Running Supply #70
Harry Styles in Runner's World?! What about the $150 "super" trainers? Brand new models, the latest on the Brooks Cascadia Elite, new shades from Alba Optics, SATIFY's latest collection.
Harry Styles wore vintage for Runner’s World! What about the $150 “super” trainers? This issue also has some brand new models, the latest on the Brooks Cascadia Elite, new shades from Alba Optics, SATIFY’s latest collection, and news from some of my favorite outdoor hiking brands.
Quick Hits
There was a mishap in the women’s USATF half marathon champs. To avoid rehashing it all, read this article from Citius Mag. TLDR; women’s leaders were led off course and ended up not finishing 1,2,3.
A current DIII Rowan University runner who transferred in from Iowa State apparently left the team because of doping allegations from his teammates. Wild. Report from Jon Gault at Lets Run.
Harry Styles is the cover star for Runner’s World this month. He interviewed with Haruki Murakami who inspired him to take up running. Notably they styled him in tons of vintage. Wonder what alias he’s subscribed under?! Harry, I have a sick vintage London tee in your size. Also some shoe recs: the Nike Revolutions are not it.
If you’re hunting for a job in the running industry, give a look at the WIRE, which aggregates open roles from across the internet. By Mike Hahn
Popular Reads n Resources
Check out my bit on 3rd and 4th wave running stores, which features a list of the coolest running stores in the world. Indie Running Stores
If you’re looking to shop locally, check out my running store finder which let’s you filter by brand to see the nearest store.
Supply Run is a series of casual interviews with industry professionals. Anyone from runners to store owners to founders to pro athletes.
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ICYMI, Last Week on Running Supply
Last week I covered District Visions latest spring capsule, Bandit goes emo, RAD goes Goth, On’s restructured CloudMonster, jorts miles, and Nike x Renegade’s “Re-Create” capsule coming next week.
$150 “Super” Trainers: Can Someone Make an EVO SL Killer?
This was one of the trends I had in my 2025 Running Report. And yes, they’re not so much super trainers with a thick stack of super critical foam, they’re uptempo daily trainers. This headline catches more eyes, sorry!
Here’s my read: The adidas EVO SL is the latest Nike Alphafly phenomenon.
The Alphafly was of course a different offering and targeted racing performance. Nike brought it to market first, and had every other brand chasing. The EVO SL is no diffetent. At $150, (often marked down), the shoe’s value proposition is…well, value. It feels good off the lot, provides a pop for a couple hundred miles, and the simple colorblocking makes it pair well with anything. At the time of it’s release, it had no equal.
There are now a number of super critical foam daily trainers in the $150 range besides the adidas EVO SL: the New Balance Ellipse, and Saucony Azura. Honorable mention to the Mach 7, which was already a well liked model.
New Balance FuelCell Ellipse
The Ellipse is the next big thing from New Balance, even if it hasn’t been marketed that way. I’ve been monitoring the $150 uptempo trainer situation, and this is the best challenger. With their campaign, they’re fully embracing the 90s lo-fi news report vibe, they put out a video with long-time brand partner, rapper, and cultural icon Action Bronson.
The new model is functionally a sexier version of the 880 with a marketing spin. Fresh Foam X for the midsole provides for a soft feel-good ride, and then the upper they went full dad shoe. More importantly though, I imagine NB sees the model as a test challenger to the EVO SL with fun ride and upper that lends itself to some cool colors. The shoe is marketed for daily use, just like the EVO SL. Jury is still in on if that’s a good thing, but probably fine for the 50mpw and under folks. They pass the jeans test with flying colors!
Available at New Balance online, stores, and most NB retailers already for a calm $145.
Hoka Mach 7
This shoe predated the EVO SL as a non-plated super critical daily trainer. The previous version didn’t seem to challenge the EVO SL, and the latest iteration not either. The Mach 7 has the same bouncy super critical foam, plus a lighter upper and better fit. Overall it’s a simpler shoe than the high stack daily trainers HOKA is known for, not to mention less expensive. At $145 (previously $140) it’s in the same ballpark as any other uptempo daily trainer. Without some style changes and heavy marketing, I think it’s unlikely that it will will out-hype the EVO SL and Ellipse. The model already has a loyal core customer which means there can’t be any drastic changes. All it really needs is some more lifestyle adjacent styling and it could be right there.
