The Well-Outfitted Athlete

Photo: Frank W. Ockenfels 3

Smokin' Joe Raymond is a member of an elite fraternity of athletes: New York City bike messengers. He's known in Gotham as one of the fastest, a 55-package-a-day man. He weaves and sprints over the metropolitan tarmac on a Nishiki hybrid and competes in the prestigious, if unsanctioned, bike-messenger Alleycat races. Clearly a sartorial notch above his envious brethren, Smokin' Joe sports Adidas Gazelle sunglasses, a Cloudveil Shadow Peak Vest, HydRid UltraLight Short Sleeved Crew shirt, SportHill Invasion Shorts, Nike Triax 250 running watch, Pearl Izumi FeedZone Lumbar Pack, and studly, power-behind-the-man Fox River Wick Dry Triathlon Athletic Socks.

TOPS AND BOTTOMS

Drop the soggy-Rocky-in-cotton-sweats look in lieu of light, loose, and breathable garments like Duofold's new HydRid UltraLight Short Sleeved Crew ($21); its CoolMax micromesh feels more like cotton than any other synthetic around. Men who prefer a shirt sans sleeves should consider Sugoi's Technifine Tank ($28), with a loose polyester microfiber waffle weave that's whisper-soft against the skin. Women, however, often prefer a modest cut, like that of Patagonia's Women's Capilita Sleeveless Top ($32), also 100 percent synthetic and presentable enough to wear when your social calendar overlaps your workout schedule.

Nether regions can be the cause, and victims, of overheating on warm days; a good pair of shorts is the best prevention. Hind's All Terrain Shorts ($43) have a supportive CoolMax brief that also lets air flow in. The shell is a cottonlike brushed polyester, and the front-zip mesh pocket stores an energy bar or wadded-up jacket. The SportHill Invasion Short ($45), made of a 90/10 polyester/Lycra blend with a quick-drying treatment, is also light and airy. A drawstring waistband allows a roomy fit, and the eight-inch inseam covers just enough skin to keep the looky-loos from blushing. When Mother Nature can't decide between winter and spring, a long-pants option is a must. Hind's polyester/Lycra Track Pants ($45) are loose enough to throw on over a pair of shorts to thwart the morning chill.

SKIVVIES AND SOCKS

Sleek outerwear is worthless if you're sporting spongy cotton underlayers. SportHill's Men's and Women's CoolMax Briefs ($20) use a four-way-stretch blend of CoolMax and Lycra that keeps your precious parts from dousing your duds with sweat. Women will appreciate the versatility of Jantzen's Sports Bra 2-Piece ($70). Wear it as a swimsuit or don the nylon/Lycra top for a workout. Jantzen's 100 percent nylon Volley Short ($40) makes a good cover for the bottom, as comfortable on the track as in the v-ball pit. Fila's new Sport Bra ($20) has a polyester shell and internal wicking polyester microfiber; support-wise, it would impress Jane Russell. Wet feet belong in the shower; in your shoes, they're the cause of blisters and bunions. Good socks keep your dogs dry while cushioning your step with strategic padding. Fox River's Wick Dry Triathlon Athletic Socks ($6) exploit cotton for breathability and use CoolMax for moisture control, while putting ample padding at the heel and toe to cushion pavement-pounding feet. My personal favorites: the new acrylic/ nylon/spandex, heel- and toe-padded Running Thorlos Mini-Crew socks, a bargain at $9. Even during the 109-mile Hood to Coast Relay, the Thorlos kept me free of blisters and other common plagues.

When wind or clouds call for an extra layer, the form-fitting Nike Clima-Fit Lite Full Zip Jacket ($118) does the trick; at night, its reflective silver tape, woven into the material and running down the sleeves, gleams in the path of approaching headlights. In just-below-temperate weather, a vest adds warmth without weight. At only 11.5 ounces, Cloudveil's Shadow Peak Vest ($130) provides fierce protection from wind with Windbloc fleece in front, while Schoeller's highly breathable, stretchy, water-resistant Dryskin dissipates sweat out back.

SUPPORTING CAST

Unless you're blessed with a dromedary's genes, you'll have to arrange for workout nourishment, both liquid and solid. Pearl Izumi's FeedZone Lumbar Pack ($35) houses a single 20-ounce water bottle at an easy-to-grab angle. A small zip pocket holds snacks and such, and an exterior bungee cord will lash down light raingear or similar garments. An energy boost can make the difference between hitting PRs or hitting the wall. Balance Bar's new Balance +(Plus) ($1.69) nutrition bars now come in honey-peanut with Siberian ginseng and yogurt-berry with ginkgo biloba to enhance stamina and energy, as well as healthy doses of vitamins A and E. Pressing fingers against your neck is no way to gauge the intensity of a workout; for accuracy, a heart-rate monitor is the only way. The Polar Tempo Heart Rate Monitor ($109) is blessedly simple: It tells you your heart rate and adds a timer so you can track your full workout. If you're more concerned with lap times and splits, try Nike's new Triax 250 running watch ($135). The digits and buttons are both oversize so you can easily record and read your splits on the fly. A less expensive alternative is the Timex Triathlon Watch ($40), identical in features to the venerable eight-lap Ironman model but with a sleeker and slimmer design inspired by snazzy wrapped-back sunglasses.

Sun saps energy and zaps pates, noses, and eyes. You need a cap that shades you without overheating you. The Sugoi Coretech Mesh Cap ($20) does it all. Add a pair of Adidas Gazelle sunglasses ($130), which conform to your face like Silly Putty—the nose and temples are swathed in grippy hydrophilic rubber that doesn't slip when you sweat. High-contrast lenses lend a warm, rosy hue to trail or skyline. If you look insectoid in large shades, Oakley's new Minutes ($90) are suitably small. Rubber-coated temples keep them where they belong, and gray lenses give a color-perfect, distortion-free view, even though they appear bright blue to envious onlookers.

For trips to the gym or trailhead, you'll need a bag to haul your booty. The new Baby Bad 1.5 ($69) from BAD (Best American Duffel) Bags is a tidy, 1,500-cubic-incher with a shoe caddy inside to isolate soiled zapatos.—NANCY PRICHARD

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