I have and several family members had GREAT success with their products and when I was in Chicago for the marathon there literally was a line into the alley to get into their store so I assume I'm not the only one.
Plus I'm friends with the founder.
Wow as your friend as the founder as your real rich as trust fund
I can be "bright" regardless of what I'm wearing. Seems to work pretty well and very adjustable/comfortable. Highly recommend. I wear it if I'm running at sunset or later. If I'll be out past dusk, i'll carry a flashlight as well.
I have either that exact one or another one that looks identical (not sure of brand...the logo has faded off at this point). Generally I like it: it's lightweight, adjustable, doesn't bounce around or make any annoying noise. My one complaint I wish I'd known before buying is that the over-the-shoulder straps are angled too vertically and end up rubbing against the skin on my neck. I had to hand-sew some padded soft fabric onto the straps in those places to keep them from rubbing my neck raw on longer runs.
I look to Nordic ski wear companies for winter running gear. Swix has some brightly colored jackets that might fit the bill.
Nordic ski gear, like Swix and Craft, is great in terms of material. However could be frustrating for some as their style and cut is often designed for people who are built like a No. 2 pencil. Believe it or not, this is NOT the body type for all "serious" or "fast" runners, however you define that. Craft especially has everything super narrow and they are transparent about it.
Tracksmith is elitist, pretentious, and overrated. I won't go too much into my hate here bc I want to actually recommend some good products, but I'll say that they market themselves as "for the serious runner". Maybe at one point I did think that way, where if I saw someone wearing tracksmith I would think "oh they could be pretty legit" or committed to running. Now it has experienced the same arc of supershoes, which also used to indicate a serious runner. They are no longer a definitive tell of being serious or good at running, they more often suggest that someone is obsessed with getting a bunch of random flashy gear.
Patagonia Airshed Pro pullover is the best active layer I've ever had. Insanely breathable wind shirt that can be zipped in a lot of ways to adjust temp, and also can pack down and stuff into your pocket. People who run warm will especially love this.
Black Diamond alpine start hoody has more wind and water resistance and is also terrific.
Having good baselayers is arguably more important for comfortable winter activities, but I understand this was originally prompted by visibility concerns so I won't get into that.
I still have my Frank Shorter Gortex running suit that I won in a 1980's race. Valued at $200 back then. I got a nice New Balance running suit last year on clearance at Kohl's after Christmas for $5 after $20 of Kohl's Cash and my discount.
I look to Nordic ski wear companies for winter running gear. Swix has some brightly colored jackets that might fit the bill.
Nordic ski gear, like Swix and Craft, is great in terms of material. However could be frustrating for some as their style and cut is often designed for people who are built like a No. 2 pencil. Believe it or not, this is NOT the body type for all "serious" or "fast" runners, however you define that. Craft especially has everything super narrow and they are transparent about it.
Nordic ski gear is excellent for running, although it's important to note that a lot of it doesn't have any reflective patches since nordic skiers don't share trails with cars. I'd say it fits similar to cycling gear. In running stuff, I'm often a small, but in skiing and cycling gear, I'm always a medium.
I received a text last month from a great friend that is pretty straightforward:
dc_runnermom wrote:
[1:50 PM, 11/15/2024] ***: No pressure but if it's helpful for your website, it would be great for me. If you could post a question asking about the best quality longest lasting winter running gear, especially jackets and pants. I have to replace mine that are about 20 years old. [1:52 PM, 11/15/2024] ***: I'm especially interested in companies that have bright colors or reflective gear now that I'm middle-aged and more interested in living through my run then looking good [1:52 PM, 11/15/2024] ****: My old stuff is all black and gray and I'm wondering what kind of moron I was in my 30s
I was DEFINITELY going to recommend TrackSmith as I have some of their original tights/pants and they still are amazing (I wear the tights as casual wear almost every day as they are so comfortable and am wearing them now) 10 years later but there stuff isn't bright, is it?
Any ideas?
The old Nike Storm-fit that they used for the national teams until about 2014 is OUTSTANDING. It's not quite as breathable as modern gear, but it lasts forever, and seems virtually impenetrable. You can still find some of it on ebay. You might also check Bell Lap Track and Field.
This Nike jacket for men is a rare find with its reflective design and removable hood. It is made of durable polyester material with a canvas fabric type and features a full zip closure with drawstrings for a secure fit. The...
