Summer running is difficult enough with the challenges of heat and humidity. The last thing you need is to be held back by running shorts that bunch, cling, chafe, or restrict your movement. The perfect running shorts should be so comfortable that you hardly notice them, while looking so good that others do. We tested over 40 pairs in the most sweltering conditions to find the best running shorts for you, whatever your style.

While you鈥檙e at it, be sure to check out our picks for the best running shirts for men and the best running shoes.

Updated April 2025: We鈥檝e removed three shorts and added six new picks from Rabbit, Outdoor Research, Terignota, Black Diamond, Ciele, and Ten Thousand.

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Runner Up, Best Overall:
• Best Value:
• Best Run/Gym Hybrid Short:
• Best for Race Day:
• Best Splurge:
• Best for Trail Running:
• Best 2-in-1:
• Best Half Tight:
• What to Look For in Running Shorts
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Best Overall

Rabbit Fuel n’ Fly 5″

Sizing: S-XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comfortable and supportive brief liner
鈯� Excellent mobility and ventilation
鈯� Secure and comfortable waistband
鈯� Limited colors
鈯� Pocket is a tight fit for larger phones

Our testers across the board raved about the Rabbit Fuel n’ Fly 5鈥� shorts. 鈥淓very little detail feels thoughtful and perfect,鈥� said one. The outer shell, made from a recycled polyester and spandex blend, strikes a balance between lightweight comfort and long-lasting durability. Inside, the Polartec Power Dry liner was among the most comfortable, moisture-wicking, and supportive we tried. One tester who typically wears underwear with running shorts for added support said these provided plenty on their own.

The semi-relaxed fit with half-split leg design, usually seen in 3-inch racing shorts, enhances both mobility and ventilation. 鈥淚 dig the fit and the cut, which is roomy without being baggy,鈥� one tester commented. Thoughtful touches like bonded hems, anti-odor liner treatment, and laser-cut square perforations along the front sides elevate the short鈥檚 overall feel and performance.

The drawstring waistband is wide yet not constricting, offering a secure anchor when loading the shorts鈥� five pockets: a zippered back pocket, two front internal stash pockets, and two rear stash pockets. The rear pocket can hold an iPhone 14, but it requires a bit of effort to get it in. The only other downside is the lack of color choices: it comes only in a standard black and seasonal blue.

Runner Up, Best Overall

Outdoor Research Swift Lite Shorts

Sizing: S-XXXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comfortable, flowy shell fabric
鈯� UPF 30 sun protection
鈯� Dries quickly, doesn鈥檛 cling when wet
鈯� Limited storage

As a recognizable outdoor gear brand, Outdoor Research might not be the first brand that comes to mind for running apparel, but the Swift Lite Shorts left a strong impression on our entire testing team. Crafted with a polyester and spandex blend, the shell fabric felt comfortable and flowy against the skin, causing one tester to call it his 鈥済o-to, pull-on-and-forget-it option, especially for trail running.鈥� The gusseted crotch and lightweight fabric with just the right amount of stretch allowed full freedom of movement without riding up, along with excellent moisture management. 鈥淭he fabric dries quickly and stands away from the skin, never getting clingy or soaked,鈥� noted one tester, qualities that he said made it a standout for sweaty, warm-weather efforts. As an added bonus, the shell carries a rare UPF 30 sun protection rating.

The internal polyester brief liner provides solid support, while the jacquard waistband with an external drawcord keeps the shorts securely in place without feeling tight or restrictive. Thoughtful details, such as notched sides, a laser-cut hem, and ventilation holes increased comfort and style points. The standard 5鈥� inseam and classic fit strikes an ideal middle ground between too baggy and too revealing. One tester remarked, 鈥淭hanks to a light stretch and strategic tailoring, it looks good enough to continue wearing casually post-run.鈥�

Our only gripe is the limited storage: the single rear zip pocket didn鈥檛 offer enough space for essentials and wasn鈥檛 large enough to fit a phone. That said, if you can get by without extra pocket space, you鈥檒l be treated to a comfortable, durable, great-looking pair of running shorts that never draw attention to themselves on the run.

Best Value

Terignota Sendero Short

Sizing: XS-XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Lightweight, airy shell
鈯� Abundant storage options
鈯� Exceptional value
鈯� Limited colors
鈯� High-rise waistband may feel awkward at first

With all the features of shorts costing twice as much, the Terignota Sendero Short proves that high performance and sharp design don鈥檛 have to break the bank. Its polyamide and elastane grid-patterned outer shell is remarkably lightweight and airy. The no-fuss internal mesh brief liner offers a good amount of support without feeling restrictive. One tester gave the short the highest praise: 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those shorts that disappears on the run.鈥�

The Sendero鈥檚 highlight is no doubt its carrying capacity. Built with trail runners in mind, the wide waistband includes four mesh pockets and a rear zippered pocket spacious enough to fit an iPhone 15. One tester noted that the high-rise fit of the waistband鈥攗nusual on a men鈥檚 short鈥攆elt a bit awkward at first, but he quickly became accustomed to it after a few runs. Even with the wide waistband, however, when the pockets were fully loaded, we had to cinch the drawstring tightly to keep everything secure and minimize bounce.

Best Run/Gym Hybrid Short

Ten Thousand Session Short

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable, robust shell
鈯� Comfortable and secure waistband
鈯� Options on inseam length and brief style available
鈯� Limited breathability
鈯� Bouncy pockets when loaded

Most running shorts scream 鈥渞unner鈥� with their short inseams, ultralight fabrics, and performance-first design at the expense of everyday style. The Ten Thousand Session Short 2.0 flips that script, delivering a gym short鈥檚 clean, modern look without compromising the technical functionality of a high-performance running short.

Available with either five- or seven-inch inseams, and with your choice of a 2-in-1 liner or linerless, the Session Short 2.0 is built from a substantial polyester and spandex blend that feels noticeably more robust than typical run-specific options. While they don鈥檛 breathe quite as well as lighter shorts, a California tester said, 鈥淚 never found them too heavy for runs, and that extra heft gives them a more versatile, gym-ready vibe.鈥�

The perforated waistband, with a thick internal drawstring, stayed put during runs and felt comfortable even when tightly tied. Two zippered side pockets鈥攐ne facing forward and the other smaller and facing backward鈥攍et heavier items bounce around when running, but held cards and cash securely and comfortably in the gym. Two internal drop-in stash pockets in the liner provide space for items like keys and a phone when working out in the gym, but proved less than ideal for running because of the lack of a secure top closure.

What truly sets the Session Short 2.0 apart is its versatility. With a sleek, structured look and a robust fabric, these shorts easily transition from a hard effort on the track to a coffee stop or casual meetup without screaming 鈥淚 just ran.鈥�

Best for Race Day

Hoka Glide 5鈥� Short w/ Brief

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely lightweight
鈯� Thin but supportive liner
鈯� Phone bounces in back mesh pocket

When you need lightweight freedom and zero distractions on race day, the Hoka Glide 5鈥� Short delivers seamless comfort and dependable support that lets you focus on one thing鈥攔unning your fastest. The shell is crafted from a featherlight, stretch-woven polyester/spandex fabric with a DWR finish, while the thin mesh liner offered a surprising amount of support and breathability. 鈥淭he fabric is super lightweight and ultra stretchy, plus the fit is roomy enough that these barely feel like wearing anything,鈥� said one tester. One tester pointed out that are a more modest alternative to one-inch split shorts for race day, while still allowing unrestricted freedom for your longest strides.

Thanks to the minimal design, these shorts stood out during hot and humid summer runs. One tester reported, 鈥淓ven on my sweatiest days, when I was drenched, the shorts stayed soft, comfortable, and unrestricted.鈥�

The shorts feature a small zippered pocket ideal for securing essentials like keys and money, and a spacious mesh rear pouch, open on both ends and large enough to hold a phone or soft flask. While large items in the mesh pocket bounced around a bit during runs, this isn鈥檛 an issue if you鈥檙e not carrying a phone on race day.

Best Splurge

Soar Run Shorts

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good blend of comfort and performance
鈯� Suitable for most seasons
鈯� Pocket is too small for a phone

Based in the UK, Soar running makes some of the highest quality, best-looking running apparel we鈥檝e tested. Combining striking design with exceptionally fast-drying fabric and luxury features like laser-cut ventilation holes and bonded hems, these shorts became our go-to choice whenever we wanted both standout style and top-notch performance.

The 5鈥� inseam strikes a balance between modesty and uninhibited motion. Notched side hems and a stretch woven fabric bolsters mobility while a comfortable polyester and elastane brief liner provided excellent support. The slim drawstring waistband remains comfortable and never squeezes. These shorts truly disappear during the run.

The only thing we鈥檇 knock them for is lack of storage. With a single rear zippered pocket that鈥檚 too small for a phone, we found it hard to carry fuel on long runs. That said, we鈥檝e tested these shorts for two years now, and they have held up remarkably well.

Best for Trail Running

Black Diamond Distance Short

Sizing: XS-3XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Outstanding pockets
鈯� Water- and wind-resistant shell
鈯� Available in 5鈥� and 7鈥� inseam
鈯� Short drawstring can be difficult to tie
鈯� Could use a little more stretch

鈥淭he Black Diamond Distance shorts get everything right,鈥� one tester remarked. The pockets are the first thing that stood out. With four drop-in pockets and one large rear zippered pocket, these shorts impressed us with their copious, efficient carrying capacity while maintaining a comfortable fit suitable for the longest mountain days. We were able to easily carry an iPhone, enough fuel for a few hours, and an emergency shell without any discomfort.

Offered in five- and seven-inch inseams, the durable shell with a PFC-Free DWR sheds light moisture and resists snags and tears from bushwhacking and tumbles. Combined with a comfortable and supportive mesh brief liner, the tough exterior offered excellent protection against wet, chilly ridge winds when running in the high mountains.

One small quibble: a tester said he鈥檇 prefer a longer drawstring with a little bit of stretch to get a more secure fit around the waist when the pockets were loaded down.

Best 2-in-1

Ciele M DLYShort 5″ Long Brief

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredibly soft and supportive liner
鈯� Available in long or short liner
鈯� Phone bounces in pocket

Ciele is best known for its performance running hats, but the brand nailed it with the DLYShort 5″. 鈥淭hese shorts feel deluxe!鈥� raved one tester.

The internal nylon and elastane liner is one of the softest and most comfortable we tested, offering excellent support and staying perfectly in place throughout the run. Even when drenched in sweat, it remained irritation-free. The shell is a lightweight, stretchy, recycled, woven fabric with a PFC-free DWR treatment. However, it feels much softer than other DWR-treated fabrics we tested. One tester called the short鈥檚 overall feel 鈥渙ut-of-this-world nice,鈥� while another praised its classy looks: 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten more compliments on group runs for these shorts than anything else in my running wardrobe.鈥�

The shorts offer three pockets, a rear zipper, a small internal stash pocket, and one integrated into the liner. While we could fit a phone in the rear pocket, it unfortunately bounced around quite a bit, and we found it best to reserve the pockets for smaller, lightweight items.

If you’re a fan of 2-in-1 shorts, these are well worth the investment. And if you鈥檙e not a fan of the long liner that extends past the 5-inch inseam of the shell, Ciele offers an option with a shorter one.

Best Half Tights

Adidas Adizero Control Running Short Leggings

Sizing: XS-2XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Supportive fit
鈯� High-quality material
鈯� Thick fabric can run hot

There鈥檚 something uniquely satisfying about the feel of snug, supportive tights hugging your muscles. The Adidas Adizero Control Running Short Leggings, crafted from a relatively thick blend of 83 percent polyester and 17 percent elastane, delivers mild compression to your quads, glutes, and hamstrings, ensuring they stay engaged and protected during even the most intense runs.

Flexible, rubber-like (TPE) strips stretch across the major muscles to add additional support. The result is a tighter, more supportive fit than the other tights in this test. However, although you might expect them to feel restrictive, the material is surprisingly stretchy and flexible, allowing full range of motion. The downside is that they can feel too warm in hot conditions. But that听was one of our few complaints about these tights that otherwise made us feel fast and powerful.

What to Look For in Running Shorts

Running shorts vary in length, liners, pockets, fit, and fabric. You鈥檒l want a length that is short enough for full, unimpeded motion (the faster the run, the shorter and more split the shorts tend to be), but long enough to feel decent on the trail, road, or post-run coffee shop.

Liners range from soft, loose briefs to compression-shorts-like stretchy boxers鈥攐r none at all for those who prefer to wear their own underwear. Choosing between liners is a matter of personal taste, balancing breathability and range of motion with level of coverage and control.

Pockets need to be big and secure enough for whatever you want to carry: phone, keys, cards, gels. And pocket placement location is important to allow convenient access and avoid bouncing and chafing, as is the robustness of the waistband to prevent sagging when carrying anything heavy, like a phone.

