Maggie Guterl making fast work of a hill in Durango, Colorado. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The operating attire trade has modified so much within the final decade in relation to the perfect operating attire manufacturers. Consumers are not restricted to what’s on the market on the specialty operating 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 rather more shortly.
From model to supplies to performance, adjustments 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 folks and our bodies.
With this abundance of selection, we used the iRunFar group’s collective expertise to select ten path operating attire manufacturers we repeatedly use from varied value factors and completely different positions out there. On this group, you’ll discover the heavy-hitter manufacturers and smaller ones packing their distinctive punch.
Greatest Operating Attire Manufacturers
Excessive-quality operating attire can hold you comfy and searching good. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Ventura, California
Common Fashions: Strider Professional Operating Shorts, Countless Run Tights, Houdini Jacket, Capilene Cool Light-weight Shirt
What We Like: Patagonia is without doubt one of the finest manufacturers for considerate particulars, from the exterior drawstring on their shorts to the built-in operating vest design of the Storm Racer Jacket to their use of planet-friendly supplies.
What We Don’t: The items may be an costly funding, however they’re constructed to final.
Patagonia’s path operating historical past has been crammed 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 operating attire model’s corridor of fame for many people, however the firm additionally has many different very considerate outerwear parts just like the Excessive Endurance Package, 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 Package evaluations.
iRunFar’s Craig Randall assessments the Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket in, ahem, stormy situations. Photograph: iRunFar/Christin Randall
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Common 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 brief inseam choices.
What We Don’t: Some girls want longer shorts than rabbit presents. We’d additionally like to see fashions and colorways stick round a bit longer to advertise sustainability.
Rabbit was based by two girls in Santa Barbara, California. Just like the pacesetter their title evokes, their purpose is to be out entrance and push limits within the traditionally male-oriented operating enterprise. Being out entrance goes past cutting-edge attire for the model; it additionally consists of the inclusion of all folks 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 concerning 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 highway marathons.
RabbitRELAX material is a standout materials, incomes rave evaluations 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 equipment utilized by the shoe model’s professionals.
See rather 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.
Common 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 operating shorts
Montane is without doubt one of the few manufacturers dedicating its complete product line to high-output endurance mountain actions. And we’re right here for it. The U.Ok.-based model has quickly develop into considered one of our favorites, due to its high-quality and high-performing lineup. Merely put, we’ve beloved each Montane product examined. The Dart XT Thermal Zip Neck Lengthy-Sleeved High is a wonderful 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 progressive prime layer for colder runs because it options strategically positioned insulation on the chest and air flow underneath the arms and on the again. However maybe considered one of our favourite items, not simply within the Montane product line however of all attire we’ve lately examined, is the Minimus Nano Pull-On Waterproof Jacket. The totally weatherproof jacket is very waterproof, packs down right into a wad most individuals can palm whereas operating, and has confirmed to be a superb “simply in case” piece for us on mountain missions, from path operating to mountain biking to fly-fishing.
We’ve two notes to level out. First, Montane at the moment doesn’t have many — or any — critical choices for operating shorts. We’d like to see the model take a dip into that class. Secondly, as a typical European model, the reduce and match of most items are slim and athletic. Personally, we like that, but it surely received’t be as inclusive for all physique sorts, and you need to in all probability go up one dimension in comparison with the everyday American clothes manufacturers.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Common Fashions: AFO Center Brief, 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 international 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 method to operating attire.
Janji exploded on the path operating 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 title? 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 international locations 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 proficient artists from the island of Java. The Batik prints are used significantly successfully on the Groundwork Lengthy Bra 2.0, 7″ Tempo Brief, and the Helio Tech Tank. There are various extra examples of Arwin and Soni’s designs on a few of Janji’s hottest kinds, just like the 5″ AFO Center Brief 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 sporting the Janji Groundwork Tempo Sports activities Bra and Janji 6-inch Groundwork Tempo Brief. Photograph: iRunFar/Kristin Zosel
Location: Seattle, Washington
Common Fashions: Ingredient Shorts (classics which are 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 if you happen to don’t love what to procure, you possibly can return it at no cost.
What We Don’t: Whereas path operating isn’t an afterthought, Brooks is definitely most lively within the highway operating scene.
Brooks is the self-proclaimed “Run Completely satisfied” firm, and their legacy in path operating 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 every type of operating.
Again in 2008, iRunFar founder Bryon Powell stated that the Ingredient Shorts, the traditional shorts which are not in line, had been the perfect operating shorts he had utilized in his then-15 years of operating. One can longingly recall the less complicated days of ultrarunning when a youthful Bryon Powell would have been operating 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 brilliant and noticeable in darkness. Whereas that is definitely extra of a priority with highway operating, the identical give attention to particulars extends to the path. Items just like the Sherpa 5″ 2-in-1 Brief and Distance Lengthy Sleeve are extra sturdy than comparable merchandise from different manufacturers, constructed to face up to snagging tree branches or the occasional catch-a-toe crash on laborious 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 completely different fashions out there. You possibly can study extra about these bras at our Dare sports activities bra assortment evaluate.
Brooks has lengthy made operating 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
Common Fashions: Freccia Brief M, Drizzle Overpant M, Timing Brief W
What We Like: Technical supplies and progressive textiles with a broad vary of attire for each women and men spotlight what this model creates. Items are funding and may 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 may be. Clients ought to evaluate attire dimension charts earlier than shopping for.
