Tracksmith Multi Tester Men's and Women's Clothing Tested: Top Class in Style and Performance (2023)

So when I had the opportunity to have the RTR team test a complete Tracksmith range, I was curious to see if the impeccable style of yesteryear was combined with cutting-edge performance. And the more expensive and high-end clothing market is filling up with players like Salomon, ON, Odlo, District Vision, among those I tried, all boosting performance. style and price envelopes.

Peter: I've been racing with various Tracksmith teams for a few years now. It's a great brand with a very clear aesthetic. The look is solidly 1970s Northeastern Cross Country. I think of Dartmouth and Bowdoin when I look at Tracksmith. They manage to cross two different worlds and balance them very well. For one thing, they're definitely aimed at the elite runner. Your Meter magazine is full of unbearably fit runners looking unbearably stylish. Somehow they also manage to make equipment that your basic age group athlete would feel comfortable using and would be fine with. So it's upscale and not TOO nasty. What I like most about Tracksmiths is that they are very clear in the image they present on their clothes, and they are very comfortable for running. I've raced in Van Cortland shorts and tops for years and have recently switched to some new gear.

Renee: I think an advantage of the Tracksmith is its appeal to the lay but competitive runner. Any brand that proudly displays the word "Amatuer" on their gear is fine with me. Most big running gear companies offer global community memberships and benefits, but Tracksmith has a more authentic local feel than the "big brands". For clarification: I usually run in cheap running clothes and the Tracksmith fits more into the niche clothing category. I completely understand the concept of asking "Is it worth the price?" My short answer is yes. If you look good and feel good, you run good. At the very least, the clothes are worth it to look good on race day.

Sally: I live north of Boston and have run the last six Boston Marathons (and was training for what should have been my seventh this year, but will now be virtual). I'm lucky enough to be able to train at the Boston field on Saturday mornings with thousands of other Boston runners, so I get to see firsthand the vibe of the local running community that shows up in their running gear. Lots of Heartbreak logos (yes, I'm a Heartbreaker too, love your positivity!), lots of goodies from the charity team, and now more and more iconic Tracksmith tracks! I've been known to stop by the Tracksmith Newbury Street shop often and chat with the guys and gals inside, check out the latest classic gear and peruse the almost museum-quality collection of race history exhibits. Their equipment is known to be expensive, but it's worth it. I was very impressed with Tracksmith as a company when they recently hired Mary Cain as an "employee". Take this, swoosh company.

Tops

Renee: I tried theVan Cortlandt T-shirt(ivory/stone color) and thetwilight tank(heather charcoal color). They retail for $65 and $52 respectively.

As for sizing, I normally wear a women's medium size, which is the size I used for both tops. As for the measurements, I'm supposed to go a size small, but I think the women's size small runs too tight and not long enough (on any brand). I like to make sure my tops don't ride up and show my tummy, and I can be a nerd about tucking my tops in. The medium size fits me well. The Twilight tank was cut to the perfect length and very breathable, which is good because I was running in 90+ degree temperatures. The Van Cortlandt jersey is also highly breathable, although it does feel heavy with sweat. On hot days (90-95 degrees), the top was a little heavy. That said, the jersey has a great race day feel and fits well. Would I buy these again? The shirt, probably. It's nice to have a quality top for race day. The Twilight tank is great if you want to pay $52 for an everyday top. My aim is to have some quality expensive tapas. I wouldn't wear a $50+ top every day.

Pedro:Van Cortlandt Tank Top: ($65) This is probably the archetypal piece of Tracksmith gear. I think I first saw him around 2015 in his BQ rating single. It's a great simple device. The material is breathable, looks great, and the fit is snug but forgiving. I'm a medium in most running gear and the Van Cortlandt Tank is perfect for me in a medium. The only dent on the Van Cortlandt is that the stitching on top of the diagonal blade design can irritate your nipples a bit.