When it comes to fit and fabric, as with all summer running gear, you want pieces that breathe, wick moisture, move naturally, delay stink, and don鈥檛 get in the way.

Here are some quick tips on buying the best summer gear without going broke:

• Look for high-quality synthetic fibers. Yes, our top picks include a few items with natural fibers. But for the most part, specially designed varieties of polyester, polyamide, nylon, and the like can handle summer running鈥檚 high sweat rates better than wool and cotton.
• Seek sun protection. Even if you run at dawn or dusk, or on shaded trails, sun damage can be insidious. Many shorts and tops come with a UPF coating. Running tan lines aren鈥檛 something to be proud of.
• Check for chafing. If you鈥檝e ever been rubbed raw by a rigid seam or sagging liner, you won鈥檛 want to repeat the experience. Abrasion accelerates when you鈥檙e drenched in sweat. Look for flat seams, unobtrusive logos, and other elements of construction that will minimize chafing.
• Go with the flow. Our picks in this review strike the right balance between being loose enough to allow cooling air flow but not so billowy that they impede normal running form.
• Banish bacteria. Many summer running items incorporate an anti-bacterial treatment that greatly reduces nasty odors setting up shop. These pieces not only can be worn many more times before needing to be washed, but also lessen your chance of developing a funky skin situation.
• Invest in quality. It can be tempting to think, 鈥淲hatever I run in is going to get soaked anyway, so I鈥檒l just buy the cheapest gear out there.鈥� Such reasoning quickly falls apart when, well, the item itself starts to fall apart because of constant exposure to sweat and frequent laundering. Fewer high-quality pieces that hold their form and don鈥檛 hold odors are better than more cheaply made gear that will start disintegrating in one summer.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 10
• Number of shorts tested: 40+
• Number of miles run in testing: 4,500+
• Highest testing temperature: 97 Fahrenheit

Our testing team ranged across the U.S.鈥攆rom coastal Maine and western Maryland to central Wisconsin, the high plains of Nebraska, the urban bake sites of Chicago and Houston, and out to Santa Barbara on the California coast, plus, for good measure, the running hub of Eugene, Oregon. All are dedicated runners with average weekly mileage ranging from low 20s to mid 70s. Some have been running for 30 or more years and can compare today鈥檚 running apparel to previous attempts to keep runners cool in the summer.

We focused on a subjective combination of moisture management, comfort, versatility, value, and looks to answer a simple question: Of all the apparel you logged summer miles in, which would you be most likely to recommend to fellow runners?

Meet Our Lead Testers

Cory Smith

Cory Smith, a former Division One runner at Villanova University, has been running since the mid-1990s. With over a decade of experience testing and reviewing running apparel and shoes for publications like 国产吃瓜黑料 and Runner鈥檚 World, he continues to compete as a masters athlete, boasting a personal best of 4:31 in the mile. He consistently logs 30 to 40 miles per week over roads, trails and on the track.

A 13.25km trail race Cory Smith ran while testing running shorts. (Gaia GPS is owned by 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc.)

Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas says he鈥檚 run more than 130,000 miles since starting as a teen in the 1970s, and has always loved how daily runs undergird and elevate the rest of his life. and a writer/editor about fitness, he sweats like crazy despite living in Maine.

The post The Best Running Shorts for Men (2025) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Running during the summer can be exhilarating (all that daylight!) and daunting (all that sweat!) at the same time. Whether you embrace the heat and humidity of summer running or long for a return to cold, dark winter days, the right running top can keep you cooler and drier while making you feel fast and fashionable. To help you decide what to wear, we tested over 50 t-shirts and tank tops to find the best men’s summer running shirts.

Update May 2025: We selected new winners in nine categories, including a new best overall t-shirt pick from Arc鈥檛eryx. We also added objective lab measurements on air permeability and dry time to help you select the best summer running shirt for you. Be sure to check out the 鈥淗ow We Test鈥� section below for more details on our methodologies and how to interpret the lab data.

At a Glance

• Singlets
  • Best Overall:
  • Runner-up, Best Overall:
  • Best Splurge:
  • Best for Race Day:
• T-Shirts
  • Best Overall:
  • Runner Up, Best Overall:
  • Best Value:
  • Best Splurge:
  • Best Wool:
  • Best for High Heat:
  • Best Road-to-Restaurant:
• What to Look For
• How We Tested Running Shirts In the Field and In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Best Running Singlets

How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Best All-Around

Adidas Adizero Running Singlet

Sizing: XS-2XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Silky smooth feeling
鈯� Suburb mobility
鈯� Saturates with moisture easily

Lab Dry Time: 5 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 1 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

There’s something about a light, airy singlet that makes us feel fast. No other singlet captured this sensation better than the Adidas Adizero Running Singlet. Made from a thin, lightweight blend of 86 percent recycled polyester and 14 percent elastane, the texture feels phenomenal鈥攕mooth and silky, easily moving over the skin. Testers praised its soft touch and barely-there sensation, with one noting it as 鈥渢he lightest and most comfortable singlet I鈥檝e ever worn.鈥�

The fit is slightly slim, but thanks to the stretchy fabric and side slits at the hem, the singlet offers exceptional mobility. Lead tester Cory Smith says, 鈥淚鈥檓 typically between a men鈥檚 small and medium, but since I prefer a slightly looser fit, I went with a medium that fit that bill perfectly.鈥�

The entire singlet has tiny holes in the face to enhance breathability of the tight weave, which testers said let moisture out, but the lab noted doesn鈥檛 allow much breeze through. Testers also said that the fabric tends to stick to the skin when fully soaked through. It did, however, have the fastest dry time among all the singlets we tried, which helped make this stylish, comfortable singlet stand out as one of the best all-around.

Runner Up, Best Overall

Hoka Airolite Run Tank

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredibly light
鈯� UPF 40+ sun protection
鈯� Semi-transparent

Lab Dry Time: 4 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 5 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

With its silky smooth texture and featherlight feel, we found ourselves reaching for the Hoka Airolite Tank time and time again. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 find a single thing to ding this tank on鈥擨 love it,鈥� raved one tester. Crafted with a pinhole mesh, composed of 72 percent recycled nylon and 28 percent elastane, it was one of the thinnest and most delicate tops we tested, making it disappear on the run.

The featherlight fabric wicks moisture efficiently but can become saturated quickly. However, thanks to its minimal weight, even when it was clingy, it never felt heavy or weighed down. In the lab, the Airolite achieved the highest score in air permeability and second highest in dry time. Naturally, its ultra-light design raised concerns about durability. However, after months of wear and repeated washes, one tester was pleasantly surprised by how well it held up.

The tank is 鈥渃ut is long and slim, with just the right width and length of shoulder straps,鈥� noted a tester. One potential drawback is its semi-transparent fabric, but, despite that, we were pleasantly surprised to discover it offers UPF 40+ sun protection. As an added bonus, it鈥檚 treated with an anti-microbial finish鈥攕omething we didn鈥檛 notice in testing but is nice to know it鈥檚 there.

With its smooth texture, near weightless design, and added sun protection, the Hoka Airolite Tank delivers on both comfort and performance. While its ultra-thin, see-through design may not be for everyone, those who prioritize weightlessness and freedom of movement will find it hard to beat.

Best Splurge

Tracksmith Strata Singlet

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Unbeatable heat and moisture management
鈯� Odor resistant
鈯� Costs twice as much as many other well-made singlets

Lab Dry Time: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 4 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Tester Scott Douglas says, 鈥淭his ultralight marvel is the best singlet I鈥檝e run in during my 40+ years in the sport.鈥� The fit is slim but not restrictive, with plenty of stretch. The bluesign-certified nylon/elastane blend incorporates coldblack, a Schoeller Textil technology that reduces heat absorption like nothing else he鈥檚 experienced. As someone who can lose 5 of his 130 pounds on an easy hour run in Maine, he says, 鈥淚鈥檓 used to wringing out gear post-run and leaving large puddles. This simply wasn鈥檛 possible when I wore the Strata; although my shorts and socks were drenched, little sweat had collected on the singlet.鈥�

And then there鈥檚 its odor resistance: Douglas ran at least an hour in it every day without washing it during one of summer鈥檚 hottest, most humid weeks. 鈥淚t smelled the same on Day 7 as on Day 1,鈥� he marveled. The Strata is expensive, but a good value, given that owning one eliminates the need for all but maybe one other singlet.

Best for Race Day

SOAR Race Vest

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely breathable, perfect for hot, humid conditions.
鈯� Featherweight design
鈯� Runs small

Lab Dry Time: 5 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 5 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Displaying the precision and craftsmanship of a top runway fashion design, SOAR鈥檚 Race Vest stands at the peak of high-performance running apparel. If you鈥檙e looking to turn heads come race day, this is sure to draw attention. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten more compliments wearing this tank than any other singlet,鈥� says lead tester Cory Smith.

The singlet is made with an Italian-made open mesh fabric that鈥檚 razor-thin and extremely breathable. Even on the hottest, most humid days, body heat escaped effortlessly, while the airy design allowed any breeze to pass through for cooling relief. The lab confirmed the vest鈥檚 airyness: It blew away the field in air permeability and also earned the highest score in dry time.

The only drawback we found was that the fabric doesn鈥檛 absorb and wick moisture as well as thicker materials. However, its sheer lightness let skin dry and cool without pulling sweat away from it.

Premium touches like laser-cut and bonded seams eliminated chafing during our test. With many singlets, the shoulders can shift while running, creating a distraction鈥攂ut not with the SOAR Race Vest. The straps lay flat and stay securely in place. The slim-cut design sits close to the skin and runs small, so if you prefer a more relaxed fit, we recommend sizing up.

Best Running T-Shirts

How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Best Overall

Arc鈥檛eryx Norvan Downward Logo Shirt SS

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Feels luxurious against the skin
鈯� Silver ion polymer treated
鈯� Large logo

Lab Dry Time: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Blending form and function, this shirt wowed our testers with its performance. Despite being marketed as a mountain running shirt, we found it well-suited for runs on any terrain.

The front features a silky-smooth polyester fabric that鈥檚 DWR-treated, excelling at both repelling moisture and wicking it away from the skin. The face fabric feels incredibly smooth and luxurious, gliding against the skin without friction, flowing naturally with every stride. Although the shirt had average lab marks on air permeability and dry time (relative to the other top T鈥檚 in this guide), it never felt weighted down, even when saturated with sweat. Meanwhile, panels under the arms and the entire back are made of an airy mesh, allowing more airflow in high heat areas鈥攚hich we especially appreciated when wearing a hydration vest.

Subtle details distinguish the Norvan Downword from cheaper options, including a tailored fit, laminated neckline, and smoothly finished seams and hems. Plus, a silver ion polymer coating effectively fights bacteria and odors.

One of our biggest pet peeves is when a shirt rides up during arm movements. Although the Norvan Downward鈥檚 fit is trim with a slightly shorter hem length, thanks to the articulated sleeves and split sides, we found the hem stayed put on the run.

Runner Up, Best Overall

Rabbit EZ Tee SS

Sizing: S-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Soft and stretchy
鈯� Flat-lock stitching enhances comfort
鈯� UPF 50 protection
鈯� Limited color options

Lab Dry Time: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 2 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Soft, stretchy, and impressively moisture-wicking, the Rabbit EZ Tee takes comfort to a new level. Our testers said it quickly became a go-to for nearly any activity, including everyday wear. Made with a simple, soft polyester and spandex blend with a UPF 50 rating for sun protection, it鈥檚 a shirt you鈥檒l want to keep on post-run for its comfort and style, whether you鈥檙e grabbing coffee or heading to the gym.

Testers appreciated the EZ Tee鈥檚 tailored cut, which offered a comfortable fit that felt neither restrictive nor clingy. One tester described it as 鈥渏ust right鈥攏ot too short, too tight, or too loose.鈥� Thoughtful details, such as raglan shoulders and flat-lock stitching, showcase the attention to detail put into this shirt.

Our only complaint? The limited color options. 鈥淚 could comfortably, confidently buy seven different colors and run in nothing else,鈥� said one tester. And the price is so reasonable that stocking up is a feasible option.

Best Value

Terignota Trail Tee

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely lightweight
鈯� Outstanding price-to-performance
鈯� Limited color options

Lab Dry Time: 4 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 4 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

At nearly a third of the cost of other options, you will not find a higher quality shirt at a better price. Crafted from 100 percent polyester with a woven grid pattern, it checks all the boxes: lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. Its woven design and thin fabric reminded us a lot of Patagonia鈥檚 Capilene for a fraction of the price.

