Product Review by PBE Squad member, Jennifer Wright
Finding the right configuration of running gear is always a gamble – does it chafe? Does it breathe? Does it stay in place? I’ve been running all season in Varlo’s running line and I have answers to all of these questions!
A bit about me:
– I run middle- and long-distance races but have been focusing on the half-marathon distance for this racing season. My average weekly mileage (barring injury) over the past year has ranged between ~15-40MPW, not including cross-training. My clothes get put through the ringer!
– I run during every season. Snow? Just wear some trail shoes or your spikes. Hot and humid? Grab the body glide. Rainy? Pack some extra socks and get it done. I prioritize gear that transitions well between seasons and conditions.
– Whenever I read reviews by other women, it’s helpful for me to understand how clothes tend to fit the reviewer. I work very hard to maintain a decent amount of muscle, especially in my trunk and my lower body, no matter how many miles I’m putting in. This means that my chest is on the flatter side, my shoulders are pretty broad, and my waist/hips are a bit squarer. To put it bluntly: I’m built like a Lego.
So…what did I think of the gear?
SHORT- AND LONG-SLEEVED RUNNING SHIRTS AND SINGLET: These are my favorite shirts in my rotation. Varlo’s fabric is almost like mesh – it breathes really well and I’ve never experienced chafing. Yet, it does surprisingly well at keeping the wearer covered – our team kit is fairly light in color and I’ve never felt like I was running around naked even when I’ve sweat through my shirt! Often, I find that women’s shirts tend to fit me poorly in the shoulders – not so with these cuts. The hems at the sleeve are pretty flexible and I can swing my arms freely. I wouldn’t say the long-sleeved shirt is warm enough for cold-weather running, but it would do well either as a sun-blocking layer or in transitional seasons. I’ve raced all of my races this season in the short-sleeved shirt and I’d do it all over again!
My only gripe was that these shirts pilled a bit when I wore a hydration vest over them for long distances (16+ mi), on multiple occasions.
I found that these garments fit true to size.
SPORTS BRA: I loved this sports bra so much I got 3 more from their website without even using my team discount. This is my desert-island sports bra – it’s the perfect mix of controlling bounce while not being so tight on the back or the shoulders that leaves indents or chafes during long runs. My sports bras have been through the wash an incalculable number of times and haven’t lost their snap. 10/10, no notes.
If having a single compartment is a dealbreaker for you, or if you prefer a sports bra with cups or molding, this probably isn’t your sports bra.
This sports bra fit true to size.
RUNNING SHORTS: There’s a lot to love about Varlo’s running shorts. I truly appreciate a sportswear company that adds some extra fabric to the back of the shorts for coverage while shortening the shorts in front for better leg mobility – I love this for my strides. The waistband is just a bit compressive but still lays flat – the best of both worlds! The fabric is water-resistant and a bit on the more rigid side, but not in such a way that I felt constricted when I ran. There’s a zippered pocket in the rear just big enough to hold an Airpods case and 2 Gu gels – I know this from experience!
Unfortunately, these didn’t fit me especially well. I found that they fit me well at the waist but less so in the hips and legs; if I had it to do all over again, I’d probably size up in these shorts and just pull the drawstring tighter. I tend to think these would fit better on a person whose legs have a bit less meat on them in comparison to their typical pants size. In my case, the very bottom of the front of the shorts flipped up just a bit – see my medal photo for an example of what I mean.
All in all, I’d highly recommend Varlo’s running line! I can absolutely see myself keeping all of these pieces in my mix for years to come.
