Whether you’re hoping to make the Olympics for the 100m or just enjoy a ‘run’ on the world-famous Bondi to Bronte track, you’ll likely need some running clothes and gear. Why not seek out some new and emerging brands to revamp your running wardrobe.
What makes a great running brand?
First and foremost, activewear needs to be functional, but in this day and age, it needs to look as good as it performs. No matter how you like your exercise, it’s best to stand out for the right reasons so it’s time to throw out that ‘stringer’ singlet and invest in some proper running shorts, running tops and even running jackets… maybe even some killer running shoes.
Why trust us?
First and foremost we’re a bunch of running and gym junkies. The following brand list is based one 10 years of research in men’s fashion and fitness. Yes, 10 years. Specifically what we’re looking for in this list;
- Established brands – Your Nikes, Asics, etc.
- Emerging brands – Who’s new and what’s hyping at the moment
If you’re looking for something to keep you looking cool and will allow you to move in whatever way you see fit, here is our selection of running clothes and footwear brands for men.
On Running
1/20
Price: From $70
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Zürich, Switzerland
Return Window: 30 days
Born in the Swiss Alps in 2010, On Running is a relatively new kid on the sportswear block. But don’t let that youthful nature fool you, this sportswear company is focused on producing some of the very best gear around, with a heavy focus on footwear.
On’s footwear philosophy is to provide its customers with shoes that provide soft, cushioned and cloud-like landings, but with enough spring in them to propel you forward and ahead of the competition. It clearly works, as On Running is now a globally-recognised brand and one that is more than capable of having the traditional ‘big-name’ brands quaking in their non-cloud-like boots.
Editor’s note: On Running are so hot right now and their apparel is killer.
Tracksmith
2/20
Price: From $68
Sizes: XS-XXL
Origin: New England, USA
Return Window: 30 days
Founded in the region of New England, USA, Tracksmith is dedicated to all things running. Its apparel takes a particularly old-school approach to design (take one look and you’ll immediately see what we mean) and is designed not just for the professional athlete who wants to compete at the highest level, but the amateur enthusiast who is all about ‘giving it a go’.
With an extensive range of running clothes encompassing t-shirts, shorts and jackets, Tracksmith’s preppy college-inspired designs are sure to make you stand out.
Gymshark
3/20
Price: From $30
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Origin: Solihull, England
Return Window: 30 days
Instagram favourite Gymshark isn’t just a brand for wearing to the gym to lift weights. The British brand, an undeniable success for its teenager founder, also has a dedicated collection of running clothes. Pieces are designed to allow for a full range of movement, to effectively take moisture away from your body and to be lightweight to help you smash your PB times.
Lululemon
4/20
Price: From $48
Sizes: XS-XXL
Origin: Vancouver, Canada
Return Window: 30 days
Lululemon started life in Canada, making clothing, especially for yoga. They have now evolved into a brand that is at the forefront of activewear style, making high-quality garments that reflect the needs of their wearers. You might be forgiven for thinking that Lululemon is a ‘chicks’ brand as it seems every Paddington mum is wearing their stuff, but, they make some seriously cool men wear as well. Safe to say the ladies will love you in it.
Editor’s note: I live in their singlets for running and gym work. It’s all about Silverscent technology.
Castore
5/20
Price: From $48
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Manchester, United Kingdom
Return Window: 28 days
Castore is a British brand founded by two brothers with the sole aim of creating the lightest, most durable and highest-performing sportswear on the market. The brothers behind Castore are both athletes and sportswear consumers, so they knew exactly the sort of apparel to create in order to penetrate the market. There’s no question that it’s a premium brand, but in return, you receive high-quality clothes that look as good as they perform.
Rhone
6/20
Price: From $38
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Stamford, Connecticut
Return Window: 45 days
Rhone is a startup activewear company that caters specifically for men. Not one to do things by halves, Rhone uses some of the finest materials in the production of its clothing, including silverthread to help combat the effects of body odour thanks to its anti-bacterial properties. Rhone’s use of silver is called SilverTech. The company’s ethos is to seamlessly integrate ‘fit, form and function’ for those – particularly affluent men – who are committed to an active lifestyle.
SOAR Running
7/20
Price: From $75
Sizes: S-XL
Origin: Hackney, London
Return Window: 28 days
Named after its founder Tim Soar, SOAR Running was born with a mission to create genuinely useful clothing that “outperformed everything on the market.” SOAR utilises some of the most advanced fabrics to make up its running clothes, which is then styled into pieces you’d actually want to be seen wearing. It’s a running brand first and foremost, and even claims on its website that it doesn’t have time for the likes of yoga or CrossFit, so if it’s performance running clothes you want and only want, SOAR Running is a brand you need to check out.
Iffley Road
8/20
Price: From $73
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Richmond, London
Return Window: 45 days
Iffley Road is the brainchild of a husband and wife team who both have a strong affiliation with running. Noticing a gap in the market for high-performance, stylish clothing that is also sustainably made, Iffley Road was born. Initially catering for men and women, the brand is now solely a supplier for running-mad men, although its running clothes are more than capable of being used for other sporting disciplines.
Smartwool
9/20
Price: From $32
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Return Window: 45 days
Merino wool is softer than any other wool, moisture-wicking, thermoregulating, sustainable and odour-neutralising. Smartwool founders couldn’t figure out why other brands weren’t using it as a performance fabric and decided to start using it themselves. Ever since they’ve been creating super comfortable running clothes and gear that performs in all conditions that also is good for the planet.
