There are many running apparel brands to pick from. Here are our favorite based on years of testing. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
When it comes to the best running apparel brands, there’s something for everyone. The industry has changed a lot in the last decade, and shoppers are no longer limited to what’s at the specialty running store in their area. The direct-to-consumer era of internet retail has meant that new companies can launch with just a website and social media, while established brands must stay on their toes and react much more quickly to customer needs and trends.
Given this abundance of choice, we used the iRunFar team’s collective experience to select nine trail running apparel brands we regularly use from various price points and market positions. This group includes heavy-hitters and smaller ones that pack a unique punch.
We’ve always loved Patagonia’s products and appreciate their forward-thinking approach to environmental issues. The thoughtful designs of Montbell apparel continue to impress us, and newer brands like Janji are also making their mark.
Regardless of your running aesthetic or needs, top brands are making apparel that is breathable, wicking, and quick-drying. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Best Running Apparel Brands
Patagonia
Location: Ventura, California
Popular Models: Strider Pro Running Shorts, Endless Run Tights, Houdini Jacket, Capilene Cool Lightweight Shirt
What We Like: Patagonia is one of the best brands for thoughtful details, from the external drawstring on its shorts to the durability of its products to its use of planet-friendly materials.
What We Don’t: The pieces can be an expensive investment, but they stand the test of time.
Patagonia’s trail running history has been filled with stops and starts with their footwear, sponsored teams, and apparel, but the last few seasons have shown a real commitment to the category of trail running.
The Strider Pro Running Shorts alone will put Patagonia in the running apparel brand’s hall of fame for many of us, and these shorts have featured at the top of our Best Running Shorts for Men guide from the beginning.
The company also offers many other thoughtful outerwear pieces, like the standout Storm Racer Jacket in our Best Running Rain Jackets guide. You can read more about this jacket in our in-depth Storm Racer Jacket review. The lightweight Houdini Jacket is the go-to option for many runners and adventurers because of its lightweight and simple design. It is at the top of our list of the Best Windbreaker Jackets for many reasons.
Patagonia’s commitment to environmental advocacy makes supporting the brand a no-brainer for trail runners, and the high quality of its products makes them great to use.
The Patagonia NanoAir Light Hybrid Hoodie is just one of the many apparel items we love from the brand. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Rabbit
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Popular Models: FKT 2.0 5″, EZ Tee Perf SS, UtiliBra-vo Sports Bra, Shredders shorts
What We Like: Rabbit supports many high-level runners, but its emphasis is on fun for everyone. We’re always impressed with how soft and well-fitting the apparel from this brand is. The relatively young brand has many colorful pieces for both men and women, and purists will love the short inseam options.
What We Don’t: Some women prefer longer shorts than what rabbit offers. We’d also love to see models and colorways stick around a little longer to promote sustainability.
A team of two women founded rabbit in Santa Barbara, California. Like the pacesetter their name evokes, their goal is to be out front and push limits in the historically male-oriented running business. Being out front goes beyond cutting-edge apparel; it also includes the inclusion of all people and sizes.
Their shirts have proven to be useable by many women before, throughout. and after their pregnancy, stretching to fit a growing belly and still being usable post-partum. You can read more about some of our favorite pieces from the brand in our Best Maternity Workout Clothes guide.
The brand gained early traction with trail runners and has a distinct presence in track and field and road marathons. RabbitRelax fabric is a standout material, earning rave reviews from all who slip into pieces made with this buttery-soft material. New collections emerge every season, but some staples include button-front shirts like the Low Tide and the EZ Tee Perf LS.
See more about rabbit and the products they offer in our Women’s Cold Weather Apparel review and Women’s Warm Weather Apparel review.
The rabbit EZ Perf Tee SS is a lightweight shirt option for hot days. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Montane
Location: Ashington, U.K.
Popular Models: Dart XT Thermal Zip Neck Long-Sleeved Top, Minimus Nano Pull-On Waterproof Jacket, Fireball Nano Hooded Jacket, Protium Lite Hooded Fleece Pull-On
What We Like: Excellent quality products with an endurance focus, loads of options for tops, pants, and accessories like hats and gloves, and products seem to be very durable
What We Don’t: Hardly any options for running shorts
Montane is one of the few brands that’s dedicated to high-output endurance mountain activities. Thanks to its high-quality and high-performing lineup, the U.K.-based brand has rapidly become one of our favorites. Simply put, we’ve loved nearly every Montane product tested.
