Thank you to SABRE for inspiring me to think more about running safety and for sponsoring today’s post.

Each month, I share my favorite finds for running, triathlon and general fitness that are helping me train and race happy, motivated and healthy. November was all about running safety. I even completed my first self-defense class yesterday that I’ll share more about soon! As we welcome in December today, I’m sharing my top picks for running gear that can help us stay safe while running from last month. My top 6 picks would also make excellent stocking stuffers and gifts for the holidays (hint hint).

1. Personal Alarm from SABRE ($9.99)
I absolutely love this personal alarm from SABRE, which is easy to carry while running (or anywhere you go).

SABRE is a family owned and operated company with more than 4 decades of experience in the personal safety industry. I connected with the team at SABRE when they found out how much I had been talking about running safety. They reached out to me to share some of their tools for runners, and I instantly fell in love with their products and their team. SABRE is dedicated to educating people about how to make personal safety a priority and teaching us how to safely use their products if we ever have to use them in a real situation.

This 110 dB alarm can be heard up to 300 feet away, and I swear it is as loud as my house alarm. It calls attention for help to scare off attackers and alert others in the area you need help. Although it looks kind of like a thumb drive, you simply pull the plastic part away from the keychain to activate it, and then reattach to stop the alarm. I’ll be giving one away here on the blog next week, so be sure to stop by next Monday for a chance to win one!

2. The Runner Pepper Spray from SABRE ($12.99)
Also from SABRE, I love this adjustable pepper spray for runners that attaches to your hand and can be easily carried while running. When it’s unlocked and off safety, the nozzle is pointing in front of you, not to the side or at your face. You use your thumb to unlock the safety, and press down to activate (you can have your thumb resting on the spray button at any time so you don’t have to worry about pulling it out of a case and wasting time if you are in a bad situation.

SABRE says the spray is 67 times hotter than hot sauce! It comes out in a stream delivery, and they advise to spray this straight across the attacker’s eyes from ear to ear for the best results. They also sell practice spray to help you practice how to use this correctly, which I love. The pepper spray for runners contains 25 bursts and provides protection from up to 10 feet away.

I’ll be giving one away here on the blog next week, so be sure to stop by next Monday for a chance to win one!

3. Brooks Running PureFlow 3 Nightlife Collection ($105)
Being visible is one way to stay safer while running. How about glow-in-the-dark shoes?

I love the NightLife-inspired shoes Brooks is currently making in some of their favorite styles, including the PureFlow3 (pictured here), the Ravenna and the Adrenaline. All 3 styles are available in ultra-reflective versions for visibility during darker hours. The laces are like one big reflector and the colors help with visibility as well. This month, the Brooks team sent me the PureFlow3s to try – a lightweight shoe part of the Brooks PureProject line that are made for neutral runners. Runner’s World named these the “Best Update” in their March 2014 issue, and the comfort and ride are excellent. Most of you know I run the majority of the time in the PureCadence, which offer slightly more stability than the PureFlows, but I think these are excellent. PureProject shoes typically last 250-300 miles before needing to be replaced.

4. Brooks Running NightLife LS ($80)
Every time I try something new from Brooks, I swear it is my new favorite thing. Until I try something else and realize I love that too. This year’s gear from Brooks is the best, and the NightLife LS proves that.

I am in love with this long-sleeve top that has an attached hood to not only keep you warm during the winter months, but also to provide reflectivity to help vehicles see you in the morning hours or darker hours of the day. It is semi-fitted, has a soft, stretchy fabric and has a back pocket as well as thumbholes. There is reflectivity on the pocket, at the shoulders and on the wrists. There is also a hole on the hood so you can pull your head phones through if you are using an ear bud while you run.

5. Vislit LED Wearable Reflectors from Amphipod ($9.99-$14)
I love these triangle-shaped wearable flashing Vislet LED lights from Amphipod. I first tried these out when I ran Hood to Coast in 2013 on my first leg in the dark. I love that you can wear them in numerous places on your body – from the waistband of your shorts to your reflective vest to your visor. To turn them on and off you simply press a button and they are powered by a battery you can buy anywhere, like at CVS or Walgreen’s. They attach to you with a magnet and weigh less than a half of an ounce.

6. Road I.D. (prices vary based on styles)
Road I.D. makes bracelets, shoe tags and other items that you can customize with your personal information and emergency contact information to wear while running. I really like the shoe I.D. tags and wear one while I run. I received one as a birthday present several years ago, and it is a great gift to give to someone else, especially as a stocking stuffer for the holidays.

Please note: SABRE provided me with the personal alarm and pepper spray for runners to try at no cost. They also sponsored today’s post. As a Brooks Running Run Happy Ambassador, Brooks sent me the items mentioned in this post to try at no cost to me. I have no affiliations with Amphipod or Road I.D. I have written about all of these products because I think they are excellent and because I love running with them/in them myself and would highly recommend them to other runners. Receiving products for free would never persuade or bias me to write favorably about a product. Everything I share on runladylike.com is my own, uncensored opinion and always will be.

What running gear did you try during November that you loved? What gear do you use to help you stay safe while running?