15 Cool Running Brands You Should Know

You could say they're off the beaten path.

1. Satisfy, a "functional punk" brand for the aesthetically attuned runner.

Satisfy

Why they're great: This Paris-based brand creates running wear using high-end technical silk materials. Its founder Brice Partouche has spoken about finding running late in his life and how this has made his approach to the brand unique. Rather than operating within a traditional framework of "what will enhance performance?" Partouche has placed the emphasis on simply feeling good and achieving a runner's high. The clothing also reflects his punk-skater sensibility — most articles are black or moth-eaten (the brand's signature ventilation system!), with the occasional leopard print or tie-dye accessory thrown in. Ingeniously, everything can pass as High Fashion off the trails — in fact, Satisfy has been stocked at many trendy boutiques over the years like Vancouver's Neighbour, London's LN-CC, and the late, bi-coastal Totokaelo (RIP!) — which allows you to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Product categories include: hydration packs, shorts, tops, jackets, pants, bags, shoes, socks, sunglasses, and bandanas

Get the Light Long Tee (left) for $132 (available in XS-XL and in three colors) and the Moth-Eaten Muscle Tee (right) for $113

Also sold at Nordstrom and Mr. Porter where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

2. Tracksmith, to channel your inner Armie Hammer in Social Network with some preppy, Ivy-league stylings.

Tracksmith

Why they're great: Like Satisfy, Tracksmith considers life beyond the trails. After all, today's typical urban dweller — which is to say, an urban dweller in quarantine — isn't particularly mindful of the delineation between activewear and leisurewear. Many of the brand's tees, like its preppy, collegiate-looking VC Henley with buttons, for example, can be just as easily dressed up with a pair of nice trousers as it can be dressed down with a 5-inch short. Yes, the VC Henley has buttons! (Ask yourself why you've never run in a tee with buttons.) This is a brand with enough Boston pride to put Matt Damon to shame, and it's incorporated in everything they do — down to the "New England" tagline and its proximity to the Boston Marathon; its first brick and mortar was set up at the half point of the route, and then, amusingly, was moved exactly 13.1 miles down the course.

Product categories include: jackets, tops, shorts, pants, sunglasses, duffels, hats, mittens, water bottles, and bandannas

Get the Twilight Crop Tank for $58 (left; available in women's sizes XS-XL) and the Van Cortland Tee for $70 (right; available in men's sizes S-XL and in eight colorways)

Also sold at Mr. Porter where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

3. District Vision, the high-fashion shades brand that'll have you sporting your running look well after you've logged your morning run.

District Vision

Why they're great: 2020 has been dubbed the "year for seeing clearly," but can you really say that's true until you've shielded your eyes with a pair of precision-engineered sunglasses on your morning run? It does make you think! Well, where fashionable sports eyewear is concerned, District Vision is king. And there's no doubt that previous work experience at Acne Studios and Saint Laurent has helped founders Tom Daly and Max Vallot, respectively, cultivate this stylish kingdom. They've created a line of futuristic and lightweight shades that will either encourage you to get out there and eviscerate the pavement with a 5k every day Joe Holder style, or, just, look very runway ready on your walk to the grocery store.

Product categories include: sunglasses, tees, jackets, sweatshirts, shorts, tights, caps, socks, shoes

Get the Air-Wear Short Sleeve for $85 (left; available in men's sizes S-XL) and the Koharu District Amber Mirror Sunglasses for $249 (right; available in "standard" size)

Also sold at Nordstrom and Mr. Porter where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

4. Gyakusou, for looks stylish enough to make you forget cardio is work.

Nike

Why they're great: I'm certainly not here to explain what "Nike" is to you, readers. I'm here to preach the gospel of its much less well known collaboration with Undercover's Jun Takahashi. Gyakusou gets its name from the Tokyo run club (founded by Takahashi) Gyakusou International Running Association and is the perfect marriage of Nike's technical performance and Undercover's dark and twisted fantasy, for lack of a better phrase. When it comes to statement pieces on the track, you really can't get much bigger than this.

Product categories include: shorts, zip-ups, and sweats

Get the ½-Zip Long-Sleeve Top for $60 (left; available in men's sizes XS and XL) and the Running Shorts for $110 (right; available in XS and XXL)

5. Ten Thousand, for a "no BS" approach to running gear that function-first athletes will appreciate.

Ten Thousand

Why they're great: Ten Thousand has really leveraged the power of the Instagram ad. (Has the algorithm served you a pic of their running shorts before? Well it certainly will now.) It's also a nice chaser to Gyakusou if you prefer all of your running clothes to be as discreet and muted as possible. Consider it done — Ten Thousand's catalog is nearly monochromatic and adorned with an unfussy "X" logo. The company proudly advertises that all of their items have been "put through the ringer" by a team of professional athletes so you can be sure that everything is built to last.

