Running Supply Roundup #72
Kaleg means “colleague”, Bandit Spring Drop 2, smells like Spring in Boston, celebrity running gear??, and why does every spring line have a shacket?
Kaleg means “colleague”, Bandit Spring Drop 2, smells like Spring in Boston, celebrity running gear??, and why does every spring line have a shacket?
This email was late this week, and there is plenty that will be rolled up into Monday’s edition. Keep an eye out Saturday as well for my interview with Nur Abbas, founder of gnuhr.
Quick Hits
I shared an interview with Ciele last week, which I think is very undermarketed and underrated! They’re busy trying to do some really cool sh*t with cotton, silk, and occasionally…denim. Give it a read.
Clayton Young closed out his 7 year term with asics and signed with Brooks Running. Brooks is going big on their marathon and trail squad! Part of his reasons for the move was that the upcoming Brooks Hyperion Elite 7 was better for his almost-career-ending ankle injury. Check out his interview at Citius Mag.
I’m homebound right now after a successful (hopefully?) meniscus repair. Knee stuff is always tricky. While I can’t get out much, I’m taking phone calls if you want to talk shop: brands, running, marketing, hot goss. Slot in a call for 30 min. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
NCAA Indoor Championships and HS Nationals
Colin Sahlman of NAU won the 3000 after Habtom Samuel was DQ’d due to impeding contact. Villanova and Diadora Marco Langon was part of the mixup and had a great quote as always. Fellow Diadora NIL athlete and ‘sletter interviewee Simeon Birnbaum placed second ahead of Marco.
High schoolers set records at NB. Wild that NB NIL athlete, 400 phenom, and 4x400 Olympic Gold medalist Quincy Wilson is now wrapping up his HS career.
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ICMYI
LA Marathon Finishes comes down to a lean, Nike’s collabs with a running store for the first time, adidas launches their latest Boost, the Ellipse launch...left me wanting more. New Portal, SOAR, Saysky, Arcteryx, and more.
Celebrity Jogging Brands?
Harry Styles’ clothing brand, Pleasing, has some athletic wear coming. It’s more in line with his approach to running too: loose, flowy, a little vintage. Jogging is main stream again. American Apparel coded type stuff. The white shorts look incredibly risky.
I’m not sure I’m all in on the “play” marketing which feels like it’s rapidly getting co-opted into a buzzword to sell things: think-pieces on substack and now jogging merch. Pre-order at your own peril…
It not only looks like 80s-90s jogging but Lee Glandorf found some receipts online…
Celebrity (Influencer) Collabs
Much like New Balance tapped hustler Action Bronson for their recent Ellipse launch, Saucony worked with the Minted NY team of streetwear and TikTok fame to launch the Endorphin Pro 5. I haven’t tried them out nor do I have any friends rocking them yet, but this shoe is meant to be more of the “workhorse” as Doctors of Running put it. At $240 it’s not breaking the bank for a super shoe and will get more life than the Elite.
Not to discount his running ability, but Marcus Milione has half a million followers between Tiktok and Instagram. Not insignificant when Saucony Running is at ~900k. The Minted team collectively bring in buzz from the lifestyle side and have sold out on each of their own running capsules. The viral Mach Toque is finally back in stock for those that missed it.
While Minted may not yet have their own Endorphin Pro 5 (nor Elite), I’d bet one is in the works. They previously launched and Endorphin and a great lifestyle silhouette which sold super well. The partnership seems to be working both ways: Minted NY is putting out more menswear with a great looking afterhood incoming.
As for future Saucony collabs…I’m still patiently awaiting for Andrew Chen’s 3sixteen to drop a performance road shoe, hopefully the nylon plated Endorphin Speed, which was one of my favorite uptempo and long run shoes. If the recent Saucony Guide collab is any indicator it’ll be one of the best colorways ever put out for that model.
Nike’s Farm Team
For the unemployed friend who’s always running, Nike is letting you go semi pro in Beaverton as part of a 15 week research program. They’re providing some relocation assistance, housing, and some payment. If you didn’t catch the notes, the application window closed already.
Nike RECREATE x Renegade
Nike RECREATE works with their partners to re-use extra bits from other releases or activations to make something new and beautiful. I can’t wait to see the entire collection come out. I love what Victor is doing at Renegade and he was one of the first cool third and fourth wave stores (h/t James Osbourne).