Twilight t-shirt:($52) Twilight T-shirt is new to me. Unfortunately, it appears to have a slightly different cut than the Van Cortlandt. It's about the same in terms of width, but lasts longer. Not sure if this is exclusive to Twilight or a new size in Tracksmith tops in general (I haven't bought a van cortlandt top in a few years). Either way, you might consider downsizing the Twilight shirt. The material is light and the basic look is nice. Okay, it's not my favorite Tracksmith outfit, and there are a lot of decent singles out there.

Stdoctor shirt:($78) The Strata tee might be my favorite material of any Tracksmith tee. It is so smooth and silky that I want to use it everyday. It's best for low humidity situations as it gets quite damp in the Texas humidity, but it's a great fit shirt that's soft, smooth, and plush.

Harrier T-shirt and long sleeves:($72, $78) Harrier material is much better for winter clothing. The material is quite substantial and wears well over time, but definitely not a good summer shirt.

Camisetas Greyboy:($55) Greyboy T-shirts are fabulous T-shirts that will likely peak about 5 years after you buy them. They're thick and strong, and after about 100 washes they really start to bounce back. They are built to last and last and last.

Sam:Van Cortlandt T-shirt($70). The shirt has an impeccable fit, slightly tapered at the top of the chest and at the collar, then it's loose at the bottom, so it's suitable for those who have a few extra pounds, like me, thank you. Truly a bespoke fit and look. I generally don't like "skinny" styles and the Van Cortlandt fits where needed and then flows without looking or feeling sloppy or too tight. Here I was a perfect medium without having to sculpt as I sometimes do, for example at Salomon S/Lab.

It even has notches on the hem to keep things open and flowing.

The Van Cortlandt is made of 2:09 Tracksmith knit and is named after Bill Rodgers' American record win at the Boston Marathon. Bill's knit shirt that day is said to have come out of a dumpster. The mesh here is luxuriously soft and treated with an antimicrobial finish, decent but not quite as effective as some. It's lightweight, but not particularly thin or airy in very hot weather, given the three-dimensional nature of the mesh. More than adequate in the summer heat, the Van Cortandt is the perfect weight for fall racing.

The Van Cortandt name comes from the famous hill park in Yonkers, New York, where cross-country races have been held at schools, universities and national championships for over a hundred years (see NY Times articlehere). I've raced there many times and it has the scariest start and finish of all the courses. Open a flat straight for almost 800 meters to a narrow gravel road called "Cow Road". After winding through mountain forests on the trails, the end features a very steep rocky climb to the top of the aptly named "Cemetery Hill", followed by a short, steep descent and a few hundred meters of flat final stretch.

The chest band speaks to a Cornell tradition that dates back to the 1880s, where if the athlete scored in league championships, they would have the band sewn to the front of their shirt. This "shirt" is loaded with history and symbolism.

Bottom Line: A simply gorgeous running top with a luxurious feel and impeccable fit. I call it the "wear and tear" running top and a great choice for fall running. Its performance is more than adequate, but it's not the best technical running shirt for the summer or even from the Tracksmith line, as its new Strata with Coldblack heat absorption reducer and sun protection finish in Swiss Schoeller's 3D mesh fabric will probably take this . award.

Wear:

Van Cortlandt Singlet - The most classic and recognizable item in their lineup! The medium size and fit is perfect for me and it wears perfectly for a weather or race day shirt.

My initial concerns about friction were quickly allayed. The material is like a beautifully executed cross between an 1980s gym shirt and some haute couture fabric from Italy (or so I think...)

It's amazing, it breathes well and it does it beautifully. My only gripe, and I think this is pretty unique to me and my use cases with this group, is that the material does bunch up a bit when worn with a vest or belt. My long runs and adventures usually call for one or the other, and I wouldn't recommend this shirt for anything other than track days or pace days where you don't need a vest.

twilight t-shirt- My favorite running shirt! This may be the most comfortable running shirt I own. It's hard to describe a great running shirt, but the lightweight micromesh they use perfected the quick-drying, breathable task I'm asking for in a shirt. And at $58, it's one of the most affordable entry points in the Tracksmith lineup.

harrier t shirt- A merino wool classic, this shirt is equal parts haute couture and a racing shirt. I have to be honest, I've used this more as my favorite work-from-home shirt and less of a running shirt. It's a little thick for my taste and felt a little stuffy in the hot Colorado sun. It will make a good fall top for those in between days or a good base for winter.