Despite being marketed as a trail tee, it鈥檚 equally suitable for the roads. Throughout the warm, sunny SoCal summer, it kept me cool and comfortable, proving to be a versatile go-to for any tempo. After hot and sweaty runs, I was impressed with how quickly the shirt dried in direct sunlight. With a 4 out of 5 in both dry time and air permeability, the Terignota had the highest combined lab score of any tee we tested.

The fit is labeled as relaxed, but I found it slightly on the slim side compared to other shirts in our lineup. It鈥檚 not enough to size up, but I wouldn鈥檛 call it a true relaxed fit.

Best Splurge

SOAR Advanced Tech Tee

Sizing: S-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Fantastic range of motion
鈯� Extremely breathable
鈯� Short hem length

Lab Dry Time: 5 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 1 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

London-based SOAR founder Tim Soar says he incorporates his passion for functionality, performance, and sports science into every design, and the Advanced Tech Tee is a prime example of this.

At first touch, the ultralight, stretchy 3D woven fabric felt 鈥渁 bit stiff and scratchy,鈥� according to one tester. But that impression didn鈥檛 last long. 鈥淚t disappeared once I started running,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 actually feel cooler and more comfortable in this than going shirtless.鈥� The fabric鈥檚 subtle stretch and textured weave made it stand away from the skin and stay dry, even when we were sweating profusely. Surprisingly, the lab reported that the tight fabric doesn鈥檛 let much air through, but it has the fastest dry time of any shirt or singlet tested, quickly evaporating moisture.

Additional touches, such as a split hem and one-piece raglan sleeves, enhance freedom of movement, while laser-cut sleeve hems and flat-locked seams reduce potential chafing.

The tee boasts a relaxed fit but leans more toward a European cut鈥攕lightly fitted through the shoulders and chest, with a bit more room through the torso for ease of movement. My only wish is that the hem was a little longer to better accommodate those with longer torsos who prefer more coverage.

Best Wool

Ridge Pursuit Ultralight Merino Tee

Sizing: S-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Fantastic moisture-wicking abilities
鈯� Natural odor-resistant
鈯� Wool is an acquired taste

Lab Dry Time: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

When you think of a warmer weather running shirt, wool may not be the first fabric that comes to mind. Most people equate wool with cold weather. But wool, which is naturally both extremely breathable and moisture-wicking, is just as effective in hot conditions as in cold. After testing over six wool shirts, testers all found the Ridge Pursuit Merino Tee the best. 鈥淭his is the closest to my gold standard,鈥� said one tester with an extensive wool collection.

Thoughtful attention was given to every detail, from gusseted sleeves for improved range of motion to a one-inch drop tail for added coverage. Merrow stitching along the side seams ensures a smooth, flat finish to help prevent chafing. The patented Merino wool yarn is engineered to be lighter and stronger and said to deliver twice the durability of traditional 100 percent Merino wool apparel. Testers said it was noticeable. Where most wool shirts we tested felt delicate and lost shape easily, the Ridge Pursuit Merino was more resilient, maintaining its structure even after repeated wear and washing. The merino wool is so naturally odor-resistant, however, you won鈥檛 have to launder it often: One tester found that the 鈥淧ursuit tee can go five runs before it needs to see the hamper鈥濃�攁 boon for those who feel the pain of a never-ending laundry cycle.

With its thoughtful design, durability, and natural benefits, one tester said the Ridge Pursuit Merino Tee strikes 鈥渢he delicate balance of performance, comfort, and value that has long eluded the Merino market.鈥�

Best for High Heat

Montane Dart Nano T-Shirt

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Remarkably lightweight
鈯� Airy
鈯� Limited moisture absorption due to thin fabric

Lab Dry Time: 3 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 4 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

The Montane Dart Nano comes as close as possible to the feeling of running shirtless.鈥淚t鈥檚 lightweight to the point of near-invisibility,鈥� said one tester. Made with 100 percent recycled polyester and weighing a mere 2.8 ounces, the thin fabric allows for excellent airflow. During sweltering runs in the hot and humid Northeast summers, one tester reported his body heat escaped effortlessly through the material, which, he said, 鈥渢ransformed scorching runs into manageable experiences.鈥� Another tester said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the shirt you鈥檒l reach for without hesitation when the temperature soars.鈥�

The cut is trim, sitting close to the body, but doesn鈥檛 feel suffocating thanks to the featherlight fabric and added articulation, which includes extra room around the underarm so the sleeve won鈥檛 ride up even when your arm is extended. However, the ultra-thin material comes with two drawbacks: It doesn鈥檛 absorb and wick moisture as effectively as some other options and provides minimal warmth on cooler days. But, in the most extreme warm-weather conditions, this ultralight tee offers exceptional breathability and comfort.

Best Road-to-Restaurant

Lululemon Metal Vent Tech Short-Sleeve Shirt

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Suburb range of motion
鈯� High-quality fabric
鈯� Not as good at dealing with heat as lighter, more breathable fabrics

Lab Dry Time: 1 (1=worst; 5=best)
Lab Air Permeability: 1 (1=worst; 5=best)
How We Tested Running Shirts In the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Best suited for runs that start at the track and end at the cafe, the Lululemon Metal Vent Tech blends performance and style with a timeless, refined design. 鈥淚t seamlessly transitions from morning runs to evening restaurants with uncompromised excellence,鈥� one tester reported. Made from a nylon, recycled polyester, and elastane blend, this shirt has a heavier, more substantial feel than the thinner options we tested. It doesn鈥檛 vanish like ultra-lightweight shirts but instead offers a noticeably soft and comforting feel against your skin.

While it鈥檚 not a particularly airy shirt, we found it does breathe and wick moisture adequately to not feel clammy on most days. And, thanks to the built-in stretch, the shirt offers an unrestricted range of motion and doesn鈥檛 hold you back on the run. On extremely hot days, however, when sweat is pouring and the fabric becomes fully saturated, it can feel slightly weighed down.

Given its versatility and comfort, the Lululemon Metal Vent Tech became one of our go-to shirts for just about any occasion, from running to lounging at home to heading out for a casual dinner.

What to Look For in Summer Running Apparel

Dressing for summer running is straightforward鈥攜ou want pieces that breathe, wick moisture, move naturally, don鈥檛 stink, and don鈥檛 get in the way. Shirt choices come down to how much skin coverage you prefer, fit, and material.

Here are some quick tips on buying the best without going broke:

• Look for high-quality synthetic fibers. Yes, our top picks include a few items with natural fibers. But for the most part, specially designed varieties of polyester, polyamide, nylon, and the like can handle summer running鈥檚 high sweat rates better than wool and cotton.
• Seek sun protection. Even if you run at dawn or dusk, or on trails, sun damage can be insidious. Many shorts and tops come with a UPF coating. Well-ventilated hats reduce squinting while shedding heat. Running tan lines aren鈥檛 something to be proud of.
• Check for chafing. If you鈥檝e ever been rubbed raw by a rigid seam or sagging liner, you won鈥檛 want to repeat the experience. Abrasion accelerates when you鈥檙e drenched in sweat. Look for flat seams, unobtrusive logos, and other elements of construction that will minimize chafing.
• Go with the flow. Our picks in this review strike the right balance between being loose enough to allow cooling air flow but not so billowy that they impede normal running form.
• Banish bacteria. Many high-quality summer running items incorporate an anti-bacterial treatment that greatly reduces nasty odors setting up shop. These pieces not only can be worn many more times before needing to be washed, but also lessen your chance of developing a funky skin situation.
• Invest in quality. It can be tempting to think, 鈥淲hatever I run in is going to get soaked anyway, so I鈥檒l just buy the cheapest gear out there.鈥� Such reasoning quickly falls apart when, well, the item itself starts to fall apart because of constant exposure to sweat and frequent laundering. Fewer high-quality pieces that hold their form and don鈥檛 hold odors are better than more cheaply made gear that will start disintegrating in one summer.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 10
• Number of products tested: 20+ singlets, 40+ short sleeve tees
• Number of brands tested: 45+
• Number of miles run in testing: 4,500+
• Highest testing temperature: 101 Fahrenheit
• Number of 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab tests: 2

Our testing team ranged across the U.S.鈥攆rom the California beach town of Santa Barbara to central Wisconsin and the high plains of Nebraska, to the urban bake sites of Chicago and Houston, and, for good measure, the running hub of Eugene, Oregon. All are dedicated runners with average weekly mileage ranging from low 20s to mid-70s over both roads and trails. Some have been running for 30 or more years and can compare today鈥檚 running apparel to previous attempts to keep runners cool in the summer. We focused on a subjective combination of moisture management, comfort, versatility, value, and looks to answer a simple question: Of all the apparel you logged summer miles in, which would you be most likely to recommend to fellow runners?

How We Tested Running Shirts in the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab

Air Permeability

Air permeability is a measure of how much air (in volume) is able to move through a fabric. It is not the same as “breathability” which measures how moisture vapor (sweat) moves through a fabric. The more air permeable, the more the cooling breeze makes it through your shirt and reaches your skin directly. To test this in the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab @ CU Denver, we use a James Heal AirPro, a machine that uses a vacuum pump to pull air through fabric clamped between plates with a specific diameter opening to measure the flow rate at a pre-set pressure. The greater the volume of air getting through, the more air permeable. This lab test only evaluates the material itself, and can’t account for how the cut and design of a garment aids its airiness.

Dry Time

The lab tested drying time by soaking each shirt and then recording how long each needed to dry. Each shirt was weighed while dry, then soaked in tap water until all of the material had absorbed water. After soaking, they were hand wrung until all excess water stopped releasing from the fabric, leaving a fully saturated, but not soaked, shirt. The saturated shirts were weighed again to get the “wet” starting point and then put on a mannequin to dry. Weight was recorded every hour to start and then every 15 minutes as they approached dryness, stopping when the sample was within 4 percent of the original dry value. Allowing for 4 percent of weight gain (a few grams) takes into account any dirt particles that could be introduced from the tap water or environment, and small hemmed areas of the shirt that may hold a little moisture, even though the overwhelming majority of the shirt is dry.

We compiled the raw data into groups of similar values for each measure to obtain scores of 1 to 5, worst to best, relative to all the t-shirts and singlets tested.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Cory Smith

Cory Smith, a former Division One runner at Villanova University, has been running since the mid-1990s. With over a decade of experience testing and reviewing running apparel and shoes for publications like 国产吃瓜黑料 and Runner鈥檚 World, he continues to compete as a masters athlete, boasting a personal best of 4:31 in the mile. He consistently logs 30 to 40 miles per week over roads, trails and on the track.

A 13.25km trail race Cory Smith ran while testing the Adidas Adizero Running Singlet.

(Gaia GPS is owned by 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc.)

Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas says, 鈥淚鈥檝e run more than 130,000 miles since starting as a teen in the 1970s, and have always loved how daily runs undergird and elevate the rest of my life.鈥� and a writer/editor about fitness, he sweats like crazy despite living in Maine.

Other testers included:

• , a Nebraska resident who is a senior running gear editor for 国产吃瓜黑料 and has also been running since the 1970s.
• , a doctor of physical therapy who founded the Pineries Running Lab in Wisconsin.

The post The Best Running Shirts for Men: Field and Lab Tested appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There鈥檚 a problem with a lot of waterproof garments鈥攖hey contain (PFAS). Also known as forever chemicals, PFAS are linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage, and other health problems.

But forever chemicals鈥� time may be limited. bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of textiles containing PFAS levels of more than 100 parts per million. Given that California鈥檚 economy is the , the law will force apparel manufacturers to phase out PFAS. The California legislation does provide a reprieve until 2028 for 鈥渙utdoor apparel for severe wet conditions,鈥� which presumably includes the subject of this article: running jackets. Still, expect companies to act sooner rather than later.

If you鈥檙e in the market for a waterproof PFAS-free running jacket, however, you don鈥檛 have to wait. There are many good options available now. Over the past few months I鈥檝e tested 16 PFAS-free jackets during more than 300 miles of running. I sought a just-right combination of water repellency, breathability, and ease of movement (neither so tight that my arm swing feels constricted nor so loose that the jacket billowed). I鈥檝e rounded up my top three jackets below. But first, a little more background on PFAS in apparel.

PFAS and Protection

Today, apparel with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating containing PFAS is, on average, more effective at moisture management then PFAS-free apparel, says Kevin Golovin, Ph.D., an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Toronto and a leading researcher in textile surface engineering.

鈥淎ll surfaces have a characteristic energy鈥攖heir 鈥榮urface energy鈥欌�攁nd surfaces treated with PFAS can exhibit the lowest possible surface energy of any material,鈥� Golovin says. 鈥淭his means for the same fabric construction, a textile treated with a PFAS-containing DWR will have greater resistance to getting wet than the same textile treated with a non-PFAS DWR.鈥�

Also, as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 sustainability columnist, Kristin Hostetter, notes, PFAS-free running jackets require more frequent washing and re-treating to maintain top performance.

