As an avid runner constantly logging 40+ mile weeks across training runs and races, having quality gear I can trust at my performance level is essential. I‘ve tested apparel across brands big and small – and most leave me disappointed when it comes to balancing functionality with durability.
Tracksmith caught my eye last year as a running specialty brand focused on catering to marathoners and racers through premium clothing crafted specifically for PRs rather than mall jogging. I decided to test their product claims given the brand‘s growing reputation across the distance running community.
In this detailed Tracksmith review, I break down my hands-on testing of their running apparel along with analysis of the brand itself. Read on for the full scoop so you can determine if their gear is worth that investment!
Overview of Tracksmith
Founded in 2014 by former college runners Matt Taylor and Luke Scheybeler, Tracksmith designs and retails a wide range of running apparel, shoes and accessories for both men and women. Based in New England, their focus stays on serving dedicated middle, long distance and ultra runners – basically anyone who takes training seriously regardless of skill level.
They operate as a direct-to-consumer digital brand, which allows providing education around apparel technologies plus helps build that niche running community they love fostering. Their name itself ties to the specialized craft and attention (like a metalsmith) put into equipping runners – hence Tracksmith.
Across forums and reviews, Tracksmith has gained solid reputation through runners who swear by both the quality plus inspiring brand story and vision. Their products incorporate high-end technical fabrics like merino wool and targeted paneling in gear catered specifically to competitive training versus casual jogging.
For example, shorts and tops utilize strategic ventilation zones serving biomechanics in motion rather than basic workout wear silhouettes. Special touches like reflective trims and stash pockets optimized specifically for hydration gels reflect that detail obsession.
However, the emphasis on premium materials and functional design does lead to loftier pricing – which I evaluate later on whether it meets expectations given promises around quality and performance.
Now onto breaking down those key running apparel pieces!
My Hands-On Test Runs of Tracksmith Gear
Given their extensive range spanning running shirts, jackets, shorts and more – I focus my testing and review on several of their most popular items for both men and women:
Women’s Apparel Tested
- Run Bra – every day comfort sports bra
- Fells Waffle Layer Long Sleeve – cold weather top
- Twilight Shorts – warm weather run shorts
Men‘s Apparel Tested
- Van Cortlandt Shorts – flagship summer short
- Session Short – streamlined racer short
- Harrier Long Sleeve – cold weather merino top
I tested each piece across at least 6 individual training runs spanning summer and winter conditions over the past 6 months. Distances covered ranged from easy 60 minute jogs to tough progression marathon paced sessions up to 22 miles as well.
Let’s get into my thoughts on each piece!
My Impressions of Tracksmith’s Women‘s Apparel
Tracksmith Run Bra Review
The Run Bra ended up being my daily workout sports bra reaching for over the past few months both for lower impact runs along with HIIT style training.
Utilizing a lightweight nylon-spandex fabric blend, I found it provided enough compression to eliminate bounce while avoiding overly restrictive straps digging into shoulders as seen in some bras. The open mesh back paneling helped regulate temperature fairly well even as I built up heat and sweat.
For the A-C cup range, the molded cups supply decent support and shape while wicking perspiration away from the body. So far after repeated usage and washes it has retained both structure and function.
At $58 retail, the pricing sits on par with similar tier name brand sports bras I‘ve tested – and so far the Run Bra has matched previous item favorites across durability and next-to-skin comfort. This has become my daily workout bra reaching for over the past few months both for lower impact runs along with HIIT style training.
Fells Waffle Layer Long Sleeve Review
Living in the Northeast means cold and wind becomes inevitable during late fall and winter running seasons. Having tried older Under Armour ColdGear tops in the past, I decided to test Tracksmith’s Fells Waffle Layer to see if their merino fabric along with an updated paneling mapped specifically for runners could make a difference regulating body temperature.
The carved mapping along the sleeves and side torso provide great articulation mirroring arm swing and stride movements without ever feeling restrictive across layers. Cuffs stay securely in place avoiding ride up. I specifically appreciated the extended drop tail hem providing additional coverage shielding from wind gusts.
In terms of warmth – the merino wool fabric balanced insulation during sustained 40-50F days while allowing heat and moisture escape once building up a sweat. Unlike cheaper synthetic blends, I stayed drier over the course of multiple miles without getting that clammy chill. The durable water repellency treatment also helped weather light precipitation.
While $118 sits on the very premium end, the comfort, breathability and freedom of movement justify that investment if you run through cold winter mileage. After a dozen wearings across a variety of temperatures and run intensities, the Fells Waffle Layer has quickly become a workout staple I expect to keep reaching for every fall and winter.
Twilight Shorts Review
Come summer, finding run shorts that can keep up with sweat and heat demands becomes key to comfortable mileage. My old Nike split shorts just soaked through way too quickly leading to chaffing.
