Lions into Lambs

I'm an active woman in fairly good shape. That said, I've never really been jazzed about sporting running tights in public. Sure, they make a lot of sense. They're typically warm and stretchy…perfect for early morning spring runs. But there are issues. They usually give me muffin top (come on, you know what I'm talking about), make my butt look huge, and ride up in all of the wrong places (camel toe, anyone?).

So you can imagine my hesitation when I tried Craft's Active Run Tights ($65) for a mid-day January trail run. But I was pleasantly surprised. I can't say that they made my butt look any smaller, but in the other categories—fit and function—they really excelled. The knitted polyester fabric felt like butter, a minimal amount of Lycra ensures they pull on and off without much fuss, and the wide waistband doesn't squeeze into my tummy. Plus, they really stay put.

Like most things in life that turn out to be well-planned, Craft's approach to dressing is three-tiered. Layer 1 ventilates, Layer 2 insulates, and Layer 3 protects. Each garment displays its designation right on the tag, just so there's no confusion. The Active Run Tights are a Layer 3, so they protect your legs from wind, cold, and water. Throw in the back key pocket, subtle draw cord at the waist, and reflective details for safety, and you've got yourself a great pair of running tights that almost anyone would feel comfortable in.
–KC

With spring, frost-covered mornings give way to pioneering tufts of green, and the primary obstacles on the pavement shift from black ice to a pernicious dob of chewing gum. So embrace the shift of the seasons by donning a pair of Karhu's new running shoes, the most natural-feeling runners currently on the market. The brand is well known in its home country of Finland (a fame first solidified by the javelin throwers in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics), and Karhu's first foray in to the States has been met with near-universal praise (including the coveted Debut of the Year award from Runner's World). The shoes employ its patented "fulcrum" technology, which is a fancy way of saying that the sole's design—including its signature horseshoe-shaped heel—uses the force of your foot's impact to propel you forward. The new models are broken into four groups (Strong, Fast, Stable, and Fluid), but most weekenders will likely gravitate toward the Strong ($140), which offers a bit more support via a carbon plate for torsional stability and breathable mesh uppers that you'll appreciate as spring turns to summer.
–NB