But neither of those factors should be a deal-breaker. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e only considering water repellency, many of the PFAS-free DWRs on the market today already perform quite well,鈥� Golovin says. 鈥淭he issue is really with soiling and oil repellency.鈥�

After all, consider that runners don鈥檛 really need a jacket that will keep out all precipitation for, say, 10 hours at a time, like backpackers or industrial workers. Most of us just want to stay reasonably dry when running for 30 minutes to two hours in rain or snow. And we want that protection to be balanced with breathability and enough flexibility to not inhibit our running motion.

There are related considerations: How often will you wear any running jacket? And, at what temperature does a jacket become overkill, no matter how hard it鈥檚 raining? I, for example, wear jackets much more often than I used to when I first moved to Maine 20 years ago. That鈥檚 probably because of climate change鈥攚hat used to be snowy runs requiring only a merino wool outer layer are now rainy slogs in mid 30s to low 40s temperatures. Still, for me, a jacket becomes too hot around the high 40s, even the most breathable.

With that background, here are my top three out of the 15 PFAS-free running jackets I tested, from most to least expensive.

Best PFAS-Free Running Jackets, Reviewed

Very Best: Ciele FLR Jacket ($400)

You know those days when the weather is so bad that you leave a towel and dry clothes right by the door for your return? I wore this jacket on one such day, when heavy rain fell throughout my 70-minute run. My tights and socks were wring-out wet when I got home (actually, they were sopping long before that), but the shirt I wore under this Ciele shell was as dry as when I headed out.

Unlike many of the jackets I tested, the FLR delivered this performance while being super light but also plenty warm. As an experiment, I wore it over just a short sleeve tee on an hour run in hard rain and temperatures in the mid 30s. I was comfortable (and dry) the whole time. The FLR is also highly breathable, thanks in part to a back vent. On a dry, sunny day with temps in the mid 40s鈥攁 scorcher by Maine winter standards鈥擨 wore this shell over a heavy long sleeve merino top to see when I would start to overheat. I never did while out for almost 90 minutes.

All of this performance comes at a cost. The FLR was the second most expensive jacket I tested. If you regularly run in cold precipitation and can shoulder the cost, this jacket is for you. You might also justify the price if, like me, you value top-quality running gear that鈥檚 stylish enough to wear when you鈥檙e not running.

Bottom line: Premium protection and breathability, with a price tag to match

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Runner-Up: Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0 ($198)

This jacket was the second-best I tested for that sweet spot of keeping precipitation out, letting sweat vent, and not interfering with my form. Pretty impressive for its approachable price, costing $100-$200 less than many of the jackets it outperformed.

Its 100% ripstop nylon fabric is wind- and waterproof, breathable, and light. On one two-hour run in steady cold rain, I stayed warm up top wearing it over a short-sleeve tee. When I finished, the shirt was dry except for a small section near my sternum. It performs equally well as an outer layer in dry weather. I stayed warm but not overheated wearing it over a short-sleeve shirt in the mid 30s to mid 40s, and similarly comfortable in the high teens to low 20s with it layered over a medium-weight long-sleeve top.

I also value the sensory aspects of wearing the Rainrunner鈥攗nlike many jackets with a DWR treatment, this one is quiet and smooth, not crinkly, against the skin. The cuffs, which stay in place while allowing easy watch peeking, were obviously designed by runners. The slim-but-not-constraining fit worked well for my slight frame, especially on windy runs.

Bottom line: Exceptional performance for the price, in an athletic fit

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Also Good: Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie ($129)

Outdoor Research says this new offering 鈥減rovides light water resistance.鈥� They鈥檙e being too modest. I wore the Shadow Wind Hoodie in a high-30s downpour just to see how long it would keep me dry. After 75 minutes, I鈥檇 had enough of such weather for the morning, but the jacket hadn鈥檛. The little bit of moisture on the long-sleeve top I wore underneath was only from sweat, because I had pampered myself with too warm of a shirt. Also, there was a clear demarcation between the dry upper few inches of my tights that the jacket covered, and the wet remainder below.

The Shadow Wind Hoodie was also top-notch on dry runs. When worn over a light to medium long-sleeve top, it kept me comfortable down to temperatures in the low 20s. As with the Goldwin jacket, it鈥檚 more generously sized than some running-specific jackets. I never felt constrained by its slightly long, loose drape. That fit, along with a good rendering of details like the pocketing (two hand, one chest) and the stowable hood, make it a good choice for non-running activities as well.

Bottom line: A surprisingly protective shell at a bargain price

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Meet Our Tester

Scott Douglas

I started running as a middle schooler in 1979 and have done more than 125,000 miles since. I was pretty good decades ago鈥�30:48 10K, 68:40 half marathon鈥攂ut have always run primarily because I love it. I run every day unless I鈥檓 injured, and I always run outside, either despite or because of living in Maine. Even a slippery, sloppy, snowy run is more enjoyable to me than waiting out the time on a treadmill. Now in my late 50s, I run about 3,000 miles a year and am most drawn to trail ultras these days. I鈥檓 fortunate to be able to combine my love of running with my professional life. I鈥檝e held senior editorial positions at Runner鈥檚 World and elsewhere, and have written or co-written several popular running books, including .

Correction March 7, 2024: An earlier version of this article incorrectly named the Goldwin Pertex Shield Air Mountaineering Jacket as PFAS-free. The current version is not PFAS-free, but the company says that all of its products will be PFAS-free by 2025.

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Over the past year, I鈥檝e run more than 3,000 miles while testing more than 300 pieces of apparel from more than 50 brands. Temperatures during this testing have ranged from negative-15 to the low 90s with high humidity. I also ran regularly in rain, snow, and sleet of varying intensity. It鈥檚 fair to say that few people have recently done more widespread run-apparel testing.

One of my main focuses while testing has been value. By 鈥渧alue鈥� I don鈥檛 mean 鈥渁s inexpensive as possible.鈥� Runners who skimp on apparel often pay the price in terms of unnecessary discomfort and having to frequently replace cheaply made items. I think of value as a subjective assessment of performance, quality of construction, durability, versatility, and looks in relation to price. It鈥檚 with that standard in mind that I鈥檝e pulled together this list of some of the best current values in running apparel, from head to toe. Because my testing has mostly been for men鈥檚 apparel reviews, apologies in advance for the two items below that aren鈥檛 offered in a women鈥檚 version.

Tracksmith Prospect Beanie ($42)

I鈥檝e gifted this hat to a few friends, all of whom have said some version of, 鈥淚t鈥檚 too nice to wear running.鈥� The thing is, you don鈥檛 have to choose. The ribbed, two-ply design feels and looks great in daily life whenever a hat is warranted. But it鈥檚 also my top headwear pick for runs in temperatures in the 30s and below. The fit is snug and cozy without feeling too tight. And thanks to its 100% merino construction, it doesn鈥檛 absorb sweat odors until after several runs, meaning that you can resume wearing it for less intense pursuits as soon as it鈥檚 dry.

Path Projects Andes AD Tank Top ($42)

The Andes is one of the best singlets I鈥檝e ever owned, but it costs no more than ho-hum tank tops. Its 90% polyester/10% spandex fabric has an interior texture and ventilating holes that keep it breathing even when it鈥檚 saturated with sweat. The fit is close but not tight, thereby eliminating both clinging and billowing. The wide shoulder straps provide a little extra sun cover on road runs and protection from brush snags and bug bites on trail outings. (惭别苍鈥檚 only)

Walter Sky Short Sleeve ($75)

How can a $75 short sleeve tee be a good value? Well, no other shirt I鈥檝e tested matches this one鈥檚 combo of year-round performance, comfort, and versatility. I run in it as a standalone for almost half the year and under a pullover shell or over long sleeves in the other months. I wear it in daily life at least as much, whether on its own in the summer or under an overshirt or sweater when it is cooler. Innovative Nuyarn construction (70% merino wool/30% nylon) means more merino fibers are exposed to air than in conventionally made merino tops, leading to less moisture buildup, better wicking and breathability, greater durability, and a superior warmth-to-weight ratio. It鈥檚 also softer than any other tee I own, which is why I often sleep in it. (惭别苍鈥檚 only)

Janji Waffleloft Long Sleeve ($88)

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Here鈥檚 another top that鈥檚 great on intense runs but also looks and feels good when worn during daily life. The waffled fabric (mostly recycled polyester with spandex and eco-friendly modal) keeps you warm but breathes and wicks when you need it to. The just-right fit accommodates multiple uses鈥攐n its own in mild conditions, over a short-sleeved tee in cooler temps, or under a jacket or pullover in true wintry weather. This is a shirt you鈥檒l pack when you want to travel light but be ready for a range of conditions and uses.

Outdoor Vitals Tern Ultralight Merino Hoodie ($85)

I鈥檝e found more uses for this hoodie than any other gear I鈥檝e tested over the past year. On a three-day trip to the Pacific Northwest, I wore it as an outer layer over long sleeves on a sub-freezing run, over a short sleeve tee on a hike in moist, low-50s conditions, to dinner in a pub, and as a blanket and pillow on the plane. I appreciate it on runs when I want to put up the hood and pull down the sleeves at the start but later need nothing more than a breathable long sleeve top. It鈥檚 also a great single layer on summer hikes when the bugs are biting. These many uses stem from its thin, light (115 grams per square meter) merino/nylon fabric and a close but yielding fit.

Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0 ($198)

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This jacket outperforms many other much more expensive competitors. Its 100% ripstop nylon fabric is wind- and waterproof, breathable, and light, all while being free of PFAS (aka 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥�). On one two-hour run in steady cold rain, I stayed warm up top wearing it over a short sleeve tee; when I finished, the shirt was dry except for a small section near my sternum. I also value the sensory aspects of wearing the Rainrunner鈥攗nlike many jackets with a durable water repellency treatment, this one is quiet and smooth, not crinkly, against the skin. The cuffs, which stay in place while also allowing easy watch peeking, were obviously designed by runners.

Artilect Eldorado Gloves ($55)

These have become my go-to running gloves for several reasons. At 310 grams per square meter, they keep my hands plenty warm in temperatures down to the low teens, but thanks to the Nuyarn fabric they don鈥檛 overheat on runs that start in below-freezing temps and end in the low 40s. They have a felt-like feel that鈥檚 comfortable for all the snot rocketing and mouth wiping that can accompany winter running. Perhaps best of all on the value front, they鈥檙e the most durable merino gloves or mittens I鈥檝e ever owned. I鈥檓 so confident in their hardiness that I also wear them while chopping firewood and doing other yard work.

Pressio Elite Shorts ($55 men鈥檚, $50 women鈥檚)

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More runners should know about Pressio, which entered the U.S. market in 2023. These 100% recycled polyester shorts are a good example of how the brand combines sustainable manufacturing, high-performance gear, and reasonable pricing. Depending on where you live, you could wear the Elites for most of the year鈥攖hey breathe and ventilate well in hot, humid weather but are also sufficiently protective in cooler conditions. Seamless hems enhance comfort, while the rear zip pocket adds functionality. For $5 less than the longer versions, Pressio offers a 3鈥�-inseam short for men and a 2鈥�-inseam short for women.

Minus 33 Wool Flyless Running Tights ($85)

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These no-nonsense leggings were one of the best values in our winter 2024 men鈥檚 running apparel guide. For less than $100, you get as much quality, comfort, and performance as you would in bottoms costing twice as much. The 85% merino wool/13% nylon/2 % spandex weave is soft but sturdy. I鈥檝e stayed warm in them in sub-zero temperatures, yet haven鈥檛 overheated in high-40s temps when wearing them for easy runs. The fit of the men鈥檚 version is loose and comfortable, but not baggy, making the tights a good choice for winter activities other than running. The women鈥檚 version is the same cozy-but-not-stifling 235 grams per square fabric, but in a high-waisted yoga leggings style.

Pinebury Mountain Merino Socks ($34)

Pinebury debuted a small collection of made-in-the-U.S. merino tops, socks, and arm warmers in the spring of 2023. Their midweight long-sleeve tee won best layer in our most recent men鈥檚 winter running guide. Their socks are also superb, and these, their thickest offerings, might be the best. The 70% merino/27% nylon/3% Lycra yarn is plush without negating good underfoot feel on the run. They鈥檙e toasty on cold runs but breathable in milder conditions. Bottom-of-the-calf height adds to their versatility since they work as well in daily life as they do on the run, upping their value, as with many items in this roundup. Adding to the appeal is that they seem indestructible.

The post The 10 Best Values in Running Apparel appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Winter running demands adaptability, from you as well as your apparel. For you, that can mean shifting planned workouts to different days, limiting yourself to several small loops of plowed road, or even, heaven forbid, scratching your run entirely. For your apparel, that means performing well in frequently changing weather, whether that鈥檚 day to day, week to week, or from the start to the last few miles of a run.