Sally: I bought the Van Cortland tank top (navy/white) ($65) and I feel like I've joined an elite club when I wear it! It's a classic, old-school look, similar, as Sam said, to the jerseys college running backs wore in my Dartmouth days. Harvard wore tops like this one in crimson, Yale blue, Dartmouth green, etc. I usually use an XS for tops, but I use a Small for TS tops, possibly because I don't like tight tops. They are a little long for my liking, but keep in mind I'm a short 5'2” runner who won't tuck my top inside. it's good for coverage. The mesh is soft and quite dense. This is not my go-to for mid-summer running tops as it is hotter than other brands. Perfect for those cooler mornings!

My favorite Tracksmith piece is therun well, which I also bought at retail ($58). I first tried it on the recommendation of a similarly built runner friend who swears by this sports bra. It is made with Allston fabric, known for its great support, softness, breathability and plenty of elasticity. The chest band on mine is a classic red/white band against a solid, totally classic navy blue. Again, I chose the S size for a snug fit (I also wear S in sports bras with the classic Nike swoosh, my other option). I would say this is best for A/B cup riders.

The fit is longer in the torso than others, and it looks sleek and smooth all around. In running, there is no chafing, no slipping, no discomfort of any kind. Because of the extra long coverage, it's warmer than other tops, so again, not my go-to for those sticky mid-summer runs. Younger runners rock these shirtless running bras to cover them up and they look amazing! This will be my go-to when the weather turns colder. I cannot recommend the TS Run Bra highly enough.

money

Renee:

I tried thesplit twilight shorts(slate blue, $52) and thetrack fiveshorts (navy color, $68). I wear a size small in both shorts. As for measurements, I wear a size small on almost every brand, and the small size fits me well. The sizing guide on the Tracksmith website was a good guide for me.

Unlike running shirts, which are whatever to me as long as they fit, I want my pants/shorts to be comfortable. Who wants to run in shorts that ride up? Nobody, that's who. I don't run in short tights unless it's a base layer. I'm just not comfortable with tight bottoms. But these Lane Five shorts are an exception. The leg openings don't go up when running (I sometimes find myself pulling them down when standing still, but this isn't an issue during continuous running). They're snug enough to be non-intrusive, but not too tight to be uncomfortable.

Thankfully, the crotch area of ​​the Lane Five shorts is mesh and not sewn down the middle. I haven't had any groin issues during long, hilly runs. They are breathable but not transparent, perhaps because of the darker color (navy blue). I used to love running in these shorts, and these are the only socks/shorts I feel comfortable running in. Total profit, even at $68. My iPhone 7 in its protective case fits in the back zippered pocket and wasn't bouncing around in the back. There are two side pockets on each outer hip. I can fit my car key fob in these pockets and a small pocketknife. My gels are a little long, but depending on the size, you can put gels in there. They would be a good choice for a run day if you don't want to wear a running vest or belt.

Twilight's split shorts are also a huge win. The split is very high, which is great for getting air on hot days. The inner lining is a comfortable fabric, almost cotton. I have issues with short liners not fully covering my bum (I'm not a big person at 110-115 lbs and 66.5" tall) but I have a lot going on back there that needs to be covered. The elastic in the liner isn't much tight and covers everything which is good because the lining shows through the high slit.There are three open inside pockets in these shorts.I can fit a car key ring, small shaver and gel in these pockets. Why the pockets are open, I'm not sure if you'd like to upload items there, but it's an option.At $52, they're pricey, but well worth it.

For both shorts, the waistline is perfect. I don't like high waists or even mid rises because they ride up (I've had babies so no matter how hard I run there's something extra in my stomach). The waistbands of both shorts stay in place. I don't need to pull them down, but they sit high enough on my c-section scar (I hate it when shorts sit on my scar).

