Maggie Guterl making fast work of a hill in Durango, Colorado. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The working attire business has modified so much within the final decade in the case of the perfect working attire manufacturers. Consumers are not restricted to what’s on the market on the specialty working retailer of their space. The direct-to-consumer period of web retail has meant that new corporations can launch with only a web site and social media, and established manufacturers should keep on their toes and react to buyer wants and developments far more shortly.
From model to supplies to performance, modifications in attire have led to runners having extra selections than ever earlier than. Corporations have continued to make use of sponsored athletes and neighborhood leaders to showcase their gear on various kinds of individuals and our bodies.
With this abundance of alternative, we used the iRunFar staff’s collective expertise to pick ten path working attire manufacturers we recurrently use from varied worth factors and totally different positions out there. On this group, you’ll discover the heavy-hitter manufacturers and smaller ones packing their distinctive punch.
Finest Operating Attire Manufacturers
Excessive-quality working attire can maintain you comfy and looking out good. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Ventura, California
In style Fashions: Strider Professional Operating Shorts, Countless Run Tights, Houdini Jacket, Capilene Cool Light-weight Shirt
What We Like: Patagonia is among the finest manufacturers for considerate particulars, from the exterior drawstring on their shorts to the built-in working vest design of the Storm Racer Jacket to their use of planet-friendly supplies.
What We Don’t: The items might be an costly funding, however they’re constructed to final.
Patagonia’s path working historical past has been stuffed with stops and begins with their footwear, sponsored groups, and attire, however the previous few seasons have proven an actual dedication to the class.
The Strider Professional Operating Shorts alone will put Patagonia within the working attire model’s corridor of fame for many people, however the firm additionally has many different very considerate outerwear elements just like the Excessive Endurance Equipment, with its standout Storm Racer Jacket.
The light-weight Houdini Jacket is the go-to possibility for a lot of runners and adventurers, particularly in alpine areas. Patagonia’s dedication to environmental advocacy makes supporting the model a no brainer for path runners, and the top quality of their gadgets makes them nice to make use of.
For extra on what’s taking place at Patagonia, take a look at our Storm Racer Jacket and Excessive Endurance Equipment critiques.
iRunFar’s Craig Randall assessments the Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket in, ahem, stormy circumstances. Photograph: iRunFar/Christin Randall
Location: Santa Barbara, California
In style Fashions: FKT 5″, EZ Tee LS, UtiliBra-vo
What We Like: Rabbit helps many high-level runners, however their emphasis is on enjoyable for everybody. The comparatively younger model has many colourful items for each women and men, and purists will love the quick inseam choices.
What We Don’t: Some girls want longer shorts than rabbit affords. We’d additionally like to see fashions and colorways stick round a bit of longer to advertise sustainability.
Rabbit was based by two girls in Santa Barbara, California. Just like the pacesetter their identify evokes, their aim is to be out entrance and push limits within the traditionally male-oriented working enterprise. Being out entrance goes past cutting-edge attire for the model; it additionally contains the inclusion of all individuals and sizes. Their shirts have confirmed to be useable by many ladies all through their being pregnant, stretching to suit a rising stomach and nonetheless being useable post-partum. You possibly can learn extra in regards to the rabbit EZ Tank prime and the rabbit EZ tee LS (hyperlinks?) at our finest maternity exercise garments information. The model gained early traction with path runners and has a definite presence in monitor and discipline and street marathons.
RabbitRELAX cloth is a standout materials, incomes rave critiques from all who slip into items made with this buttery comfortable materials. New collections emerge each season, however some staples embrace button-front shirts just like the Low Tide and the cutout Vert Shirt HP, impressed by the Western States 100 and Scott Jurek. Earlier than Hoka launched its attire strains, rabbit was the producer of the Hoka package utilized by the shoe model’s professionals.
See far more about rabbit in our girls’s chilly climate attire evaluate and girls’s heat climate attire evaluate.
The model rabbit makes nice attire for runners, together with this rabbit Excessive Nation SS worn by Kyle Curtin. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Ashington, U.Ok.