This winter running apparel guide accounts for all of those winter inevitabilities. Our team of testers put in almost 2,000 miles in every conceivable condition to determine the highest-quality, most versatile winter gear currently available. The 17 items below emerged as stellar in their category.

The Winners at a Glance:

• Editor鈥檚 Choice: Best Pants: Tracksmith Bislett Pants
• Best Base Layer Top: Pinebury Portland LS Performance Tee
• Best Top For Running and Everyday Life: Appalachian Gear Company 8020 Long Sleeve Tee
• MVP (Most Versatile Piece): Rabbit Cocoon 2.0
• Best Shell: Houdini The Orange Jacket
• Best Heavier Jacket: Fjallraven Keb Fleece Hoodie
• Best Underwear: Tracksmith Brighton Boxers Briefs
• Best Tights: SaySky Blaze+ Long Winter Tights
• Best Leggings: Minus 33 Woolverino Midweight Flyless Running Tights
• Best Thicker Socks: Walter Sky Merino Wool Athletic Sock
• Best Thinner Socks: On Performance High Sock
• Best Neck Gaiter: Skida Snow Tour
• Best Light Hat: Artilect Darkhorse Skully Beanie
• Best Heavy Hat: Ciele Athletics VNT Beanie
• Best Gloves: Soar Winter Gloves
• Best Mittens: Rab Xenon Mitt
• Best Gift: Outdoor Vitals Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie

The Reviews: Best Winter Running Apparel

Editor鈥檚 Choice
Best Running Pants: Tracksmith Bislett Pants ($198)

Sizing: XS-XL

Sometimes the greatest isn鈥檛 the latest.

I bought the Bisletts when they first came out in 2014, and they鈥檝e been my main winter running bottoms since. I鈥檝e tried dozens of other pants and tights since then鈥攊ncluding the latest and greatest鈥攂ut none are better. The only real difference between the OG version and the current Bisletts is a thicker drawstring in the newer offering. So, kudos to Tracksmith for not pointlessly tinkering with an already superb product.

What鈥檚 so great about the Bisletts? I consider them do-it-all winter running bottoms. They combine the performance of a tight with the comfort (and modesty) of pants. They have just the right amount of looseness and stretch throughout to move with me no matter the run, from recovery jogs to repeats at 800-meter race pace. The four-way stretch fabric (63 percent nylon/31 percent polyester/6 percent elastane) is soft, wicking, and water-repellant. I鈥檝e worn them comfortably up to temperatures in the mid 40s Fahrenheit, and I turn to them in sub-zero conditions. On brutally cold days, they easily accommodate a pair of briefs and half tights underneath.

I also appreciate the pants鈥� practical details. The side seam pockets are stealth but are large enough to hold a car fob, credit card, or phone. The side zippers extend to the top of the calf, making it easy to remove or pull on the pants without taking off your shoes on cold days. Full-length lateral reflective piping adds utility.

Yes, the Bisletts are pricey. But consider this: After thousands of miles in all that Maine winters have thrown at them, my pair from 2014 is as good as the Bisletts I got almost a decade later. That鈥檚 my definition of a good value.鈥擲cott Douglas, category manager, lead tester

Best Base Layer Top: Pinebury Portland LS Performance Tee ($108)

Sizing: XS – XXL

If you鈥檙e a merino wool-lover who hasn鈥檛 yet experienced Nuyarn, here鈥檚 the lowdown: Nuyarn is a two-ply strand of merino spun around a nylon core. Because the yarn isn鈥檛 twisted, as with standard merino/nylon knits, the merino fibers are better able to insulate and wick. The construction also leads to fabrics with five or more times the durability of conventional merino yarns. This U.S.-made shirt is a great example of what this new wool-nylon technology delivers. At 145 grams per square meter, the Portland Long Sleeve Tee is lighter than most midweight merino tops, but just as warm. The shirt hits at or just below the belt line, with a close but not clingy fit that enhances its breathability. We comfortably wore it as a base layer at temps below freezing and as a solo top into the low 50s Fahrenheit.

Bottom line: A soft but sturdy, light but warm, functional but fashionable staple

Best Top For Running and Everyday Life: Appalachian Gear Company 8020 Long Sleeve Tee ($102)

Sizing: Women’s XS-XL, Men’s S-XXL

No shirt we tested better straddled the divide between great performance on winter runs and comfort and good looks in everyday life. (Great colors!) Steve and I generally wore this top for a few days in our non-running hours, then used it for running for several days before washing. The all-natural-fiber mix of 80 percent alpaca wool and 20 percent Tencel has a slightly heavier feel than most midweight merino wool tops, yet remains soft and non-itchy鈥攑lus, like merino, it doesn鈥檛 absorb odors, even after several sweaty runs. The fit is snug enough for the top to work well on its own, but loose enough for it to be worn without constraint over a tighter base layer and to drape well as everyday wear. I watched in wonder on one snowy run as the flakes slowly melted on the shirt鈥檚 surface, but no external moisture reached my skin.

Bottom line: A true daily life/running hybrid that鈥檚 warm, comfortable, and attractive

Sponsor Content
Seirus Men’s Mapped Base Layer Top ($129.99) and Bottom ($119.99)

Crafted with precision, this base layer uses three carefully selected high-performance fabrics to enhance your wear experience. It delivers targeted warmth precisely where you need it most鈥攁ll while maintaining exceptional breathability in heat-prone zones thanks to the strategically placed Max Wick fabric. To keep you feeling fresh, the Polygiene antimicrobial mesh is positioned in the highest vent areas to ensure breathability. What truly sets this base layer in a league of its own is our exclusive Heatwave heat-reflective technology, where heat reflection and amplification combine as an unmatched powerhouse. Experience the perfect fit and the power of performance on any adventure that comes your way.

MVP: Rabbit Cocoon 2.0 ($125)

Sizing: S-XL

That鈥檚 鈥淢VP鈥� as in 鈥渕ost versatile piece.鈥� If this top were on a track team, it would be the guy who鈥檚 not a star in any one event but can run a good 800 meters, hold his own in any relay race, and score a point or two in a field event. The aptly named Cocoon has a soft, loose, built-in turtleneck that can be pulled into a hood, a face mask, or both. The body of the piece is 77 percent polyester/23 percent spandex with a fleece lining and semi-relaxed fit. It performed equally well whether worn as my only top in temperatures around freezing, as an outer layer when temps were in the teens, and as a mid layer on the most bracing Maine mornings.

Bottom line: Versatile top that might be worn in three ways within a week

Best Shell: Houdini The Orange Jacket ($300)

Sizing: XXS – XXL

A $300 jacket from a company named Houdini better have magical qualities, and this one does. It鈥檚 soft, breathable, waterproof, and incredibly light (a men鈥檚 large weighs less than 7 ounces). I returned from one Maine run in heavy snow to find the shirt I had on under the jacket was completely dry. Conversely, on a dry day with temps in the 20s, I could see the sweat that had been wicked to the jacket鈥檚 exterior, but not feel it inside. The fit is generous enough to accommodate two layers beneath, but close enough to keep the jacket from billowing. This was also the quietest weather-resistant jacket in the test, with weather-resistant exterior treatments. (FYI: The name comes from the jacket鈥檚 ability to tuck into itself to citrus-fruit size, not from its color. You can also buy The Orange Jacket in black or blue.)

Bottom line: A highly-functional, superlight shell that will make you feel invincible to the weather

Best Heavier Jacket: Fjallraven Keb Fleece Hoodie ($210)

Sizing: XS-XXL

What Fjallraven calls a mid layer for trekking, we call a surprisingly awesome outer layer for winter running. The polyester/wool/elastane blend is warm and breathable without being heavy. The fit is snug but allows full range of motion. The brushed interior provides just the right touch of coddling in the cold. The hood slid perfectly over a hat for the opening minutes of especially cold runs, and stayed put once I flipped it back. Because of the wool, snow melted on the exterior, rather than permeated the tight weave. I wore the Keb comfortably over a light merino long sleeve in single-digit temps. I even got a little toasty on one below-zero-windchill 90-minute run with this as my outer layer. Bonus: It became a staple of my non-running wardrobe once wintry weather receded thanks to its warmth-to-weight ratio and sleek good looks.

Bottom line: A warm zip-up that you鈥檒l also want to wear for less strenuous activities in warmer months

Best Underwear: Tracksmith Brighton Boxer Briefs ($48)

Sizing: S-XL

Take it from someone who has endured frostnip down there: Nothing is more important than a good pair of underwear when running in particularly harsh winter weather. Merino wool is a no-brainer for warmth, comfort, and moisture management, but that should be the starting point. Where these Tracksmith boxers shine is the attention to detail. Seamless construction greatly reduces the chances of being rubbed raw and holes developing. Durability is enhanced by the merino/nylon/elastane blend. 鈥淭hey contour everything really well, nothing feels restricted, but everything feels secure,鈥� Nathan said. I even became a boxers convert, because there鈥檚 just the right amount of give in the thigh to provide extra coverage without being constraining. Nathan and I wore these almost daily, from sub-zero temps up into the low 40s.

Bottom line: Supremely comfortable guard against the worst kind of frostbite

Best Tights: SaySky Blaze+ Winter Tights ($156)

Sizing: XS to XL

Of the nearly 15 classic-profile tights we tested, these Danish ones most often hit the Goldilocks just-right mark. They鈥檙e snug but not uncomfortably so, and warm into single-digit temps, but not too hot in the mid 30s. Jonathan noted that, 鈥渄espite the thicker weave, the tights didn鈥檛 affect mobility, breathed nicely when I got sweaty, and provided some comfortable compression. Plus, the soft and warm feel of the interior against my skin helped me get out the door in blizzard conditions.鈥� The external side pockets are great for stashing a hat or gaiter mid-run.

Bottom line: Protective but not restrictive tights that perform well in a wide range of conditions and paces

Best Leggings: Minus 33 Woolverino Midweight Flyless Running Tights ($85)

Sizing: S-XXL

These no-nonsense leggings are one of the best values of any item we tested. For less than $100, you get as much quality, comfort, and performance as you would in bottoms costing twice as much. The 85 percent merino wool/13 percent nylon/2 percent spandex weave is soft but sturdy. 鈥淭he fit is loose and comfortable, but not baggy,鈥� Jonathan said. 鈥淭hey never got in the way, but my legs didn鈥檛 feel like constrained sausages like they can in tights.鈥� As for performance, I wore them comfortably on the coldest day of our testing, when the windchill was鈥攚ait for it鈥攎inus 33. Yet Jonathan also found them to be breathable up to 50 degrees if not working too hard. Our main wish for improvement is an outer pocket for stashing gloves, a hat, or phone. (There鈥檚 a small internal pocket that can accommodate a credit card or car fob.) But at this price point, it鈥檚 hard to complain.

Bottom line: Top performance and comfort at a moderate price

Best Thicker Socks: Walter Sky Merino Wool Athletic Sock ($23)

Sizing: Men’s 6-10, Men’s 11-13

It can be tricky to find the right socks for running on really cold days. Your inclination might be to wear the thickest socks you have. But those don鈥檛 always fit comfortably inside your running shoes. These Nuyarn socks (40 percent merino/20 percent nylon/40 percent Lycra) solve the problem: Extra cushioning in the heel and ball of the foot is offset by a lighter mesh elsewhere to produce a medium-thick fit with an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio. The mid-calf length stays in place throughout runs. These were my go-to socks on the many single-digit-temp-or-colder days of a Maine winter.

Bottom line: Warm enough for the coldest days without confining your feet

Best Thinner Socks: On Performance High Sock ($25)

Sizing: S-XXL

Even when temps aren鈥檛 bitingly cold, most winter runners appreciate a little extra coverage from their socks. These beauties from On, made of a snug but uber-comfortable 90 percent recycled polyester weave, extend just over the bottom of your calves. They were our top choice for workout days, given that many racing shoes and performance trainers have a closer fit than standard running shoes. They kept our feet plenty warm down into temperatures in the teens. Finally, these are simply great-looking socks, with fun patterns and nice color combos, and we enjoyed showing them off when it came time to run in shorts.

Bottom line: A stay-put, partial-calf-covering sock you鈥檒l want to wear year-round

Best Neck Gaiter: Skida Snow Tour ($24)

Sizing: One size

A good gaiter is a godsend. It keeps your neck warm, of course (and therefore the rest of you, thanks to the carotid artery). It can also cover your lower face on especially brutal days, and can convert to a headband or open-top hat on mild days. Skida鈥檚 heaviest version is 92 percent polyester/8 percent spandex, with a brushed interior to prevent chafing. We happily wore it in every conceivable way throughout the winter. We also appreciated its UPF 50+ rating and that it鈥檚 made in Vermont.

