Let’s start by saying that yes, this post is about the best walking accessories and activewear. But the “hidden agenda” is to convince you to get outside and start moving!
Just this past March we talked to health and beauty expert, Jennifer Walsh, about all the benefits of walking and her new book, “Walk Your Way Calm”. What was especially interesting was the link between being outdoors and brain health. We won’t go into everything again here, but if you have a moment, you can follow this link to read our interview with Jennifer Walsh and to watch our Instagram Live interview with her.
This all became personal to me when my dog Bandit passed away in January. I had been getting outside and walking him pretty much every day for almost 10 years. He was my walking buddy and I figured he was helping me as much as I was helping him. After he passed, I didn’t feel like walking anymore and I didn’t until, literally, just a few weeks ago. I knew I had to get back outside to actually heal.
I started walking again before we found our new rescue dog, Archie. So, having a dog to walk with again has been wonderful. But before Archie arrived, I wanted to do something to get me out of my funk and get outside again. I am “that person” who, to motivate themselves, will buy something new. And that’s what I did. I went out and looked into new shorts, tops and walking accessories. I figure since I already did a lot of the work, I would pass all that information on to you!
These recommendations are mostly for the casual walker. While you could use some of these products for a hike in Yosemite, that’s not who they were intended for.
**Please Note: This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. However, we only recommend products that we truly love. Amazon prices are current as of 6/28/22.
Activewear for Walking
BOTTOMS
I am very particular when it comes to finding the best shorts and pants for walking. They have to have a pocket for my phone. Even though I have an Apple Watch, most of the time I am also taking my phone with me. It can’t just be any pocket either – the pocket has to be relatively deep so my phone can’t fall out.
Old Navy has a line which I think is pretty new of “stretch tech” clothes as they have branded them. They are very lightweight and quick drying if necessary. But what I love is that they have cargo shorts, joggers and even a fun cargo romper. The romper is what I am wearing above. It’s the perfect combination of style and function. Here are the Old Navy products that I am loving right now for my daily walks:
Another brand that I am a big fan of is Zella. I love all their leggings and almost (if not all) of their bottoms come with pockets. I have not tried the bike shorts, but I have the leggings and I love them. (Tip: They are usually on sale during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, which is when I stock up. The sale is starting very soon, your start date will depend on if you are a Nordstrom card member.)
By the way, if you’ve been following our Color of the Year 2022 Veri Peri post, I just added these leggings to that post. If you are a periwinkle fan and haven’t read the post yet, take a minute a look through it. There are lots of great options.
TOPS
I have been a big fan of Nike workout shirts for a long time. They seem to have more cotton in their shirts which I like and they have different fits from slim to oversized. I like a looser fit and their shirts are loose without those giant oversized arm holes (you know what I mean?)! Here are some of my favorites:
Of course, you can never go wrong with Target. I am always looking at their workout clothes when I am in the store and especially like the Joy Lab line. Here are lots of options to pick from: sleeveless, short sleeve and sleeveless.
I found this website, Coolibar, when I was doing research for another post. Everything on their site has sun protection of UPF 50+. These tops are a little more expensive, but that is because of the built in sun protection. If that is important to you, Coolibar might be a great brand for you. Here are their basic tees and tanks.
JACKETS
Old Navy has a couple of cute stretch tech jackets that match the bottoms. I have the this pink outfit and I would love to get the brown as well.
Walking Accessories
These walking accessories really are more for the casual walker. These are great for walking the dog or even strolling an art show or spending the day at the amusement park.
CARRYING YOUR STUFF
If you don’t have pockets, or if you want to carry more than your phone, then consider a “fanny pack” or a storage waist belt. I have one very similar to the pink one and I have used it when I’ve been on vacation and have to carry a hotel room key and a few things other than my phone. It’s very comfortable – you hardly know you have it on.
If you want to carry water with you, there is an option for a combo waist belt/bottle holder, or just a solo water bottle holder.
If I have to take a house key with me, I have a lanyard that I use that I wear around my neck. I usually tuck it into my shirt and don’t have to worry about losing it. Here are a few lanyards and a couple of additional suggestions for your walking accessories. All of them come in an array of styles and colors.
