raide research was founded in 2023 in carbondale, colorado by kyle siegel, who spent time as a mechanical engineer at spacex and the north face before deciding he wanted to solve specific problems for mountain runners. the lf 2l running belt — a no-bounce lumbar belt with a patent-pending suspension system — is the product that put them on the map. the engineering is serious. the lf 2l uses a foam-backed suspension system that eliminates the bounce of any contents in the back pocket, four flexible plastic stays that keep the belt flush against your lumbar, and internal foam insulation that keeps liquids cooler for longer. it's a purpose-built object, designed by someone who understands how bodies move uphill and what makes gear fail.
the trail shorts are built with the same precision: lightweight, storage-focused, designed for steep terrain. the athlete roster includes anton krupicka, which tells you who they're building for. our take: raide research is a mountain-first gear brand from someone who came to it as an engineer rather than a marketer, and the products reflect that. if you're running at altitude or planning something in the mountains, the lf 2l is worth knowing about. one of the more interesting technical brands to emerge from colorado in years.