There’s a special kind of freedom that comes with wearing a tank on a run. Light, uninhibited movement, exceptional airflow and a little extra access to vitamin D make running tanks a great choice for spring and summer training. And with some of the stylish silhouettes we’re seeing this spring, you’ll be able to run hard and look great. Take a peek at a few of our spring faves below.

Flirtatious: Brooks D’Lite Reversible Racerback

The Brooks D’Lite Reversible Racerback offers excellent breathability and full range of motion in a playful little package. Ruching between shoulder blades lends a feminine look, while reversible construction lets you choose between a bold color pop stripe and a more subtle aesthetic.

Oh-So-Soft: Saucony Glo Tank

If you want a silky soft next-to-skin feel, then the Saucony Glo Tank just might be the ticket. Supremely soft lightweight fabric feels like buttah’ against the skin, and sleeveless construction allows you to move freely. Geometric watercolor print adds a subtle touch of flair.

Ultra Feminine: New Balance Go Anywhere Print Racerback

The New Balance Go Anywhere Print Racerback is a delightful little piece for the woman who wants her running gear to take her from the track to the coffee shop. Racerback design allows for freedom of movement on the run, and delicate flower graphic infuses this tank with feminine style.

Sporty Chic: Pearl Izumi Aurora Tank

Run hard and look good doing it in the Pearl Izumi Aurora Tank. Moisture transfer fabric helps keep you dry and prevent chafing as you rack up the miles. Criss-cross racerback straps and a simple line graphic along the right side give this piece a cute sporty look.

Speedy Fast: adidas adizero Singlet

On race day – or any day you want to feel fast and fierce – reach for your adidas adizero Singlet. Mesh construction helps increase ventilation and a halter design will let you move freely through your stride. Flatlock seamlines prevent chafing, and bold adidas triple stripes down the sides give this piece an aggressive look.

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When you take to the trail, you want to feel like a warrior. Your time on the trail is an opportunity to push yourself to new levels of performance.

Salomon’s EXO S-Lab trail product offers superior performance for the dedicated trail runner.

EXO S-Lab Twinskin Skort

This piece of gear is not your average running skirt. The EXO S-Lab Twinskin Skort offers muscle support, compression and postural support to help you run farther and recover more quickly. The wider waistband sits comfortably on the hips without digging in.

Two gel pockets provide plenty of room for nutrition on long runs, and a featherweight overskirt gives you coverage and a sleek look.

EXO Motion Zip Tee

When you want a little extra muscle support on your run, reach for the Salomon EXO Motion Zip Tee. Lightweight honeycomb fabric offers muscle support throughout the chest and upper arms, while raglan sleeve construction allows for full range of motion and seamless construction minimizes the risk of chafing.

If you get too warm on your run, use the front half zip to increase ventilation. This running top even has UPF 50+ protection in the fabric to protect your skin from the sun’s rays when you’re running in bright conditions.

EXO ¾ Tight

The Salomon EXO ¾ Tight offers muscle stabilization and support to help you push through hard mileage and to help your muscles recover more quickly. The honeycomb pattern of the EXO Sensifit Agility technology give you excellent muscle support without inhibiting range of motion.

Mesh panels behind the knees provide great ventilation, and reflective details front and back increase your visibility if you have to run on the roads to get to the trail. This ¾ tight has a wide, flat waistband with an internal drawcord which will stay securely in place even on your long runs.

We focused here on the ladies, but the Salomon EXO line doesn’t discriminate. Check out the Men’s Salomon EXO S-Lab Collection available now.

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Oiselle Go Long Tank, Stellar Stripe Tank, and Winona Tank

Oiselle seems to just keep getting better. They write some hilarious blog content, they recently signed Lauren Fleshman, and now they give us a drool-worthy spring line. We’re talking get-in-my-closet-now run apparel. You’ll find the wings to fly through your training sessions or your next race in the supremely comfortable fabrics and stylish performance-forward silhouettes of Oiselle’s tops and bottoms. Take a look at a few of our faves below.

Go Long Tank

The Oiselle Go Long Tank takes you playfully from your workout to the rest of your life. A soft poly/cotton blend fabric gives you plenty of moisture-wicking power on the run, and feels great against the skin. This tank has a racerback design and a longer, streamlined close-to-body fit which makes it great for layering. The contrast color Oiselle bird graphic on the back and the front left hip add a little extra springtime to this piece.

“The Go Long Tank is my favorite by far. It’s cute, it’s functional, and the fit is so nice!” – Allie

Stellar Stripe Tank

Meet us at the intersection of fashion and function in the Oiselle Stellar Stripe Tank. Racerback design gives you full freedom of movement, and a small envelope pocket on the front left hip lets you stash your key or other small essentials. Polyester/cotton blend fabric is smooth and soft, and wicks moisture to keep you dry and chafe-free. Contrast color stripes and an asymmetrical design make this piece cute enough to pair with your favorite jeans for a jaunt to the farmers’ market.

