Coach Favorite Things: The Little Gear (and Ice Cream) That Makes the Big Miles Easier

Endurance sport is built on the big stuff — the long rides, the early alarms, the race-day nerves you learn to sit with instead of run from. But if you've trained with us for any length of time, you know we're just as obsessed with the small stuff. The tiny habits and pieces of gear that don't show up in your training plan but somehow make every single session a little smoother.

So we asked our coaches: what's the one little thing you can't train or race without? No pressure, no big reveals about VO2 max or FTP — just the small, slightly nerdy, occasionally delicious favorites that make this sport more doable. The answers will surprise you (one of them involves Ben & Jerry's, so, you're welcome).

Coach Meg

Coach Meg was a skeptic turned true believer. Her pick is the Flextail Pro electric mini pump — "I was dubious about electric pumps but got one a few years ago and could not live without it. No more buying and not using CO2 at races!" If you've ever stood at transition doing math about how many CO2 cartridges you actually need, you understand the relief.

Her second favorite is less flashy but just as game-changing: her nerd belt. Having race nutrition and hydration on her person — not bouncing around in a pocket or falling out of a bento box — is, in her words, an absolute gamechanger.

Coach Thomas

Thomas keeps it simple and meaningful. First up: Addra bars, which pack 20g of plant protein and leucine for recovery — an easy way to get real nutrition in without overthinking it.

His second favorite isn't a product at all. It's a race kit designed with meaning — something with personal touches you can call on when the race gets hard. Because when the pain cave shows up, sometimes the thing that gets you through isn't in your legs. It's imprinted into your kit.

Coach Kim

Kim's first pick came through in the clutch: Revvies energy strips. "They saved me on my last race. Almost instant energy that was easy on my sensitive gut! Plus they take up no space and taste much better than many caffeine gels." If your stomach has ever staged a rebellion mid-race, this one's worth trying.

Her second favorite is a shoe, not a gadget: the Altra Timp trail shoes. Every version, straight out of the box, has performed perfectly. No break-in drama, no blister roulette — just shoes that show up and do their job.

Coach Ryan

Ryan's favorites are all about staying cool and seeing clearly, literally. First: a tri suit ice pocket at the back of the neck — a small detail that makes a massive difference on a hot course. (Team TMT's Varlo suits happen to have a great one, if you're in the market.)

Second: photochromic shades, which he calls a guilty pleasure on West Coast long rides and races that start in morning fog and end in midday sun. Team partner Rudy Project makes great ones that won't break the bank.

Honorable mention goes to Caterpy run laces — because fumbling with knots after a swim-bike leg is nobody's idea of a good time.

Coach Andrell

Andrell keeps it honest. Favorite number one: Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream. Not every recovery tool needs a technical spec sheet.

Favorite number two: biking gloves. "I feel naked when I don't have them on, lol." Some gear becomes so second-nature that riding without it just feels wrong.

Coach Deborah

Deborah's must-haves are all about comfort and a little joy. First, a running hat — it keeps her hair out of her face, soaks up sweat, and gives her a bonus inspiration boost when it's from a race she loved. There's something about pulling on gear from a hard-earned finish line that makes the next workout feel a little lighter.

Second: junk headbands worn under her helmet. They soak up sweat, make the helmet fit more comfortably, and come in colorful designs that make her happy every time she puts one on. Sometimes the best performance gear is the stuff that just makes you smile.

The Real Takeaway

None of these favorites are secret training hacks or magic bullets. They're small, human, slightly quirky choices that make the process of training and racing feel a little more like you — a little more sustainable, a little more joyful. That's kind of the whole point.

Got a favorite little thing of your own that gets you through the long miles? We'd love to hear about it — drop it in the comments or tag us. Who knows, it might end up in our next roundup.

Train with Purpose. See Real Results.