Lily Alig and her boyfriend Matt, like most New Yorkers, are no strangers to long walks. Living in Brooklyn, they walk everywhere they can, which is why Matt was immediately drawn to the idea of The Great Saunter. Sponsored by Shorewalkers, a non-profit dedicated to preserving New York City's waterfronts, The Great Saunter is a 32-mile walk around the entire island of Manhattan. In preparation, they researched the most comfortable walking shoes, the best athletic underwear for men, and more. Matt walked for over 12 hours and covered 35 miles by the end of the day. Miraculously, he only got one blister and kept all his toenails! Keep reading to see the essential items that helped him survive walking further than a marathon.
1. Under Armour Compression Shorts
After a challenging training walk in a pair of standard boxer briefs, finding a good pair of compression shorts became a top priority. They found an Under Armour pair that topped every list. Matt wore them for the entire 32 miles and experienced minimal chafing and discomfort. The Under Armour HeatGear Shorts are designed for intense activity with integrated mesh panels for ventilation and flat seams that are cleverly positioned away from delicate areas.
Promising review: "I love these, they are perfect for running. I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max and they hold my phone in the thigh pocket perfectly without bouncing. They are very durable; after a few years they start to tear, but I trained for three half marathons, one marathon, and ran about 40-50 miles per week for two years before the first pair became unusable. Easily worth the price and high quality as always from Under Armour." — Nick McCarty. $30 at Amazon or Dick's Sporting Goods.
2. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 Running Shoes
The most important decision was choosing sneakers that could support Matt's bad knees and flat feet. They visited a running store in Brooklyn and were steered toward the cushiony and high-support Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25s. Matt wore these shoes every day for two weeks before the big day so they would be fully molded to his feet. The best review: after 35 miles of walking, he had only one blister! No sneaker prevents soreness after 32 miles, but this Brooks pair prevents significant damage. Plus, he had almost zero pain after practice walks up to 12 miles. $155 at Amazon or Zappos.
3. Power Bank with Built-in Cords
Between his AirPods, phone, and Apple Watch, Matt had a lot of tech to keep charged over 12 hours. They set him up with a lightweight power bank that has built-in micro, USB-C, and lightning cables. It is convenient to charge by just plugging it into the wall. By the end of the walk, the bank miraculously still had some juice. The power bank is about the size of an iPhone, so it didn't add unnecessary weight to his bag. $26 at Amazon.
4. Moisture-Wicking Socks
Long-distance runners told them that socks are almost as important as shoes. The right socks can limit blisters, manage moisture, and provide extra cushioning. Matt chose Feetures High Performance socks and immediately felt the difference from his regular socks. They are game changers because of the lightly compressive band around the arch and the blessedly seamless toe.
Promising review: "These are my favorite socks OF ALL TIME. I wear them anytime I do any amount of real walking—they hold up to tens of thousands of steps at Disney World. They are reinforced in all the right places, especially the TOE. For me, having shoes pinch my toes after lots of walking is the worst; these go a long way to prevent that entirely. They are pricey but so worth it." — Caitlin Jeansonne. 3-Pack: $45.60.
5. Hydration Backpack with Two-Liter Capacity
They didn't want to spend $90 on a CamelBak, so they chose a 2-liter model on Amazon and it was perfect. The straps comfortably fit across his chest, so the pack hardly shifted during the entire walk. Plus, the extra pockets meant he didn't have to carry any other bag. His 32-ounce water bottle (filled with ice) fit in the side pouch.
Promising review: "Great backpack, highly recommend! I got it to hike Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, hiked 11 miles in each, and this backpack worked great. Size perfect to carry enough stuff (sunscreen, water, etc.) but lightweight. No leakage. Water flow system worked well." — Danny Brambilia. $26 at Amazon.
6. Blister Prevention Strips
When a Great Saunter alum told them to buy "moleskins," they weren't sure a chic notebook would be helpful. Turns out the premium blister prevention strips are made by Promifun. These are recommended by Shorewalkers to relieve hot spots on feet and ankles during the walk. The latex-free strips come in four shapes that are easy to contour on your skin. Matt used one on a painful blister that popped up around mile 20; it cushioned the tender area and never fell off. $10 at Amazon.
7. Anti-Chafing Balm
Chafing is an unfortunate reality of intense physical activity. The thought of raw discomfort at mile 18 of 32 was unbearable, so Matt got Squirrel's Nut Butter. It's an anti-chafing salve made with coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and vitamin E. You apply it like stick deodorant wherever you're prone to hot spots. After some practice walks in less-than-ideal clothes, Matt used this to soothe irritated skin.
Promising review: "This stuff is the smoothest and best for avoiding chafing. Love how all-natural this is—no major smells and non-greasy too!" — L. Ziobro. $15 at Amazon.
8. Lululemon Trousers
They originally bought Lululemon pants after a particularly sweaty summer going to work. A friend recommended them for golfing because they are breathable, offer full range of motion, and look business casual. Matt now owns three pairs and exclusively wears them to the office, which is why he wore them for a 12-mile training walk after work one day. Obviously, he preferred athletic shorts, but the Lulu pants were remarkably comfortable for three hours of walking. $138 at Lululemon.
