Disclaimer: Some of the products mentioned in this post were provided for review purposes. However the opinions expressed here are all my own. This post contains affiliate links. It's hard not to love new gear. And there are a few new things that I've been wearing and using lately that I've been dying to share because I really do love them. Some are purchases I've made on my own and other products have been sent to me to try out. I always try to be honest with how I really feel about the gear I use regardless of how I obtained it. So here's the gear I'm loving lately:

Darn Tough Socks

Anytime the weather turns cold I pull out my Darn Tough socks. My first pair was a gift from my mom and I've purchased several other pairs since then. They are the only socks that I can wear during the winter: my toes start warm and stay warm from the get-go. I was lucky enough to have them as a sponsor for Rise.Run.Retreat and they sent me a few pairs of their new Vertex sock: an ultra-lightweight sock that seamlessly melds with your foot. I have both the merino wool and CoolMax versions and they have become my favorites. Especially on race day when I prefer a "barely there" sock. The Vertex socks will be available in Spring 2016, so keep an eye out on DarnTough.com for their release, in the meantime you can find super-warm and super fun socks like these:

Lululemon Reflective Hoodie

I recently scored big at the Lululemon Outlet (or they scored big with me??). Either way I parted with a good chunk of change, but got this great reflective hoodie in exchange. I love the fact that the arms are completely reflective, which means I don't have to wear a reflective vest. There's also a secure pocket for my phone inside the front pocket. The hoodie is no longer in stock on their website, but you might be able to find it at an outlet store on eBay if you did some hunting. The only drawback is that the reflective material isn't very breathable. While it kept me warm on this weekends cold run, the moment I stopped the dampness on my arms made me instantly cold. But I can deal with a lack of breathability for the sake of safety. In my mind it's not a huge drawback. If I had paid full price maybe I'd think a little differently, but it was a good deal.

Dr. Cool Longsleeve

The fall is a tricky time to try and dress appropriately for your runs. It's hard to let go of tanks and shorts after a summer of running in the heat, but then again you don't want to freeze. I find the 45-55 degree range the toughest to dress for because it's right on the edge of feeling cold (at least of this New England gal). Typically anything over 55 I'm in a shortsleeve and capris or shorts and anything less I'll choose a long sleeve and shorts or a long sleeve and capris. But sometimes that is too much and you heat up and wish you'd opted for a short sleeve. It's all a very real struggle. I recently wore my Dr. Cool Long-Sleeve Cooling shirt to the Trick or Trot 3K and realized it is PERFECT for those runs in the 45-55 degree range. It was about 55 at the start and the sun was shining so it felt warm, but then the breeze would blow and you felt cold. The long-sleeve was perfect because as I heated up and started to sweat during the race the shirt wicked away sweat and kept me cool. Then after the race I was warm because getting cold and clammy with sweat. The shirt really isn't just a cooling shirt, it also does a great job of keeping you warm because it keeps you dry.

The Original Worm

I've used a lot of different self massage products: foam rollers, The Stick, the Tiger Tail, lacrosse balls and tennis balls you name it. I was recently sent The Original Worm and didn't really have high hopes for it since there are so many options out there in terms of self-massage. But I was surprised at just how effective The Worm is and how frequently I've been using it since it arrived. I've mostly been using it to target my high hamstring, where I've been experiencing some tightness. I'm able to target the soreness in a way that I can't with a foam roller. The construction of the Worm gives it a varied surface that helps put pressure on the hard to get areas, something you don't get with a flat surface of the foam roller. I also found that it was really great for the IT Band area as well, and you can easily stand on it to roll out the plantar fascia in your foot. The other great thing about the worm is the fact that you can easily travel with it. The same can be said of The Stick and Tiger Tail, but you can't get the same amount of pressure with those handheld devises as you can with body weight and The Worm. If you have a nagging soreness that is hard to reach then the Worm could be what you're missing. The Worm retails for $25-34, which is similar to other self-massage products and in my opinion worth every penny. To get 15% off your worm order use code RUNFAR15 at checkout.