Run Oregon sometimes receives products to review and was sent some styles from each to try out for the Fall season ahead. Clearly, the items of clothing featured in this post aren’t all that running related. But they definitely fit into a Pacific Northwesterners sensibilities.
Hoodies, pullovers, and flannel shirts definitely can find their way into the casual closet of any number of Oregon closets. The Feedback Flannel Shirt, with its 100% polyester yarn-dyed woven plaid, looks to be a possible necessity for any self-respecting Oregonian outdoorsman. I mean, it IS flannel after all…
I have a variety of long-sleeved shirts in my closet, but most of them are “business-casual” in nature and not exactly the most “functional” outside of an office setting. It seems that with the recent arrival of Fall 2021 (and the arrival of ongoing “atmospheric rivers”) that function is going to be needed. While (duh) this isn’t a running top, it actually still has a variety of specs that us runners can appreciate thanks to Outdoor Research’s knowledge in this sphere. The fabric is definitely more breathable than heavy duty fabric and it’s moisture-wicking and dries much quicker than counterparts.
It fits a little looser (like most all flannels do) and can be a standalone item or outer layer. I really liked the curved hem – making it a little longer at that bottom, something that us taller guys can appreciate.
Overall, the Feedback Flannel absolutely has the comfort and function embedded in it, with a axe-swings worth of PNW styling. Wear it to cut down your Christmas Tree, on a chilly hike, or even in front of your colleagues on your Zooms – and always look in-style regardless.
Outdoor Research Feedback Flannel Shirt ($90)
Fabric:
- 100% polyester yarn-dyed woven plaid
Colors:
- Ink (navy)
- Nimbus
- Madder
- Redrock
- Grape
Weight: 13 oz.
Also, I recommend reading about the cultural history of the flannel shirt while you’re at it. Super cool!
Mummies found in central Asia and thought to be laid to rest around 2000 b.c. were discovered with cloth woven with multiple colors and complex patterns—proof that plaid was around long before even William Wallace.
In the early days of plaid in Scotland, cloth was hand woven and the colors came from local plant dyes. People bought cloth from their local weaver, who produced a limited number of patterns and colors, unique to the locale. This led to regions and clans being associated with specific local colors and patterns even as people began to travel and trade more.
There are competing stories about the origins of the buffalo plaid in the United States, but most point toward Scottish immigration. One centers on a Scottish trader in Montana named Jock McCluskey (reportedly a descendent of the Scottish outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor), who exchanged his home tartan for buffalo from Native Americans in the mid-1800s.
In 1850, Woolrich introduced a buffalo check wool shirt, and in 1925 marketed the “Pennsylvania Tuxedo”—a matching red and black plaid suit. Pendleton Mills brought colorful plaids to the masses with its 1924 introduction of wool plaid shirts for men, which were a hit. They finally followed up with a women’s version—the “49er”—in 1949.
Thank you to Outdoor Research for providing us with a sample top. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