I decided to give Tracksmith’s ultra lightweight Twilight Short and integrated liner a try to test their claims around maximal breathability. Made from a lightweight 4-way stretch woven fabric, the inner liner utilizes their Softer Mesh fabric that they claim “[moves] with you, [breathes] with you and [protects] your skin.”
Getting them out in 80F+ degree summer humidity put those promises to the test. The shorts feel supple with built-in stretch, allowing running stride and mobility without restrictive tugging or adjustments needed. The liner possesses enough structure without squeezing or bunching during faster turnover paces.
Ventilation and cooling feels solid as I built up sweat, reflecting that air permeability promise. The light gray color I choose hid most moisture marks. After a few washes the color and elasticity also shows good retention.
If looking for warm weather run shorts purpose-built for high performance rather than casual wear, I highly recommend giving the Twilight Short a try. Just prepare to pay that premium $68 price tag.
Putting Tracksmith’s Men‘s Apparel Through the Test Runs
Time see if the guy’s side delivers comparable quality!
Van Cortlandt Shorts Review
The Van Cortlandt shorts showcase Tracksmith’s core essence of reinventing 1970’s old school runner gear utilizing contemporary fabric technology – what they dub “retro-modern.”
Constructed from an extremely airy mesh fabric coupled with integrated lightweight liner, these shorts aim to deliver maximum breathability for peak summer running. I took them through testing on multiple 80F+ runs pushing marathon pace.
The sensation wearing them during heavy sweating miles honestly shocked me. Unlike any shorts I‘ve worn before (and I‘ve tried dozens of styles) – the proprietary mesh fabric kept my skin fully dry the entire workout. It channels immense airflow right to skin while whicking perspiration outward through the surface faster than other material blends.
Between the perfectly grippy elastic waistband, handy single pocket in back for gels, and remarkable ventilation – I can fully understand why the Van Cortlandt shorts have gained such cult following. They feel like nothing while moving your legs yet solve all needs on a technical level.
My only knock is the relatively short 5 inch inseam length. While I had no issues with ride up or coverage, some guys may prefer a little more length for modesty or quad definition. Otherwise – new gym and Summer running short GOAT discovered here. Well worth that $60 for me.
Session Shorts Review
While I love my Van Cortlandts, sometimes you need a sleeker look when races come around or stepping up to faster speed work. Enter Tracksmith’s Session short.
Also rocking a 5 inch inseam, these shorts trim into a leaner profile while retaining four-way stretch for movement. Testing these across mile repeats along with a half marathon, they exceeded expectations.
The smooth fabric held structure perfectly across the waist and thigh quad area during faster turnover strides compared to baggier styles that can ride or bounce. Lightweight with breathability nearly matching the Van Cortlandts as well keeping skin cool even when pushing pace into the red zone.
The elastic waist lays smoothly under tights and singlets – effectively acting as a durable second skin rather than loose accessory prone to adjustment. Considering Nike split shorts with less technical fabric cost nearly the same at $65, Tracksmith delivers better value at $68 for racers wanting every advantage out there.
Harrier Long Sleeve Review
When fall and winter cold arrives, the challenge becomes balancing enough insulation to keep warm while managing sweat and heat export as your engine starts firing on miles.
Made from merino wool fabric matched with ventilating mesh torso panels, Tracksmith’s Harrier Long Sleeve aims to strike that delicate balance better than basic cotton blends prone to clamminess.
My experience testing it through freezing sub 40F runs proved out their promises. Unlike past base layers that just absorb and trap sweat into a cold wet mess after mile two, Harrier’s fabric mapped intentionally across zones like my lats, lower back and sleeves wicked moisture reliably the entire 6 miles. The cuffs perfectly hugged wrists to seal out wind chill without restrictive tugging. Body warmth maintained steadily across fluctuating intensities.
The merino wool makes a measurable difference regulating body temperature and sweat compared to normal long sleeve workout tops in my experience. While brands like Nike and Under Armour sell comparable cold-centric tops around $65-$85 range, the Harrier’s impeccable moisture control justifies that upper tier $84 pricing.
This piece now anchors as my essential winter running base layer. Chalk up another Tracksmith win!
How Tracksmith Gear Compares to Other Brands
While personally testing items helps gauge quality and performance, I wanted additional data benchmarking Tracksmith’s specs and pricing compared to other major players. Below tables summarize those key comparisons:
|||
| ————- |:————-:|
| Product | Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Short |
| Price | $60 |
| Material | 100% Polyester Mesh + Liner |
| Inseam | 5 inches |
| Purpose | Summer Training Short |
| Competitor Product | Price | Material | Inseam | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Challenger Short | $47 | 100% Polyester Knit | 7 inches | Versatile Training Short |
| Brooks Sherpa 5" Short | $50 | 100% Polyester Light Knit | 5 inches | Lightweight Race Short |
What the head-to-head specs reveal is that Tracksmith commands 10-15% pricing premium over major brands for comparable summer run shorts. However, fabric technology differs – leveraging purposeful mesh or wool blends catered specifically to competitive runners rather than casual gym goers in the mainstream.
