@PrinceandPrincessofWales<\/a> on Instagram)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSure, the Apple Watch isn\u2019t exactly a budget pick. But otherwise, Kate\u2019s kit is pretty basic: functional, reasonably priced, and (probably) not altered by a professional seamstress.<\/p>\n
When Good Enough Is Good Enough<\/h2>\n
If not having the perfect gear is what\u2019s stopping you from taking that hike or trying trail running for the first time, ask yourself: What\u2019s the most basic version of this thing I actually need to keep me safe, prepared, and comfortable? Not the best version. Not the version a dedicated gear junkie would have in their shed. The minimum viable product with exactly what you need\u2014no frills, no fancy features, no splurgey add-ons. Kind of like wearing a standard pair of running shorts to hike 23 miles across three countries.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re climbing Everest or running Western States, good gear still matters\u2014a lot. But for most of us normies, the gap between \u201cbest in class\u201d and \u201cwill get you to the finish line\u201d is smaller than you might think. At the end of the day, Kate\u2019s gear isn\u2019t what got her to that final peak; it was her determination and her dedication to the cause.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m visiting my dad this week, staying in my childhood bedroom\u2014which, as any millennial adult child knows, means I\u2019m wearing a weird mishmash of old sports uniforms and college T-shirts. This morning, I picked up a pair of turquoise Umbros from circa 2006 for my morning run. No mesh liners. No adjustable waist or tiny pouch for my key. Sweat stains showing in every fabric crease. I had to carry my phone in my hand like a heathen.<\/p>\n
But you know what? The run was exactly as enjoyable as it would have been in a brand-new pair of technical running shorts. Honestly, Umbro\u2019s due for a comeback anyway.<\/p>\n