I have and several family members had GREAT success with their products and when I was in Chicago for the marathon there literally was a line into the alley to get into their store so I assume I'm not the only one.
Plus I'm friends with the founder.
Wow as your friend as the founder as your real rich as trust fund
Brooks Running has been building this type of product for years, called Run Visible.
I received a text last month from a great friend that is pretty straightforward:
dc_runnermom wrote:
[1:50 PM, 11/15/2024] ***: No pressure but if it's helpful for your website, it would be great for me. If you could post a question asking about the best quality longest lasting winter running gear, especially jackets and pants. I have to replace mine that are about 20 years old. [1:52 PM, 11/15/2024] ***: I'm especially interested in companies that have bright colors or reflective gear now that I'm middle-aged and more interested in living through my run then looking good [1:52 PM, 11/15/2024] ****: My old stuff is all black and gray and I'm wondering what kind of moron I was in my 30s
I was DEFINITELY going to recommend TrackSmith as I have some of their original tights/pants and they still are amazing (I wear the tights as casual wear almost every day as they are so comfortable and am wearing them now) 10 years later but there stuff isn't bright, is it?
Any ideas?
I recommend yellow jackets. They don’t individually last that long but if you get multiple ones, they can produce new ones effectively lasting indefinitely. Yellow is highly visible a color too.
I can be "bright" regardless of what I'm wearing. Seems to work pretty well and very adjustable/comfortable. Highly recommend. I wear it if I'm running at sunset or later. If I'll be out past dusk, i'll carry a flashlight as well.
Just go to TJ Maxx and look for a thermal shirt and something windproof. I can guarantee you it will cost less then anything Tracksmith makes.. Running pants will be like $12. They have TONS of NB gear sitting around..
I received a text last month from a great friend that is pretty straightforward:
I was DEFINITELY going to recommend TrackSmith as I have some of their original tights/pants and they still are amazing (I wear the tights as casual wear almost every day as they are so comfortable and am wearing them now) 10 years later but there stuff isn't bright, is it?
Any ideas?
The old Nike Storm-fit that they used for the national teams until about 2014 is OUTSTANDING. It's not quite as breathable as modern gear, but it lasts forever, and seems virtually impenetrable. You can still find some of it on ebay. You might also check Bell Lap Track and Field.
That is awesome. Wish it wasn't my size. Now im gonna spend the next several minutes/hours/days deliberating with myself over whether to pull the trigger or not. Until somebody else takes it.
I would suggest Gore running wear. I have two jackets that are 15 years old and I still use them frequently. One pocket has a hole in it, other than that they're still good.
15 years of running and it doesn't have that funk/stank after running in it for 10 minutes.
Bell Lap is actually the best suggestion on here. Gotten some absolute gems from them. Obviously some of the pro stuff is wildly expensive but you also get some lots or random sets that are an absolute steal.
I received a text last month from a great friend that is pretty straightforward:
dc_runnermom wrote:
[1:50 PM, 11/15/2024] ***: No pressure but if it's helpful for your website, it would be great for me. If you could post a question asking about the best quality longest lasting winter running gear, especially jackets and pants. I have to replace mine that are about 20 years old. [1:52 PM, 11/15/2024] ***: I'm especially interested in companies that have bright colors or reflective gear now that I'm middle-aged and more interested in living through my run then looking good [1:52 PM, 11/15/2024] ****: My old stuff is all black and gray and I'm wondering what kind of moron I was in my 30s
I was DEFINITELY going to recommend TrackSmith as I have some of their original tights/pants and they still are amazing (I wear the tights as casual wear almost every day as they are so comfortable and am wearing them now) 10 years later but there stuff isn't bright, is it?
Any ideas?
tracksmith does NOT last. sad truth. i had multiple half-tights and long tights that ripped at the crotch within 1 year. cared for their stuff per the instructions and everything.
I second Nordic brands like Craft and Swix. A breathable 1/4 zip sweater from Decathlon, or Patagonia if you wanna spend, has also been a staple for colder runs. I wear a reflective windbreaker over it.
I live in Canada and winter is cold and long. Over the last 15 years, I have found that Nordic or Cross-Country ski clothing works the best for winter running. Both Swix and Craft make excellent products.