Product categories include: shorts, shirts, tanks, zips, tights, socks, hats, and water bottles

Get the Session Short for $58+ (left; available in men's sizes XS-XXL and in four colors — your choice of 5" or 7" length) and the Distance Shirt for $54 (right; available in men's sizes XS-XXL and in five colors)

6. Ciele, the cult-followed hat operation making stylish technical solutions you'll actually want to incorporate in your summer runs.

Ciele

Why they're great: They're a very small Canadian operation with some big ideas (and an even bigger fan base). In fact, they may have single-handedly changed the technical hat game! When the brand launched in 2014, founders Jeremy Bresnen and Mike Giles said they really didn't see any caps from major labels that spoke to the needs of runners. (They were mostly woven fabrics, and certainly not breathable.) All of Ciele's hats, by contrast, are built to maximize performance — they have foam bands for comfort and can be packed away in a pocket if need be.

Product categories include: caps, bucket hats, visors, and tees

Get the NSBTshirt Worldwide Movement “Duplo” for $60 (left; available in men's sizes XS-XL) and the TRLVisor M SC Standard Windtaker for $30 (right; available in one size)

7. Jacques, for the minimalist who's chasing that perfect crisp and clean look.

Jacques

Why they're great: While Jacques' roots are *technically* in tennis (its founder Gregg Cohenca was a former competitive tennis player), this menswear brand really excels in the area of high-intensity workouts. And you know what that includes? Running! If you prefer your garment palettes to be inspired by natural elements — perhaps concrete, stone, clay and water — then you've just found yourself a match. Think: ultra-lightweight compression with as few breaks and interruptions in design as possible. Even their built-in phone sleeves are discreet as hell.

Product categories include: compression shorts, compression shirts, mockneck longsleeves, tees, pants, tanks, and jackets

Get the performance shirt for $100 (left; available in men's sizes S-XL and in three colors) and Compression Short for $135 (right; available in men's sizes S-XL and in five colorways)

8. Janji, a globally minded line worth perusing if you want your running to feel less like a self-indulgent pursuit.

Janji

Why they're great: Like Tracksmith, Janji is a Boston-based running brand, but positions itself as global citizen. It's intent on raising awareness around important global causes like access to clean water and, in fact, draws inspiration for its men's and women's collections through textiles found within countries affected by the water crisis (its latest collection is inspired by the Philippines). Janji donates 5% of every sale to clean water initiatives.

Product categories include: shorts, tights, pants, pullovers, hoodies, zip-ups, caps, and sling bags

Get the Runpaca SS for $45 (left; available in men's sizes S-XL and in five colors) and the 7/8 Groundwork Tight for $79 (right; available in women's sizes XS-XL and in three colors).

Also sold at REI where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

9. Path Projects, where custom is key and you'll be able to find the perfect combination of materials to suit your environment.

Path Projects

Why they're great: Path Projects is the brainchild of Scott Bailey, an avid long-distance runner himself, who understands the importance of performance. For example: He knows how annoying it is to buy a new pair of running shorts, only to discover on the 10th mile that they cause some gnarly chafing. His team put in major miles testing materials and what he landed on is a combination system — that is, separate layers and shorts you can combine to fit specific conditions. An incredible choose-your-own-adventure for the everyday runner!

Product categories include: shorts, shirts, base liners, caps, and bandanas

Get the Sykes AT 5" Short for $47 (left; available in men's sizes S-XL) and the Cascade SS T for $36 (right; available in men's sizes XS-XL and in four colors)

10. Reigning Champ, if you're not one for bells and whistles — "it's all in the details," you've been known to say.

Reigning Champ

Why they're great: They've been in the business much longer than all of these relative newcomers (since 2007!) and have mastered the art of low-profile branding. And that's significant given that they exist under the banner of Vancouver's CYC Design Corp, which has, perhaps most notably, worked with Supreme — decidedly not low-profile. People swear by their casual pullover hoodie, but more to the point: They have an excellent "Performance Running" selection including shirts with anti-abrasion shoulder seams and a durable anti-microbial finish. Oh, and they're currently offering a free "Coolmax Face Mask" with all orders over $50.

