On a quick trip to San Diego over the holidays, my friends couldn’t stop asking about the shoes I had worn on the plane and around town.

　　“Those are cute, who makes them?”

　　“Ooh, what are those?”

　　“You don’t run in those, though, do you?”

　　The answers to these questions were Tracksmith, my sneakiest, most versatile shoes, and yes, I do run in them quite nicely, thank you.

　　I was wearing the impressively good-looking Tracksmith Eliot Runners, which we’ve awarded “Most Stylish+High Performance” the past two years in a row in our comprehensive Outside road running shoe guide. It’s a category we made up for the Eliot Runners, but one that applies to some of my most valued running gear. Due to their lack of branding—no giant, obnoxious logo, letter, or, worse, full word, anywhere on the shoe—and their semi-preppy, East Coast styling, the Eliot Runners could be worn by someone way cooler than me (and often are). But they’re mine, and I love them for their ability to pass for urban wear as well as tear up the road or track.

　　I wear them on airplanes. I wear them to restaurants. And I run in them wherever I am: sandy Southern California beaches, neighborhood asphalt, hotel treadmills. I like how they’re not overly cushioned, making them more versatile—the moderate stack height gives me enough proprioception to wear them during weightlifting/gym workouts and on off-road terrain where I like to feel the ground (although I hesitate to take them on sloppy trails as they lack the necessary traction, and I don’t want them to get too dirty).

　　Wearing the Eliot Runners on a plane means one fewer pair of shoes in my luggage, but I also appreciate that they’re thin enough that I can fit them in a carry-on bag if I wear other footwear on travel day—unlike bulky max-cush shoes, trainers, or super shoes.

　　At $198, these shoes are $20 to $70 pricier than many neutral cushioned shoes on the market. But because of their versatility and their smooth performance, I think they’re a decent value.

　　My Eliot Runners aren’t the only crossover pieces in my running kit. Apparel that moves and breathes on the run and allows me to blend in as just another lady on a plane or a mom running errands, or, dare I say, a stylish human being at a restaurant table, ranks highest in my book as a gear tester. (Versatile gear saves money, space, and time.)

　　The following pieces look (and feel) good worn casually. And they deliver when I set out for a run. These items perform and let me go from Clark Kent to Super(wo)man and back, in an athletic sort of way. Which, to me, is gold.

　　Versatile Running Gear

　　Tracksmith Fells Waffle Midlayer $130 at Tracksmith (Womens) $130 at Tracksmith (Mens)

　　The brand that makes my favorite stealth running shoes also makes this wonderful base/midlayer. I fell in love with it while testing winter running gear a year ago, and I wasn’t alone. My test team and I reach for it when we want something that feels like a cozy sweatshirt but breathes great, wicks sweat, and dries quickly. I pull it over a sports bra for runs on cold days, wear it under a jacket or over a shirt for runs on frigid days, and have worn it as a midlayer snowboarding. I’ve also worn it out to a nice dinner, and my tablemates were shocked when I told them it was a running top.

　　Paka Everyday Baselayer $75 at Paka (Womens) $75 at Paka (Mens)

　　With its rich color and flattering cut, this longsleeve shirt is better looking than a lot of the tops I own as casual wear. It’s made out of 85 percent Tencel and 15 percent Alpaca wool, and is extremely soft and comfortable. One tester told me it was the perfect layer for a summer concert in the mountains, and for her run the next day. The longsleeve tee breathes well but shows sweat until it dries, which it does quickly. With zero branding on the exterior, this top blends in with non-athletic clothes in basically any situation.

　　LeBent Ultralight Short Sleeve Tee $85 at Amazon (Womens) $51 at LeBent (Mens)

　　This top also has minimal exterior branding—just a tiny patch on the hem—which I love. I also love that the tee isn’t skintight. While it started off semi-loose and relaxed, it shrank a tad with a wash, even in cold water. But because of its crewneck cut, heathered natural fabric, and clean lines (no mesh paneling, color-blocking, or large branding), it’s still a tee that I can wear out and around without screaming, “I’m going running!” The blend of rayon (from bamboo), merino wool, and nylon makes the fabric feel ridiculously soft and comfortable, and dry quickly from sweat. It’s a great all-around running shirt that just looks like a t-shirt.

　　Ibex Lizzi Tights $190 at Amazon $190 at Ibex

　　I see plenty of women—especially college-aged—traveling in tight yoga or athletic tights. I’m not one of those women; I find wearing most tights makes me feel too exposed. But since these wool, nylon, and elastane tights are thicker and more textured than regular tights, I’ve worn them on a plane (with a very long sweater). I then worked out in them later that day on a beach in San Diego during a chilly winter day. These tights feel so soft and warm against the skin that I pull them on at least once a week at home in Boulder to work, and end up running, lifting, or doing yoga in them, and I don’t feel weird if that day also includes running errands.