Luke's Summer Staff Picks

Hi, I'm Luke


I recently moved to Truckee from Santa Cruz this summer and I'm excited to be back in the mountains. I have passions in trail running, climbing, and backcountry skiing and am stoked to be part of the Alpenglow family. You’ll find me at the shop helping on the floor and running trails with our Mountain Running Club.


My Story:


I found my way to Truckee for the most wonderful reason - to be with my partner, Kaela and to be back in the mountains. I grew up in Murphys which is right in between Tahoe and Yosemite. The beauty of Tahoe and the areas surrounding it quickly captured my heart.


Before my time at Alpenglow I worked in the Bay Area as a clinical exercise physiologist working in corporate wellness. My journey to Alpenglow was shaped by years of being immersed in outdoor pursuits on my weekends and the desire to be a part of the mountain community in Tahoe.


I love the outdoors and it was instilled in me by my family and friends who share a lot of my passions. Whether it was peak bagging with my Dad on Ebbetts Pass or running a 100k section of the PCT with friends, these experiences left an indelible mark on my soul.


Currently, my primary focus revolves around trail running. I've been on a mission to push my limits, striving for both speed and endurance on the trails. I have participated in some long runs/races in the area and know I can push it further and I'm so stoked to be in one of the best areas to train. In addition to my love for trail running, I’m equally passionate about backcountry skiing and super excited to be learning how to skate ski this year.

"I'm super happy to be here and to be fully immersed in the outdoor world. Whether its the thrill of a steep descent or the tranquility of a mountain trail, I can't wait to share these passions with you."

- Luke Nelson

Luke's Top 3:

Sidas Trail + Insole


I’ve been using these insoles for about a year now. Easy to transfer between the different shoes that I have in my rotation and it's lightweight. It has a great non-slip surface that keeps your feet locked in even in the wettest conditions.


Dynafit Ultra Pro 2


I used these shoes for about 30 miles in my last hundred mile race with about 70 miles of training miles prior. I had the opportunity to run with them on snow, ice, dirt, and mud. They performed well on all of the above. The shoe was pretty stiff in the beginning when I first started running with them but I did find that they started to soften the more miles I put into them. And getting the choice between having a speed lace system or normal laces, who doesn't like that!

The North Face Summit Vective Pro 2


I had these shoes in rotation for my last hundred mile race. They have been updated from last year, where the carbon plate fork could rub your metatarsal heads on your big toe/pinky toe. The North Face reduced the height of carbon forks so they no longer rub those areas. I have a wider foot and that change was significant for my foot care. These shoes are wonderful on flowy dirt trails and you’ll be flying when you put these on your feet. 


More Top Picks:

Salomon XA Filter


I carry this as a backup for my long runs. I primarily use it to refill my other soft flasks in creeks and streams. Once I'm filled up I throw it back into my vest, its a great backup!

Garmin Epix Pro 


The Epix pro has been a game changer, the AMOLED screen is extremely visible and bright when you’re on the move. The biggest benefit for this watch is the flashlight feature. I forgot my headlamp when I arrived at the trailhead and I was able to click that on and record my run, without losing any toe nails.



Maurten Gel 160


I ate about 40 of these during my last big race, having one every 30 minutes. I didn't have any stomach issues from these and I had ample energy throughout the race. They don't have a super sweet taste to them and the consistency can be a bit like Jell-o. After the race I didn't get taste fatigue and still use them.



Neversecond C30 Fruit Punch


This nutrition choice brought back having a nice Hawaiian Fruit Punch. These gels go down super easy and taste very palatable. I found that the energy intake for this fuel was spot on and worked well in my training runs. 



KT Tape


KT Tape is a must have. It's recommended by physical therapists and athletic trainers to help with support and pain reduction. But I use it for blister care, its thin and sticks really well to skin lending a great barrier to friction.



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Marlo's Summer Staff Picks
Mike's Summer Staff Picks

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