Vuori
10/20
Price: From $32
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Encinitas, California
Return Window: 120 days
Vuori makes premium performance apparel inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle; an integration of fitness, surf, sport, and art. Breaking down the boundaries of traditional activewear, Vuori’s performance apparel is built to move in but styled for life.
Vuori has a huge range of activewear that’s been specifically designed for running. Whether you run on the road or a trail, Vuori’s running clothes are breathable, moisture wicking, and will keep you comfortable while you run.
Outdoor Voices
11/20
Price: From $38
Sizes: S-XL
Origin: New York City
Return Window: 45 days
American activewear brand Outdoor Voices makes incredibly simple-looking, affordable clothing for use in the gym or out running on the streets. The running clothes range is made from its own proprietary fabrics that effectively move moisture from your body to the fabric’s surface, which helps to add to their versatility. OV clothing can easily be worn when you’re taking a rest from racking up the km’s, being easily paired with jeans, chinos or shorts.
Olivers Apparel
12/20
Price: From $58
Sizes: S-XL
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Return Window: 60 days
American clothing brand Olivers Apparel was founded on the premise of wanting to make all the capsule wardrobe pieces a man could ever need, well. Believing that guys should drape themselves in high-quality materials but to not pay over the odds for them, Olivers are pieced together a complete collection of everyday wear clothing that performs to a high level. Suitable for everyday wear or, indeed running, thanks to moisture-wicking and anti-odour fabrics, Olivers Apparel is a good-looking running clothes brand you can rely upon.
Under Armour
13/20
Price: From $30
Sizes: XS-4XL
Origin: Baltimore, Maryland
Return Window: 60 days
Founded by Kevin Plank in 1996, Under Armour was the first company to offer moisture wicking shirts for athletes. This innovation came as a result of Kevin, becoming soaking wet with sweat when training, to offset the issue he made a moisture wicking shirt which he gave to his teammates who made it to the NFL. One thing led to another and now they’re one of the biggest players in the activewear game.
Patagonia
14/20
Price: From $29
Sizes: S-XXL
Origin: Ventura, California
Return Window: 30 days
Patagonia may be a name synonymous with outdoor expeditions, but the American clothing company also caters for the runners out there. But is Patagonia after all, and so its running clothes range – which includes tops, hats, shorts and jackets – is aimed more towards trail runners, and with its ethos of using predominantly recycled materials carrying over, you’ll not only be able to perform to the best of your ability, but you can do so with a smile on your face knowing that you’re helping the planet.
Nike
15/20
Price: From $35
Sizes: XS-4XL
Origin: Beaverton, Oregon
Return Window: 60 days
Nike. Do they even need an introduction? Started in Oregon in 1964, Nike has become world-famous for activewear and running shoes. One might even suggest that were the fuel behind running as a social movement. Their running clothes and shoes can be seen on some of the worlds best athletes and they are constantly innovating to elevate human potential. Nike is a safe bet for any kind of activewear, you can rest assured that you are getting a high quality, innovative product that will help you perform to the best of your abilities.
Adidas
16/20
Price: From $40
Sizes: XS-XXL
Origin: Bavaria, Germany
Return Window: 60 days
Adidas is the second largest sportswear manufacturer in the world, only behind Nike. Much the same as Nike, their kit has donned the backs of many of the worlds greatest athletes. Their clinical German styling and cutting edge technology is bound to help to stay at the front of the pack.
Asics
17/20
Price: From $35
Sizes: XS-XXL
Origin: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Return Window: 90 days
Originally founded as ‘Onitsuka’, Asics’ shoes are often rated as some of the finest in the world. Favoured by many athletes looking for comfort as well as performance, Asics creates gear that performs at an exceptionally high level whilst keeping an athletes body in check.
Satisfy
18/20
Price: From $110
Sizes: XS-XL
Origin: Paris, France
Return Window: 15 days
Satisfy isn’t your run-of-the-mill running clothes brand. Unlike most other companies that employ the use of compression-style clothing, or space-age technologies, all in the name of performance, Satisfy flips the bird to all that.
A quick look at its website and it could be any other ‘cool’ clothing brand with a rebellious attitude, such is the use of graphic prints and colours. But the anti-running ethos is counteracted by technical ingenuity – take moth-eaten holes in place of a traditional ventilation system, for example. It’s an incredibly unique brand and one that you should place on your radar.
2XU
19/20
Price: From $50
Sizes: XS-XXL
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
Return Window: 30 days
2XU or ‘Two Times You’ is an Australian sportswear company, based in Melbourne, that offers some of the most advanced performance apparel known to man. That’s primarily because it was founded as a company targeted at professional athletes, before expanding into the public domain.
It’s not just any old marketing jargon used to sell its clothing either, as genuine research goes into everything it produces, so it can determine the real-world benefits that can be passed on to you, the wearer. 2XU is best known for its range of compression wear, which is designed to help increase blood flow and to keep you moving.
Athletic Propulsion Labs
20/20
Price: From $160
Sizes: 7-15
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Return Window: 10 days
At the intersection between performance and luxury, APL is a newcomer to the performance clothing game. Their basketball shoes have actually been banned in the NBA due to their ‘performance enhancing benefits’. If you’re looking to take your game to the next level, APL is worth a look.