“Amazingly soft fabric with fun and feminine styling. This tank feels so good on a run.” - Tami Read more…

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Mizuno Japanese Island Graphic

This spring’s Mizuno apparel line is paying homage to the brand’s Japanese heritage. The company has added a small, subtle graphic  representing the Japanese islands (shown at right) on most of its spring collection. The bottom image is a symbol for the god of war, to empower you as you head into your run. The kanji in the middle hexagon is the Japanese symbol for “run.” The Runbird above these symbols lets you rock your Mizuno pride.

Mizuno has also included elements of Ekiden racing style in some of their running shirts, such as the Mizuno Creation Singlet. During an Ekiden race (a long distance relay race that originated in Japan) each competitor hands off a sash, or tasuki, to their teammate when they finish their leg of the race. The contrast-color details on select Mizuno running shirts represent the sash worn by Ekiden competitors.

Ready to run with Mizuno? Take a look at a few of our favorites from the spring lineup:

Aero Singlet

The Mizuno Aero Singlet is lightweight, fast and ultra breathable. Sleeveless construction allows for optimal range of motion, and flatlock seamlines prevent chafing. Burnout mesh detail on the chest and back display the god of war symbol, to get you charged up for your next run.

Aero Split Short

Looking for a short that can keep up with you? Check out the Mizuno Aero Split Short. Featherweight fabric with perforations for enhanced breathability will help you stay cool as you heat things up. A half split provides full range of motion, and Mizuno Japanese heritage graphic lets you sport your Mizuno pride. Read more…

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Pearl Izumi Ultra Inside-Out Singlet & Ultra Split Short

Endurance runners like you face many challenges as the miles rack up. Pearl Izumi’s Ultra running apparel line is built to solve some of the biggest annoyances out on the trails and roads. Here are a few highlights from the collection:

Ultra Split Short
The Ultra Split Short (view Women’s) is no ordinary split. For starters, the Gel Flask Pocketing System secures nutrition in an anatomic position on the back hip for maximum mobility and minimal bounce. A back zippered pocket offers additional storage. A welded hem, roll-over waistband and fully integrated liner combine to highlight the comfort story.

Ultra Inside-Out Singlet
With the Ultra Inside-Out Singlet (view Women’s) you can count on a distraction-free run. The Transfer Dry fabric is highly breathable and offers optimal moisture transfer with a quick dry time. And, as the name suggests, the inside-out seams minimize the risk of chafing. This singlet even sports a shoulder abrasion print to give you extra grip for your pack or vest.

Ultra Vest
Pick the Ultra Vest (view Women’s) for those cool, windy days when a jacket is just a bit too much. This vest allows you to start your run in comfort, then pack it into itself and store it on your arm or in your hand. Like the singlet, the Ultra Vest has an abrasion print on the shoulders for exceptional pack traction.

Take a look at the complete Pearl Izumi Ultra apparel collection for men and for women on our site.

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Qualifying for Boston is something of a holy grail for many runners, and if you’ll be running the race this year, you have reason to be proud. There’s no better way to show off your Boston pride than with official Boston Athletic Association 117^th Boston Marathon gear.

The 2013 Boston apparel from adidas is performance-focused as well as aesthetically aggressive. Wear it while you train for race day, or even when you’re just out running errands. Check out a few of our favorites from the collection:

adidas Official Boston Marathon Jacket

In the adidas Official Boston Marathon Jacket (view Women’s) you can represent your entry into the original American marathon whether you’re training or just kickin’ it with some friends on the weekend. This full zip jacket is wind- and water-resistant to protect you from the elements when your training sessions lead you into blustery weather, and the bold “BAA 26.2” on the back of the collar lets everyone know that you rocked Boston this year.

adidas Boston Official Race Hoody

If you’re like most athletes, you have a go-to hoody to snuggle into pretty much whenever you’re not training. The adidas Boston Official Race Hoody (view Women’s) lets you flaunt your Boston spirit when you’re on your way to the gym or just relaxing post-training session. Soft cotton provides coziness and warmth, while two large front hand pockets give you plenty of room to stash your media player, wallet and keys.

Read more…

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Moving Comfort Women's Flex Tee

That perfectly broken-in cotton tee from back in ’87 might hold a revered place in your wardrobe, but it’s not going to be your best friend on your next run. Technical running shirts have been around for awhile now, but few have been able to achieve moisture management and breathability in a shirt with that gotta-have-it feel.

Running shirts this season are all about providing the feel of your paperthin, broken-in tee and the performance benefits of a technical run piece. We’re seeing more seamless designs, featherweight fabrics and extreme breathability that will be excellent for spring and summer.

