Earlier this year we reviewed our first ever item from La Sportiva – a pair of trail running shoes. This Italian company is no stranger to the technical trail, rock climbing, and skiing footwear landscape – so checking out their line of running gear has been a fun venture.
More about La Sportiva:
Our mission is to bring you the best technical products to explore the outdoors. For 93 years we have been producing innovative products and we are looking forward to the next 90 years. Produced and designed in a small mountain town at the foot of the Dolomites, La Sportiva supports 140 families in a unique and enviable environment. Everyday the mountains surround the people who handcraft our products.
Slipstream Tank
The Slipstream Tank is one of the visually unique tops I have seen a while – and definitely the most flamboyant in my closet currently. It is said to be inspired by the speed of light. Regardless, it’s a cool look.
But the tank has more going on than just looks. It does have a more slim fit and, thus, sits a little tighter to the body. This isn’t a bad thing, but you may want to consider sizing up if you prefer a little more room in your tops.
The tank is pretty lightweight, and holding it up to the light shows that much of the back and sides are constructed with a cool mesh breathability in mind. They describe this as due to their “HeiQ Smart Temp intelligent thermoregulation technology“. This tech allows cooling to start by being activated by a rise in your core temperature. Pretty cool stuff.
It is also treated with Polygiene, making it resistant to bacteria and odor. Toss in some reflective details on the shoulders for running in those darker, though often more temperature-friendly, summer morning and evening runs, and you have a really nice option this summer – and beyond.
Auster Short
Unlike the tank, the pair of Auster Shorts we received were simple black. There are three other options that provide a more vibrant color scheme. There are a lot of cool options in these shorts.
The construction has everything we runners need and expect out of shorts. They provide quick-drying qualities as well as being super lightweight. The top of the back is made from mesh to allow for enhanced breathability. They also come in a 3″ inseam, which is more conducive to speed and freedom of motion in the legs (though we understand shorter lengths aren’t for everyone). The legs have an outseam slit for even more flexibility.
Speaking of comfort, as someone who doesn’t prefer the shorter-length shorts, these are quite comfortable. Inside, they come with a soft brief that I have not experienced any chafing issues with. The waistband in elastic and has a drawstring, and the backside of the band has a thin anti-slip grip to keep things in place even more.
There are a few other nice touches, like reflective trim on the sides. As for storage, there are two small side pockets (nicely placed) that are able to fit smaller items like gel or a key, in addition to a zipped pocket on the rear. They aren’t going to be large enough for a phone, but in a short built for speed, you probably don’t want a phone bouncing anyways.
Overall these are a really good pair of shorts and their quality is definitely noticed. I anticipate having these for quite some time.
La Sportiva
Facebook | Instagram
Products & Price:
- Slipstream Tank | $59
- Main: 87% Recycled Polyester, 13% Elastane
- Insert: 100% Recycled Polyester
- Auster Short | $55
- Outer – 86% Polyester, 14% Elasthan
- Brief – 96% Polyester, 4% Elasthan
Thank you to La Sportiva for providing us with test items. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