Pedro:

Short Van Cortlandt:($60) Van Cortlandt shorts used to be my favorite running shorts (spoiler alert: Twilight split shorts have taken over). The VC is a lightweight, great-fitting short with mesh that doesn't get too heavy when wet and a very comfortable mesh lining. They are of great length. The 4” inseam is not too short or too long. There is no leg impediment. I've had a pair of these for over 4 years and have put a ton of miles on them. No problem. They look good and work fine.

Van Cortlandt Grand Shorts: ($65) These were the only duds for me in the Tracksmith line. The inseam is longer than the Van Cortlandt and a little too long. I really don't like the feeling of my legs being restricted while running and they are long enough to feel them pulling while running. On a positive note, Tracksmith has amazing customer support. When I contacted them, they recommended the Twilight short and made a quick and easy exchange.

Twilight Divided Short Film:($52) These are the bomb! Everything I like about the Van Cortlandt short is here and there are some things I like a lot more about Twilight. They are a little shorter than the VC's (I think) but don't really fall under the speedometer category. The biggest improvement here is the lining. While the VC Short has a mesh lining (which has dropped a bit for a few years), the Twilight has a very soft lining made from a quick-drying poly/spandex blend. It feels like a T-shirt and holds everything in place really well. There is an inside pocket at the back that is divided into three gel-sized sections. The shorts fit my usual average size perfectly and I usually don't even need to tie them up. They fit really well, not too loose and not too tight.

Reggie lined pantyhose($72). Hands down my favorite tight half out there. I liked the old version (no liner) but the new version is a great upgrade! Sock socks can be tricky. I don't know anyone else, but too many leggings causes a very difficult situation (especially when running shirtless, which is pretty much mandatory in the Texas summer). The Reggie lined midi pants fit perfectly. They're tight enough to stay on (even when soaking wet) without any slipping (or looping), but not so tight that I'm self-conscious about picking at the meat. Now, if you're like the Tracksmith catalog runners, you'll never have to worry about that again. But if you are a mere human, you might have this problem. The other great thing about Reggie is the LINER. Yes, the lining. My first few runs in various tights and tights over the years left me with horrible chafing. I did a lot of underwear testing and found underwear that fits under tights without causing too much trouble. The Reggie Lined Half Tight has this amazing, understated down that's soft, protective, and makes underwear unnecessary. It's a great piece of equipment: it's supportive and functional, and it's very, very comfortable.

Sam:

Short Van Cortlandt($ 60)

Exactly my preferred length, not as short as in the 1970s or as wide as "fashion" now. The fabric, like the shirt, is a 2:09 knit and is vaguely reminiscent of '80s gym shorts with texture and a loose, draped fit.

Here, though, the mesh is super soft, stretchy without being tacky, and thin with lots of ventilation holes, but not see-through, unlike the rough stuff of yesteryear. The lining is also 2:09 mesh, which is a little flatter in feel and test. My tests showed that varying the mesh type between the two layers was clearly deliberate, as there was never any sticking between them or anywhere, no matter how humid the conditions. And the lining with its anti-odor finish, you absolutely never thought or felt it was there. What would we have given for shorts and eyeliner like that in the 70's!

The leg openings are wide but not baggy and work well with the legging's stretch. The waistband is smooth and easy with a proper drawstring, white and contrasting well with the dark navy.

The shorts include two back pockets behind the waistband good for some gels, keys, cards, etc.

I always run with my iPhone 11 Pro (for photos, not calls) and I found that while it only fit in my back pockets, it tended to slide down my pants a little further than I'd like. I have a POP pocket attached to the back to hold my phone but mostly to function as a clip for just about any shorts and even with the soft band barely reaching my waist it fits perfectly on my hip. I think a back pocket on the slip would be a nice addition for the phones as reaching and returning the phone to the back pockets is a bit tedious and as stated not waist friendly.