Bottom line: Versatile neck chute that can fill many roles over the course of a winter

Best Light Hat: Artilect Darkhorse Skully Beanie ($35)

Sizing: One size

Many runners don鈥檛 need (or want) a thick, heavy hat for their winter miles. Even those in harsh climes like to have a lighter alternative on moderate days. This beanie kept us comfy in temps to the low 20s, but didn鈥檛 overheat us on sunny, above-freezing late-winter runs. The fit is dialed in鈥攕nug, but with just enough give that it doesn鈥檛 feel like a skull cap. The merino wool/nylon yarn is soft and smooth, quickly moved sweat to the surface for evaporation, and didn鈥檛 smell even when worn often enough to form salt lines.

Bottom line: Great fit, comfort, and warmth-to-weight ratio in a lightweight lid

Best Heavy Hat: Ciele Athletics VNT Beanie ($75)

Sizing: One size

鈥淭he Ciele thick-ribbed beanie was wonderful,鈥� Nicholas said, after wearing it through a Montana winter. I agree! Made of a 90 percent merino wool/10 percent silk knit, the hat is form-fitting, not bulky, and oh so soft. Nicholas and I felt invincible wearing it in temperatures in the teens and lower. The rib-knit construction has sewn-in vents that kept our heads from getting too hot and sweaty during harder runs. Nicholas described it as 鈥渙ne of the best hybrid items,鈥� that 鈥渃an work both as performance wear and something to take to the caf茅.鈥� Once again, I agree.

Bottom line: Great-looking, warm watchman鈥檚 cap that鈥檚 snug without being confining

Best Gloves: Soar Winter Gloves ($50)

Sizing: S, M, L

If your winter running doesn鈥檛 merit mittens, these might be the only gloves you鈥檒l need. The Soar Winter Running Glove has a fleece lining, breathable outer layer, cuffs that extend about an inch past the wrist, and touch screen compatibility. They鈥檙e plenty warm into temps in the low teens, but also not hot into the low 40s. 鈥淭he fit is really dialed in鈥攜es, even for a glove鈥攁nd the material is a great match between stretch and soft,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥淭hey felt like performance gloves and stayed out of the way while keeping my hands warm.鈥�

Bottom line: A versatile glove for runners in moderate climates

Best Mittens: Rab Xenon Mitt ($55)

Sizing: XS-XL

These are the best mittens I鈥檝e ever run in. Others that kept my hands warm enough were too bulky for normal arm action, bumping against my hips with each swing, and sometimes got too hot. Those that didn鈥檛 interfere with my form didn鈥檛 keep my hands much warmer than gloves would have. The Xenons are the best of both worlds in single-digit-and-below temps. PrimaLoft insulation is covered on the back by a weather-resistant Pertex shield. The smooth, palm-side fabric doesn鈥檛 irritate when you wipe your face with it. The mittens are pliable enough they can be packed into themselves, and conform comfortably to your hands when you run in them. I also appreciated how the elastic cinch at the wrist seals in warmth while making it easy to pull the remaining inch-plus of the cuff over garments or to peel the cuff back to check my watch.

Bottom line: A light but super-warm, comfortable mitten that allows normal running form

Best Gift: Outdoor Vitals Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie ($85)

Sizing: 齿厂鈥�3齿尝

Our criteria for this category: Something you might not consider a core piece but that, once you have it, you find yourself wearing again and again. This thin, light (115 grams per square meter) Nuyarn top is made of a soft, 58-percent merino wool/42-percent nylon blend. It fits closely but not tightly. It鈥檚 great for running, either on its own on mild days or over a long-sleeve top on cooler ones. I also wore it often for daily life, both indoors in the winter or as a light pullover on warm spring days. Whether you gift it to someone else or yourself is up to you.

Bottom line: Who wouldn鈥檛 love to receive a versatile, high-performing, attractive merino hoodie?

How to Buy

Dressing for winter running can be tricky because of the great range of conditions you can face. Here are some tips on how to focus your wardrobe-gathering efforts.

Love the layers: Think in terms of layers of clothing that will wick sweat (base layer), keep you warm (mid layer), and keep exterior moisture from reaching your skin or block the wind (outer layer). Adjust as necessary for the day鈥檚 conditions. Here鈥檚 a detailed tutorial on layering.

Shop to your local norms: When I lived in Maryland, I focused on having a good collection of light- to medium-weight tops, and few thick, insulated shirts or jackets. I figured I could cobble together an adequate outfit on the handful of bitterly cold days. Apply that principle to whatever is typical for your winter running weather, rather than, for example, getting a blizzard-ready jacket or superlight gloves that you鈥檒l wear only a few times a year.

Invest in quality: If possible, be willing to spend more up front for top-quality construction and fabrics. Ultimately, you鈥檒l save money by having apparel that鈥檚 as good as new after several years instead of frequently buying replacements because more cheaply made ones keep developing holes or falling apart at the seams. Also, higher-quality materials will feel and perform better, and isn鈥檛 your running worth that?

Consider your colors: Many winter running pieces are dark, in part because they better absorb the warmth from weak sunlight. Dark colors also help you stand out in areas with months of roadside snow. But winter running can also mean more miles in the dark. If that鈥檚 what your schedule requires, look for apparel with reflective elements.

And once you鈥檝e shopped: Dress for how warm you鈥檒l be 15 minutes into your run. It鈥檚 better to be a little chilly for a little while than too warm for too long. An exception: If you鈥檙e planning to run for less than half an hour on a miserable weather day, pamper yourself and overdress if that鈥檚 what it takes to get out the door.

How We Tested

• Number of testers: 7
• Number of brands tested: 44
• Number of items tested: 135
• Number of testing miles: 1905
• Lowest testing temperature: -15 Fahrenheit
• Lowest testing wind chill: -33 Fahrenheit

We assembled a band of dedicated runners spread over a wide range of winter climates鈥擟hicago, Seattle, coastal Maine, the mountains of Montana, the high plains of Nebraska, upper Minnesota, and the middle of Maryland. (Sorry to our comrades in New Orleans, but 鈥淭his might be one of the five days a year I need long sleeves鈥� wasn鈥檛 the testing weather we were looking for.)

Our testers had a simple charge: Do as much of your running outside in this gear as possible. Be willing to get cold, wet, iced-over, and windblown. Report back on which pieces kept you the most comfortable while not interfering with your running form.

Versatility and durability were focal points. The items below performed exceptionally well in a great range of conditions and showed little to no signs of wear, which means you can wear them more often and have to buy fewer pieces.

While this is a running-focused review, many of our winners are great for non-running activities. Whether that non-running use comes in intense winter activities like skiing or climbing, or for more leisurely pursuits, every new use adds chits in the value and versatility score of the apparel.

Meet the Testers

Scott Douglas, Lead Tester:

I started running as a middle schooler in 1979 and have done more than 125,000 miles since. I was pretty good decades ago鈥�30:48 10K, 68:40 half marathon鈥攂ut have always run primarily because I love it. I run every day unless I鈥檓 injured, and I always run outside, either despite of or because of living in Maine. Even a slippery, sloppy, snowy run is more enjoyable to me than waiting out the time on a treadmill. In my late 50s, I run about 3,000 miles a year and am now most drawn to trail ultras.

I鈥檓 fortunate to be able to combine my love of running with my professional life. I鈥檝e held senior editorial positions at Runner鈥檚 World and elsewhere, and have written or co-written several popular running books, including Advanced Marathoning, Meb for Mortals, Running is My Therapy, and Strong Minds.

Our Other Testers Were:

Jonathan Beverly: Senior running gear editor for 国产吃瓜黑料, 40+ years running, lives in western Nebraska

Nathan Brown: Doctor of physical therapy and head of Pineries Running Lab, lives in Wisconsin

Greg Crowther: College instructor in anatomy and physiology, winner of JFK 50-miler and other ultras, lives in Washington

Steve Kartalia: Two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, 40+ years running, lives in Maryland

Matt Krecun: Marathoner since the 1990s, 3:31 at 2023 Boston at age 51, lives in Illinois

Nicholas Triolo: Senior editor for 国产吃瓜黑料 and Trail Runner, lived in Montana during winter testing

The post The Best 惭别苍鈥檚 Winter Running Apparel 2024 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Runners have many ways to reduce their environmental impact, including racing locally, , and wearing gear until it鈥檚 no longer functional. When it鈥檚 time to buy new apparel, common advice is to seek sustainable materials like merino wool and bamboo. But there鈥檚 another, increasingly available option鈥攔unning clothes made primarily of recycled materials.

Recycled-material running apparel is mostly made from recycled polyester. According to the , which compares the environmental impact of different materials, recycled polyester produces 76% less emissions and uses 82% less water per kilogram than virgin polyester, on average. The constituents of recycled polyester can vary. For example, the Goldwin shirt I tested is made of , a material created from used polyester fiber waste and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles. The recycled polyester in the Brooks singlet is made solely from recycled PET bottles (six of them). The Patagonia shorts are made almost entirely of plastic bottles before they wash into the ocean.

How We Tested

To see how these offerings work for warm-weather running, I did more than 600 miles in them over the past few months. My selection filter was that each tested piece needed to be made of at least a majority of recycled materials. My testing filter was both more subjective and more exacting: Is this gear worth running in regardless of its save-the-world credentials? After all, there are a growing number of running shoes with recycled or plant-based materials. But they鈥檙e inferior to 鈥渘ormal鈥� running shoes, and few runners are willing to sacrifice performance and comfort just to accommodate greener materials. So I was curious whether mostly recycled shirts, singlets, and shorts perform, fit, feel and measure up to non-recycled summer running gear.

Of the 35 items I tested, I kept returning to 11. Others didn鈥檛 make the cut because of turn-offs such as feeling too rubbery, not wicking well, or clinging too much even when dry. (Don鈥檛 worry, I鈥檝e donated, not discarded, these pieces.) Here are my brief thoughts on the 11 pieces that are at least as good as the rest of my warm-weather running attire.

Short-Sleeve Shirts

Goldwin Quick Dry Tee ($105)

Material: 100% recycled polyester

This is an accurately named shirt鈥攐n running clothes laundry day, it鈥檚 always the first piece to dry. Because I sweat heavily, I was dubious that the shirt鈥檚 double-faced construction would work for me on warm runs. But it wicks well, and the inner polyester layer doesn鈥檛 cling. The antibacterial properties of the interior material also seem legit. After three consecutive sweaty runs, I could still pull it on without shuddering at the odor.

Helly Hansen Lifa Active Solen Tee ($60)

Material: 60% recycled polyester/40% polypropylene

There鈥檚 a lot going on in this seemingly plain-looking shirt. The two-ply construction includes an interior of Lifa, one of the first patented wicking materials. Used coffee grounds are infused into the fabric to provide chemical-free UPF 50+ protection. The shirt鈥檚 softness and wicking had me reaching for this shirt when I should have been testing others. Its fit, weight, sun protection, and appearance make it a good crossover shirt for other outdoor summer activities.

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Rabbit Jog Tee ($50)

Material: 94% recycled polyester/6% spandex

Don鈥檛 let the name deter you if you are averse to the 鈥淛鈥� word. The Jog Tee can handle long, hard runs as well as most other high-quality shirts. The fit is tailored, but the shirt still flows and breathes once you start sweating. The fabric is thin and airy enough to see through if you hold it up to the light. I also appreciated its looks鈥搕he thin horizontal stripes and subdued colors of the style I tested don鈥檛 scream 鈥渞unning nerd.鈥�

SaySky Clean Combat Tee ($62)

Material: 100% recycled polyester

Danish brand SaySky continues to impress me with its apparel made by runners for runners. This is a workhorse shirt, soft and comfortable on easy runs in cooler weather and great at moisture management on longer and harder outings. Wicking is enhanced by an interior mini-waffle pattern. It stretches enough to not cling but not so much that it flops or hangs too low. SaySky offers a singlet of the same constitution and heft.

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Singlets

Brooks Atmosphere Singlet 2.0 ($40)

Material: 76% recycled polyester/15% polyester/9% elastane

A trait of a good piece of running apparel is that you don鈥檛 think about it while getting in your miles. That was my experience with the Atmosphere 2.0. It鈥檚 a classic non-mesh singlet that just happens to be made primarily of recycled materials. The fit hits a nice middle ground between snug and loose. The fabric feels soft and does a decent job of wicking. Bonus: It has a UPF 50+ coating.

