(Not me.) This photo from the Stonewear website lets you see the nice, wide waistband and subtle down-the-leg detail of the SuperNova tight, shown here in the color black/Crosshatch.
If you’re like me, you are always on the look out for gear from smaller, independent companies. Stonewear is one company that I recently found out about and requested some tester gear from. They’re based in Boulder (where my brother lives) and started out creating climbing gear. I guess living in Boulder, where no one “just” does one activity, it was natural for them to start also making yoga, running, and casual apparel as well. Their sister companies include eGrips (climbing holds) and Trango (climbing shoes & gear).
My first impression of Stonewear was, “nice and not too flashy.” Ever since that catchy YouTube video about “Activewear” came out (at the bottom of the post, if you haven’t seen it), I try to only visit the store in my running clothes if they’re not obnoxious. The Stonewear gear I got included the SuperNova tights, this long-sleeve half-zip Pilot top, and the Tempo bra. Out of the three items, the tights are my favorite because it’s hard to find a really warm pair of tights that still have enough stretch to really fit right. These tights also have a fleecy liner which is super soft.
Another good feature of the tights include the wide waist elastic. Since having two kids, I feel self-conscious about my stomach. So I seek out tights and shorts with really wide waistbands. All of the designs of the SuperNova have this feature; and on two of the color options this waistband and a strip down the side is a muted pattern. Finally, there’s a very subtle reflective feature on the tights – a scalloped strip of reflective material near the ankle on the outside of each leg. It’s very feminine and placed where your leg movement will attract more attention. They’re priced at $94, but they’re very well-made and I’ve never found a pair of warm tights that fit this well (most thicker tights make me feel like I’m wearing a wetsuit).
The Pilot top ($74) is of an average weight and made of a quick-dry type material (their name for it is “CoreFlex”). The shirt felt similar to smooth tech shirts from other brands. I think the sizing is pretty true; I am 5′ 7″ and weigh about 165, and I’m sure at least 20 lbs of that is my chest; I wore a size L and the shirt was just right for running in as a top layer. The shirt also has thumb holes, but the sleeves seemed longer than your average shirt with that feature which was really nice; I didn’t feel like I had to stretch it out when using the thumb holes.
Now, the Tempo bra is super cute, but I just couldn’t wear it for running. I only recently sized down from nursing and am still at a 34DD, so I need serious support from my running bras. That being said, though, I wear this bra on a regular basis either under off-the-shoulder or open-back shirts (I happen to have two that match the colors) and when using my rowing machine. It’s comfy enough to wear all day and it comes with modesty inserts (thin pads so no one will notice when you get cold). The bra would probably work fine for runners with smaller chests, or great for your cross-training activities, but there was too much bounce for me when I was running. At $44, it’s a great price for a work to workout bra.
No, that’s not me! But these pictures from the Stonewear website give you a good look at the cool straps and full coverage of the Tempo Bra.
I’m showing the picture of the top in “Purple Wine” color, because it lets you see the details better than the black one that I tested. Note the super-long sleeves and longer fit.
If you like the look of this gear, you should head over to the Stonewear website and check out their full catalog. They have some really cute dresses and tunics that would be suitable for everyday wear, maybe even work if you work at a place where you can dress a little more casually. Their shirts tend to run long which I really like, and their skirts have a same wide waistband as the SuperNova tights that I tested out. Note that if you sign up for their newsletter you get $10 off your next purchase, and they offer free shipping on orders of $100+.
