I review a lot of items at Run Oregon. One of the perks we get is getting our hands on the best running gear. Its always nice to keep the running closet stocked with the latest and greatest items.
I thought I would highlight my favorite gear from January – March 2023. These are NOT the release date of the items – solely the timeframe that my review went live. I’d also note that it’s nearly impossible to narrow these down.
We could come up with a ton of criteria to land on the winner in these categories, but I’m just gonna do it this way. When all of my clothes are clean and shoes are put away – these are the items that I reach for. That doesn’t always make them the fanciest, best, or ones with the most tech in them. They just have happened to hit me right these first few months.
With that being said:
Road Shoes: 361 Centauri
I probably don’t need to say it, but I am sort of obsessed with this shoe. Maybe it was a lack of expectations at the onset, or maybe I was in the midst of reviewing a bunch of great shoes – that also all happened to be in the “race day” or “elite shoe” realm. While I love those shoes, the addition of a true daily trainer to my repertoire was an absolutely welcome desire.
Top: Puma SEASONS coolCELL Men’s Trail Running Tee
As far as the fit goes, it has probably been one of the easiest to pull out of the packaging and feel comfortable in right away. The SEASONS coolCELL Men’s Trail Running Tee is constructed this way and fit really nicely immediately upon wearing. Speaking of construction, it has all the great features for active PNW runners. There is a pocket on the back that can hold some small items if your pants aren’t up to it. It is very soft to the touch and the SEASONS coolCELL tech is great for warmer runs (either in a garage or outside).
Bottoms: Tracksmith Fells Tights
Even with the ability to stretch, there was almost no noticeable constriction. I expected wearing the Tights that lifting the knee would provide some restriction, but honestly it felt like I was mostly wearing nothing. I was expecting a lot of needing to adjust at the waist, crotch, and feet, but this never came to fruition. During my first run, I distinctly remember thinking, after 5 miles, “how are these staying in place so well?” As a man with no butt, larger thighs, and athletic calves, sizing can be tricky, but these both held up, amazingly well.
Tracksmith’s 2022/2023 Winter Collection is Bringing the Heat
Jacket: Brooks Run Visible Insulated Vest
We live in Oregon, so we were able to run in both the jacket and vest on multiple cool rainy days and the precipitation protection was great! Water just beaded up and didn’t soak through. They also did a good job of adding layers of wind protection AND warmth.
Accessory: Through the Storm hat
The Storm is wonderful in its simplicity – a 7-panel option with a snap back and flexible bill. Each option is super lightweight, making them great options for running (or wearing out and about). The Storm is a muted steel blue and comes adorned with a discreet rubber frigate bird patch. This logo is for empowering you to face whatever lies ahead.
Casual Top: Cascada Land Wool Shirt
It is constructed with a wool / polyester blend (77% Polyester, 16% Wool, 7% Elastan) and allows for pretty decent breathability and odor control than poly-only options. As someone with a longer torso and extremities, I truly appreciated the rounded long back hem AND longer sleeves with elastic cuffs. The buttons on the front are press (as opposed to “standard” buttons) that allow for easy on and off. I really like the fit and feel of this. As someone who varies in belly size from time to time, it does allow for stretch to meet that need without being constricting. It is also surprisingly comfy on the inside – an unexpected treat.
Casual Bottoms: Duer No Sweat Pants
I have worn these in a variety of situations that required a lot of bending, moving, stretching, and sweating profusely – things that aren’t usually ideal in pants. These held up to the task with no issues at all. This is partially due to their signature invisible seat gusset and moisture-controlled TENCEL fibers. I also like the fact that it appears these will hold up for the long haul. There are triple stitched inseams, gussets and back rises, as well as double layered back pockets.