La Sportiva Tracer Tank ($45)

Material: 100% recycled polyester

The Tracer is a true tank top, with holes cut close to the armpits. If you鈥檙e not a particularly heavy sweater, that shouldn鈥檛 be a problem on hot, muggy days. If you, like me, lose a few pounds just stepping out the door on a hot day, you might find the relative lack of upper-body ventilation a drawback in such conditions. The fabric has an almost silk-like comfortable feel. I enjoyed the Tracer most on easy runs in low humidity and temperatures below 80 Fahrenheit.

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Saucony Elevate Sleeveless ($35 men’s/$45 women’s)

Material: 100% recycled polyester

This was the best singlet I tested for super sweaty days. It has a mesh construction throughout, with the back mesh holes being much bigger than that in the front, that greatly aids sweat evaporation. The singlet drapes loosely without billowing, which adds to performance and comfort on hot, humid runs. (Despite the 鈥渟leeveless鈥� name implying its akin to a muscle tee, the arm openings are wide, as you would expect from a traditional singlet.) This piece is an excellent bargain.

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Shorts

Janji AFO Middle Short ($64)

Material: 88% recycled polyester/12% elastane

Janji鈥檚 bestselling short is full of features but has a barely-there feel on the run. A micromesh waistband with exterior ties sits atop the light, breathable body. The rear zip pocket has a convenient pull string and is large enough to hold most phones (if that鈥檚 your thing). There鈥檚 also a small, secure pocket in the front top of the liner, good for stashing a car key fob. Overall, these are an exemplar of a modern everyday running short.

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Patagonia Strider Pro 5鈥� short ($79 women鈥檚/$85 men鈥檚)

Material: 90% recycled polyester/10% elastane

These are one of the best shorts I鈥檝e worn in my 44 years of running. So it鈥檚 great that they鈥檙e eco-friendly because I鈥檇 be raving about them regardless. Everything about them hits a Goldilocks, just-right note鈥攖he weight and feel of the shell fabric, the fit, weight, length, and comfort of the liner brief, and even the pocketing (one rear central zip, and a stealth slot on each back hip). Only when the dew point was above 70 Fahrenheit did the outer layer get saturated enough to cling.

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Pressio Elite 3鈥� short ($50)

Material: 100% recycled polyester

U.K.-based Pressio entered the U.S. market earlier this year. It aims to combine sustainable manufacturing with high-performance gear. I鈥檝e run in several of their winter and summer pieces and have been impressed with all of them, including these shorts. They鈥檙e the lightest ones I tested. The length, ventilation, and breathability made them my go-to for hard workouts and, on particularly humid days, long runs, when I valued less material clinging to my thighs.

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Salomon Cross 7鈥� short ($45)

Material: 100% recycled polyester

These shorts made me reconsider my 5-inch-inseam cap. Unlike most longer shorts I鈥檝e tried, the Cross 7鈥漵 have a reasonable thigh circumference and a pleasingly light body. A thin, separate band of material atop the waistband helps to anchor the shorts and relieve abdominal pressure. The micromesh liner helps to keep things cool. The length also makes these shorts a good choice for trails, if you tend to favor more coverage in that environment.

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It鈥檚 often said that running shoes are specialized tools. The best ones for racing a 5K probably aren鈥檛 also great for exploring trails or doing an easy long run on the roads. 鈥淭he right tool for the job鈥� has certainly been my shoe-selection method for the 125,000 miles I鈥檝e run over the last 40-plus years.

While there isn鈥檛 one shoe that handles every situation perfectly, there鈥檚 something to be said for do-it-all shoes鈥攐nes that work well at nearly all paces and on nearly all surfaces. Maybe you can鈥檛 afford to buy three pairs of shoes at once. Maybe you鈥檙e a minimalist who wants to keep your gear shed simple. Or maybe you鈥檙e about to go on vacation for a week and don鈥檛 want to pack four pairs of running shoes.

Even those of us who own a variety of models value a shoe that feels good on several surfaces and at different paces. After all, most of us don鈥檛 regularly drive to parks to run, or have trails out our back door. Similarly, as access to tracks gets increasingly scarce, we appreciate a shoe that鈥檚 responsive enough to wear for hard workouts on roads or bike paths, but protective enough for the warm-ups and cooldowns that sandwich those workouts.

Over the past year, I tested 10 shoes with potential as standout do-it-all models. These shoes aren鈥檛 marketed as one-stop-shopping, crossover models; their versatility is an added-value bonus. Four showed enough promise that I put in at least 200 miles on each. I wore them for every type of run on every type of surface available to me: asphalt, dirt roads, New England forest trails full of roots and rocks, crushed gravel paths, packed snow, and outdoor tracks. Here are my picks for the best do-it-all shoes, in descending order of preference on my admittedly subjective scale.

Brooks Hyperion Max ($170)

This was a clear overall winner in my test because of its ability to do everything well. I enjoyed it more than any of the others for every type of run and on every surface.

Disregard the 鈥渕ax鈥� part of this shoe鈥檚 name if you associate that word with copious amounts of cushioning. With stack heights of 34 millimeters in the heel and 26 millimeters in the forefoot, this is a medium-height shoe by current standards. Brooks markets it as a lightweight trainer (6.7 ounces in a women鈥檚 size 8, 7.5 ounces in a men鈥檚 size 9) for fast road running. It certainly shines in that regard. But it鈥檚 also great for, well, pretty much everything. I enjoyed it on workaday hour-long 鈥渘ormal鈥� runs, short hill repeats, two-hour trail outings, tempo runs, and short recovery jogs.

The nitrogen-infused midsole is firm but not harsh (and after 300 miles feels the same as it did after 30). The rockered geometry encourages good turnover but doesn鈥檛 force you into an unfamiliar rhythm or gait. The woven upper combines with the rest of the shoe to provide a surprisingly stable platform on even muddy trails. I鈥檒l keep buying this shoe as long as Brooks makes it. (Which means, with my luck, it will be discontinued next month.)

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Skechers Razor 4 ($135)

It should no longer be surprising that Skechers makes top-quality running shoes; they鈥檝e been doing so since 2011. This shoe鈥檚 predecessor, the Razor 3, was an all-time favorite: I used it for everything, even though it was billed as a lightweight trainer/racer hybrid. Its one shortcoming? Its outsole lasted less than 200 miles.

The Razor 4 has significantly better durability, and while I find running in it a little less fun than I did the Razor 3, it鈥檚 still excellent. It鈥檚 also a better do-it-all option for most runners. At 6.4 ounces in a women鈥檚 size 8 and 8 ounces in a men鈥檚 size 9, it鈥檚 still light, but less minimal than the Razor 3 (which weighed less than 7 ounces in most men鈥檚 sizes). The stack heights (30 millimeters in the heel, 26 millimeters in the forefoot) are a little higher. Perhaps most significantly, the midsole, made from treated TPU beads, is softer and springier, making it more forgiving for daily use, and it doesn鈥檛 feel stiffer when temperatures are in the teens or colder.

For me, the Razor 4鈥檚 ride is enjoyable at everyday pace, excellent at tempo-run pace, and acceptable down to 5K pace. Once I go much faster than that, the midsole鈥檚 bounciness detracts from an efficient turn-over. Still, it鈥檚 more than adequate for short bouts of faster running, such as striders. The Razor 4 is also a great choice for long runs. I experienced no shoe-related fatigue, and the midsole and structure worked with my form to keep me moving well as I tired. That was true on road-only long runs as well as ones with lots of trail sections, where the small forefoot lugs in the Goodyear rubber outsole provided surprisingly good traction.

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Puma Velocity Nitro 2 ($120)

This Puma model is an underappreciated value. I鈥檝e had two pairs that each lasted for more than 500 miles. I retired the first pair only because the left heel counter had lost too much structure; the midsole and outsole were still in top form.

On foot, they don鈥檛 feel as heavy as the listed weights (8.1 ounces in a women鈥檚 size 8, 9.2 ounces in a men鈥檚 size 9). Puma鈥檚 nitrogen-infused midsole material sits atop a firmer bed of EVA for balanced cushioning. The lighter-than-expected feel and the adaptable midsole configuration combine with moderate stack heights (34 millimeters in the heel, 24 millimeters in the forefoot) to make a true do-it-all trainer. There鈥檚 plenty of cushioning for long runs (I鈥檝e gone up to 34 miles in them) but enough pop for tempo runs and end-of-run pickups. For me, they鈥檙e fine for short segments at 5K pace, but after more than two minutes at that effort I start thinking too much about the shoes.

The Velocity Nitro 2 is fantastic for road/trail mash-ups, thanks in part to a surprisingly grippy outsole that keeps you moving over and around trail obstacles but doesn鈥檛 interfere with good road mechanics. Of the four shoes I tested, it鈥檚 also simply the most comfortable on the run.

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Tracksmith Eliot Runner ($198)

Tracksmith鈥檚 first running shoe is in line with its New England retro prep-inspired clothing line. There鈥檚 nothing flashy about it, just top-quality craftsmanship and materials in an understated aesthetic. The last is fairly straight and tapered. There鈥檚 no dramatic lateral heel bevel, rocker, or adoption of any other current design norms to encourage quicker roll through the gait cycle. At 9.2 ounces in a men鈥檚 size 9/women鈥檚 size 10.5, it鈥檚 neither superlight nor off-puttingly heavy. The stack heights (33.5 millimeters in the heel, 24.5 in the forefoot) give good ground feel without dipping into minimalist shoe territory. These elements result in a classic daily trainer feel.

The Pebax midsole is on the firm side; the ride is definitely not super bouncy, as you might have come to expect from the super-foam. The removable insole is also made of Pebax, but tuned a little softer. As with much else about the Eliot Runner, the effect is a middle-ground experience, neither too coddling nor too severe. I found the shoe most enjoyable at normal training pace. As with the Puma Velocity Nitro 2, it was fine on tempos and striders, but the weight and structure started to announce themselves more on something like 800-meter repeats at 5K pace.

The full-contact, slightly lugged rubber outsole works well on every surface. My only wish on trails was for a slightly wider platform to absorb lateral movements. The Eliot Runner was superb on packed snow. The thicker-than-average mesh upper is also a winner in winter: It kept my feet warm even in sub-zero temperatures.

Finally, the price. We鈥檙e used to more bells and whistles for $200 shoes. A counter-argument is that, if it lasts substantially longer than a $150 model, it鈥檚 eventually a decent value. As of this writing, I have almost 300 miles on my Eliot Runners. The uppers and overall structure are as good as new, the midsole feels the same, and I have less outsole wear than usual for that many miles. I would be surprised if things rapidly deteriorated over the next couple hundred miles.

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Apparel made of 100 percent merino wool is great for winter activity鈥攗ntil it isn鈥檛. It insulates, wicks, and dries admirably, as well as mitigates odors鈥攗p to the day your fingers pop through the tops of gloves. Or shirts and leggings develop random holes and start opening at the seams. Even your favorite hat might sprout unwanted ventilation spots. Those wardrobe malfunctions can happen suddenly, and often too soon after purchasing.

But now that we鈥檙e several years into merino gone mainstream, brands have found creative methods to make it more robust. For the last three months I鈥檝e been running, hiking, canoeing, and doing yardwork in cold-weather gear that combines merino with other fabrics to increase durability. Here are five keepers.

Ibex Woolies Tech Long Sleeve 1/4 Zip ($135)

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A key way to improve merino鈥檚 durability is to wrap merino fibers around a nylon core. Doing so can increase abrasion resistance by 30 percent or more while maintaining merino鈥檚 moisture-wicking magic.

Ibex鈥檚 quarter-zip baselayer top鈥攎ade of 81 percent merino, 12 percent nylon, and seven percent elastane鈥攊s an exemplar of this approach. At 180 grams per square meter (gsm), it鈥檚 light enough for warmish fall and spring days, but heavy enough to wear throughout the winter. The fit is close, but not so tight that I couldn鈥檛 wear it as a midlayer over a tee shirt.

Kora Yushu Leggings ($130)

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These super-soft and toasty (230 gsm) leggings blend merino (40 percent) with yak wool (60 percent). The latter has an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, while merino shoulders the moisture-management work. High-wear areas, such as the crotch, are made stronger by merino that鈥檚 spun around a nylon core. The seams, while double-stitched to enhance durability, are flat鈥擨 experienced no irksome irritations when running in the leggings.

Kora garments fit close to the skin, seemingly no matter how skinny you are. (I鈥檓 5鈥�9鈥�, 128 pounds.) They also tend to be long. With a 30-inch inseam, I had a couple of extra inches of leggings to account for, which I rolled up from the bottom.

Tracksmith Brighton Briefs ($48)

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This is my 19th winter as a Maine runner who doesn鈥檛 do treadmills. Translation: If there鈥檚 one piece of non-negotiable, gotta-be-merino apparel for me, it鈥檚 running underwear. Unfortunately, merino is especially vulnerable to developing tears at seams. All previous briefs I鈥檝e worn for this purpose have quickly disintegrated. I have three pairs of听100 percent merino briefs that are almost literally hanging by a thread from the waistband.