The result in time? You forget you're actually wearing something. Wet with sweat or dry, it doesn't stick or stick, everything flows with ease, stretches and wiggles with every step, right down to the lining. At the end of an 8 mile run in very wet conditions, I noticed a "something" feeling in the lower hem. The shorts didn't stick to my legs and on the run it didn't feel too soggy to the touch. Taking them off later, I noticed that they gained a significant amount of weight from sweat, much more than slicker cloth shorts, but I never noticed this while running. In the less humid conditions of Utah, where I also ran the Twilight, it looks like the sweat evaporated quickly enough that it didn't soak through.

I've probably run in hundreds of different shorts over the years, something of an obsession after that initial misery and these are clearly the most comfortable, "frictionless" and invisible shorts I've ever worn. I'd like to see a more substantial pocket arrangement to hold a phone, I know it's not purist to run around with a phone, but yes... to take pictures.

Wear

Short Van Cortlandt- It could save me a lot of typing and just say, "Take a moment and reread what Sam wrote."

He nailed it with their description. I feel like you can tell everything you need to know about a clothing brand by the way they wear their short liners. The lining inVan CortlandtIt was the most invisible ocean liner I've ever raced, including long mountain runs of over 25 miles.

I have big mountain race quads and next to a buttery soft lining riding between the thighs is a real concern for me. These shorts laughed my worries off and performed better than anything I've ever worn in this department. I never say this in reviews but I will now - I will be buying another pair of these!

7" session shorts- These are a strange item for me. They don't really fit me like a traditional short as they are a little tight in the crotch and don't fit the larger hips very well. They feel more like a short yoga style to me and have become my go-to for days on the go at home. With a 7" inseam, they are a really solid option for "Zoom to Trail to Grocery Store" and can pair well with any setup.

They come in a 5" inseam, which you'd probably think better, but for now, the 7" is a comfortable option around the house and for shorter runs only.

Pedro:

Tracksmith Merino Tube Socks($ 18)merino invisible socks($ 14)

So I picked up a flyer recently and decided to try on a few pairs of Tracksmith Merino Wool Socks. I generally prefer very thin socks. I've been wearing Stance and Swiftwick socks for the last few years. The Tracksmith Socks are a little thicker than I'm used to, but they don't feel chunky underfoot. they are soft But LANA? Hmm, not sure how wool will fare in the Texas heat and humidity. Well, I'm pleasantly surprised. I have both the crew sock and the no-show and they both work great. I don't notice that they are wetter or hotter than other socks in my rotation. They are comfortable and look great. I'm interested to see how they perform, but so far so good. I'm a fan.

conclusions

Renee: Do you have money? Then consider some Tracksmith equipment. If you're miserly like me, I still think some items are worth your time, especially the Lane Five and Twilight split shorts. As a runner, it's hard to find running shorts that fit you well. For me, shorts are a win and they are worth it. The caps are great too, although I'm totally fine buying my cheap caps that work so well.

Peter: My Tracksmith habit was fueled by birthday gift certificates. It's not cheap, but it's very high quality equipment and has lasted very well. Their customer service has been exceptional over the years and I like that they are a racing brand, not a sports brand, not a track brand, a racing brand. Her Meter magazine is always a good read and her aesthetic, from her website to her lookbook to her clothing, is consistent and compelling.

My top recommendations for the men's team would be

short twilight

Reggie lined pantyhose

Van Cortlandt T-shirt

Sam: All that careful study and homage to racing's past leads to a high-performance team that looks spectacular. HeVan CortlandtThe shorts are clearly worth every penny and are the most comfortable shorts I've ever worn. The Van Cortlandt shirt, although not for me, works in the dry heat at the level of my Odlo Blackcomb Pro or in the wet at the level of the Salomon S/. The Billboard branded Tank and Lab make up for it with beautiful classic styling and a superior fit that will have you looking sleek and running fast.

Don: The first question people ask me when I say I'm reviewing Tracksmith is "Is it worth it?" So I will reply right away; I feel like yes. Their gear is top quality and it's amazing. If you want to try out a look, I recommend the Twilight top and any of the 2:09 mesh shorts.

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