Product categories include: jackets, tees, shorts, and hoodies

Get the Modal Rib Tank Top for $65 (left; available in women's sizes XS-L) and the Mesh Running Short for $100 (right; available in men's sizes M-XL)

Also sold at Nordstrom, Mr. Porter and Backcountry where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

11. Hoka One One, the shoe brand recognized for its chunky outsole to give you both fashion cred and optimal stability on your runs.

instagram.com, instagram.com

Why they're great: Hoka One One used to be a well-kept secret amongst serious marathoner types, but now it's not uncommon to see the brand pop up in streetwear blogs or in Instagram stories from that Japanese boutique you follow for some reason. It's refreshing to see a defiantly maximalist shoe with a thicc outsole in this age of almost oppressive minimalism (and this is coming from someone who has been pigeonholed as BuzzFeed's Resident Minimalist). Let it be known: These "aesthetic flourishes" actually serve an important function in running. Do not underestimate the importance of good stability! My physical therapist did not pay me to say this!

Product categories include: sneakers, recovery sandals, tees, jackets, socks, and hats

Get the Clifton Edge for $160 (left; available in women's sizes 5-11 and in two colorways) and the OV Clifton for $140 (right; available in women's sizes 9-11)

Also sold at Mr. Porter and Backcountry where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

12. Soar, if your preferred feeling while running is "I forgot I was wearing clothes."

Soar

Why they're great: The founder's last name is Soar, which feels incredibly apt for...a running company. This London-based company is all about using comfy French and Italian fabrics — like its super light singlet made with an open-weave mesh. Given how close many of the tees fit to your body, you might actually forget you're wearing a shirt. (No aerodynamic drag whatsoever.) If you can appreciate the premium modern stylings of Satisfy and Tracksmith but want something a bit more "classic," this is certainly a good option for you.

Product categories include: tees, shorts, singlets/vests, jackets, tights, socks, calf guards, caps, beanies, and sleeves

Get the Long Sleeve Tech-T for $108 (left; available in men's sizes XS-XXL and in four colorways) and the Three Season Shorts 4.0 for $109 (right; available in men's sizes XS-XXL and in four colors)

Also sold at Mr. Porter where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

13. Unsanctioned, where running is synonymous with taking care of the environment — you'll never feel like you're contributing to wasteful practices.

Unsanctioned

Why they're great: This men's focused (for now!) brand is committed to being the most eco-friendly in the indie running game. Instead of putting more "virgin plastic" (aka polyester) out into the world, Unsanctioned has created "BottleKnit™" – or "100% recycled plastic bottles collected and shredded in Europe and reborn into a premium, breathable, moisture-wicking performance running fabric, in Milan, Italy." And you can be sure they aren't cutting any corners — even their packaging incorporates recycled paper, soybean ink, and plant-based, compostable materials.

Product categories include: tights, sleeves, tees, and singlets

Get the Un-run Tee for $99 (left; available in men's sizes XS-XL) and the Un-half Tights for $132.99 (right; available in men's sizes XS-XL)

14. Iffley Road, if you identify as a Heavy Sweater and need a well-engineered garment to get to work on wicking.

Iffley Road

Why they're great: A husband and wife team who met through running! This preppy brand offers stylish clothing, in the same vein as Tracksmith, that can be worn while lounging around before and after runs. Iffley Road is a big proponent of ethical manufacturing and uses factories primarily in Portugal and the UK (where they're based). All fabrics are sourced from Europe. Its signature drirelease technology found in T-shirts and vests naturally wicks sweat and dries four times faster than cotton.

Product categories include: vests, tees, polos, sweatshirts, jackets, shorts, tights, sweatpants, caps, rucksacks, water bottles, socks, flasks, and beanies

Get the Cambrian Drirelease T-Shirt for $81.59 (left; available in men's sizes S-XXL and in five colors) and the Hastings Loopback Sweat Shorts for $106.72 (right; available in men's sizes S-XXL and in two colors)

Also sold at Mr. Porter where you can sometimes catch it on sale.

15. Doxa, for anyone who isn't shy when it comes to experimenting with loud designs on the track.

Doxa

Why they're great: Its founder, John Hansen, is a competitive runner with a background in fashion. The result is technical mastery in a shiny package. All of the Copenhagen brand's clothing are highly adaptable and were conceived of with multiple environments in mind. Its SS19 collection — featuring a flashy green track top jacket and a hoodie with the slogan “Mental Health Club” on it — caught the attention of hypebeasts everywhere. Doxa supports the Swedish NGO Global Relations by providing gear to Kenswed Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, and helping children pursue a life of running.

Product categories include: caps, vests, jackets, shorts, tees, and singlets

Get the Sami Race Singlet NYC for $38.39 (left; available in men's sizes S-XL) and the Chitto Cap NYC for $32.89 (available in one size)