What is your favorite and least favorite running gear brand?

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I have tried nearly every brand out there, but tend to always love Nike the best. The quality is fantastic, it lasts a long time which is expected because it isn't cheap. I always know what I am going to get when I purchase anything for any sport from Nike.

My least favorite brand has been Champion which unfortunately Disney favors due their sponsorship agreement with Hanes. It is improving a bit in quality, but not there yet...so it is what I wear when I know that there may be a chance that something may get really dirty or destroyed.

 

[JimB.]

If you are talking shoes, Brooks is the only brand that works for me.

If you are talking clothes, I too like Nike, and I also like Reebok's compression shirts. The good news is that there is an outlet center near me with Nike, Reebok & Adidas outlet stores. The selection ain't that good sometimes, but when I find what I want, it's usually for a pretty good price.

 

[cewait]

I have tried nearly every brand out there, but tend to always love Nike the best. The quality is fantastic, it lasts a long time which is expected because it isn't cheap. I always know what I am going to get when I purchase anything for any sport from Nike.

My least favorite brand has been Champion which unfortunately Disney favors due their sponsorship agreement with Hanes. It is improving a bit in quality, but not there yet...so it is what I wear when I know that there may be a chance that something may get really dirty or destroyed.

+1

I do not wear my WDWM gear very often as I do not like the fit or the wicking properties of Champion Gear.

In addition to Nike, I will add UnderArmor due to it excellent wicking and a new one for me, KSwiss tops.

 

[cloudnut220]

Brooks and Under Armour. I love the Brooks Equlibrium short, and I like pretty much everything I own from UA.

 

[fashionista311]

well keep in mind by saying brands like "nike" and "adidas" there are many different lines to the brands. For example, sports authority might have a nike singlet for $10...but it's less technical and of lower quality. But if you go a specialty running store, you might see a nike singlet for $40 that looks similar enough...but really its completely different fabrics. A lot of the cheaper technical clothes is just normal fabrics coated with a treatment that will eventually wash off.

just like i think every brand will have a good shoe and some not so-great-shoes...the same can be said about clothes. but a lot of my stuff is asics and nike because they fit so well

 

[FFigawi]

Likes
shoes - Asics, VFF
shorts - Asics, CW-X
tops - Asics, Sport Science, Under Armour (the only good thing about the Houston marathon is their UA finisher shirts)
glasses - Rudy Project
jacket - Craft, adidas

Dislikes
shoes - Nike, Brooks
shorts - Nike
tops - Nike, Champion

 

[windwalker]

I concur that Nike is quality in every sense of the word. The fit, looks and longevity are first rate. Shoes are a different story, Mizuno makes a great shoe that has enough room in the toe-box for even us duck footed guys.

I do like my WDW race shirts and wear them often. That winter that was so cold for the Goofy I wore all three of my long sleeve race shirts since that was all the warm clothes I had.

Dave

 

[SAHDad]

Shoes - loving my Vibrams, but I've run through many pairs of Mizunos over the past few years too.
Hat - it's made by Headsweats, I guess, but it's the one I picked up when I renewed my subscription to Marathon & Beyond. I have a couple from them, and never had a problem with them. My Nike hat, OTOH, never did fit right.
Shorts - currently running in Aisics, and they are fine. I use Glide, so I rarely have chafing issues anyway, but it seems like a lot of places have been carrying mainly the basketball length shorts, which are not suitable for running.
Shirts - meh. I've never been tempted to spend the cash for the Underarmor stuff. I have a lot of cheap race shirts, and cheap shirts, which are good enough. For cold weather, I wear the long-sleeve shirts that I get from certain races - with a tech shirt underneath, and my winter hat & cheap gloves, I'm good to 0 degrees (F) or so.

 

[cewait]

fashionista - I agree 100%. I do not purchase anything from the big box/super discount outlets (Academy here in Texas) as I find the quality lacking. I am in Orlando enough so that I am in the Nike outlet store regularly. Even there one must pay attention to what one purchases. I have to admit that I was a tester for Nike for 3 years and was able to test some remarkable materials. One that never seemed to gain traction was the 'sphere dry' material. a shirt literally looks like a loosely woven cable knit long john material. On the inside it has little spherical nodules that significantly increase the contact surface area.

Previously, I did not comment on shoes but like many endurance folks, I find Nike shoes to be short on toe box room and short lived. I am also not a fan of New Balance. I have not tried NB for 8 years or so so I may like a newer version. I would love to like the NB since they are the only domestically produced shoe.

