When I started running again in 2018, the apparel options felt bleak: highly technical, performance-driven, limited in color options, and rarely style-driven. My entire “running drawer” consisted of one pair of Lululemon leggings and one pair of shorts. I wore them to death — the leggings are somehow still in great shape seven years later, making their cost per wear negligible. My only sports bras were from Nike. At one point, I tried New Balance but disliked the cuts so much I sold them in a bulk Depop bra purge.
Fast forward to today, and runners who care even a little about aesthetics are spoiled for choice — maybe to the point of overwhelm. My drawer now counts nearly double-digit brands, with Nike and Lululemon making up only a tiny fraction. Every other week it feels like I “discover” another new label via social media.
I particularly remember the early struggle of finding shorts with phone pockets. I didn’t have a running watch back then (I now use a Garmin Forerunner 265S for anyone curious), so I felt a bit naked without a phone — no way to track distance or pace, and no way to call anyone if something went wrong. The only pair I had were Lululemon’s two-in-one shorts: a tight legging liner with side pockets under a nylon shell. They worked, but they were heavy, and a sweaty run made them heavier. Before I could even buy another pair (out of desperation), the style was discontinued.
Some runners solved this with running belts (they’re like thin fanny packs meant to sit tightly on the hip), but I never got used to them and eventually passed mine along to a friend. These days, thanks to Bandit, my phone lives at the back of my sports bra. Odd as it sounds, it’s balanced and comfortable. Half the time I forget it’s even there and do a quick check on my back to make sure it is.
Below the paywall is a breakdown of my warm-weather drawer (we’ll save cold-weather gear for another day): the pieces I wear most, the brands I reach for, a few I keep on my radar, and the one constant I buy again and again. The total I’ve spent is probably a number I don’t want to calculate (still haven’t cracked the code on free running clothes 😅). I rarely wait for sales; the cost feels modest compared to my other obsession, The Row, and I admit I like the instant gratification. Pieces do rotate in and out, as small city closets demand discipline, so this is my current snapshot.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Draft Folder to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.