SUN PROTECTION
Of course you know the number one thing you should be wearing when you are outside walking is sunscreen. No matter which brand is your favorite, the key thing is to wear it every time you are outside, from head to toe.
The other ways you can protect yourself is by wearing a hat and wearing polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes. I had an incident where I had brand new Ray Ban’s and I dropped them on a walk and scratched them.
So now, for my walks, I am looking into less expensive sunglasses that still provide sun protection. I found two brands that were highly rated for being effective and affordable – and one of them is one of Jen’s favorite brands, Goodr.
The Goodr sunglasses are advertised as “No Slip. No Bounce. All Polarized. $25 Active Sunglasses for Anyone.” They have all different styles, lens and frame colors and they had two different head sizes. You can shop them all on the Goodr website.
The other brand I found while researching them for this post is Knockaround Sunglasses. I wish I had found them sooner. The two pairs I ordered are on their but they won’t arrive before this post is published. I will have to come back and update this page.
They are similarly priced to Goodr, ranging from about $28 – $35. You can also create your own custom pair – from over 1,000,000 combinations. Here are just a select few from their website. The first two shown are the pairs that I ordered.
Hats are another great way to protect yourself from the sun. I like wearing visors since they are a little lighter when it’s hot outside. I usually walk first thing in the morning so I don’t worry too much about my scalp getting burned. But if you don’t protect your head in the heat of the day, you might want to consider a scalp sunscreen like the one that Jen uses and recommends, Sun Bum Scalp Sunscreen Spray.
I also like straw visors because they are so light and they also work for the beach. The one shown below is from Old Navy and comes in three different colors. But I have linked to a more traditional visor and a couple of baseball caps as an alternative.
Walking Accessories for Your Ears: Things to Listen To On Your Walks
There are times when I am walking that I like it quiet and then there are times when I like to use the time to listen to music, podcasts or audio books. If you like to listen to podcasts or audio books, we’re sharing some of our favorites that we think you might enjoy also.
JEN’S LIST
PODCASTS
Creative Pep Talk – which helps you reach your creative potential
Armchair Expert – which “celebrates the messiness of being human” with Dax Shepard (a fellow Detroiter too).
WDW Radio – which is everything Disney. If you know Jen, you know she loves Disney more than anyone else in our family. She even has a 70-page Disney guide you can purchase for only $7.99.
AUDIO BOOKS
“The Advantage” by Patrick Lencioni – a great book about the importance of organizational health and why it’s important. A great business book.
“Blowing My Way to the Top” by Jen Atkin, who is hailed by The New York Times as “the most influential hair stylist in the world”. She tells her inspiring story of how she rose to the top of her field.
“A Very Punchable Face” by Colin Jost. A very funny book – he actually seems to do some ad libbing which is fun.
DIANNE’S LIST
PODCASTS
Smartless – a celebrity based podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. If you like celebrity interviews, this is a good one. (Warning: lots of f-bombs)
Gruff Talk with Barbara Hannah Grufferman – I just discovered this podcast, in fact I mentioned it in my Instagram stories just recently. It’s perfect for women over 50 with interesting and sound advice on how to age better.
Biophillic Solutions with Jennifer Walsh and Monica Olsen – I got interested in this podcast after our conversation with Jennifer. “Biophilia” is described as a love of life or living things. I especially loved the episode about the “Blue Mind” which explains why we are so innately drawn to water and the neuroscience behind water’s healing properties (like why you want that hot bath at the end of a long day.)
AUDIO BOOKS
I love to listen to autobiographies or memoirs, especially when the author reads their story. It’s like they are talking to you personally. Here are my recent favorites:
“Believe It” by Jamie Kern Lima – one of the most inspiring books I’ve ever read. Jamie is the founder of It Cosmetics and she tells her amazing story.
“Enough Already” by Valerie Bertinelli – if you grew up with Valerie and “One Day at a Time” like me, you will love this book.
“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey – Matthew McConaughey reads this books just like he talks. He is so fun to listen to and his story is also very interesting.
Want some inspiration on what types of walks to take? Then we highly recommend Jennifer Walsh’s book, “Walk Your Way Calm”. You can purchase it at the button link below.
Are you a walker or are you planning on starting a walking routine? Will you be adding any of our walking accessories? Let us know in the comments below.
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