Lightweight down jackets really start to come into their own in the fall. These jackets pack up small and light, and deliver a surprising amount of cosiness for their bulk and weight. They're also great for layering, if you need a little extra protection against the elements.
A number of big outdoor retailers are running deals events right now, with some particularly good discounts on down (and synthetic down) jackets. I've rounded up my top recommendations below — including a number of my favorite brands from my time spent reviewing outdoors kit.
Some of these are pretty major discounts, so it stands to reason they're selling quickly. I've tried to stick to options where there's still a good range of sizes left, but if you're in the mood for some digging around, there are more excellent down jacket deals (with limited stock and sizes) available on each retailer's site. Pick one up now and you'll thank me when the cold weather really sets in.
We're gearing up for the second wave of major marathons this year: runners will be heading for the start line in Berlin at the end of the week (27 September), with the Chicago marathon following on 11 October and New York rounding out the season on 2 November.
Perhaps you're wondering what kind of footwear is propelling elite athletes to these kinds of times? I've hunted out the shoes worn by a selection of marathon winners, and rounded up the results below.
The Adidas Adios range crops up time and time again. Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha both sprinted to stunning sub-2 hour success at the 2026 London marathon while wearing Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes (currently sold out in the US, but a restock is coming in the UK on 24 September.) Sawe wore Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2 to take the gold at the Berlin 2025 marathon, as did Benson Kipruto for his 2025 New York win.
Hot on Kipruto's heels in Berlin 2025 was Alexander Mutiso Munyao, wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4. Incidentally, women's champ Rosemary Wanjiru was also wearing Adios Pro 4. In Chicago 2025, Hawi Feysa took the gold in the women's race wearing Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1.
Nike's winning line is the Alphafly. Jacob Kiplimo won the 2025 Chicago marathon in Nike Alphafly 3 — also the running shoe of choice of record-breaker Eliud Kipchoge.
It's not all about Adidas and Nike, though. John Korir has won two Boston marathons in a row while wearing prototype versions of the Asics MetaSpeed Sky, and Sharon Lokedi wore Under Armour Veliciti Elite 3 to defend her crown at Boston 2026. Hellen Obiri took the women's crown at the 2025 New York marathon in On LightSpray Cloudboom Strike — particularly notable for their laceless, 'spray-on' style.
If you're a keen runner and find yourself gripped by marathon fever, perhaps these are some models worth considering for your next long-distance race. But a couple of important caveats, before we start: First, if you're already in training for one of the upcoming marathons, you definitely don't want to be switching up your footwear in the run-up to the event. Second, these shoes are aimed at experienced long-distance runners; if you're not at that stage yet, head to our general best running shoe roundup for more beginner- and intermediate-friendly recommendations.
Colder, wetter weather might on the way, but that doesn't mean outdoor adventuring is off the cards. Quite the opposite, actually — with the right kit, fall and winter can be an excellent time to get out and about. If you need to fill out your cold weather wardrobe, head to Backcountry's flash sale, where for a (very) limited time, there's up to 70% off a massive range of outdoor clothing, accessories, and footwear from brands including Patagonia, The North Face, Mammut and Rab.
I've combed through the sale and rounded up my top picks below. I spent two years reviewing outdoors kit, and some of my favorite brands are included here. If you can't see what you want, it's well worth exploring the sale yourself — there are hundreds of products discounted, so chances are you'll find what you're looking for. You'll need to be quick though, as at time of writing the sale was due to end in a matter of hours.
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