You pay more but intended to receive shorts engineered explicitly for faster pacing, extreme conditions (heat, cold) and sustained middle to long distance mileage.
Let‘s compare specs on the women‘s side:
|||
| ————- |:————-:|
| Product | Tracksmith Twilight Short |
| Price | $68 |
| Material | Lightweight 4-Way Stretch Woven + Liner|
| Inseam | 5 inches |
| Purpose | Maximum Breathability Summer Short |
| Competitor Product | Price | Material | Inseam | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Chaser Short | $55 | Light Support Polyester Knit | 5 inches | Versatile High-Performance Short |
| Lululemon Hotty Hot Short | $58 | Luon Fabric With Lycra | 4 inches | Medium Support Training Short |
Again on the women‘s side, the purpose-built performance focus demands 10-15% premium. I believe serious competitive female runners will appreciate the extra attention paid to fabric mapping, ventilation and delivering shorts purely optimized for PRs rather than also wearable for lifestyle, casual looks favored by mainstream brands.
My Take on Tracksmith’s Brand Story and Sustainability Efforts
Beyond just evaluating the product itself, I researched into their business practices and mission to see if the brand walks the talk with responsibility matching the community ethos they advertise.
Founded by former college teammates Matt Taylor and Luke Scheybeler in 2014, the two envisioned building a running brand that inspires the runner’s mindset through quality craftsmanship. Tracksmith honors the 1970‘s running boom heritage through their retro-modern design aesthetic (high rise shorts, racing singlets etc.) while embedding latest technology for peak performance.
This passion for the sport‘s history plus elevating future innovation shines through in how they promote transparency around materials and manufacturing. From my research, they focus heavily on environmental sustainability through use of recycled synthetics and responsible merino wool plus working with bluesign certified factories. Over 75% of production takes place across North American facilities reducing overseas shipping footprints.
Tracksmith also maintains tight quality control measures by manufacturing in the USA – ensuring their exacting standards get woven into each custom performance fabric pattern and final piece.
Speaking with other experienced runners, beyond just product quality – Tracksmith has built a reputation as a brand focused on storytelling and forging personal connections with their community. They celebrate inspiring stories spotlighting amateur runners chasing new milestones and personal bests. Events like group runs, races and local gatherings bring together Tracksmith fans enabling those community bonds.
As someone who loves the sport plus feeds off similar challengers around me, I appreciate that dedication towards uniting all levels of passionate competitive runners coupled with responsibly crafted gear.
My Final Verdict: Tracksmith Delivers Premium Gear for Racing Obsessives
In closing this review out – here is my honest overall take after extensive analysis and testing of Tracksmith across multiple apparel categories.
The Good
Tracksmith absolutely delivers ultra high quality running apparel purpose-built for competing and training to beat new PRs for middle to long distance races. Almost every fabric promises breathability, sweat wicking performance, insulation and freedom of movement unmatched by mainstream brands serving gym goers and lifestyle looks primarily.
You can feel and appreciate the meticulous attention paid towards fabric patterns, seam placement and feature details catered explicitly towards repetitive running motions across tempos and distances. Their community engagement also shines through – this brand obsessively geeks out on racing heritage and pursing every competitive edge just like their devoted customers. Even beyond apparel, that brand ethos and passion forging personal connections with practitioners of the runner’s craft stays genuine.
The Less Ideal
The pinnacle performance and premium details come at a price – literally. Their expertly engineered merino wool tops, running shorts with strategic vent zoning and mapped compression fabrics run easily 20% or higher over average market rates. The sticker shock surely stings and limits the high school or college runner still stretching budgets.
However, analyze true cost per wear over expected lifetime across training seasons paired against replacing cheaper pieces failing every quarter. If you race and train seriously for PRs, that value proposition balances out long term. But no doubt the financial bar sits high just to get started and see if the gear measures up for you.
The Verdict
Tracksmith sells far more than just apparel – you’re buying into a culture celebrating the relentless, passionate pursuit of shaving seconds towards new personal bests in the running craft. The brand and community rally you towards committing to that journey clad in quality gear purposely engineered just for your specific needs.
If your idea of runner identity means enjoying some miles at your local park once or twice a week, many cheaper and more lifestyle athleisure brands better match up. But for those who obsess about marathon ever PR‘s, carefully plotting nextasic stabilization routines, nerve training splits and race day nutrition – Tracksmith promises you the absolute pinnacle technical apparel to help achieve every next milestone.
While the dollar value strains budgets, analyzing that longer term cost per use given their exceptional quality and durability makes that hit easier to justify over time.
In my first hand testing, Tracksmith passed with flying colors delivering gear that finally lives up to my performance runner standards. Let the PR chasing continue!
I hope this review detailing my personal testing and analysis of Tracksmith’s apparel line over an extended period helps you determine if their products match your budget and training needs as a runner! Please reach out with any other questions.
Happy Running!
