Bjørn Dæhlie, if you’ve never heard of him, is a retired cross-country skiing champion who has won the Nordic World Cup 6 times. His name is the epitome of excellence, and he established the Dæhlie brand over 20 years ago. The company is known for their quality cross-country skiing clothing, but they also have running, racing, and general lifestyle options.
Dæhlie is all about quality. You’ll notice the difference with their products as soon as you try them on. They feel great, they look good, and they are far superior to many of the athletic clothes you find out on the market currently. Not only are the clothes fashionable and comfortable, but Dæhlie is Bluesign certified and REACH compliant which means the products are free from harsh chemicals and manufactured in a safe environment. The use of any antibacterial treatments has been phased out and Dæhlie is working on replacing the polyester material (which is basically plastic) with a recycled one to ease the footprint on the planet. They are also working on improving the packaging to be more eco-efficient.
Dæhlie sent me the Spectrum 3.0 Jacket and the Winter Tights to test. I was very impressed with both, as they will get a lot of use in the coming months.
From the second I got a good look and feel for the tights, I knew they were going to quickly become a favorite of mine this winter. They contain some of the finest merino sheep’s wool in New Zealand and Australia and it’s a stretch fabric that regulates your temperature. Additionally, they feel amazing when you put them on, like warm gloves for my legs, but not hot or itchy.
I am always on the search for running pants lined with something to keep my legs warm in the cold and rain, and the problem I often encounter is that gravity tends to make them inch their way down the longer I run. I’m constantly pulling at them so I can hike them up over my long torso and they wind up being more trouble than they are worth. This is not the case with the Dæhlie tights. After I pulled them up for the first time, they stayed right where I left them. They also kept me toasty and warm while I was warming up but never hot when I got into the groove of my run.
There is a front layer of wind and water-resistant softshell material that runs down the center of the pants all the way to the knees. There are also mesh panels on the sides which help with ventilation and mobility. For safety consideration, there are reflective pieces that help with nighttime visibility. The material dries quickly and they are weather-proof and machine washable. All in all, they are the perfect winter running tights and my new go-to for the season whether I’m on the roads or on the couch at home.
The jacket arrived in a beautiful brilliant pink color with orange highlights and it will brighten any dreary day and be seen easily on the streets. The water-resistant 2-layer softshell material is also very lightweight, which means that you could wear it for hours on the roads without getting weighed down or cold.
The Spectrum 3.0 jacket is meant for cross-country skiing or running, and like the tights, a lot of thought was put into the construction of the design. It’s highly elastic, with great ventilation, featuring mesh on the back and underarms to help regulate your temperature and cool you in the places you need it most. The jacket also features Bionic Finish Eco® technology which increases the durability and helps maintain it’s vibrant color. The jacket is tapered in a flattering way to a woman’s body with a draw cord on the bottom. There are taped seams to repel the water on a rainy day and reflective details on the sleeves to keep you safer in the dark.
The jacket has zippered hand pockets, which is a must for me personally so that things like my ID won’t get lost out on a trail. There are also inside pockets, which are not zippered but very deep, and they are great for stowing away a GU or a phone while you run.
Another feature I love on the jacket is that it has a high collar. On those early morning runs in the cold, it’s nice to know that my neck will get some protection from the wind and rain. Some collars are bothersome or suffocating, but that’s not the case with this jacket.
And, more importantly, how does it feel to run in Dæhlie gear? Fabulous!! Nothing rubs any of my body parts the wrong way, there’s nothing I’m tugging on or pulling at, and everything breathes really well and stays where it’s supposed to. Dæhlie has thought of everything to make their clothes functional as well as stylish.
Company:
Dæhlie – Find them on Facebook here
Products & Price:
- Tights, Winter (Womens) (€ 109,00)
- Specs (from website):
- Woolstretch main fabric
- Reflective details
- Windproof front
- Slim fit
- Mesh insert in sides for better fit
- Specs (from website):
- Jacket Spectrum 3.0 (Womens) (€ 199,00)
- Specs (from website):
- Light weight technical ski jacket
- Light weight and elastic 2,5 layer breathable and water resistant fabric with DWR
- Bionic Finish Eco®
- Wicking and highly elastic mesh back and underarm panels for optimal ventilation and body temperature regulation
- Fully taped seams
- Reflective details both sleeves
- Slim fit
- Articulated sleeves
- 2 handpockets
- Partly elastic cuffs
- All zippers YKK
- One hand solution, bottom hem adjustment
- Specs (from website):
More about: Dæhlie
Our design is clean, real and contemporary without anything superfluous that take away the focus from your achievements. Our clothing inspires your winner instinct and makes you feel and look good.
The characteristic oblique line can remind you of the diagonal movement of a XC skier. This oblique line forms the starting point for the graphic pattern we have developed.
We have the worlds best products developed for cross-country skiers doing different forms of exercize – all year round. Our clothes have unique fit and quality.
Thank you to Daehlie for providing us with samples. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
