Should I ? Or shouldn’t I?
Do I go Garmin for the Hever HIM this weekend? I know the Garmin Forerunner 920XT will be fine as will the Garmin HRM-TRI. I have some new apps to try out on the Garmin Edge 820 from XERT that are super cool. The Garmin footpod is a necessity to know how fast I am running. The Mizuno Waverider 19s are probably perfect for this kind of course for me, especially with the elastic laces. Although mine are worn out from over-use!! So I’ll have to go with the Waverider 17s shown (from my year of injury, so they still have 13 miles left in them).
Downsides?: The Edge 820 may well not make and record the whole distance and may require the odd mid-hill reboot.
On the other hand (foot) are the Sketchers GoRun 4. They’re lighter than the Waverider. Not really what I should run in for a HM but they might get me round 13 miles with a bit of luck, despite the somewhat flattened and compressed sole. I like the 4iiii Viiiiva V100 HRM as both a HRM and BTLE-to-ANT signal converter. I’ll be wearing my best and smartest tri-suit so, with style in mind, the Suunto SPARTAN ULTRA could make a first race-debut. Then again I’m supposedly getting the SPARTAN SPORT today which is a bit more sensibly thinner for wetsuit usage. The Lezyne Super GPS is a near no-brainer as it always works.
In reality I’m going to bike with 10s power and instant-HR, so pretty much any cycling computer will give me that info. In reality I can pace a HM by feel. In reality all I do when swimming is record HR and press the lap button at the end. Shoes are more important than electronics so on that note I think the Waverider is probably best!!
Decisions, decisions. What should I do? What do you do?
Actually, 3rd instalment of KUDOS points for anyone who can guess what kit will end up being used. I think I’ve decided.
Last Updated on 16 January 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee
Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
V800 for run pace with Adidas BTLE footpod if you must, Garmin 520 for bike data if you have to look at something. Adios Boost with lock laces for the feet, why mess around with anything else. Really just wear any watch and hit HR Zone 5 all they way 😉