Imagine, if you will, a perfect running trail that you have all to yourself, the sound of your footsteps echoing in perfect unison to the beat of your favorite tunes. But with temperatures jumping to 90+ degrees across the country this past week, it’s a fantasy that involves a certain level of discomfort, due to the unavoidable perspiration soaked t-shirt and shorts. Thankfully, North Face has a solution, and it involves running naked. Well, sort of.
Instead of running naked, North Face has what they call the Better Than Naked Running Collection, a super lightweight, ultra breathable collection aimed at making you forget you’re wearing anything. Several members of our staff picked up both men’s and women’s pieces from the collection, and with the recent surge in temps, we got a chance to test the North Face Better Than Naked running collection’s prowess in the wild. Here’s what we thought of each.
The North Face Men’s and Women’s Better Than Naked Short ($50-$55)
For any runner (and men in particular), finding the perfect running short is a vital component in maximizing your comfort during a long on the road/trail. From a coolness standpoint, you need a short that’s lightweight, breathable, and helps keep the temps down when things get hot; and from a comfort standpoint, having a short that offers support while running, without chaffing, is also a necessity. The North Face Better Than Naked Short excels in both areas, as it’s constructed from super-lightweight, breathable materials that still offers support (in the men’s short) to keep your valuables exactly where you want them. Another great feature is the lack of an inseam, meaning chaffing is non-existent.
On the road, they perform brilliantly. In blistering 90-degree heat, they perform as exactly as advertised, keeping you as cool as possible; offering the ideal level of support and compression (in the men’s short); and eliminating chaffing entirely. To be honest, running in just the short without a shirt, the areas covered by the short were actually cooler – a testament to their Better Than Naked namesake.
Some of the other features offered by The North Face Better Than Naked short include:
- Multi-pocket storage system at center back including zip
- Reflective logos
- DWR (durable water repellent) finish
- Continuous seamless short liner wraps up to top of waistband
- No inseam for increased comfort and to reduce potential chafing
Overall, if you’re looking for the perfect summer running short that’s cool, super comfortable and still supportive, you can’t go wrong with the Better Than Naked short. You can learn more about The North Face Men’s and Women’s Better Than Naked Short or pick up a pair for yourself at The North Face website.
The North Face Men’s and Women’s Better Than Naked Crew ($50-$55)
Matching beautifully the form and function of the Better Than Naked short, The North Face also offers the Better Than Naked crew, a fantastic short-sleeve option for running in high heat. As with the Better Than Naked short, the crew is constructed from super-lightweight, super-breathable fabrics; while bonded stitchless seams have been utilized to eliminate chaffing potential.
It’s a construction that performs beautifully in high temperatures, as the Better Than Naked Crew does a fantastic job wicking away moisture and helping keep the temperature down. In testing the crew, we opted to run both with the crew and shirtless to compare body temps, and the time with the crew was without question the cooler option. Its ability to block the sun’s rays while minimizing moisture means you get the best of both worlds – sun protection and optimal cooling – while its stitchless seams and stretch side panels ensure the crew doesn’t sacrifice comfort.
Other features of The North Face Better Than Naked Crew include:
- Minimal two-panel construction
- Overlap bonded stitchless seams
- Reflective logos
- Flight Series® collection
You can learn more about The North Face Men’s and Women’s Better Than Naked Crew or pick up your own at The North Face website.
The North Face Men’s and Women’s Better Than Naked Jacket ($129)
The last piece of The North Face Better Than Naked collection we love is the Better Than Naked jacket, the perfect option for early morning runs or when the weather gets a little unfriendly. Following the tradition of the other Better Than Naked pieces, the jacket uses super-lightweight, breathable and weather-resistant materials; while an integrated cooling system ensures that while the outside elements stay out, you stay cool on the inside. Helping achieve superb temperature regulation, vented mesh panels on the sides and neck keep air flowing, and a nylon ripstop body keeps your core warm without affecting your running movements.
For anyone living in climates that vary on a semi-regular basis, the Better Than Naked Jacket is the perfect compliment to the short and crew. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out on a run that starts out beautifully and suddenly the weather changes course, and the Better Than Naked jacket is the ideal solution to combat such weather shifts. It’s not hot, but it’s enough to keep out unwanted moisture and wind. And because its so breathable, you can put it on after you’ve already warmed up, and the cooling system does a fantastic job making sure you don’t overheat. Likewise, on early morning runs where it’s a little cool, you can start out in the jacket, and switch to only the crew once you get warmed up. It’s the perfect compliment to an already great warm weather running collection.
Other features of The North Face Better Than Naked jacket include:
- DWR (durable water repellent) coated tribrid construction
- Strategically bonded stitchless seams
- Laminated pocket
- Reflective logos
- Flight Series® collection
You can learn more about The North Face Men’s and Women’s Better Than Naked Jacket or pick up your own at The North Face website.
