I’m at a point in my life where I don’t want more stuff just for the sake of having stuff. I like to make conscious choices as a consumer and ask myself questions like…
Do I really need this?
What materials is this made out of?
Who made this?
Were they treated well?
What’s my impact on the environment by buying this product?
Could I just as easily buy it second hand?
Honestly, when I’m looking for new trail running gear, it can be difficult to find ethical activewear that also works well for running ultras. So at times I end up just not buying anything, or I end up buying something that likely wasn’t ethically made. Because in the end, you actually need something that works and that you’re going to wear!
I had seen Sundried Running Clothes over on Instagram, and after a while, I noticed they were throwing out words like “recycled materials” and “biodegradable” and “ethically made” for their EcoTech® Line.
Was this too good to be true? I decided to try some of Sundried’s ethical activewear out for myself.
Here’s what I bought and what I thought…
Sundried Olperer Men's T-Shirt: Men’s Running T-Shirt
The Material: This men’s running shirt is made from recycled coffee grounds… how cool is that! Actually, quite cool... it has temperature control tech.) But overall, of course I love it. It combines my two main loves in life… coffee and running 😂 (oh whoops… and my wife and daughter 😉)
The Feel: Its breathability is comparable to some Lululemon running clothes I have and I’m really impressed as far as that goes. And it’s definitely more breathable than some Nike running shirts I’ve gotten in the past.
It’s lightweight, dries quickly, and overall feels comfortable all day long.
The Fit: I did get the XS, but overall this running shirt is a snug fit in a good way. It’s also the perfect length for me. I’m 5’7”. It’s snug in all the right places. It stays put on runs and when wearing a backpack on long hikes. No bunching. No chafing. No complaints.
Overall Performance: I’ve worn it on walks around town, on runs, on hikes, and even on long car rides. I love this shirt. It takes a lot for it to get stinky like other tech shirts I have. And it comes clean after a wash unlike other gear I have that forever holds onto the stench. It’s always comfortable. It doesn’t bunch in strange places. Overall, absolutely no complaints. It’s become my new go-to all-around shirt in life!
Where to buy it: Check out the Sundried website using this link or use the code BRENT4317 at checkout and get 30% off your entire purchase… which honestly makes the Sundried ethical activewear incredibly affordable.
Sundried EcoTech® Men's Fitness Top: Men’s Running T-Shirt
The Material: This men’s running shirt is made from a material that is biodegradable and will decompose within 3 years of being in the ground! I found this feature incredibly innovative and was excited to see it for myself.
The Feel: It is amazingly soft for a running t-shirt. Especially for one that is wicking and stretchy enough for all sports.
The Fit: It’s long. This is my only complaint with this t-shirt. But I’m also only 5’7”. This may be a bonus feature for you if you’re a bit of a taller specimen. But because of its length, I more often than not find myself reaching for other shirts in the drawer over this one.
Overall Performance: Comfort level is top-notch. But I honestly haven’t worn it a whole lot on runs and long hikes because of just how long it is!
Where to buy it: Check out the Sundried website using this link or use the code BRENT4317 at checkout and get 30% off your entire purchase… which honestly makes the Sundried ethical activewear incredibly affordable.
Sundried Furgler 2.0 Men's Shorts: Men’s Running Shorts
The Material: These men’s running shorts are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. I can get behind that.
The Feel: I actually love the feel of these running shorts. They wick away moisture well. They dry quickly, even after impromptu lake swims while hiking. And they stretch further than my body is capable of stretching, ha!
The Fit: These running shorts are actually two-layered. There’s a compression short underneath and a slim fitting outer layer. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about all of that material. But I’ve definitely come around to it and find myself wearing the shorts for runs, walks, hikes, and just around town.
They’re a slim fit, which I think helps to cut down on some of the bulk of having two layers. There’s a lot less moving around, and because of the slim fit, you almost can’t tell that they’re activewear.
Overall Performance: I love the fit and feel of these shorts. They dry quickly, and they look stylish. They’ve definitely become my go-to, all-around activewear shorts.
They do have two zipper pockets in front, like normal pockets on shorts. To be honest, I don’t use them. Maybe if I have to quickly throw a key fob in there or something. For actual treks, all gear goes into my running vest, FlipBelt, or hiking backpack. I just don’t like things there while I’m moving and being active, especially the 194 grams of my iPhone, ha!
A back pocket would maybe make a bit more sense. But that would also take away from the venting feature the back of the shorts have.
Since I’m still recovering from injury, I haven’t had a chance to test them out on long runs to report on chafing or any hot spots. Overall, though, I’ve worn them all day doing other activities like hiking. And even after going for a swim, there were no chafing issues on the remainder of my hike.
Where to buy them: Check out the Sundried website using this link or use the code BRENT4317 at checkout and get 30% off your entire purchase… which honestly makes the Sundried ethical activewear incredibly affordable.
Overall, if you’re like me and want to know what your running clothes are made out of, who made them, and how you’re impacting the environment… I’d definitely try out some of the Sundried Running Clothes from their EcoTech® Line.
Their stock is constantly changing, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in anything you get from them. They also have a ton of cycling and triathlon gear if that’s your thing. And they even have accessories like hats, socks, and race belts.
Don’t forget to use the code BRENT4317 at checkout to snag your 30% off!
If you want to see some of my Sundried running clothes in action, check out some of my latest Instagram posts (@brentsrunabout) and blog posts (like this one about selecting a training plan or this one about fixing running form). Also, new video (below) now out! Ever since getting their running clothes, I’ve been wearing them more often than not!
Jillian Beckham is wife to Brent. She strives to be a conscious consumer as well, and knows how difficult it can be to find ethical activewear that also performs well. Maybe she’ll try out some Sundried women’s running clothes next! You can find out more about what she does at www.beckhamcopywriting.com