What do we think of the new Tracksmith No Days Off collection?

F* tracksmith. It's the Lululemon for men. Now, the Decathlon stuff is interesting. Anyone try their 6.99 Kalenji shorts? What's the inseam on those things, no info on the website.

smd wrote:

And if you think Target's running gear is too expensive......

https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a25684426/decathlon-sports-retailer-running-gear/

Start a thread on decathlon. I'm curious about their $30 shoes.

The road to hell is paved with superfluous consumption.

Why would anyone waste money on that stuff? Seriously? I have worn starter and russell gear that is every bit as nice if not better than underarmour or nike. The only thing I think when I see someone wearing Track Smith stuff is "they are compensating for something".

And I have never been beaten in a race by someone wearing Track Smith gear.

I think they are ripping off Bill Belicheck with the name.

Tracksmith is a higher end running apparel company.

Because it's higher end - it's not tarted for nor will it appeal to everyone in the running community. To those who wear their gear around here in Boston, they seem to love it. This includes those who run for other clubs/teams that are sponsored by shoe companies.

For some in the running community - they're never going to spend the money on Tracksmith clothes and I get that. It's not cheap.

But for others (and it's been a growing number of others) - they like it and don't care how much they cost.

I think you all need to chill wrote:

Tracksmith is a higher end running apparel company.

Maybe. I have found that many things in life that are "higher end" are actually about the same quality as brands that cost much less. Many cars are like this. The "higher end" brand simply charges more so the people buying them can feel like they have something others can't have. It has little to do with quality.

In my experience, people who make these kinds of purchases are shallow and insecure. I have much more respect for people who have money but choose to purchase things due to their actual value, not a perceived one that merely serves as a status symbol.

Track Smith, to me, is merely a status symbol.

smd wrote:

And if you think Target's running gear is too expensive......

https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a25684426/decathlon-sports-retailer-running-gear/

Predictably, haughty Scott Douglas misses the mark again. The point shouldn't be how the $34 shoes compare with the $180 shoes he gets for free, it's how the $34 shoes compare with similar (i.e.

Rest of the post:

It's how the $34 shoes compare with similar (i.e. under $60) priced shoes from Walmart, Target, and Payless. He should have got several shoes like that to test and compare with the Decathlon shoes. Decathlon isn't competing with the premium brands Douglas shills for, it's competing with the discount brands and retailers market, a customer base someone like rich white boy Douglas could never relate to.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

Rest of the post:

It's how the $34 shoes compare with similar (i.e. under $60) priced shoes from Walmart, Target, and Payless. He should have got several shoes like that to test and compare with the Decathlon shoes. Decathlon isn't competing with the premium brands Douglas shills for, it's competing with the discount brands and retailers market, a customer base someone like rich white boy Douglas could never relate to.

Ding ding. This is exactly right.

My guess is that for the person who does 2-3 miles (maybe) a few times a week at a 10+ minute mile, on the treadmill at the gym, these are fine.

If Decathlon can get themselves into the market as the low-cost leader, they have a good chance at succeeding.

There is a reason that Gap Brands, Inc. are closing Banana Republic stores and opening/focusing on Old Navy stores. We live in a disposable item type of world. People LOVE Old Navy stuff because it's cheap. Like their t-shirts are absolutely paper thin and probably will need to be replaced after a year (if that). People don't think twice about paying $6 for a new t-shirt or $20 for a pair of jeans every year.

As I said prior in my post, there are a hellofa lot more people looking for the Old Navy priced items than for BR. It's the same with running stuff. Why anyone would pay full price for the "big" companies stuff is beyond me. $30+ for an Under Armour or Nike Dri-Fit type shirt/shorts where it's been the same 100% polyester fabric for the last 10 years? You are outta your mind. I'll just go to TJMaxx/Marshalls/Ross and buy that same shirt/short for a price of $12.99. I firmly do believe that at the higher end of the "big" companies apparel, their is innovation and different fabric/breathability that goes into it, but for the average person (unless they are into vanity), they don't care about this nor are they buying it.

Yepper Depper wrote:

I think you all need to chill wrote:

Tracksmith is a higher end running apparel company.

Maybe. I have found that many things in life that are "higher end" are actually about the same quality as brands that cost much less. Many cars are like this. The "higher end" brand simply charges more so the people buying them can feel like they have something others can't have. It has little to do with quality.

In my experience, people who make these kinds of purchases are shallow and insecure. I have much more respect for people who have money but choose to purchase things due to their actual value, not a perceived one that merely serves as a status symbol.

Track Smith, to me, is merely a status symbol.

What higher car brands aren't actually nicer/higher quality?

Someone said it already, but the Champion C9 stuff at Target is excellent quality. Adidas stuff, or whatever.

That said, how much running gear do you guys buy? How frequently do you need new pants, tops, whatever?

Just how much running gear do you guys buy?

I don't need shoes, but:

https://www.big5sportinggoods.com/store/details/adidas+Rockadia-Trail-Mens-Running-Shoes/5330111830104/_/A-6225908

I don't need shorts, but:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/North-Face-Mens-Size-XL-Black-Athletic-Running-Shorts-Lined/352558991685?hash=item5216274945:g:d9UAAOSwzd9cLTOE:rk:8:pf:0

This stuff if I need it (maybe one thing each year):

https://www.target.com/s?sortBy=relevance&Nao=0&category=18y1l&searchTerm=champion+C9&facetedValue=4y7h7Z55qvp

I'm not opposed to spending money for good gear. I have a bunch of stuff from Sporthill. I'm not into the J. Peterman style of Tracksmith marketing. But if they make some good stuff, I suppose I'd give it a try.

SportHill makes excellent stuff, they have one of the few truly unique fabrics in their 3SP (polartec tried and failed to copy it and the offshore guys don't even try)

ditchit wrote:

I'm not opposed to spending money for good gear. I have a bunch of stuff from Sporthill. I'm not into the J. Peterman style of Tracksmith marketing. But if they make some good stuff, I suppose I'd give it a try.

Where can I find SportHill stuff to try on? I'm not sure I've ever seen it at a local running store. I'll be visiting NYC for Millrose Games, is there a place there you'd suggest? (Paragon Sports doesn't carry it. I don't think JackRabbit does either).

Try REI - they have a great store in NYC Also, a lot of XC Ski shops will carry the brand

Not My Real Screen Name wrote:

Where can I find SportHill stuff to try on? I'm not sure I've ever seen it at a local running store. I'll be visiting NYC for Millrose Games, is there a place there you'd suggest? (Paragon Sports doesn't carry it. I don't think JackRabbit does either).

Yepper Depper wrote:

. . . In my experience, people who make these kinds of purchases are shallow and insecure. I have much more respect for people who have money but choose to purchase things due to their actual value, not a perceived one that merely serves as a status symbol.

In my experience, people that anonymously post on an internet message board to call people "shallow and insecure" because they choose to spend their money in a certain way are themselves shallow and insecure.

I bet you drink craft beer and Starbucks. If you do, good for you.

stringbeans2 wrote:

Try REI - they have a great store in NYC

Also, a lot of XC Ski shops will carry the brand

Thanks for the suggestions. Will check out that REI. Never had any luck at my "local" REI with their brand, but I'd imagine that's because it's more of a "C" level REI.