In style Fashions: Dart XT Thermal Zip Neck Lengthy-Sleeved High, Minimus Nano Pull-On Waterproof Jacket, Fireball Nano Hooded Jacket, Protium Lite Hooded Fleece Pull-On
What We Like: Wonderful high quality merchandise with an endurance focus, a great deal of choices for tops, pants, and equipment like hats and gloves, merchandise appear to be very sturdy
What We Don’t: Hardly any choices for working shorts
Montane is among the few manufacturers dedicating its whole product line to high-output endurance mountain actions. And we’re right here for it. The U.Ok.-based model has quickly turn into one in all our favorites, due to its high-quality and high-performing lineup. Merely put, we’ve liked each Montane product examined. The Dart XT Thermal Zip Neck Lengthy-Sleeved High is a superb piece that serves as a next-to-skin base layer or a stand-alone piece. Identical with the Protium Lite Hooded Fleece Pull-On, which is a bit heavier and might deal with temperatures into the 40s as a stand-alone piece.
The Fireball Nano Hooded Jacket is an revolutionary prime layer for colder runs because it options strategically positioned insulation on the chest and air flow beneath the arms and on the again. However maybe one in all our favourite items, not simply within the Montane product line however of all attire we’ve just lately examined, is the Minimus Nano Pull-On Waterproof Jacket. The absolutely weatherproof jacket is extremely waterproof, packs down right into a wad most individuals can palm whereas working, and has confirmed to be a wonderful “simply in case” piece for us on mountain missions, from path working to mountain biking to fly-fishing.
Now we have two notes to level out. First, Montane at present doesn’t have many — or any — severe choices for working shorts. We’d like to see the model take a dip into that class. Secondly, as a typical European model, the lower and match of most items are slim and athletic. Personally, we like that, however it received’t be as inclusive for all physique varieties, and you must most likely go up one dimension in comparison with the standard American clothes manufacturers.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
In style Fashions: AFO Center Quick, 7/8 Groundwork Tight 2.0, Helio Tech Tee
What We Like: Janji is thought for daring and wild prints for women and men whereas standing for terrific causes like world clear water entry.
What We Don’t: It’s a critique you’ll see in a number of locations on this information, however slower mannequin and colorway switches would promote a extra sustainable strategy to working attire.
Janji exploded on the path working attire scene a number of years in the past with extraordinarily daring patterns and prints, discovering early distribution within the large outside retailer, REI Co-op. What’s behind the identify? Janji means “a promise or declaration” in Indonesian, and their dedication to environmental and humanitarian causes is immense. The corporate donates 2% of the proceeds of each buy to wash water initiatives within the particular nations they use for inspiration for his or her seasonal collections.
Native artists create Janji’s seasonal collections, and two significantly cool ones are designed by Arwin Hidayat and Soni Irawan, two gifted artists from the island of Java. The Batik prints are used significantly successfully on the Groundwork Lengthy Bra 2.0, 7″ Tempo Quick, and the Helio Tech Tank. There are numerous extra examples of Arwin and Soni’s designs on a few of Janji’s hottest kinds, just like the 5″ AFO Center Quick and 7/8 Groundwork Tight 2.0.
In our girls’s attire evaluate, you possibly can study extra about varied items from this model.
iRunFar’s Kristin Zosel carrying the Janji Groundwork Tempo Sports activities Bra and Janji 6-inch Groundwork Tempo Quick. Photograph: iRunFar/Kristin Zosel
Location: Seattle, Washington
In style Fashions: Component Shorts (classics which might be not in line), Dare Cross-Again Run Bra, Distance Lengthy Sleeve
What We Like: Excessive-touch customer support and an superior 90-day satisfaction assure, so in case you don’t love what you obtain, you possibly can return it at no cost.
What We Don’t: Whereas path working isn’t an afterthought, Brooks is actually most lively within the street working scene.
Brooks is the self-proclaimed “Run Pleased” firm, and their legacy in path working footwear is firmly established with classics just like the Cascadia. Along with their well-loved sneakers, the corporate additionally has a deep and high-quality attire assortment for all sorts of working.
Again in 2008, iRunFar founder Bryon Powell stated that the Component Shorts, the basic shorts which might be not in line, have been the perfect working shorts he had utilized in his then-15 years of working. One can longingly recall the less complicated days of ultrarunning when a youthful Bryon Powell would have been working in these shorts and commuting to cowl races in his trademark Toyota Prius. The Journey Prius stays, and so does Brooks’s wonderful attire.
