The running belt that wants to kill the vest
Image : Raide Research official
Raide Research was founded by Kyle Siegel, a veteran of both SpaceX and The North Face who is also an avid trail runner. Frustrated by the bounce and relatively low capacity of existing running belts — and not a fan of race vests — he set out to engineer something better.
The brand's philosophy is simple but demanding: all Raide products must start by solving real problems for athletes. They believe the best gear isn't dependent on any one variable like being the lightest, but a combination of style, weight, durability, and functionality. That DNA puts them firmly in the same conversation as Arc'teryx and norda — small, technically obsessive brands building for people who actually go deep into the mountains.
The Products: The TrailTech System
The LF 2L Running Belt — the flagship
The LF 2L was designed around a core promise: run further with nothing on your back. Its headline feature is a suspension system that eliminates bounce from the back pocket — achieved through a back structure with 3mm of foam, four flexible plastic stays, and anatomical shaping that keeps the belt close to the lumbar rather than rounding away from the body. The foam also insulates the included 650mL Hydrapak flask from body heat, keeping liquids cooler for longer.
The belt features seven total pockets and 2L of storage — and it's the only belt on the market that advertises an ice axe carry option, using a 2.5mm elastic cord with a cord lock and an additional snap closure to secure an axe horizontally across the back. The same system doubles as pole storage for trail runners.
The main fabric is a 150gsm 70D stretch woven with a 3mm x 3mm UHMWPE ripstop — ultra-cut and abrasion resistant — making it one of the most durable belts on the market. The LF 2L is patent pending.
The UL 1L — the lighter everyday option
For shorter road sessions and mid-week trail runs, Raide built the UL 1L — taking the no-bounce suspension system of the LF 2L and making it lighter, for days when you need nutrition and hydration but not the full capacity of the bigger belt.
The TrailTech Shorts — a system, not just a product
The TrailTech System is built on a key observation: runners today carry more fuel and hydration than ever, usually concentrating it all in one product — typically a vest. Raide's answer is to distribute that load more evenly around the body. The TrailTech shorts are engineered to integrate seamlessly with Raide's running belts — the pocket openings sit just below the belt, letting runners reach cargo without lifting the outer short. The waistband is seamless, flat, and smooth with laser-cut perforations, and the three flask sizes (360mL, 500mL, 650mL) allow the hydration volume to be tailored precisely to the effort.
norda x Raide — a Collaboration That Signals Something Bigger
Norda, the Canadian bio-based trail shoe brand that has become one of the most talked-about names in premium trail running — collaborated with Raide on a co-branded version of the LF 2L Running Belt in an exclusive "Sage" colourway, with reflective co-branded detailing and pink toggle accents.
This matters beyond the colourway. Two of the most design-forward, technically serious small brands in trail running choosing each other as partners is a signal about where the sport's premium segment is heading — away from legacy outdoor giants and toward a tighter ecosystem of independent, engineer-first labels. It's the same energy that drives the NNormal x Kilian conversation, or the early days of Arc'teryx in trail.
