Mike Posner Spent 108 Days on the Continental Divide Trail in These Editor-Loved Hoka Sneakers
Written by admin on January 18, 2026
Hydration is extremely crucial on a big undertaking like the CDT. But since Posner was more or less running it, you have to be smart about what you put on your person. This Salomon Active Skin 12 Vest is one we’ve found in our own testing to be the best for running.
“Sometimes we’d have to go like 20 to 27 miles without a water refill,” Posner says. “Yeah, you want to carry a lot of water. You’re able to pack that thing full [of] a lot of water—it holds a lot more than you would think.”
Read More: Best Hydration Packs
More and more hikers are going with trail runners over hiking boots these days, even on a big trek like the CDT. They’re lightweight, still provide great traction, require no break-in time, and allow for you to be quick on your feet.
All this is why Posner went with the Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX—he also had a pair of the Mid when he needed a little more support. But the low and a pair of Dirty Girl Gaiters were what he relied on most. “They were great because we just wanted to be fast,” Posner says. “Those things worked well, keeping rocks out of your shoes.”
Read More: Best Trail Running Shoes
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Sunglasses are an overrated piece of gear on the trail, and opting for a pair with a little more coverage (to help keep dirt and dust out of your eyes) isn’t a bad idea. Posner is tough on glasses and regularly breaks pairs: “I’m freaking hard on glasses. I break them.”
But these Zeals sufficed for a lot of the trip.
Read More: Chris Burkard Six Pack
The right pair of trail shorts can make or break any hike or trail run. Posner found his Goldilocks option from Path Projects and stocked up with a few pairs of them, rotating them out.
“I had those things loaded up,” he says. “In the back pocket I had, like, medicine, the butt pocket and the left pocket I had my phone, sunscreen, and then if I had to take them off my hat and my buff, because the mornings would be cold, so I kept them there. And on my right side I had all food stuff, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, lip balm. I had several pairs of these shorts, but I didn’t change them because it had everything where I needed [it] to be. So I changed my underwear out, but I just [kept] wearing those shorts.”
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We all know how particular men can be about their underwear. Posner usually prefers organic materials, but he was having … issues with that pair. But at a department store along the way they eventually grabbed him these Hanes, and the crucial part being the ball pouch. “They were just so much more comfortable because you’re out there nine to 15 hours a day hiking.”
Read More: Best Underwear for Men
Posner has broken a lot of trekking poles in his day (more so when mountaineering). But for this trip, he landed on these carbon tri-folds from Black Diamond and they were up to the task. As he says, “They held up great, and I’m hard on those things. I really, really use them.”
Read More: Do I Need Trekking Poles?
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Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear and tech. Baseball, surfing, and camping occupied most of his time growing up.
He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He is also a Certified Beer Server and previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