It’s a pure transfer for La Sportiva, which makes world-class mountain climbing, mountaineering, and snowboarding merchandise, to supply a set of mountain operating attire that may cross over into any, or generally all, of these different sports activities. And happily, attire for all sports activities advantages from being breathable, quick-drying, and straightforward to layer.
La Sportiva’s operating attire for women and men consists of all the things 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 brilliant and daring colours. La Sportiva is a part of a dwindling group that also presents an iRunFar favourite: the half-zip operating shirt with raglan sleeves — a minimum of for males. The Limitless T-Shirt M makes it simple to manage physique temperature whereas operating.
La Sportiva has lengthy used the exceptional anti-odor and -bacteria expertise Polygiene, which may hold your operating attire from smelling and preserve water and power by requiring fewer washes.
Operating in Colorado at dawn. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Annecy, France
Common Fashions: Bonatti Waterproof, S/Lab Velocity Bob
What We Like: Salomon presents 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 laborious 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 operating attire has stood out. The S/Lab vary, the place Killian’s aforementioned tights got here from, has constantly pushed the boundaries of technical efficiency and match. A previous favourite from that period was the boys’s Exo S/Lab Twinskin Shorts, which had been tremendous stretchy and comfy 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 be wonderful, with many attire items starting from $40 to $50.
iRunFar’s Ben Kilbourne assessments operating attire on a morning run in Colorado. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Location: Seattle, Washington
Common Fashions: Roga Shorts, Flyout Wool Half Zip, Tremendous Seamless Bra, Flyout Brief Sleeve
What We Like: Oiselle is actually a for-women, by-women model that has positively grown by way of the enter of its clients {and professional} athletes by repeatedly 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 ladies. A lot of our testers ceaselessly comment on the sturdiness and longevity of the items. Oiselle has famously tussled with massive establishments within the sport, like USATF, over emblem placement and allowances for its sponsored athletes. The model received lots of followers for daring to vary the paradigm for all athletes, significantly feminine ones, since sponsorship wages are lean and laborious to come back by.
The Roga Shorts debuted in Oiselle’s first yr and have stayed within the line ever since. They’re all the things you’d need in a pair of shorts for each day operating, with daring colours and prints that make them stand out and a flat waistband, massive again zip pocket, and semi-fitted model. The corporate continues to create items of clothes which are 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 material she’s ever worn.
Learn extra about Oiselle in our finest operating shorts for ladies information and finest operating shirts for ladies information.
The Oiselle Featherweight Roga Shorts are a superb companion to any run from the model Oiselle. Photograph: iRunFar/Abby Levene
Location: Powder Mountain, Utah
Common Fashions: Sykes PX – 5″ Brief, Lynx PD – 3″ Base Liner, Cascade SS T
What We Like: The shorts use a layering system consisting of a boxer transient paired with an over-short, a mixture that is without doubt one of the most comfy operating setups we’ve ever used. Bought 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 brilliant prints received’t discover the choices satisfying. Additionally they solely make males’s merchandise.
Path Initiatives walks the road between path operating performance and a complicated look higher than anybody else. They make merchandise designed for sturdiness that also have stylish options like telephone pockets. Not fairly Lululemon, however equally high-end in its product improvement, Path Initiatives has among the best-priced operating attire in the marketplace.
The corporate was based to be direct-to-consumer, constructing the model solely 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 operating shorts for males information, the place we named the Graves PX – 5″ Brief the perfect worth brief.
Path Initiatives is a small firm making nice males’s operating attire, together with the Path Initiatives Graves PX – 5″ Brief. Photograph: iRunFar/Christin Randall
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Common Fashions: Rain Trekker Jacket, Tachyon Parka, Cool Mild T
What We Like: Montbell flies a bit underneath the radar in comparison with among the flashier and hyper-marketed manufacturers on this information, and but they’ve constantly produced class-leading operating jackets in addition to a full assortment of path operating merchandise.
What We Don’t: The frequent operating 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 inside the path operating class, the attire provided is among the finest out there for our sport. Runners who spend lots of time tromping across the mountains in troublesome climate situations usually flip to Montbell merchandise to maintain them comfy and secure.
A number of of Montbell’s jackets are prime picks in our current jacket guides, together with the Rain Trekker Jacket in our finest operating rain jackets information and the Tachyon Parka in our finest operating wind jackets information.
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks wears the Montbell Tachyon Parka. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The place to Purchase Operating Attire
Not like trainers, which generally line the partitions at retail outlets, operating attire tends to be simpler to come back by instantly 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 if you happen to’re on the lookout for among the smaller gamers like La Sportiva, you’ll wish to go to their web site. Different merchandise, like these made by Path Initiatives, are solely bought on-line.
Different Operating Attire Manufacturers
Our prime 10 selections for finest operating attire manufacturers barely scratch the floor of the operating attire manufacturers out there. Listed below are another manufacturers we’ve examined and luxuriate in utilizing, shared alphabetically.
Soar Operating makes a number of wonderful operating attire, together with this Soar Operating Scorching Climate T. Photograph: iRunFar/Christin Randall
Name for Feedback
- What are your favourite operating 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 purpose?
