“Bamboo is Better.”
Well, that’s one way to make a first impression.
Those were the first words I saw when I opened the box from tasc Performance, printed right there on the inside of the lid. And after pulling out the clothes and eventually putting them through their paces, I started to understand why they were so confident about their bamboo.
If you haven’t spent much time thinking about bamboo as an activewear material, you’re not alone. I certainly hadn’t. But it turns out bamboo makes a pretty compelling case for itself: it’s ridiculously soft, breathable, good at managing moisture, and has some sustainability advantages over many of the materials commonly found in performance apparel.
The Company
tasc Performance is a family-founded company born in New Orleans with a pretty simple idea: make better-performing clothes without relying so heavily on harsh chemicals and synthetic materials. The result is a lineup that feels less like “technical running gear” and more like clothes you actually want to wear all day.
And that’s probably what I like most about tasc. I spend a ridiculous amount of my life in fitness-adjacent gear, but not all of that time involves running. The best pieces are the ones that can handle a workout, survive a trip to the grocery store, and still look presentable when you realize you forgot to change before meeting someone for coffee. tasc seems to understand that assignment.
Cloud Polo
Every man needs a good polo. It’s just a staple—a shirt that can be dressed up or dressed down while making you look like you put in at least a little effort. I especially love tossing on a polo at the end of a run when I’m heading straight to some sort of community outing and don’t have time to go home and change.
The Cloud Polo is literally one of the softest polos I’ve ever donned. It’s buttery soft and lightweight, but still has enough structure to feel like an actual polo and not some cheap polyester performance shirt. It hits that sweet spot where you get the comfort and breathability of activewear without looking like you just finished a workout.
And, as someone who is slowly venturing into golf, this is also a pretty perfect option for the links. Side note: Have you heard about Speed Golfing? I’m starting to get a little obsessed with the possibilities. If I actually take the plunge, this polo is absolutely coming with me.
Wayfarer Tailored Fit Knit Button Down
This is a pretty simple and straightforward top, which is probably exactly what you want from a button-down. There’s not a whole lot to explain that you probably don’t already know: much like a polo, a white button-down is one of those staples that every guy should probably have somewhere in his closet.
And I’m wondering: if you looked in yours right now, what would your situation look like?
I found out the hard way this summer. I had back-to-back weekend weddings, reached into my closet for my trusty white long-sleeve button-down, and discovered that my five-plus-year-old shirt had apparently shrunk the sleeves far enough they were basically a raglan. Okay, maybe not quite that bad, but it was definitely ready for retirement.
So if you’re in a similar situation, consider this your sign to upgrade.
The Wayfarer has a slightly thicker feel and a more substantial fit than some of the super-lightweight performance button-downs out there, but it’s not obnoxiously so. It still has that comfortable, easygoing feel that makes it useful well beyond the occasional wedding or dressier occasion.
Weekender Short
Even in the winter, I’m in shorts a lot of the time. I demand quite a bit from my shorts, so finding a pair that can handle everything I throw at them is always a win. The Weekender Short is a completely admirable option that I’ve been excited to add to my summer rotation.
The six-inch inseam hits a pretty perfect sweet spot for me—not too long, not too short—and there’s enough room to move without feeling baggy. They’re also remarkably lightweight and breathable, which is exactly what I want when summer temperatures start doing their Oregon thing.
There’s nothing overly complicated going on here, and honestly, that’s part of the appeal. They’re comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and easy to wear. Sometimes shorts don’t need to reinvent the wheel. They just need to be really good shorts.
Balance Stretch Pant
As much as I prefer shorts, pants are obviously a necessity in the Pacific Northwest. I try to get away with shorts for as long as humanly possible, but eventually the weather, the occasion, or a particularly fancy outing demands that my hairy legs remain hidden from public view.
One reason I haven’t always been a huge fan of long pants is that, until I started looking more intentionally at performance-oriented pants, they could feel restrictive and uncomfortable. Jeans and chinos are fine, but after spending years running in stretchy, comfortable gear, it’s hard to go back to pants that fight you every time you bend over.
The Balance Stretch Pant is much more in line with what I want from a pair of pants. They have a more structured feel than typical athletic pants, but the four-way stretch keeps them from feeling stiff or restrictive. There’s also a water-resistant finish, a flat elastic waistband, zip fly, side pockets, and a secure back zipper pocket, so they’re practical without looking overly technical.
The tapered leg gives them a cleaner, more modern look, too. And because they’re designed to transition between work and dinner (or golf!), they fit nicely into that same sweet spot I’ve been finding throughout this tasc collection: clothes that can perform when you need them to but don’t scream “I’m wearing performance apparel.”
Basically, these are pants for people who want their pants to act like pants—but feel a little more like their favorite running gear.
At the end of the day, I get the “Bamboo is Better” thing now. tasc Performance has put together clothing that feels good enough to live in, performs well enough to work out in, and looks good enough that you don’t have to immediately change afterward. tasc makes a pretty convincing case for adding a little more bamboo to your wardrobe.
