My past experience with RaceReady apparel has consisted largely of seeing advertisements in the back of Runner's World magazine and on a few wacky ultrarunners.
I'll admit, my aversion to RaceReady was directly proportional to how nerdy the shorts looked. To me, those shorts were the same as the hats marathoners (ok, not all marathoners) wear with 7,012 little loops for gels. You're just running, I'd think. Who needs to carry that much stuff?
Well ... turns out I did, I just didn't know it yet.
My feelings started to change after I bumped into owner Tim Vadney at the 2012 Badwater Ultramarathon in July. He offered to send a few samples for the PT365 gear destroyers testers to have their way with.
But I was still skeptical. The shorts still looked mighty silly.
When I run long on the trail, I typically wear a hydration pack, which gives me plenty of options for carrying anything from gloves and an extra jacket to a full picnic buffet -- minus the flatware. But when doing my long runs on the road, I'm usually at the mercy of what I can hand-hold or what will fit in my Nathan bottle. Typically, the tough morning choice came down to carrying my phone and some cash or carrying just gels and hoping for the best.
The RaceReady shorts -- I tested the Women's V-Notch short with its seven (count 'em, 7) pockets -- eliminated this question.
Function: I was able to carry several gels, my phone (in a plastic baggie), keys and cash comfortably. The iPhone-sized hip pocket was snug enough that my phone didn't bounce around as I ran. I was hesitant to try to fill all of the pockets at once but did manage a 20-miler with four gels, my phone, keys and IT band strap without feeling overloaded. I did have to snug up the drawstring to keep the shorts from falling down, but the added weight of my cargo rode comfortably at hip level. I did lose a couple of gels along the way; whether they bounced out or fell out while I was stretching, I'll never know.
Fit: The fit on these was my biggest complaint. The RaceReady website cautions that their shorts run small compared to "mass market brands." I'm a 28-inch waist and 36-inch hip, which usually puts me squarely in the medium column, but the chart on the website had me in between a small and a medium. I tried both sizes and didn't love the fit of either. The smalls were a little more snug than I prefer (especially at the waistband), and I ended up swimming in the mediums. I only ran in the smalls -- the mediums were too big and returned -- but I worry that going up a size would cause them to be too loose when the pockets were full. I wish the split on the legs were a little higher. I felt slightly more restricted than I do in my favorite running shorts (I heart you, Asics).
Quality: The first pair I tried split at the seam (see image) after 10 or so wears, a big red flag. I ordered a second pair and haven't had quality issues, so, to be fair, this could have been an isolated incident. The three other testers didn't report any quality issues.
The other big issue to watch out for? Don't flop down on the ground if you have gels in the back pockets. You can imagine how sticky that will end up.
Changes at RaceReady
Vadney has headed the company since his investor group acquired it in 2010, and testers who had pre-Vadney RaceReady apparel were pleased with the updates but still looking for a slightly better product.
"This latest edition of the shorts is much better than the previous version," one tester wrote, "but there's still room to improve here. The material wicks moisture effectively but feels less durable than other tech shorts material on the market; I wouldn't take these off trail."
The guys had mixed feelings on the shorts (both tried the men's V-Notch shot). One said:
I dig several things about [the shorts]. The undercarriage (liner) has yet to begin to deform/break down. The mesh pockets are money, and they tend to hold mostly everything I'd need for 50K and down; however, I'm skeptical as to the durability of the pockets. I do not have any good reason to be, but I am, and I hope that I am wrong. The side pockets with Velcro flap closures are interesting. I have managed to put cards/bills/key fobs/gels into that small pocket. Durability, again, becomes the question with regard to how long before the Velcro becomes ineffective.
Another tester worried about the large back pocket and echoed fit issues:
The larger front pocket sized to fit a smartphone is a nice touch. The smaller pockets off to the sides work for holding smaller items like gels, but the larger center pocket could still use some work. It's big enough to hold larger items like gloves or a hat but is held closed by a cheap Velcro tab that I noticed was prone to coming unfastened during hard running. In addition, the waistband elastic and drawstring don't allow for a tight enough fit: When the pockets are loaded with gear, the shorts tend to slip at the waist even with the drawstring pulled tight. Overall, they feel more cheaply made than the shirt.
The verdict? I'll keep wearing the V-Notch shorts until something better comes along. I've gotten used to all the cargo space, and now feel lost without it. I'd like to see what Race Ready does to improve the fit.
Buy the men's V-Notch short for $38.95, here. The women's version is also $38.95, find it here.
We all tried the Unisex Cool-T short sleeve tech shirt. It's unisex, but it didn't fit me or most of the guys. One said:
I like the material itself for hot-weather running -- it seems to wick moisture fairly well. The stand-up collar is a bit strange, but fortunately it's not nearly as tight as the collars on other tech shirts (I'm looking at you, Brooks). The cut of the shirt is definitely very specific to a certain body type -- if you're a guy who's not a classic V-shape up top, the fit could be a bit off. It's also shorter than other tech shirts I've used, which I appreciate, but others might not.
Another couldn't even wear it:
I put on the shirt once and it was ill-fitting. I washed it a couple of times and put it on again to the same effect. So I have chucked it to the bottom of my book bag as a just-in-case option if I have nothing else. I am uncertain of the fit model (or mannequin) that was used to create this piece of apparel but the fabric tends to fall forward and collect in the upper chest area between the shoulders. The collar is ill-fitting as it looks like it fits a neck 2-3 inches larger than mine. Plus the collar is skewed. It is not a smooth circle around the neckline. If I were to order this shirt from the company directly, I would be highly unsatisfied with the fit and seeking a return/refund.
The Cool-T is $24.95, here, but skip this one and try a gender specific shirt instead.
Sara Davidson is a ultrarunner and our resident women's gear destroyer.