The Dart XT Thermal Zip Neck Long-Sleeved Top is an excellent piece that can serve as a next-to-skin base layer or a stand-alone piece. The same goes for the Protium Lite Hooded Fleece Pull-On, which is a bit heavier and can handle temperatures into the 40s as a standalone piece.
The Fireball Nano Hooded Jacket is an innovative top layer for colder runs as it features strategically placed insulation on the chest and ventilation under the arms and on the back. It’s our overall favorite jacket in our Best Winter Running Jackets guide.
But perhaps one of our favorite pieces, not just in the Montane product line but of all apparel we’ve recently tested, is the Minimus Nano Pull-On Waterproof Jacket. The fully weatherproof jacket is highly waterproof, packs down into a wad that most people can palm while running, and has proven to be an excellent “just in case” piece for us on mountain missions, from trail running to mountain biking to fly-fishing. We’ve included it as one of the best ultralight rain jackets on the market in our Best Running Rain Jackets guide.
We have two notes to point out. First, Montane currently doesn’t have many serious options for running shorts. We’d love to see the brand expand into that category. Second, as a typical European brand, the cut and fit of most pieces are slim and athletic. Many will like the fit, but it’s not as inclusive for all body types, and you should probably go up one size compared to the typical American clothing brands.
The Montane Dart Nano T-Shirt is one of many apparel items we love from the brand. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Janji
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Popular Models: AFO Middle Short, Sunchaser 50 Hooded Long Sleeve, AFO Hyperlight Cap
What We Like: Janji is known for its bold and wild prints on clothing for men and women that very simply fit well. It also supports terrific environmental causes, including universal access to clean water.
What We Don’t: Slower model and colorway switches would promote a more sustainable approach to running apparel.
Janji exploded on the trail running apparel scene several years ago with extremely bold patterns and prints, finding early distribution in the massive outdoor retailer REI Co-op. What’s behind the name? Janji means “a promise or declaration” in Indonesian, and the company’s dedication to environmental and humanitarian causes is immense. The company donates 2% of the proceeds of every purchase to clean water projects in the specific countries it uses as inspiration for its seasonal collections.
Local artists create Janji’s seasonal collections, and the prints are bold and fun. The prints can be found on various pieces of apparel each year, including the 7″ Groundwork Pace Short.
Our testers seem to love nearly every piece of apparel from this newer brand. The AFO Hyperlight Cap sits as the top choice in our Best Running Hats guide, and the Sunchaser 50 Hooded Long Sleeve is the top choice in our Best Sun Shirts for Running guide.
You can learn more about various pieces from this brand in our Janji Women’s Apparel Review.
Janji is known for its bright prints on its 7″ Pace Shorts. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
La Sportiva
Location: Ziano di Fiemme, Italy
Popular Models: Koro Jkt, Tracer T-Shirt, Vector Short
What We Like: Technical materials and innovative textiles with a broad range of apparel for both men and women highlight what this brand creates. Pieces are a good investment and versatile enough to work for other sports.
What We Don’t: The fit is definitely European sizing, but not as inconsistent as La Sportiva’s footwear can be. Customers should review apparel size charts before buying.
It’s a natural move for La Sportiva, which makes world-class rock climbing, hiking, and skiing products, to offer a collection of mountain running apparel that crosses over into trail running. Apparel for all sports benefits from being breathable, quick-drying, and easy to layer, and apparel from the brand checks those boxes.
La Sportiva’s running apparel for men and women includes everything from shirts to sports bras to shorts and skirts, lightweight packable overpants for rainy runs, and windbreakers like the Briza Windbreaker Jkt, which is featured in our Best Windbreaker Jackets guide. The fit is more European than American, with tighter lines, silhouettes, and bright and bold colors.
La Sportiva has long used the phenomenal anti-odor and anti-bacterial technology Polygiene, which can prevent running apparel from smelling and conserve water and energy by requiring fewer washes.
The hybrid La Sportiva Koro Jacket is perfect for cold winter runs. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Oiselle
Location: Seattle, Washington
Popular Models: Roga Shorts, Flyout Wool Half Zip, Flyout Short Sleeve, Hi Twenty Bra
What We Like: Oiselle is truly a for-women, by-women brand that has positively grown through the input of its customers and professional athletes by regularly fielding feedback from the public.
What We Don’t: The sizing is sometimes inconsistent across the product lines.
Oiselle came on the scene in 2007 as a woman-founded brand producing apparel distinctly for women, by women. Many of our testers frequently remark on the durability and longevity of the pieces.
