Over the past few years, I have started to get into singlets and tanks for both summer runs and garage workouts. This seems like a no brainer, but there was a period of time when I couldn’t seem to find a suitable sleeveless option. They either were too snug and I felt like a sausage, or I ended up getting chafing around my arms. That being said, I’ve been on a bit of a good run lately and the new Core Charge Singlet from Craft is no different.
There’s not too much detail that we feel can go into many running tops. Outside of some sizing notifications or fabric quality, I personally am easy to please when it comes to most tops. I found that this singlet fit exactly like I wanted it to. It was form fitting, but not constricting – a nice middle ground that fit and (I feel) looked great.
There are two color options – a black and neon yellow – and I actually really liked the latter. There are a couple black accents and logo/company name, but it’s nothing visually overwhelming. There is also a reflective tape on the back as well, making it great for an early morning or evening road run.
The material is a 100% Polyester jersey mesh that is definitely light and comfortable. It has moisture-transfer capabilities and I feel held up great to both runs and some significantly sweaty HIIT workouts in my non-air conditioned garage.
Really happy to add this to my arsenal.
For most runners out there, we are looking to cut weight when possible – especially when racing. From shoes to gear, even some ounces here and there are noticeable. In the running shorts world, that generally means less material – and with that comes shorter (and shorter) inseams.
While I can appreciate this from time to time, I am not one who wants, or needs, his thighs “out there” all the time. I like to have a nice array of shorts in my running closet to meet the need and I have found that it can actually be a little tough to find a nice, longer running short that doesn’t break the bank. Craft’s Core Charge Shorts fit this bill.
They fit pretty comfortably by design, with definitely more of a relaxed (not baggy, but loose) fit. There is a drawstring, but I found that the sizing seemed pretty on point as I did not have to do much in utilizing the tie to find the right fit. There are also two slanting side pockets and a short split in the bottom of each length to allow for a little more motion when bending/squatting.
Like the top above, the shorts are also made from 100% Polyester and have the same quality. The come in four different color options – with the reviewed black version being, by far, the most basic and unassuming. The blue and brown versions look great and have Craft script on the leg, while a separate black option comes adorned with blue/grey geometric shapes – a definite fun eye-popper.
I have been liking these as a cross-training hybrid option. Basically, I will wear these for my morning strength workouts and then wear them straight out the door for a short run. They double up really well in this capacity, something that isn’t always the case. I don’t generally like doing strength workouts in short running shorts so I often end up burning through two bottoms in succession as a result. Not so with the Core Charge shorts. I know long shorts aren’t for everyone, but I really liked these.
As you can tell from my responses to the above items, I am really like what Craft is doing in the running sphere. This is one of our first reviews of Craft gear and it’s been hard with this batch of review items to find much in the terms of negatives. We recommend checking them out (as of this writing a lot of their gear is on sale) and maybe you will find something you like as well!
Company:
Products & Price:
- Core Charge Singlet | $~15
- Core Charge Shorts | $~25
Thank you to Craft for providing us with samples. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
