Becoming a responsible runner

“Oh, running is so easy; all you need is a pair of shoes, and you’re good to go!” said every person new to running.

If only that were true! The more you get into it, the more things it seems you need to sustain yourself on the trails. Before you know it, you’re wearing hundreds of dollars’ worth of kit, clearing out yet another drawer to accommodate your growing collection of moisture-wicking t-shirts, and the pile of running shoes beside your door is becoming a trip hazard.

It’s an easy trap to fall into, and with the never-ending supply of new gadgets, gels, vests, shoes, and performance fabrics, who can blame us for wanting to try the latest must-have product?

I’m not here to shame your purchases. But as the name of this column suggests, it encourages you to ‘tread lightly’ and consider your choices before hitting the checkout. How can we not only purge our overflowing drawer of race t-shirts, but also consume more consciously when it comes to outdoor apparel and gear? Old gear should not go in the bin – there are a myriad of options to give it a second life, whether it’s on the feet of someone else, or into a yoga mat. 

Give It A Second Life

There are an increasing number of options to upcycle and recycle your worn-out or phased-out gear. If it’s still in good nick, it doesn’t fit anymore, or you’ve upgraded to the latest season’s colourway, you can pass it on. You can resell on Facebook Marketplace or Depop or donate good-quality gear to your local op shop. Alternatively, Replay sends second-hand sporting goods to communities across Africa. 

If your gear is well and truly ready for retirement, Upparel is your best bet. This Melbourne-based company specialises in textile recovery and recycling, sorting the salvageable from the scraps and transforming fabric into new materials, such as UPtex.  

As for shoes, there are an increasing number of convenient options for disposing of old shoes. If they are still in good condition, you can donate them to Replay or drop them off at your local Pace Athletic store, which passes them onto Shoes for Planet Earth. If your shoes are totally busted, then Rebel Sport will take them through the TreadLightly program, where they will be broken down into their different components and recycled. For example, the rubber is combined with car tyres to create gym mats, floors, and playground surfaces.

Make Your Gear Last Longer

Then it comes to our gear. You’ve paid good money for it – so perhaps we should try and make it last for longer? Following the care instructions on the tag is a good place to start. There are a lot of innovative and new fabrics in the apparel world, and maybe reading labels is not on your 2025 bingo card. Washing clothes inside out, on a cold wash and air drying will benefit most fabrics. Using specific detergents, such as wool wash or tech wash, is key, as is re-waterproofing to ensure that your mandatory gear is up to the task when you need it. 

Utilising a delicate bag, especially for sports bras, prevents clothing from stretching or getting strangled by the drawstring cord. You can also go one further and use a GuppyFriend, which collects the microplastics released by synthetic fibres, preventing them from entering our waterways.

Trail gear gets a flogging. Reacquainting yourself with a needle and thread and patching up clothing is surprisingly easy, especially with YouTube at your fingertips. If it’s beyond your Year 8 textile capabilities, outlets like Remote Repairs do an excellent job repairing technical gear.

Speak Up

Running gear is incredibly personal. But if your preferred brand is lacking in some way, don’t be afraid to let them know. We are all inherently product testers, so if something isn’t up to scratch, or you think a brand could do better in the sustainability space, let them know. The outdoor apparel industry has come so far, but there is still a long way to go. 

Let’s all do our bit to help us tread lightly, together.