No affiliate links on this page. I've linked directly to Amazon UK so you can find each product, but I don't earn anything from those clicks. These are just the things I personally bought and used.
Wahoo TICKR
My primary chest strap for most training sessions. Pairs instantly with the Garmin computer via ANT+ and with my phone via Bluetooth simultaneously. Accurate, comfortable, reliable battery life. The standard TICKR is all most people need â I've never felt the need to upgrade to the TICKR X.
Garmin HRM Pro
I also have the Garmin HRM Pro, which I use when I want running dynamics data â cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation. For pure Zone 2 cycling the Wahoo TICKR is my go-to, but the Garmin integrates more deeply with Garmin Connect analytics if you're in that ecosystem. Both are excellent chest straps.
Why a chest strap matters: Wrist-based optical HR sensors on watches lag at lower intensities and can over-read. For Zone 2, where you're trying to stay within a specific 10â15 bpm range, that lag and inaccuracy makes a real difference. A chest strap gives you accurate, real-time data.
Garmin Edge (cycle computer)
I use a Garmin Edge cycling computer mounted on the handlebars. Heart rate displays prominently on screen throughout every ride â glance down, check you're in zone, adjust accordingly. Pairs with both my Wahoo TICKR (ANT+) and Garmin HRM Pro seamlessly. Syncs automatically to Garmin Connect when I get home. The Garmin ecosystem for data analysis is genuinely excellent for tracking Zone 2 progress over time.
Wahoo KICKR
The KICKR is my most-used piece of training equipment, particularly through winter. Direct drive (your rear wheel comes off, bike mounts directly), very quiet, accurate power measurement. Pairs perfectly with Zwift for indoor sessions that don't feel like torture. The main advantage for Zone 2: total control over resistance. No hills, no wind, no traffic â just you holding a steady power output at your target heart rate for as long as you need. It's also how I noticed Zone 2 adaptation most clearly: the same heart rate producing progressively more watts month over month.
Saucony Endorphin Speed
My main running shoe and the one I'd recommend first. Lightweight, responsive, comfortable for longer Zone 2 efforts. The nylon plate gives a nice propulsion without the aggressive rocker geometry of the Endorphin Pro. I've used these for everything from 30-minute Zone 2 jogs to multi-hour training runs.
Saucony Endorphin Pro
The carbon plate version â reserved for harder efforts and race-pace work rather than Zone 2 sessions. The Pro is more shoe than you need for easy aerobic running, but if you do any speed work or racing alongside your Zone 2 programme it's excellent.
FlipBelt running belt
A waist belt for carrying phone, gels, and keys on longer runs. Sits flat against the body, nothing bounces, nothing digs in. For Zone 2 runs over 45 minutes where I want my phone for music or podcasts without holding it, this is the solution. Simple and effective.
Gymshark shorts
Training shorts I wear for both running and gym sessions. Lightweight, good range of movement, hold their shape well. Nothing complicated â just comfortable kit that stays out of the way.
Puma running vest
Lightweight running gilet for cooler weather. Cuts wind without adding bulk or restricting movement. Useful for the temperature range where a full jacket is too much but short sleeves aren't quite enough â common in UK training conditions.
Enigma Escape â custom build
PBP bikeTitanium was the obvious frame choice for a multi-day endurance event. It's as light as aluminium but has the compliance and ride quality of good steel â it absorbs road vibration over long hours in a way that carbon simply doesn't. After 1,200km across French roads, that matters enormously. The Enigma Escape is a UK-made titanium endurance frame, and it performed flawlessly across the entire event.
The SON dynamo hub â the standout component
The SON dynamo hub laced into the front wheel was probably the single most important component choice for PBP. It generates power from the wheel turning â enough to run the Supernova lights continuously through the night, keep the Garmin charged throughout 88 hours, and give the phone a boost when needed. No battery anxiety, no stopping to recharge, no dead lights at 3am on a French country road. For any multi-day event, a dynamo system is genuinely transformative.
The one mechanical
A spoke broke on the rear wheel â the only mechanical problem across 1,200km. Fixed quickly at a checkpoint. The Hope RD40 wheels performed well throughout an event with significant bag loading and many hours of variable road surfaces.
The full story: Read the Paris-Brest-Paris race report for a complete account of how the bike and kit performed across 1,200km.
Garmin Connect
My primary data platform. Every ride and run syncs automatically from the Garmin Edge computer. The heart rate zone breakdowns per activity are clear and accurate â after each session I can see exactly what percentage of time I spent in Zone 2 vs drifting above it. The long-term trends (fitness age, VO2 Max estimate, resting HR over months) give a useful picture of adaptation. Free with any Garmin device.
Strava
I use Strava alongside Garmin Connect â primarily for the social layer and for logging runs. The segment and kudos features are motivating in a way that a pure data dashboard isn't. Also useful for comparing efforts on the same routes over time. Syncs automatically from Garmin. Free tier is sufficient for most Zone 2 training purposes.
Zwift
The indoor training app that makes long Zone 2 sessions on the KICKR genuinely enjoyable rather than a slog. You ride a virtual world, other real people are riding around you, there are routes and events to follow. I used Zwift for the majority of my indoor training block in the winter before PBP. Without it, I don't think I could have sustained the volume of indoor training I needed. Worth every penny of the subscription for anyone with a smart trainer doing serious Zone 2 base work.
Where to start
Start with a chest strap
If you're new to Zone 2 and only buying one thing, buy a Wahoo TICKR. It's around ÂŖ50, pairs with any phone or computer, and gives you the accurate real-time heart rate data that makes Zone 2 training work. Everything else can come later.
Find your Zone 2 HR first â