Oiselle has famously tussled with big institutions in the sport, like USATF, over logo placement and allowances for its sponsored athletes. The brand won many fans for daring to change the paradigm for all athletes, particularly female ones, since sponsorship wages are lean and hard to come by.
The Roga Shorts debuted in Oiselle’s first year and have stayed in the line ever since. They remain a favorite in our Best Running Shorts for Women guide. They are everything you’d want in a pair of shorts for daily running, with bold colors and prints that make them stand out, a flat waistband, a large back zip pocket, and a semi-fitted style. The company continues to create pieces of clothing that are as fun to wear as they are functional.
The Flyout Wool Half Zip combines a half-zip front with a super comfortable wool blend that wicks moisture, breathes, resists odor build-up, and stays moderately warm when wet from rain or sweat. iRunFar tester Kristin Zosel says Flyout Wool is the lightest-weight wool and polyester combination fabric she’s worn.
In our Best Running Shirts for Women guide, the Flyout Short Sleeve is one of our top choices for hot-weather running. We also chose the Hi Twenty Bra to include in our Best Sports Bras for Running guide.
Read more in our Oiselle Running Apparel Review.
The Oiselle Flyout Wool Classic LS is one of many thoughtful pieces from a brand that focuses on women’s apparel. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Montbell
Location: Osaka, Japan (American headquarters in Boulder, Colorado)
Popular Models: Rain Trekker Jacket, Tachyon Hooded Jacket, Tachyon Pants
What We Like: Montbell flies a little under the radar compared to some of the flashier and hyper-marketed brands in this guide, and yet they have consistently produced class-leading running jackets as well as a full assortment of trail running products.
What We Don’t: The common running apparel pieces, like shirts and shorts, are limited to just one or two options.
Montbell is a staple among hikers and ultralight backpackers, and while it doesn’t do a lot to position itself specifically within the trail running category, the apparel offered is some of the best available for our sport. Runners who spend a lot of time tromping around the mountains in difficult weather conditions often turn to Montbell products to keep them comfortable and safe.
Several of Montbell’s jackets are top picks in our recent jacket guides, including the Rain Trekker Jacket in our Best Running Rain Jackets guide and the Tachyon Hooded Jacket in our Best Windbreaker Jackets guide. We also feature the Tachyon Pants in our Best Running Pants guide as our favorite wind pants.
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks wears the Montbell Tachyon Hooded Jacket. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Tracksmith
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Popular Models: Twilight Split Shorts, Turnover Tights, Fens Mittens
What We Like: Tracksmith is known for its high-end clothing that is more geared toward road and track runners, but their products are durable enough for use on trails. The material is always soft and luxurious and lasts for a long time. The styling often tends toward vintage and road- and track-oriented.
What We Don’t: The sizing runs very small, and we’d love to see the brand be a bit more size-inclusive. It is also very expensive.
Tracksmith was started in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in 2014, with its headquarters on the Boston Marathon course. While they’ve moved their facilities 13 miles down the road — but still on the Boston Marathon course — they continue to hold true to their roots of creating apparel for the committed runner. The styling is classic vintage, straight out of the 1960s to 1980s eras of running. Think short split shorts and tank tops.
The East Coast company embraces the cross-country and track history of past eras, creating somewhat nostalgic pieces that are technically functional and cater to a certain aesthetic. The materials are nothing short of luxurious and are all incredibly soft and enjoyable to wear.
The Twilight Split Shorts top the list as iRunFar’s favorite split shorts in our Best Running Shorts for Women guide, and the Turnover Tights were deemed the most comfortable tights in the Best Women’s Running Tights guide.
You can read more about the brand in our full Tracksmith Cold-Weather Apparel review of their products.
The Tracksmith Harrier Tee is a favorite apparel item from the East Coast brand. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Ultimate Direction
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Popular Models: Women’s Velum Short, Hydro Short, Nimbus Tee, Ultra Flip Glove
What We Like: Apparel has unique innovations, including storage and other features not seen in other brands.
What We Don’t: The women’s line doesn’t get the same variety of options as the men’s line.
Initially known for its running vests, which it’s been making since 1985, Ultimate Direction branched out into apparel in 2019 with clothing items that could carry water on a run, eliminating the need for a hydration vest or running belt for shorter efforts.
While the original iterations of some of their water-carrying shorts had some design flaws, they’ve progressed to create apparel that can comfortably carry a decent amount of water and plenty of snacks. We appreciate the water capacity of the Hydro Shorts, included in our Best Running Shorts for Men guide. In 2021, the brand fully embraced creating running apparel and now offers everything from jackets to shirts to shorts.
