Running Supply #67
Nike ACG Train-ing for the wilderness, Pruzan preps for SS26, Norda busts out new colors, and a relaunch from sustainable footwear brand Hylo, Unna’s latest colors, and a lot more
In this issue: Nike ACG Train-ing for the wilderness, Pruzan preps for SS26, Norda busts out new colors, and a relaunch from sustainable footwear brand Hylo, Unna’s latest colors, and a lot more.
Quick Hits
After years with the Swoosh, Australian 1500 and 3000m record holder Stewy McSweyn signed with On Running
Interview with Jessie Hyman, co-founder of Pruzan coming next week with news on their SS26 (Feb 18th!) as well as some nitty gritty on design philosophy and process. Shout out Lee Glandorf for lining that up!
I’d love to see a running brand copy this stunt that J.Crew did. Maybe Tracksmith?
I’m currently whipping up something special Boston Marathon 🤝 There will be plenty of vintage, and a whole lot more.
Friend of the ‘sletter, Molly Seidel is repping Coros and SATISFY this weekend at Black Canyon 100k. Expect to see her high up on the leaderboard! She crushed the Bandera 50k record already.
ICMYI
Last week I covered Chinese footwear brands challenging the US market, Nike ACG’s relaunch, and C-suite shuffles amongst Bandit and Tracksmith.
I also interviewed one of my favorite designers, and above all good person, Alex Zono. Learn about his design background, philosophy, and what' he hopes to do next with his eponymous brand.
All Aboard the ACG Express
Francis Bourgeois, the British TikTok train influencer walks us through the train.
What It Was
Nike shipped out a train full of pros (Eliud Kipchoge, Bebe Vio, Jannik Sinner), media, and running influencers from Milan, where the Winter Olympics are taking place, deep into the Italian Alps. The train’s journey cleverly symbolizes Nike ACG’s transition from a fashion over function brand to a true performance brand. On board, it functioned as a mobile brand expo, with the same motif of fully branded Nike ACG kit: camp mugs, espresso machine. Branded details down to the carabiners.
Chris of Runners Highest was invited to go, and will be writing about the experience via his newsletter in the next couple weeks. Check out his scanned souvenirs from the trip.
In addition to the train trip, there was a backyard ultra style trail race, The Exchibition of S.P.E.E.D. in Spazio Maiocchi, Milan. Mental Athletic was somehow involved in the event from a coverage side, and probably some of the creative direction if I know them. They’re having a big year! You can still catch the broadcast on their website.
Who Was Behind It?
I’m a digital designer by trade and was always obsessed with typography, visual identity, and that ilk. It’s been super cool to see the agencies come out of the woodwork to share what they did for the new ACG relaunch.
None other than Playlab Inc, the creative agency out of LA that did the clever +Pool, a public, filtering pool in the East River. They led concept and strategy for the viral-on-my-feed All Condition Express train from Milan into the “Italian wilderness.” Sunst Studio, a Berlin based agency did the creative direction and design behind it all. Sunst also did the buildout for ACG’s activation with Sentier for UTMB. Amsterdam Berlin was the creative agency behind the All Conditions modular kit from the soccer activation a few weeks ago, pictured below.
The creative teams are literally world building here. It’s less of the world building from a SATISFY or Bandit, where the brand creates a dream of the person you aspire to be or of their ideal athlete, and more of a world that you can participate in now simply by entering the door.
Get The Look
The jackets and some of kit are now out (sorry, not the pear-at-supermarket mesh shirt), and I will say the Lava Loft jacket is sick in person. I tried it out on launch day in-store. (See note) at $295 it’s quite steep, and you can definitely find a similar jacket for far less like the lower key Path Projects Lassen Down Jacket on sale for $139. If you’re an ACG stan, though, or recently caught the bug, the jacket is darn good.
Other New and Upcoming Things
Zara Athleticz Asked “Can I Copy Your Homework?”
I hate to even highlight this since Zara is a disreputable fast fashion brand, but they completely ripped off Gnuhr’s Wool Shag sweater. Similar materials (61% polyester, 30% wool, 9% polyamide) and nearly same cut with thumbholes and thicker neckline. Clearly someone there is on the pulse though to even know to copy off Gnuhr (and previously off SOAR with the logo and some of the running kit). Fit on that one in the store was actually decent, the rest of their Athleticz line fits pretty awful.
SOAR Says Speed Suits Are For Marathons
“Can I say something without everyone getting mad” and it’s a $410 3D woven speed suit with Rheon supported legs. A belt is built into the system for ample gel storage. I can’t wear this until I’m in sub 2:25 shape and even then I might feel silly doing it. Still, the concept is interesting to me and I applaud anyone willing to give it a shot.
They also sneakily released these sick leopard print Marathon Speed Shorts, and these ProtoLab ADV Marathon Shorts with no waistband. It’s a fully one piece waist with a flat pocket that fits 4 gels, and a separate zip pocket.
Unna Spring Summer 2026
All new colorways of their very popular (hero item) striped long sleeve plus some spring ready blush pinks, cloud blue, and grey-purple. I snagged one of the baby blue striped tees just to knock around in this spring. Available at their website and definitely also at Running Wylder for those state side.
SATISFY Is Doing More LSD
Previously this was pretty limited but now increasingly available as part of their growth strategy. You can shop for LSD on their site, or at your local authorized SATISFY dealer. The black and red shirts are still limited to their LSD meetup runs. Their SoftCell™ hoodie, while a somewhat painful price is one of my all time favorites. These colorways and styles are decidedly American collegiate, which is a nice departure from the frequently earth-toned and all-black brand.
Free idea: I want this PeaceShell River Shirt in a faux denim print much like their PeaceShell shorts.
Lievre St. Valentine
New brand from 2 brothers in Geneva, Switzerland founded in 2024. They caught my eye after doing a collab with artist Adrien Sabbah. I’m a sucker for a brand putting on an artist and breaking away from stark blacks and modern minimalism. They put together a cute Valentine’s Day capsule. I hope they kip bringing in new artists or embrace this sketch aspect.
Early access opens to their newsletter subscribers at 5:30 PM on Sunday, February 15.
Puma Deviate Elite 4 is here
12% lighter at 170g (wow!), re-engineered PWRPLATE. Puma is really dialed in on performance and the shoes still look great. They’re sleek, unassuming. I found these pretty poppy, and they’ve been well reviewed. I don’t have the previous model to go off here, so just going on the limited running I’m doing now and on foot feel. Right now I simply trust the brand.
On Cloudrunner 3 now, On Cloudmonster 3 in March
The Cloudrunner 3 just came out and really looks like the brands super popular Cloudultra Trail; much lower profile Cloudtec. Seemingly more comfy than the previous iteration, but still relatively firm. My fave reviewers Doctors of Running took it for a spin.
The Cloudmonster 3 addresses some fit issues on the upper. I found mine a bit baggy as well, and this should solve the issue. The CloudTec pods are opened up and there’s a heftier stack, doubling down on that cushion.
So cool to cover the branding aspect of ACG's relaunch and the agency who did it. The way they’re doing real world-building, as you say, really brings me pure childish joy.