Bandit SS26
Bandit’s Spring Summer 26 capsule was a bit more somber and softer this year. Poetic more than hype. Motivating, but in an intrinsic way. If their other releases reminded you of throwing on club bangers, getting piumped up, and running too hard, this feels more like a calm cup of coffee and meditative solo miles. I wrote more on that last week.
I always watch Ardith’s breakdown of their newest materials and tech changes and read through the evolution report. Their new Stamina™ fabric uses 37.5 tech, which supposedly stays drier >25% longer than standard activewear materials. They also added a pigment dyed Friosoft fabric which gets a cool patina from sweat. Ardith mentioned that many of the designs were influenced by Helen Frankenthaler, an American abstract expressionist from NYC.
Some of the standout items for me: the lavendar Stamina set (the waistband detailing and mesh scallop on the shoulders looks sick), the 3L VeloRip waterproof jacket, the pigment dyed blue-gray Friosoft shirt, the textured Tetrasoft shacket, Humofit hat with sunglass sleeve, and tie-dye Specter tee.
3sixteen Updates the Saucony Guide to 7.3s
3sixteen just pulled off a heater collab with Saucony in gorgeous spring colors. They’ve been a partner for a couple years now and previously had the DIY natural dye Peregrine “Gesso” trail shoe. The menswear brand updated the Saucony Guide 7 software to 7.3s(ixteen). The tennis green is sick, but I love this lavender. Nailed the spring colors. Would love to see some them take this to performance road shoes (daily trainer, or uptempo) in similar colors.
Coincidentally the aesthetic of the shoot was similar to New Balance’s most recent campaign with the 90s dad sportstyle vibe. They were both likely working on the concept on the same exact timeline, roughly a year ago, based on footwear development cycles. 90s nostalgia is back again!
Launching in flagship stores on Thursday, March 12, and global release at all other participating retailers is Friday, March 13.
Other New Releases and News
Brooks Cascadia Elite
Spotted on Brooks Running pro trail athletes earlier this year as well as at TRE, I’ve been waiting patiently for the launch! As of March 1, they’re available.
The trail racer has a knit MATRYX bootie upper with Kevlar reinforcement, their super critical DNA Gold found in the Hyperion Elite, and a MegaGrip outsole.
So far it’s been well reviewed, and there was a lot of interest when it initially previewed. While it might not change the game quite like the first Cascadia did, I imagine it will quickly become a favorite.
Fun fact: the shoe walkthrough video on the Brooks site was done by Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy, who my high school teammate, Jordan, crewed to several FKTs notably the PCT. Brooks Running supported them, and both Jordan and Joe went on to work full time on the trail side. 🥲
On x Kith
While I wasn’t a fan of the VC-coded and all-too-obvious Erewhon collab, I am interested in seeing what On can do with Ronnie Fieg’s luxury streetwear label, Kith. The pair already did a handful of one off lifestyle collabs and a seasonal capsule, clearly with enough success to lock in a multi-year deal. This Friday they’re releasing a full running capsule for the K-Tech activewear collection. The apparel itself lacks the zing I’d expect and embraces the “quiet luxury” that Kith has morphed into over the last 5 years. I really liked the old athletic collabs done with Oakley and Columbia which had a bit more flavor.
The partnership though works well: Kith wants to attack multiple sports: general fitness, tennis, golf, hiking, running, skiing. On covers a lot of those bases for them with a similar restrained design language. It’s not a 1+1 = 3 collab, but Kith wouldn’t be able to effectively grow the K-Tech line without On.
John Elliott x Rocket X 3
This one is puzzling to me. The John Elliot streetwear brand was dormant for a while, and now returns with a performance collab with HOKA. The shoe looks good, but I don’t understand the why behind it. There probably isn’t a lot of overlap between HOKA and JE fans. The founder, though, is running his first ever marathon, so maybe saw some overlap potential and will lean into making running gear in the coming year. Then there’s the acqusition aspect of it: Centric Brands took on some financial burden it seems for JE.
I think it’s important to clarify that this wasn’t an acquisition in the traditional sense - it’s a joint venture. It’s a partnership between Centric Brands, Sam Ben-Avraham, the Heights family office, and Rich Paul, who helped bring the opportunity together. - John Elliott on Reddit
Overall I’m puzzled on the why…but the shoe looks great and mutes down tones on what is normally a very traditional, “fast” looking shoe. Drops March 6 at johnelliot.com and globally March 13 via HOKA.
