Performance apparel that takes its design cues from both the track and the wardrobe. These brands obsess over fabric technology, construction, and fit — but they also understand that what you train in has an aesthetic, and that aesthetic matters. They're not selling you on logo placement or celebrity endorsements. They're building gear for people who actually run, actually lift, and want the equipment to disappear into the workout. From marathon runners logging 70 miles a week to home gym regulars, this is the kit worth investing in.
Running apparel rooted in athletic heritage. Built for the serious amateur.
Matt Taylor started Tracksmith out of frustration with the sportswear duopoly and a belief that running deserved the same design consideration as cycling or skiing. The Hare singlet and Van Cortlandt tights have become standards for serious amateur runners. Old money prep school meets the track.
Modular running shorts with a liner system designed around actual training.
The insight: most running shorts have a liner system that fails. Path Projects built a modular shorts line — outer shells and Pockies liners sold separately — so you can mix and match based on distance and conditions. Runners who try it don't go back.
Minimal training shorts and tops built for hard workouts. No gimmicks.
Designed to be a training tool, not a fashion statement. Their shorts and shirts are built around the principle that premium workout gear shouldn't need logos or brunch approval. They make things that disappear during workouts — which is the highest possible compliment.
Indestructible Belt. Green edition
Steel Blazer. Black edition
Indestructible Hoodie. International Orange edition
Indestructible Hoodie. Black edition
Indestructible Hoodie. Yellow edition
Indestructible Hoodie. Navy edition
Martian Mach 16 Jacket. Project Mercury edition
Martian Mach 16 Jacket. Rover Orange edition
Equator Pants. Khaki edition
Equator Pants. Sand edition
Technical apparel using materials science as design. For extreme conditions.
Two twin brothers with backgrounds in science and design making clothing for extreme conditions. Their full-metal jacket uses copper. Their graphene jacket conducts electricity. Vollebak gear exists at the outer edge of what materials science can actually do.
Luxury sportswear for the gym-to-street transition. Athletic minimalism.
A UK brand that started making gym wear for bodybuilders and ended up making the best luxury sportswear available. The oversized hoodies have become collector items. Cole trains every day himself, and it shows in how the clothes are designed — specifically for people who actually use them.
0984. Herringbone Terry Crewneck - Chai
0984. Herringbone Terry Crewneck - Crimson
0984. Herringbone Terry Crewneck - Forest Green
0984. Herringbone Terry Crewneck - Black
1114. Vintage Raw Hem Pump Cover - Black
1114. Vintage Raw Hem Pump Cover - Olive Sun Fade
1115. Tech Essential™ Cap Shoulder Cutoff - Olive Sun Fade
1115. Tech Essential™ Cap Shoulder Cutoff - Black
Padded Lifting Straps - Akira Red
Power Lifting Straps - Black
Technical sportswear with Japanese-influenced construction and durability.
ASRV developed their own proprietary fabric technology to reduce muscle vibration during training. The aesthetic is Japanese-influenced minimalism; the construction is as technical as it looks. The sizing reflects the reality that people who train hard have differently proportioned bodies.
Technical running apparel brands that are worth the investment share a design philosophy that starts with the runner's body under load, not a mood board. The best performance running gear DTC brands obsess over things you can feel but can't always name: the way a waistband sits through mile 15, whether a seam creates a pressure point during a tempo run in heat, how a fabric's moisture management holds up when sweat rate exceeds evaporation rate. These details separate gear that disappears into the run from gear that becomes a distraction. Fabric technology is the honest differentiator. Look for brands working with proprietary or performance-specific weaves rather than generic recycled polyester blends. A quality technical running short should have flatlock seaming, a liner with structural waistband support, and a waistband phone pocket deep enough to hold a modern handset without bounce. Shorts at this standard cost between £60 and £110 — anything dramatically cheaper is compromising somewhere, usually in the liner or waistband construction. For performance running gear DTC, fit is personal in ways that differ from lifestyle apparel. Inseam length, liner tightness, and bib vs. standard waistband all depend on individual biomechanics and distance. Most technical running apparel brands at this level have invested in detailed fit guides and offer generous return policies for unworn items. Use them. The right kit removes one variable from training and removes it permanently.