These Tracksmith briefs avoid that drawback with a seamless construction. Durability is also enhanced by the 66 percent merino, 32 percent nylon, two percent elastane blend. I鈥檝e run as long as 34 miles in them and can pay them the ultimate compliment: I forgot I had them on.Tracksmith also makes a boxer version for men.

Artilect Eldorado Gloves ($55) and Walrus Beanie ($40)

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I became a Nuyarn devotee over the summer, when I learned how this innovative merino construction performs so much better in heat than conventional merino. Now that it鈥檚 winter, I鈥檓 appreciating other Nuyarn attributes, including its warmth-to-weight ratio and durability.

Nuyarn is an ingredient brand a la Gore-Tex fabric or BOA lacing systems. As with many other blends, Nuyarn consists of merino fibers spun around a nylon core. But there鈥檚 a crucial difference: In most treatments, single-ply merino fibers are twisted into a rope-like structure. But because merino fibers aren鈥檛 of uniform length, they don鈥檛 always align perfectly. This can lead to thin areas that are susceptible to abrasion. In contrast, Nuyarn is a two-ply yarn that isn鈥檛 twisted. In abrasion tests that simulate repeated wear, Nuyarn fabrics have had five or more times the durability of conventional merino yarns.

Over the years, merino gloves and mittens have frustrated me even more than merino underwear. Few have survived even one winter of snot rocketing, drip catching, mouth wiping, wet-mid-run-removal tugging, and all the other abuse that accompanies hours outside in the cold. Artilect鈥檚 Eldorado gloves, which I鈥檝e also used for extensive yardwork, appear up to the durability challenge. And they also perform fantastically in temperature management. My hands have stayed warm when temps were in the teens, thanks to the gloves being a hardy 310 gsm, yet didn鈥檛 overheat when I wore them on runs where the temperature climbed into the high 40s.

Merino hats are also frequently underwhelming. I鈥檓 a heavy sweater whose hats can get soaked even in sub-freezing weather; a few errant tugs can lead to moist merino ripping. I鈥檝e had no such issues with this 250-gsm, waffleknit beanie. As with Artilect鈥檚 gloves, it quickly dissipates perspiration and remains comfortable in a huge temperature range.

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I鈥檝e been a merino wool evangelizer for more than 20 years. You simply can鈥檛 beat the fiber鈥檚 combination of warmth to weight, moisture management, comfort, odor resistance, and sustainability听for most outdoor activities during most of the year鈥�but not all of the year, for me.

I鈥檓 a runner who sweats like crazy. I can lose five of my 130 pounds on an easy hour-long summer run, leave puddles when I wring out socks and singlets, and endure squishy-foot as I log miles. (If you have to ask, this is when your shoes are so soaked each foot strike is audible. And if you have to ask, ignorance is bliss).

When you sweat this much, merino isn鈥檛 a viable hot-weather option. The fibers saturate quickly, and your top just clings to you, eliminating the breathability that鈥檚 usually a top merino attribute.

Or so I thought. For the past two months I鈥檝e been running almost exclusively in short-sleeve shirts made with , an innovative merino fabric from New Zealand that hit the market in 2014 and overcomes that sopping, sagging cling. I鈥檝e stayed as or more comfortable than I would have been running in polyester shirts, while enjoying merino鈥檚 other significant virtues. Bonus: Tops that perform so well on summer runs are obvious candidates for less sweaty ventures such as hiking, cycling, canoeing, and chopping wood for next winter.

What makes Nuyarn special?

The yarn in a conventional merino shirt is created using what鈥檚 known as ring spinning. This process twists the wool fibers into a single-ply rope-like structure. As a result, only a small fraction of the wool is exposed to air and able to work merino鈥檚 moisture-management magic. By way of analogy, picture how much less effectively a paper towel twisted into a rope can mop up liquid, compared to one spread out flat.听Ring spinning also makes the fabric vulnerable to holes鈥攁 frequent frustration for merino fans who have paid a premium for their gear鈥攁nd limits how light it can be. A conventional merino top meant for hot weather has a weight of 150 grams per square meter (gsm).

Nuyarn, in contrast, is a two-ply yarn in which merino fibers are spun around a filament, primarily virgin nylon. (The company is experimenting with using recycled nylon.) The resulting yarn isn鈥檛 twisted and leaves far more wool exposed to the air.

鈥淚n doing that, we significantly accelerate moisture absorption and dry time, at a lighter weight with higher degrees of elasticity,鈥� says Nuyarn CEO Andy Wynne. Nuyarn鈥檚 advertising touts the results of independent tests performed in 2020 by , which found that Nuyarn dries five times faster, has 35 percent听more elasticity, provides 35 percent more insulation, and is 50 percent听stronger than conventional merino.

Nuyarn merino, according to Wynne, is also more durable than conventionally spun merino. He says that on a , which simulates repeated wear over a fabric, a 180 gsm traditional merino fabric will develop a hole after about 14,000 abrasions, compared to 70,000 for a typical Nuyarn product, and as high as 114,000 for the Artilect shirt found below, even though the Nuyarn samples are all much lighter than 180 gsm. 鈥淔or us, durability equals sustainability,鈥� Wynne says.

Nuyarn is an ingredient brand, akin to Gore-Tex fabric or BOA lacing systems, rather than one that sells its own apparel. Wynne says he wants the company to stick to its core competencies rather than do it all and have to deal with, say, marketing and warehousing a bunch of shirts for next spring.

Sweat Testing

I wore five shirts made of Nuyarn during two hot months, putting in between four and 25 running hours in each, and was continually astounded by the ability they gave me to run comfortably in merino tee shirts in summery weather.

Yes, if it was hot and/or humid enough, the shirts would get what Artilect founder Trent Bush calls 鈥渙verloaded鈥� (I call it 鈥渨ring-out-while-running wet.鈥�)听But the same would have been true in my usual polyester singlets. And, unlike conventional merino tops, the Nuyarn shirts didn鈥檛 cling when soaked. They still breathed and flowed; the sweat I produced could achieve its purpose of cooling me. I also appreciated the extra protection from the sun and biting flies that shirts gave me compared to singlets.

There was a limit to my experiments, though. Above 85 degrees鈥攁t least East Coast humid 85 degrees鈥擨 valued extra airflow enough to don a polyester singlet. Note to brands: Produce a featherweight Nuyarn singlet with wide armholes, and I鈥檒l be your customer for life.

I can鈥檛 yet report on durability, but the shirts I tested lived up to their promised quick drying times and odor resistance. I ran in one every day for a week and washed it only because I needed to flesh out a laundry load. It bore no olfactory evidence of my having sweated heavily in it for more than 10 hours. The shirts dried in about half the time my polyester singlets did after soaked-through-and-through runs.

The tops below are all fantastic at keeping you cool. All are 100% Nuyarn fabric, which is always a mix of merino and nylon. Their construction varies in terms of what that merino/nylon balance is, as well as their gsm weight. Here鈥檚 a little more detail on each.

Artilect Sprint Tee

At 115 gsm, this wasn鈥檛 the lightest shirt I tested, but for the purpose of running in heat, it was my favorite. The overall combination of weight, feel, fit, and elasticity was perfect for me. Also, I鈥檓 shallow, and give extra points for the fabulous A/CID yellow color of the one I ran in. Its cut is on the slim side, but nothing like a body-hugging Under Armour top. Reflective piping adds to its utility.

Black Diamond Rhythm Tee

This is the lightest widely available Nuyarn top. Its 95 gsm is a little more than half the weight of a standard merino shirt, making it an obvious choice if 鈥渁s light as possible鈥� is your primary criterion. It has a barely there feel against the skin and can be seen through when held up to light, but stood up to wear without snagging or losing its shape.

Kuiu Ultra Crew Tee

Kuiu is primarily a hunting brand, but you wouldn鈥檛 know it by how well this 120 gsm top performed on muggy runs. That鈥檚 not surprising: In 2014, Kuiu was the first brand to sell apparel made of Nuyarn. This shirt is a good candidate for a do-it-all, unflashy base layer.

Trew Lightweight Pocket Tee

This was the longest and widest shirt I tested, making it a good choice for taller, more muscular body types than mine. It鈥檚 a light 120 gsm with 70 percent merino, 30 percent nylon. There鈥檚 also a pocketless version.

Wuru Merino Short Sleeve Tee

Of the shirts I tested, this one feels most like traditional merino top, while lighter at 125 gsm with 85 percent merino, 15听percent nylon. It hits just below the waist, a comfortable length many people prefer for running and other high-output activities. It鈥檚 the only one I tested that鈥檚 made in the United States (using, of course, imported Nuyarn fabric).

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Puma Liberate Nitro Review

If you need more evidence that we鈥檙e in a golden age of running shoes, look no farther than the Puma Liberate Nitro. The lightweight trainer in Puma鈥檚 welcome return to performance running offers soft but responsive cushioning, great ground feel and traction, and excellent durability, and it does so for $20 to $40 less than most comparable models.

The Stats

The Good Stuff

As of this writing, I鈥檝e put 180 miles on the Liberate. Not once did I find myself a few miles into a run wishing I鈥檇 chosen otherwise. For those of us who gravitate toward lightweight trainers, the Liberate is an exemplar of the form. It鈥檚 light and low enough that you feel the ground, and the next-gen midsole foam has good pop.

But that midsole also provides plenty of bouncy cushion. This isn鈥檛 a shoe that asks you to trade protection for performance. The midsole foam is soft to the touch, and nicely accommodates heel landings at any pace. The ride firms up as you transition to toe-off. One result is that the 10-millimeter heel-to-toe drop isn鈥檛 as noticeable as is the case in many other models with a similar construction.

Despite lacking a traditional heel counter, the Liberate is acceptably stable. There鈥檚 a small, unobtrusive TPU bar that juts out parallel to the ground from the back bottom of the heel; Puma says this is for added stability. The low-to-the-ground construction, nearly full-length outsole, and lack of a rocker also contribute to stability throughout the gait cycle without introducing rigidity.

Fit:

The monomesh upper is pretty far along the performance end of the spectrum (read “snug”) 鈥� this is definitely not an Altra or Topo foot-shaped construction. That said, my wide forefeet never found the fit constraining or pinching. The taper at the front of the shoe happens after where most people鈥檚 metatarsals will sit inside the shoe. I was always able to get a good lockdown with my normal runner鈥檚-knot lacing.

The upper also deserves praise for performing well in a wide range of conditions, from humid and 90掳F听to unseasonably cool and damp to hard rain. It neither trapped heat nor retained moisture, whether that moisture came from my feet, the sky, or puddles on trails.

Versatility:

Puma presents the Liberate as best for tempos, races, and short runs. I think they鈥檙e underselling. I鈥檝e worn the Liberate pleasurably on two-hour runs, track workouts, short recovery jogs, road tempos, and workaday hour outings. I took only the Liberate on a long weekend getaway that featured consecutive days of 10 miles on asphalt with 40 minutes of tempo intervals, 90 minutes easy on forest trails, and 10 miles steady on a crushed-gravel rail-trail. The shoes were equally effective and enjoyable at these different efforts on varying terrain.

If you prefer to wear slightly more sturdy shoes on your easy days and long runs, the Liberate can still handle everything else. They鈥檙e a great example of a shoe that can be worn for the warm-ups and cooldowns that sandwich harder efforts. At 6.3 ounces in a men鈥檚 size 9, they鈥檙e as light as many racing flats, while still providing protection and an outsole that corners exceptionally.

Durability:

The photo above shows the Liberate鈥檚 outsole after 180 miles. There鈥檚 slight wear on the lateral heel where I make contact, and even slighter wear up front where I toe off. Otherwise, the outsole, midsole, and upper look and feel exactly as they did on my first run in the shoes. The Liberate appears to have well-above-average durability, making them that much more of a deal for the relatively modest $110 price tag.

Room For Improvement

I can think of little negative to say about the Liberate (not counting the love-it-or-hate-it fire truck red of the ones I tested). For runners who are used to lightweight trainers, perhaps the biggest drawback is that some will want a little more heel/ankle stability. Because of the flexibility of the materials in the area, the Liberate is going to have some looseness around the top of the heel/ankle collar, no matter how tightly you tie the laces. This wasn鈥檛 really a problem for me, but could be if you have a fair amount of heel pronation and/or exceptionally thin ankles.

The biggest issue with the Liberate could have nothing to do with the shoe itself. Puma has entered and left the performance running market a few times in the past 30 years. The Liberate and the are as good as any other brand鈥檚 current offerings. Here鈥檚 hoping Puma keeps them around long enough for the shoes to gain the following they deserve 鈥� they’ve said they are back in with both feet, and if the quality of their product is any indication, we believe them.听

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