The brand is committed to environmental sustainability and makes all its products BPA- and PFAS-free. It also uses 25% recycled fabrics for all its new apparel, and 45% are Bluesign certified.
While Ultimate Direction makes a simple t-shirt like the Nimbus Tee, they include many technical details that make their apparel stand out from the rest. The Polartec Delta fabric of the Nimbus is deemed a Goldilocks fabric in our Best Running Shirts for Men guide for being cool in the heat and insulating in the cold.
The flip-glove design of the Ultra Flip Glove is one of the best-constructed glove/overmitt combos we’ve seen and puts it at the top of our list for convertible gloves in our Best Running Gloves guide.
The fabric of the Ultimate Direction Nimbus Tee makes it stand out from shirts from other brands. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Where to Buy Running Apparel
Unlike running shoes, which commonly line the walls at retail shops, running apparel tends to be easier to come by directly from brands’ websites and other outdoor specialty online retailers, like REI Co-op, Backcountry, and Running Warehouse, rather than in person.
You’ll find the bigger brands like Nike, adidas Terrex, and Brooks commonly on the retail floor, but if you’re looking for some of the smaller players like La Sportiva, you’ll want to visit their website. You can explore different places to buy gear in our Best Websites to Buy Running Gear Online guide.
Other Running Apparel Brands
Our top nine choices for best running apparel brands barely scratch the surface of what’s available. Here are some other brands we’ve tested and enjoy using, shared alphabetically.
- Arc’teryx — read our Norvan SL Insulated Hoody review
- Black Diamond — see our apparel review
- Brooks
- District Vision — see our men’s apparel review
- Dynafit
- Icebreaker
- Mountain Hardwear
- Rab — see our trail running apparel review
- Roark
- Salomon
- Smartwool — see our women’s apparel review
- Soar Running — see our men’s apparel review
- Vuori — read our women’s performance apparel review
From jackets to gloves to shorts, top running brands make everything needed to run in any temperature. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
What to Consider in a Running Apparel Brand
Durability
Next to cost, you probably want your running products to last a long time. And just with the nature of running, which includes being out in the elements and sweating, it’s easy for products to break down sooner than your casual clothing. The brands we included above all have good to excellent durability. Patagonia, in particular, is a brand that prioritizes durability in its products and offers repair services if something fails. The upfront cost of high-quality running apparel might seem like a lot, but your gear should last you many, many years. Some of our testers are still wearing Patagonia running gear purchased 15 years ago.
Cost
There’s no doubt that running apparel can be expensive. Although technically you can run in a cotton t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts, as the length of your runs increases, you’ll want to invest in some high-quality running apparel. Clothing made specifically for running, or other outdoor activities, will be breathable, wicking, and quick-drying. On the other hand, cotton holds on to water, and as you sweat, it will get damp and be prone to causing chafing and other issues. Clothing technology has improved dramatically in the past decade, and when you pay more for an item, you’re getting clothing that will perform under a variety of conditions. You can also get running-specific details, like shorts that will hold water and gels without bouncing.
Shorts technology allows you to take phones, snacks, and water along without having to wear a running belt or vest. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Versatility
We love a cross-functional product, so we usually search for gear that can work for other outdoor activities in addition to running, like cycling, hiking, climbing, or skiing. Sometimes, our running apparel can even work in casual settings. We’ve been loving Montane because they make gear that works well for a variety of outdoor activities. La Sportiva also offers apparel that easily crosses over between sports. The European brands seem to make excellent cross-functional pieces of apparel.
Performance
Choosing high-performance running apparel can make your run more comfortable by keeping you warm when it’s cold out, cool when it’s hot out, and keeping you from chafing. In general, this means apparel that wicks sweat and moisture quickly and efficiently, is quick-drying, and stretchy. Look for apparel made of synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, or polypropylene, or natural materials like merino wool. You’ll want to stay away from cotton products.
Comfort
Most running clothes these days are comfortable, but you’ll occasionally get scratchy material or an awkward fit. When you can, try on or at least touch the material to make sure it’s something you agree with. When you do find an item that is comfortable and works particularly well for you, we highly recommend you buy a second one, as running apparel often goes out of production after a few years.
Rabbit makes a variety of long-sleeve shirts perfect for chilly shoulder-season runs. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Call for Comments
- What are your favorite running apparel brands?
- Why do you like the brands you do? Because of the apparel made? Because of the company’s environmental and social practices? Because of your history with them? For some other reason?