The pieces draw on Victor's roots, inspired by Brown pride, speedo-inspired triathlon apparel of the 90’s, Rei Kawakubo’s genius, neighborhood parks, R&B music, lowriders, and love for ourselves, each other, our ancestors, and our collective power.
RSVP to their event in Oakland if you’re around. You can get the new collection, screen print your own tee, and even ice dye a running hat.
Much of this project was done with help from done by Are You Mad, a creative agency that does upcycling events and all things sustainability. They have worked with Nike on prior RECREATE project.
Kaleg Sounds Like Colleague
Seoul-based running brand, Kaleg just released their transitional wear capsule for spring. While they have pretty prolific selection, still over 90% of KALEG’s products are made locally in Korea. They’ve added some new tops, and below I highlighted the women’s sort-of-seersucker top, a longer stretch top that could probably double as a dress, and this “all day shirt jacket” (shacket) for $200. The shacket has a lot of nice details too: watch panel, thumbholes, and snap pockets. All of these are hidden under seams or used as textural details to make the top more interesting.
One thing that isn’t so much a product detail is how they present their half tights. They have inside-out photos to show how the liner works and where the tag is. I’ve never seen anyone do that.
Other News and Releases
Bandit Spring Summer ‘26 Delivery 2
I covered part 1 a couple weeks ago in issue 70: new fabric blends, pigment dyes, and an over shirt. Delivery 2 is available now at Bandit, and was live early if you’re a member. This release is mostly extra colors for stuff that’s already dropped: a painterly racing singlet, a tie-dye mockneck sweater, and the Terrastretch Director Jacket.
I especially appreciate their Spring shoot BTS. Here’s a gem of Chief Design Officer, Ardith sprinting along in jeans and loafers.
Unna Spring Capsule 2
Unna feels akin to Alex Zono in that the brand doesn’t take itself seriously but takes its lifestyle silhouettes seriously. The latest release has their quarter-zip sport polos in 100% cotton, a contrast taped tank top, and their Run Wild Shirt (jacket).
I am craving this shirt jacket.
SATISFY OFF-ROAD Capsule
This is the first time I am coveting something on the women’s side of SATISFY: The PeaceShell™ River Shirt is coming out in a women’s cut, finally, and includes a seasonal camo color (below). I wish they’d make a brindle print to play along with the cowboy vibe. They’re adding a bunch of new graphic tees, a lime green Pertex shell suit, and a new MothTech hoodie. They also recently sturdied up the Cloudmerino material which was prone to snags and holes, blending in Nylon 66. I bought a hoodie on Grailed years ago that I love, the crop and weight are super nice and I probably lounge in it as much as I run in it.
“Run for The Seoul”: Alex Zono
I loved this whole campaign from Alex Zono for the Seoul Marathon, where he launched a mini capsule with 10 Corso Como. These polka dot shorts go so well with those TdF King of the Mountain EVO SLs…
New To Me as Running Brand: Haglof’s
Haglöfs is a Swedish outdoor brand is new to me, but been around. Looks so sharp! They recently shared their L.I.M ZT 2.0 Collection which features Polartec Delta and Power Dry materials used throughout. Especially dig that soft lilac.
NB Sleeper Collabs
Fresh off CAYL, they partnered with Japanese fashion brand emmi. New Balance is often putting me on to niche SEA brands.
Craft Spring Line
Craft doesn’t get a lot of hype on the running side but has long been a brand I’ve watched for their incredible base layers and XC skiing gear. They’ve had a running resurgence both on road and trail in the past few years. Most recently they put out an updated Endurance 3, their daily trainer, now using Px Foam, a lightweight supercritical beaded foam midsole. I really liked the look of their “Hypervent Wind Top,” a stretchy ventilated wind top with inexplicable shoulder pocket. I love a sharp looking mockneck, and the zipper pocket adds some visual interest if nothing else.
Optimistic Spring
Optimistic Runners put out their spring line recently with an all new hydration vest and perforated mesh line: shorts, tees, and singlets. I particularly like their “Blueberry” color which is a medium gray with a hint of blue.
Can’t Buy Cool(ing off)
Can’t Buy Cool Studios is releasing a cotton/hemp blend tee which I dig (shout out Ciele). 85 cotton / 15 hemp. Follow along for this one man show on Instagram.
that Unna shirt jacket! so good 🤸🤸🤸
I'm digging Can't Buy Cool - thanks for sharing a new-to-me brand! Hope you're healing well from your surgery and can hit the roads again soon!