Introduction
This was my first time trying Outdoor Research’s running lineup. I have come away as a big fan of their products during my testing. While nothing was over-the-top, everything was simple and well-priced. The first item was the Shadow wind hoodie. This was a perfect piece for early morning cooler runs in the mountains with a T-shirt underneath. It’s a great lightweight packable jacket to always have on hand. Although not waterproof, it did keep me dry during a little rain that I encountered on the trail.
Features
The jacket features a hood that can be folded and buttoned down if needed. It has three pockets. It has zippered chest pocket and your standard waist pockets. The waist is adjustable and can be tightened with a drawstring. Features contoured shoulders for better fit. A brim on the hood provides some elements and sun protection. Cuffs on the sleeves were tight around wrists preventing wind getting in. Overall, it’s a simple piece, with great functionality and purpose.
Fit
I am 5’10” and 150lbs and wore a size small which fits me very well. The torso was a little longer than most other running jackets I have worn, but I appreciated the extra length beyond my waist. I did not feel like it was too long or got in the way, and this could be cinched up with the elastic cord if desired.
The only downside was the sleeves were almost a little short. If I reached away from my body the cuff of the sleeve would slide up my wrist a little and I would need to pull it back down.
Performance
This jacket performed very well during early cool mornings of Colorado. It was a nice piece to wear over a short sleeve t-shirt while waiting for the sun to warm things up. I felt like it was breathable and shed my body heat well. I did not feel hot or stuffy.
The material of the jacket is slightly stretchy and moves with your body and did not make a lot of noise while running and did not stick to my arms as some other wind and rain jackets that I have tried in the past do.
Outdoor Research Swift Lite Lined Shorts 7” $90
Introduction
I was very interested in trying another pair of lined running shorts. As I have grown more into a trail half tight kind of guy, this provided a more fashionable option in a longer 7” inseam from traditional 5” running shorts. I was very surprised by the comfort and lightness of these shorts by Outdoor Research. I kept wanting to wash them so I could wear them repeatedly. I was given a size small in these shorts as a 5’10 150lb guy with larger thighs. I loved the design on the shorts I tested and was a nice change from typical black running shorts.
Features
As the name entails, the material of the short itself was swift and lightweight. This was great for hotter runs. They featured a full-length liner which did not ride up on my thighs while running. They have three rear pockets.
Two side rear pockets for nutrition storage and one central zipper pocket. The zipper pocket was too small to fit a phone and there were no pockets on the inner liner to slide a phone into, the one downside to these shorts for phone runners. Feature 30UPF sun protection.
Fit
The fit of these shorts was just perfect. I did not find the inner liner to be too tight on my legs or restricting. The shorts were not too baggy and in fact I barely noticed them while running. The 7” length was perfect for me and I liked a little bit of extra length compared to my traditional 5” shorts. There is a drawstring and elastic waistband for a comfortable fit.
Performance
The shorts were great for running. I used them both on the trails and on the roads. Very comfortable and lightweight. Th pockets help with nutrition very well and I did not notice much bounce when I had things in my pockets.
Outdoor Research Trail LT Visor $40
I always love a good visor, especially with my longer hair. This visor was no exception. Very lightweight and thin with what seemed like a longer brim. It was easily adjustable and had a buckle in the back.
It provided great sun protection from my eyes and face. Being that it is so lightweight, you can fold it up and pack away in your pack as needed. It’s not extremely breathable or stretchy, which allowed it to stay in place on my head even when wet. It’s a great protective visor that I will continue to use for running and hiking all summer.
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Tester Profile
Zack Russell was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. He has since transplanted to Carbondale, Colorado where he currently calls home. He began running in college after growing up a team sports athlete. He has fallen in love with all things endurance, competing in several 100 mile races, Unbound XL 350, Ironman Arizona, and several more ultras and cycling events. He has a 20:51 PR in the 100 mile (IMTUF 100) and a 2:41 PR in the marathon. He is a former running store manager and is a coach with Microcosm Coaching coaching runners, cyclists, and skimo athletes. Follow him on Strava and Instagram: willrunfor_cookies for all his mountain endurance adventures.
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