The corporate has taken actual management in high-visibility clothes meant for staying shiny and noticeable in darkness. Whereas that is actually extra of a priority with street working, the identical give attention to particulars extends to the path. Items just like the Sherpa 5″ 2-in-1 Quick and Distance Lengthy Sleeve are extra sturdy than related merchandise from different manufacturers, constructed to face up to snagging tree branches or the occasional catch-a-toe crash on arduous singletrack.
Brooks has received over iRunFar’s girls’s testers with its Dare sports activities bra assortment, a set of high-impact, encapsulation-style bras with seven totally different fashions obtainable. You possibly can study extra about these bras at our Dare sports activities bra assortment evaluate.
Brooks has lengthy made working attire, together with the Brooks Dare Excessive-Neck Run Bra from their Brooks Dare sports activities bra assortment. Photograph: iRunFar/Annie Behrend
Location: Ziano di Fiemme, Italy
In style Fashions: Freccia Quick M, Drizzle Overpant M, Timing Quick W
What We Like: Technical supplies and revolutionary textiles with a broad vary of attire for each women and men spotlight what this model creates. Items are a superb funding and might be crossed over with different sports activities.
What We Don’t: The match is unquestionably European sizing however not as inconsistent as La Sportiva’s footwear might be. Prospects ought to evaluate attire dimension charts earlier than shopping for.
It’s a pure transfer for La Sportiva, which makes world-class mountaineering, mountaineering, and snowboarding merchandise, to supply a set of mountain working attire that may cross over into any, or typically all, of these different sports activities. And thankfully, attire for all sports activities advantages from being breathable, quick-drying, and simple to layer.
La Sportiva’s working attire for women and men contains every little thing from shirts to sports activities bras to shorts and skirts and light-weight packable overpants for wet runs. The match is extra European than American, with tighter strains, silhouettes, and shiny and daring colours. La Sportiva is a part of a dwindling group that also affords an iRunFar favourite: the half-zip working shirt with raglan sleeves — at the very least for males. The Limitless T-Shirt M makes it simple to manage physique temperature whereas working.
La Sportiva has lengthy used the outstanding anti-odor and -bacteria expertise Polygiene, which might maintain your working attire from smelling and preserve water and vitality by requiring fewer washes.
Operating in Colorado at dawn. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Annecy, France
In style Fashions: Bonatti Waterproof, S/Lab Pace Bob
What We Like: Salomon affords some of the intensive attire assortments on this information, with many choices for women and men.
What We Don’t: Provide chain points hit Salomon arduous the previous two years and stock has suffered.
Ever since Kilian Jornet tore across the Western States 100 course in 2010 donning a skimpy pair of white Salomon half tights (extra like quarter tights) with a skin-tight prime, Salomon’s path working attire has stood out. The S/Lab vary, the place Killian’s aforementioned tights got here from, has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of technical efficiency and match. A previous favourite from that period was the boys’s Exo S/Lab Twinskin Shorts, which have been tremendous stretchy and cozy paired with an over-short with pockets for gels and different small gadgets.
Salomon is now synonymous with the likes of Courtney Dauwalter and François D’Haene, two athletes on the prime of the ultrarunning world. The corporate has used these two runners’ distinctive kinds, together with their love for lengthy shorts, as inspiration for brand spanking new items of attire.
These days, items just like the technical Bonatti Waterproof and the S/Lab line pair with one of many broadest ranges of shorts and shirts of any model on this information. Their affordability can also be wonderful, with many attire items starting from $40 to $50.
iRunFar’s Ben Kilbourne assessments working attire on a morning run in Colorado. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Seattle, Washington
In style Fashions: Roga Shorts, Flyout Wool Half Zip, Tremendous Seamless Bra, Flyout Quick Sleeve
What We Like: Oiselle is actually a for-women, by-women model that has positively grown via the enter of its clients {and professional} athletes by recurrently fielding suggestions from the general public.
What We Don’t: Typically, the sizing is inconsistent throughout the product strains.
Oiselle got here on the scene in 2007 as a woman-founded model producing attire distinctly by girls and for girls. A lot of our testers steadily comment on the sturdiness and longevity of the items. Oiselle has famously tussled with huge establishments within the sport, like USATF, over emblem placement and allowances for its sponsored athletes. The model received a variety of followers for daring to vary the paradigm for all athletes, significantly feminine ones, since sponsorship wages are lean and arduous to return by.