Favorite shoes include the K-Swiss K-Ona, Saucony Hurricane and Newton Motion. These are all stability shoes that have a proven ability to drain. Way TMI - but I sweat heavily and I need a shoe developed for tri's so moisture does not collect.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Favorites:
SkirtSports - I love their skirts, shirts, running jackets, and triathlon gear.
RunningSkirts - skirts
Champion - I like their DoubleDry line of shirts and running bras
Lululemon - capris and hoodies
Mizuno - shoes

Least Favorite
Nike - I find their stuff comfortable, but it wears out quicker than my other gear. I can only get 300 miles out of a pair of Nike shoes.
Reebok - weird shaped shorts
RaceReady - crazy sizing.... their shirts seem to be short and fat

 

[runner_princess]

Favorites:
Shirts and shorts - Nike. I watch the online clearance sales on the Nike website and though I end up with some strange colors, can get stuff fairly cheap
Capris - C9 by Target
Jackets/Pullovers - Mizuno
Socks - Smartwool and Balega
Shoes - Asics and Brooks

Least Favorite:
Shorts - anything but Nike. They just won't stay put
Shirts - Saucony and UA
Socks - C9 from Target

 

[jmasgat]

Nike (shorts, shoes) and UA (underwear, shirts). Most of the Nike stuff I have gotten at the outlet in Orlando ( gee, wonder why?).

My latest foray outside of Nike is Adidias....but thats only because they made the official fear for the Boston marathon, and I just got some 3/4 tights on sale!

Maura

 

[cloudnut220]

I was looking through my drawer last night and I realized I really DO have a lot of Under Armour--for two reasons. One, UA corporate headquarters are in Baltimore, so I like supporting the home team Second, until recently my BIL worked for them--so you really can't beat that employee discount!

 

[APrunner]

Favorites:
I am pretty much NIKE all around. Shoes, clothes, etc. I have a shirt from Adidas that I like alot too though. Like others, I tend to get most of my gear from outlets. I use calf sleeves when I run, and those are Zensah.

Least Favorite:
I think all brands make some good things, and the more options, the better (in my opinion). I have some champion gear I like, and some I do not, as an example. I don't buy under armour much because I do not think their product is better than others, but they sure charge like they are.

 

[ChloroFiend]

Under Armour would be my favorite for clothing and almost anything textile....however it's damn expensive. The C9 by Champion stuff (sold at Target) is a close analog. Speaking to one of the Champion guys at ESPN Club late one night last marathon weekend, he said that the two lines are made in the same factory. Granted, there's some fit differences and not all the technology found in UA will be found in other brands.

Shoes are Asics. Oakley Sunglasses. Camelbak hydration packs. AmphiPod armbands for when I'm running without the Camelbak. Nike/Philips earphones.

Getting a bit farther out, Hydration products are Gatorade G-Series...G01 PRIME for before races, G3 Recovery after workouts, and G2 for general purpose hydration....though I tend to stick with plain water during most training runs and races. Clif for nutrition: Clif Bars for snacks and early morning breakfasts (I hate eating a real meal less than 3 hours before a workout/race) and the Clif Blocks for during events.

 

[Piglet24]

My favorite shoes tend to be Brooks and Adidas. I cannot wear Nike shoes at all.

My favorite clothing tends to be Under Armour. I think it works well and is very comfortable.

 

[stitchfan18]

My favorite shoes are Mizuno's. I've only ever had Mizuno's since I started running and they have been a great shoe for me. I'm due for another pair soon!
My favorite clothing brand is running skirts. Their skirts have a great fit so I hardly even notice I'm wearing them.

 

[mandac]

Do you all have suggestions for hydration packs, water belts? I have seen a lot of people with the belts with little shots on them, but I dont' know if that is the best thing. What are your suggestions?

 

[FFigawi]

For belts, you can't go wrong with Fuel Belt. I've found them to be comfortable, the bottles don't bounce around any, and the back pocket holds plenty of stuff during a race. If you want to get a hydration pack, Camelbak is definitely the way to go. They've got a variety of sizes, fit really well, and last for years.

 

[Bephus]

Favorites:
Shoes- Asics
Skirts- Running Skirts
Shorts - Brooks
Socks - Feetures
Belt - amphibian
Watch - Garmin
Fuel - sports beans, Gatorade (lime), R4 recovery drink (chocolate)

Don't really have anything that I hate. I don't usually find anything at Nike that fits right. Also had bad luck with some other brands of shoes, but that might just be my feet. I tend to find something that works/I like and stick with it.