Merrell — “It Starts Outside”
Merrell launched “It Starts Outside” this week: a new global brand platform and creative direction marking 45 years on the trail. New look and feel, new brand film, built around the idea that the outdoors is a catalyst for creativity. Merrell has been about preservation, experiencing the outdoors, and building gear for people who actually use it since before trail running was a category. I’ve been rocking with their slip-on mocks since 3rd grade. Where some trail pushes right now feel like a cash grab, this seems more like an opportunity for Merrell to amplify the community they were built from.
This sickest part of this is that the Merrell Outside: Futures Project which was was developed with the Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholarship Fund to increase access and create more opportunities for underrepresented designers and creatives. Unique idea, as when I think of Virgil and the scholarship fund, I would have thought streetwear or high fashion. I love seeing some of that money turned towards future designers in hiking, running, and generally technical gear. Either way, they’re investing in the future of the sport by supporting new talent.
KEEN — First Trail Running Ambassadors + Commitment to Trail Running
Similarly, OG hiking footwear brand KEEN just signed their first-ever trail running ambassadors: Jeff Browning (Bronco Billy) and Krissy Moehl, two legendary OGs of ultra trail. A week ago they launched the ROAM, their trail-lite shoe (aka gravel) to pair with their rugged SEEK. It’s interesting to me that they’ve really aligned their trail shoe with durability, touting a 925 mile lifetime while it has what seems to be a super critical cushioning (QuantumFoamX). I’m a sucker for their Jaspers so was happy to see some similar color blocking. I’d love to see more of the Jasper color blocking translate to their running side for a refined color pop.
For a initial trail runner, I’m impressed with what they got out! More importantly, happy to see them bring in some super experienced pros who will help shape the brand’s foray into trail running. Jeff and Krissy are core to the history of ultra trail, and this investment feels like preservation of and reverence for the sport.
lululemon RUN Goes Leopard
Some new running apparel coming from Lululemon with a way more stylish and less generic activewear look to it. Feels a bit heavy on the lifestyle side, but I don’t hate that. One of my fave running tees was the an old lulu top in a burgundy marl. That said, I never rated them as a running brand.
I’ve payed far more attention to lulu because of Nikki Hiltz, the eight-time national 1500m champion both indoor and outdoors, mile record holder, . They’ve been rocking a lot of the leopard print this season and I’m glad it was was not just a one-off but a motif in the latest capsule.
Lee Glandorf drew comparison to the Literary Sport style layering, and I agree! They definitely styled the looks similarly, with perhaps an early aughts luxury lean. Red Corvette, leopard print set, big blonde hair. To me it feels like more of a “stylish cafe runs” situation than hard track sessions or gritty mountain trails. Either way happy to see them pushing the envelope even if not every item is a hit nor necessarily for running. I love how in this collection, it’s so loud that the leopard print is the neutral.
SATISFY Running Thunder
SATISFY just released “Running Thunder” after Black Canyon 50k. Their athletes were dripped out H to T in this. The digital desert camo I really dig. The neat part of this campaign was that instead of a controlled set and dedicated shoot, they had their athletes pick out a kit and used what they got on race day. Less glam, more true grit.
They also nailed the look of this 3/4 sleeve baseball tee.
Bluemonte has FrogTech
Pat Heine-Holmberg pointed out that Bluemonte’s air vents on their tees looked super similar to this material developed by MIT Labs. They called it Frogaero, but I am calling it FrogTech. This Chinese trail brand has the same technical trappings of PAF or andWander, in highly stylized silhouettes. The Southeast Asian take on GORP I always find so appealing: great silhouettes, attention to detail, and wearable colors.
Seniq Splitties
The niche women’s outdoor brand is slated to release a pair of hiking shorts to replace your baggies. They’re popular for their contrast seam Tectonic Pant which these shorts were modeled off of.
Alba Optics Goes Ultra
One of my favorite multi-sport sunglasses brands, Alba, just released their Delta Ultra IV. The frame is smaller than their other shields, and was designed specifically for running and ultra athletes. I find they have great coverage and fit like a dream, and just are a different look than everything else out there.
The also have quietly added the ANVMA 99 RELIC and MAGIC frames to their site with polarized options. All handmade in Italy. The 99 is a vintage inspired model with a bit of a bug-eye look, plus you rock these out on a ride or run.
As always, the most thorough coverage in the game bar none.
STACKED 🙇♀️🙇♂️