Top Gear Picks from the 2026 OMA Media Show for Trail Runners and Hikers

Seven-point-three ounces. That's the number Lowa hung on the new Paceterra Pro — the lightest trail runner currently sitting on the market, according to Outside Online's breakdown of standout gear from the 2026 OMA Media Show. I've been waiting for a shoe in this weight class that doesn't feel like a disposable piece of tissue paper, and this is the first one I'd actually put mileage on. Sub-8 oz changes the kinetic chain: less rotational mass at toe-off means cleaner cadence retention over technical terrain, and your calves stop absorbing dead weight on every step.

The Shoe That Actually Matters

Lowa's Paceterra Pro at 7.3 oz is the headline, but the metric that matters is what your legs do after hour four. Running impact runs 2.5 to 5 times your body weight per footstrike — that's what Runner's World cited in their recent cushioned-shoe testing. Cutting 2–3 oz off each foot across thousands of repetitions is real torque taken off the metatarsals and Achilles. Norrona's Senja Driflex 3 Lightweight Jacket also made Outside's list, worth noting if you're chasing fast-and-light objectives where shell weight compounds directly into your climb output.

Filter and Shelter: The Backcountry Stack

Outside's editors also flagged a major update to the HydraPak 42-MM squeeze filter, slated to launch in spring 2027. The new version is 1.4 oz lighter, $10 cheaper, and ships with a backflush adapter that screws onto a clean water bottle — no syringe needed — plus a clip-on prefilter that catches sediment before it kills the hollow-fiber internals. Filter-only replacements cut both plastic and cost. Treat your water system as consumable rather than heirloom, and this is the upgrade path. On the shelter side, Kelty's Early Start 2 lands at $280 and 2 lb 10 oz trail weight, undercutting premium two-person tents like the Big Agnes Copper Spur and NEMO Dragonfly while keeping pole segments short enough for bikepacking rigs. I've watched the ultralight cottage industry charge $600+ for less. Kelty just exposed the markup.

What to Track Before You Commit

Two more trail-focused moves worth watching. Trail Runner Magazine flagged limited August drops that'll sell out before most athletes even know the SKU exists. Better Trail just published a review of the Norda 055, pitched as a complete mountain running shoe. Both deserve your attention before you lock in a new rotation or write off your current pair. Stop buying marketing copy. Start tracking grams and dollars.