Running
Our pick
Saucony Ride 19
A cushioned neutral daily trainer with an 8mm drop, for easy miles, long runs and the odd faster day. It comes in a wide fit, which plenty of feet need.
$145
Visit SauconyGear
The gear we would hand across the counter
A piece earns its place by fitting as it should, lasting a season of real use, costing a fair price for its level and coming from a maker that stands behind it.
36 on the wall. The big card on each shelf is where we’d start.
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Running
Running4 more picks
Saucony Peregrine 16
$150
A trail shoe with a Vibram Megagrip outsole, toe protection and a 4mm drop, for rocky, wet or loose ground. A waterproof GTX version costs $30 more.
COROS PACE 4
$249
A light GPS watch with up to 41 hours of GPS, on-watch maps and marathon plans: all most regular runners need. The USB-C cable is sold separately.
Darn Tough Run Quarter Cushioned Ultra-Lightweight
$21
Merino-blend running socks with a snug fit and terry cushion underfoot, knit in Vermont. Guaranteed for life: wear a pair out and they replace it.
Noxgear Tracer2 LED Safety Vest
$86.95
A 7 oz light-up vest that fits over a jacket or a pack, for runs before dawn or after dark. Up to 20 hours a charge, USB-C, and waterproof to IP67.
Racket sports
Racket sports
Our pickSelkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic Pickleball Paddle
A fiberglass paddle with a 16mm core and a large face that suits a first season and still suits a good club player. Lifetime warranty once registered.
$200
Visit SelkirkRacket sports4 more picks
SLK Latitude Max Pickleball Paddle
$70
Selkirk’s budget line: a graphite face, a 13mm core and USA Pickleball approval. Right for a starting or casual player; the warranty is one year.
Babolat Pure Drive
$299
A 100 sq in, 300 g tennis racket with easy power, for improving players who swing freely. It is sold unstrung, so add strings and stringing.
Babolat Counter Vertuo 2.6
$200
A round-head padel racket with a fiberglass face and a soft EVA core, which Babolat builds to be manageable. A sensible first padel racket.
Yonex ASTROX 10 (Strung)
$55
An entry-level full-graphite badminton racket, sold strung, for players moving past a backyard set. Slightly head-heavy and a little longer than standard.
Team sports
Team sports
Our pickWilson Evolution Game Basketball
The indoor game ball many high schools play with: a composite cover with a cushioned, grippy feel. Indoor courts only; take a rubber ball outside.
$99.95
Visit WilsonTeam sports4 more picks
Wilson A450 11.5″ Youth Baseball Glove
$59.95
A top-grain leather youth glove that is ready to use with little break-in, with an elastic wrist. Sensible for a player who may outgrow it next spring.
Easton Havoc ‑10 USA Baseball Bat
$69.99
A one-piece alloy youth bat with the USA Baseball stamp, 26 to 31 inches, with a one-year warranty. Check your league’s bat rules before you buy.
Select Numero 10 v25 Soccer Ball
$65
A hand-stitched ball with a PU cover over foam, in sizes 3, 4 and 5, FIFA Basic approved at size 5. High school games need the NFHS version.
Mikasa VQ2000
$56.99
An official-size indoor game ball, NFHS and USA Volleyball approved, in plenty of team colors. A sound ball for school, club and league play.
Golf
Fit matters more in golf than in most sports, so treat the clubs here as a starting point for a fitting, not a substitute for one.
Golf
Our pickSrixon Soft Feel
A two-piece ball with a low 58 compression and a soft cover, for slower swings and golfers who lose a few a round. A tour ball can wait.
$24.99
Visit SrixonGolf4 more picks
Wilson Men’s Profile Complete Set
$599.99
A full set with a stand bag, built for beginners, in right- and left-handed and tall versions. Wilson’s Profile Jr sets do the same for kids.
PING G440 MAX Driver
The most forgiving model in PING’s G440 line, 460cc with adjustable loft, for golfers who miss the middle of the face. Worth buying through a fitting.
Cleveland HB SOFT 2 Model 8C
$159.99
A face-balanced putter with an oversize grip and a face that steadies ball speed on off-center hits, for a straight-back stroke. Right-handed only.
Precision Pro NX9 Slope Rangefinder
$199.99
A 6x laser rangefinder with a slope switch you turn off for tournaments, a replaceable battery, a three-year warranty and a 90-day guarantee.
Cycling
Cycling
Our pickLezyne Micro Drive 800+ / KTV Drive Pro+ Pair
An 800-lumen front and a 150-lumen rear light, both IPX7 and charged by USB-C, with a two-year warranty. The first thing a commuter needs after a helmet.
$94.99
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Smith Signal MIPS
$95
A MIPS road helmet with 21 vents and a dial fit, sized XS to XL, with a three-year warranty. Replace it, or any helmet, after a crash.
Kryptonite Evolution Mini‑7 with Flex Cable
A 13mm hardened steel U-lock sized for a city bike, with a cable for the front wheel. It comes with Kryptonite’s anti-theft protection offer.
Wahoo KICKR CORE 2
$549.99
A direct-drive smart trainer, accurate to 2% and sold with a cassette, for riding indoors through the winter. Fits quick-release and thru-axle bikes.
Lezyne Steel Floor Drive 3.5
$74.99
A floor pump with a steel barrel, a wood handle, a 3.5-inch gauge and one chuck for Presta and Schrader valves. One pump for a whole household of bikes.
Home gym
Home gym
Our pickConcept2 RowErg
A rower that works legs, back and arms without impact, rated to 500 lb. It splits in two to store, and its monitor logs every session.
$990
Visit Concept2Home gym4 more picks
BowFlex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells
$479
Adjustable dumbbells from 5 to 52.5 lb on a dial, standing in for 15 pairs in a small room. Lifters who press heavy will outgrow the top weight.
REP Fitness AB‑3100 Adjustable Bench
$269.99
A flat and incline bench with six back positions, rated to 700 lb, on a three-leg base that leaves room for your feet. It has no decline setting.
Rogue Kettlebells
From $38
Single-cast iron kettlebells with flat bases, in 18 weights from 9 to 203 lb, with a lifetime warranty. One or two cover most home training.
Rogue Echo Bike
$945
A belt-driven air bike for hard intervals: the harder you pedal, the more it pushes back. It takes 44.5 by 23.75 inches of floor and weighs 123 lb.
Care and repair
Care and repair
Our pickPark Tool Chain Wear Indicator CC‑3.2
Shows when a chain has worn enough to replace, before it wears out the cassette and chainrings. Fits most 5- to 12-speed chains, not SRAM Flattop.
$12.95
Visit Park ToolCare and repair5 more picks
Jason Markk Essential Kit
$18
A concentrated cleaner and a stiff brush for shoes in leather, suede, canvas and knit, enough for up to 100 pairs. Test dyed suede somewhere hidden first.
Nikwax Tech Wash
From $11.50
A PFAS-free wash for rain jackets and fleece that cleans without stripping their water repellency, in the machine or by hand.
Rawlings Glovolium Glove Oil
$3.95
A non-petroleum oil that cleans, softens and helps break in a baseball or softball glove. Use a little at a time, and test light leather first.
Klippermate Stringing Machine
$379
A counterweight stringing machine for tennis, squash and racquetball, with tools and a lifetime guarantee. Worth it for a household that restrings often.
The GolfWorks Grip Essentials Kit
$69.99
Solvent, tape, an installer tool, a shaft clamp and blades for regripping your own clubs. You also need a vise and the grips themselves.
From the counter
Buy for your level first
The Counter takes each sport at three levels, starting, regular and serious, and says what you need, what you can skip and how it should fit.
Find your level