Seamless Design

The best way to eliminate chafing from obtrusive seamlines is to get rid of the seams, right? Run apparel designers are tapping into this idea, and some of the running shirts this season seem to be held together with magic instead of seams. Shirts like the Nike Men’s Short Sleeve Seamless and the Women’s Moving Comfort Flex Tee are engineered to hold their shape without the use of seams to hold the fabric together. The result? A super smooth next-to-skin feel and the ability to run without chafing.

Breathability

As we head into the hotter months of the year, stocking your closet with highly breathable running shirts will enhance your experience on the run by providing ventilation. More air moving across your skin will help you keep your core temperature in check. The adidas Supernova Short Sleeve Tee (view Women’s here) has soft highly breathable stretch mesh inserts in key sweat zones for great breathability.

Lightweight Fabrics

When it’s sweltering outside, sometimes you almost want to run shirtless. But some situations call for a shirt, for sun protection or modesty. When that’s the case, you want to wear the most lightweight run shirt you can find. If you’re looking for a running shirt that’s just a step above being half naked, then check out the Brooks Women’s D’lite Reversible Short Sleeve or the Mizuno Men’s Rider Tee. Both of these pieces are constructed with incredibly lightweight fabrics that provide freedom of movement with just a touch of coverage.

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We had a few warm, sunny days here in January, and we were ready to believe spring would come early. False. But it will be here sooner than we think, and we want to be ready. We were pleased – dare we say, delighted – to try on the new lovelies from the Brooks Women’s D’Lite collection when they arrived this week. Our verdict: these pieces are even better than last spring’s, and we kind of want everything in the collection. Like, now.

Brooks D’Lite Low Rise Short

Fabric is soft and silky against the skin, and a lacy mesh side splice adds breathability and a splash of fashion to the D’Lite Low Rise Short. Wide contrast color rollover waistband and contrast color liner let you turn this short into an even flirtier on-the-run option. Pair it with a cute tank or just a sports bra and hit the track for a workout.

Brooks D’Lite Racer Short

Looking for a short that will perform well on long runs but still packs plenty of style? Look no further than the D’Lite Racer Short. Two back stash loops let you store your gels and a back envelope pocket provides additional stow room when you log long miles. Abbreviated side ¼ splits allow for full range of motion so you can let loose and go fast.

Brooks D’Lite Reversible Short Sleeve

With a playful and sporty look, the D’Lite Reversible Short Sleeve performs on your workout and still looks great after. Side ruching adds a feminine touch and a universally flattering fit. Sheer fabric is highly breathable, and the reversible design lets you tailor your wardrobe to your mood. What will your flavor be today?

Read more…

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Even though it’s staying lighter outside, we’re still bundling up when we head out to run. It’s hard to think all the way to next Fall, but every year around October, the auburn hued trees tell us the season is a-changin’. That’s our cue to start looking around for high-visibility apparel for those dark mornings and evenings. This year, Fall is going to bring a few twists in the high visibility run apparel department.

Out with the Bold?

For the past couple of years, we’ve seen visibility apparel in bright, bold Highlighter-esque colors that really make you stand out. We’re not saying those options are going away (so don’t fret if they’re your winter running fave), but this year manufacturers will combine the safety aspects of hi-viz apparel with more fashion forward designs.

Fashionable Flair

The Asics Lite Show apparel from last Fall gave us a taste of what will come later in 2013. We’ll see vendors pairing hi-viz colors with fashion colors on garments for fall. Look for bright hits of color teamed with quieter fashion colors. Vendors will apply a ‘less-is-more’ philosophy to their visibility apparel, turning it into something you can wear from the track to your coffee date after your workout.

Techno Craze

Also keep your eyes out for cutting-edge use of alternative methods to increase visibility in lower light settings. Innovative uses of reflective threads and fabrics in strategic places on garments will be an alternative to extremely bright colorways. Last Fall, we saw a few garments like the Men’s Saucony VIZiPRO Sonic HDX Jacket / Women’s Saucony VIZiPRO Sonic HDX Jacket with integrated LED light components, and we expect technology like this from more manufacturers in Fall 2013.

What’s your hi-viz flavor? Bright and bold, or more subtle?

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The Nike Tailwind SS V-Neck may not be a Double-Deep V, but it still is pretty advanced stuff when it comes to performing on long runs. This premium v-neck has a lot more going for it than that sharp neckline. Frankly, it’s one of the best running shirts we’ve ever tried on. Kudos, Nike.

What makes this shirt so great is the sum of its parts.

• You’ve got a very soft, highly wicking Poly/Cotton blend (yes, apparently it is possible to run comfortably in cotton).
• You’ll stay cool thanks to underarm mesh and vent holes, and the taped seams keep you comfortable on longer outings.
• You also have a back zipper pocket that comes in handy if the shorts you want to wear offer limited storage options.

Putting it all together, maybe you really should be a v-neck guy after all.

This is the shirt that actually started the v-neck wars.

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