Top 4 Trending Running Apparel Brands to Watch in 2024: Upgrade Your Gear
Running has become a new obsession of mine, and like most things in my life, I dive deep and become obsessed. As someone passionate about good gear, naturally, when I started running, I began to look at what brands were out there making clothing that I identified with. As a BMXer, I tend to thrive in counter-culture, and as a shorter athlete at 5’6”, finding the right gear is always a battle.
Here are my top four brands to check out in 2024.
Soar
Soar feels like the Rapha of the running world. If you don’t know who Rapha is, it’s an ultra-premium cycling brand focused on both style and technology. A lot of brands lead with style but their products fall short, while that is not the case with Rapha.
Founded in London by designer and runner Tim Soar, SOAR Running designs and produces running apparel that does justice to the commitment and passion of runners globally. This encompasses textile innovation, pioneering design technology, sports science, and the real-world experiences of runners.
I recently picked up the Dual Run Shorts, and the quality is incredible. I hate to keep referring back to Rapha, but the quality feels so similar. While a bit pricey, Soar backs it up with premium fabrics and technology that I just haven’t found anywhere else.
Satisfy might be one of the most controversial brands on this list, purely because of how expensive their products are. Like seriously, they sell a cotton t-shirt with holes in it for 120 euros or a Merino shirt for 240 euros. That price is insane, but Satisfy does an amazing job marketing and positioning its brand in a way that I’ve almost bought one of those tees!
So why is Satisfy on my Top 5? For one, I really just relate to the brand, and its products are not only some of the most stylish on the market, but they also back it up with high-quality fabrics and craftsmanship. Products I’d love to try out this year are the Rippy™ 3″ Trail Shorts and, of course, the most talked-about cotton tee on the market, the MothTech™ T‑Shirt.
Editor's note: Since writing this article, I have purchased a few pieces from Satisfy and it definitely lives up to the hype. A full review is in the works.
ON Running is most known for its unique shoes, which feature a unique cushion system engineered in the Swiss Alps. It’s a shoe that people either love or hate. I personally have no opinion on their shoes and have no plans to ever try them. But the Swiss know what they’re doing, and it comes as no surprise that ON’s apparel line is top-notch and arguably some of the best running gear on the market.
Minimal design, high-end fabrics, futuristic craftsmanship, all priced reasonably. ON Apparel should definitely be on your radar if you’re trying to find a piece of kit that looks good and is made out of the best materials. I currently live in their 5″ Lightweight Shorts and I’ve got my eye on their running tights and jackets for the rest of these winter months.
On my most recent trip to Thailand, my flight was delayed, and I was forced to spend the night in Seattle. All of my luggage was checked in at the airport, so I took a taxi to a mall near the airport to find a spare change of clothes. For the first time ever, I wandered into a Lululemon in search of something I could use on my trip and in between getting my luggage. While a lot of the clothes didn’t vibe with me, I found some really nice running shorts and a Lululemon Lab jersey, which is what I am really here to talk about.
From what I can tell, Lululemon Lab is the experimental arm of the company where they do limited releases of some forward-thinking apparel. I picked up a Mesh Jersey that is hands down the best technical shirt I’ve ever worn! I did all my running and cycling in Thailand in this shirt and upon getting back to the states, immediately ordered another one.
Don’t sleep on Lululemon; it’s not just for yoga pants.
