt’s latest album “The Breach.” I am moving to Australia in October for 5 months so I’m exploring the Aussie music scene and he is a gem!