The Roga Shorts debuted in Oiselle’s first yr and have stayed within the line ever since. They’re every little thing you’d need in a pair of shorts for every day working, with daring colours and prints that make them stand out and a flat waistband, giant again zip pocket, and semi-fitted model. The corporate continues to create items of clothes which might be as enjoyable to put on as they’re useful.
The Flyout Wool Half Zip combines a half-zip entrance with an excellent comfy wool mix that wicks moisture, breathes, resists odor build-up, and stays reasonably heat when moist from rain or sweat. iRunFar tester Kristin Zosel says Flyout Wool is the lightest weight wool and polyester mixture cloth she’s ever worn.
Learn extra about Oiselle in our finest working shorts for girls information and finest working shirts for girls information.
The Oiselle Featherweight Roga Shorts are a wonderful companion to any run from the model Oiselle. Photograph: iRunFar/Abby Levene
Location: Powder Mountain, Utah
In style Fashions: Sykes PX – 5″ Quick, Lynx PD – 3″ Base Liner, Cascade SS T
What We Like: The shorts use a layering system consisting of a boxer temporary paired with an over-short, a mix that is among the most comfy working setups we’ve ever used. Offered direct-to-consumer solely, Path Initiatives’ retail costs are extremely aggressive.
What We Don’t: The styling is a bit subdued and understated, so followers of daring and shiny prints received’t discover the choices satisfying. In addition they solely make males’s merchandise.
Path Initiatives walks the road between path working performance and a complicated look higher than anybody else. They make merchandise designed for sturdiness that also have fashionable options like telephone pockets. Not fairly Lululemon, however equally high-end in its product growth, Path Initiatives has among the best-priced working attire in the marketplace.
The corporate was based to be direct-to-consumer, constructing the model completely on-line. Particular collaborations with neighborhood leaders like ultrarunner and filmmaker Billy Yang and an curiosity within the quickest identified time scene have proven that Path Initiatives is dedicated to the core of the game.
To study extra, see our finest working shorts for males information, the place we named the Graves PX – 5″ Quick the perfect worth quick.
Path Initiatives is a small firm making nice males’s working attire, together with the Path Initiatives Graves PX – 5″ Quick. Photograph: iRunFar/Christin Randall
Location: Osaka, Japan (American headquarters in Boulder, Colorado)
In style Fashions: Rain Trekker Jacket, Tachyon Parka, Cool Gentle T
What We Like: Montbell flies a bit of beneath the radar in comparison with among the flashier and hyper-marketed manufacturers on this information, and but they’ve persistently produced class-leading working jackets in addition to a full assortment of path working merchandise.
What We Don’t: The frequent working attire items, like shirts and shorts, are restricted to only one or two choices.
Montbell is a staple amongst hikers and ultralight backpackers, and whereas it doesn’t do so much to place itself particularly throughout the path working class, the attire supplied is among the finest obtainable for our sport. Runners who spend a variety of time tromping across the mountains in troublesome climate circumstances usually flip to Montbell merchandise to maintain them comfy and protected.
A number of of Montbell’s jackets are prime picks in our current jacket guides, together with the Rain Trekker Jacket in our finest working rain jackets information and the Tachyon Parka in our finest working wind jackets information.
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks wears the Montbell Tachyon Parka. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The place to Purchase Operating Attire
In contrast to trainers, which generally line the partitions at retail retailers, working attire tends to be simpler to return by immediately from manufacturers’ web sites and different outside specialty on-line retailers, like REI Co-op, Backcountry, and Operating Warehouse, fairly than in-person. You’ll discover the larger manufacturers like Nike, adidas Terrex, and Brooks generally on the retail flooring, however in case you’re searching for among the smaller gamers like La Sportiva, you’ll need to go to their web site. Different merchandise, like these made by Path Initiatives, are solely offered on-line.
Different Operating Attire Manufacturers
Our prime 10 selections for finest working attire manufacturers barely scratch the floor of the working attire manufacturers obtainable. Listed below are another manufacturers we’ve examined and revel in utilizing, shared alphabetically.
Soar Operating makes numerous wonderful working attire, together with this Soar Operating Sizzling Climate T. Photograph: iRunFar/Christin Randall
Name for Feedback
- What are your favourite working attire manufacturers?
- Why do you just like the manufacturers you do? Due to the attire made? Due to the corporate’s environmental and social practices? Due to your historical past with them? For another motive?
