Running Shoes - Training
We've tested more than 30 pairs of trainers across a dozen different brands to find the ones that work best for Inertia Multi Sport athletes. After much deliberation with the team and thousands of combined hours running - we unanimously agree that the Asics Novablast 3 is the best training shoe we've encountered. It's built to last the long miles you require of a trainer without sacrificing comfort, control, or flow in your stride.
Running Shoes - Racing
Let's get something out in the open right away - racing shoes are not needed for training - trainers are expensive enough. If you're on a tight budget or you are not competitive runner, skip this part, seriously - trainers are good enough. However, if you want to shave time off your run at any distance and you are competitive, this section is important to you. These shoes are expensive, so take advantage of our research, but also drop into a local shop and try some different pairs on or even get a professional fitting. Inertia Multi Sport has gone through the ringer with shoes and spent thousands of dollars trying out various different carbon plated runners just to bring you our top pick - The Saucony Endorphin Elite - coming in with an 8mm drop and at 251 grams (8.9ounces) this shoe is FAST, the carbon plate propels you forward with ease, and at the end of a marathon (or 5k) its still comfortable. Simply put, it's hands down the best we've tested.
Socks
Blisters are the worse, but not nearly as bad a a sock that slides into your shoe or gets holes in it after two runs. There are a lot of good racing and training socks out there, but do not sacrifice quality for price with this one. You may only get one pair for the price of three at your local sports store, but Feetures are worth every penny. Trust me, you'll thank us for the recommendation and so will your feet!
Nutrition
Nutrition, like sensors, can be really difficult to weed through and figure out what works best for you. Some struggle with taking gels or solid food during longer fitness durations - we certainly have, on your behalf, through our testing. Our favorite was a tough contest between UCAN and GU Energy Labs. For longer events (more than 4 hours) we suggest UCAN. They are a slower releasing and longer last energy. For events under 4 hours GU Energy Labs really stands out and was the easiest for our tummies to handle during the race.
Racing Sunglasses
The Oakley Jawbreaker is by far our favorite pick for racing glasses. Unlike others, they don't overwhelm your entire face. They are very light weight, comfortable, don't move around from helmet interference, and most importantly, they don't budge when you are running. The venting keeps sweat from running into your eyes while keeping the wind from making them water. They are the clear winner in this department.
Cycling - Smart Trainers
If you live in the south where snow isn't really a thing, then maybe this one isn't for you. If you live in the north or a major metro, where you simply cannot cycle outdoors for large chunks of the year, a Smart Trainer is pretty important to maintain fitness. As we mention again below, brand loyalty across your gear stack will help with data consistency and functionality. For Smart Trainers, we recommend the Wahoo Kickr line up. When coupled with an App like Zwift, it keeps you going all through the colder months, keeps you excited about cycling, and easily connects to all your other Wahoo sensors and gear. Outside of the actual bike, this is the second most important piece of gear in my cycling arsenal.
Cycling -Sensors and Gadgets
Welcome to the Wild West of fitness... it's easy to get lost and caught up with the wide array of gadgets and sensors that are out there. We've had lots of bad experiences and expensive lessons that we would like to help you avoid. Our top recommendation is brand loyalty throughout your sensor stack - things just work better when you have consistency. Without bashing all the brands that haven't worked well for Inertia Multi Sport, let's talk about what has, what we use, and what we recommend.
Computers - The Wahoo Element -of all the things you need, a computer is the first. The Element is super easy to use, works consistently, and doesn't run out of batteries before your ride is over.
Heart Rate Monitor - The Wahoo Tickr -for running and cycling, a heart rate monitor is a must. Your smartwatch is ok, buts it's just an echo of whats really going on and is several beats per minute off. The Tickr works, it doesn't slide off, and the batteries last the whole season.
Cadence and Speed - ok, not as necessary, but for the price, I'll take the metrics to help drive training and Raceday performance. For Inertia Multi Sport, cadence specifically is really important as it links up to other performance elements like power and heart rate over a longer period of effort (like a race).
Helmets
A helmet is not just a helmet. When racing or just training, an aero helmet makes a huge difference in performance and power required to generate speed. We've tested A LOT of helmets, and while we like many of them, the Rudy Project Nytron is our absolute favorite. Light weight, comfortable, well vented, aero, and reasonably priced - it's unmatched in our opinion.
Roka Gear
Roka is the clear leader for Inertia Multi Sport when it comes to race day gear. Their wetsuits are designed with racing in mind. We've used the Maverick wetsuit for the past several years and, when compared to others, it simply is better in every way. On warmer days where wetsuits are unreasonable or disallowed, you have to check out Roka's Sim Pro II wetsuit short (floaty shorts) - they are perfect for warmer swims at the tail end of summer or, as some of our teammates do, use them for training in the pool!