with a podiatrist - you might benefit from custom-built orthotics. If, though, you feel that your trainers could do with a little extra padding, or that a touch more stability will clear up your little niggle, here are eight we’ve tried and tested

-brainer choose a gilet. We think these sleeveless tops are the most versatile pieces of kit you can buy and should be in every runner's wardrobe. A gilet will keep your torso dry and warm on all but the coldest, wettest runs and if the rain stops

To help you flash a little more leg we've put together a selection of some of the best shorts on the market.Brooks Element Notch – £22Silky shell and super-soft lining. A longer cut means that they aren't too revealing. (Men's + Women's) Contact www.brooksrunning.co.uk; 01903 817...

. But once you reset the chronograph, it’ll only hold the work-out until you start another. Pros Tested quality; large digitsCons Fiddly crown operation; lack of multi- session memoryTimex Ironman 100 HRM £100Key features 100-lap, single-session memory

With so many heart-rate and speed-and-distance monitors on the market it’s easy to forget that you can still buy sports watches that don’t receive signals from space or warn you that you’re in imminent danger of cardiac arrest. And if you’re happy to run unencumbered by chest str...

So far this year we've printed three of our four quarterly Shoe Buyer's Guides. And that means we've already tried and tested an astonishing 63 pairs of brand new, or significantly updated, running shoes in 2004. As we still have one more guide

of support and a big medial post. It's a tried-and-tested technique, and it works. The Foundation Plus is an effective motion control shoe, suitable for most overpronators. It's simply great value, and it retains the responsiveness and firm, but supremely

, basically, winter is cold. Don’t let that put you off. Pull on one of the base layers tested here, and you’ll barely notice the chill in the air. We generate a lot of heat when we run – about the same wattage as a one-bar electric fire – no matter what

£99.99 Can be set up so that two users can share the unit. OwnZone sets different HR limits for three different levels of activity.Allows you to carry out a fitness test.Displays how many calories you’ve burned and how much fat you’ve used for energy

is the roomiest on test – great for people with wide feet.The all-rounder for you if… You like plush cushioning and need a little extra stability. Heavy, mild overpronators should find the Burn very versatile. Contact 01903 817009; www