Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Rabbit Clothing Review



I am always on the lookout for clothing that feels great and looks good too.  I feel that there are so many shirts and shorts that look great, but don’t feel so good, or vice versa.  I spend way too much time running to be uncomfortable.  I got a Rabbit branded tank top from an ultra that I ran (branded with the race logo on the front).  It was so soft and comfortable that I couldn’t wait to test some of the other clothes that Rabbit produces.

Monica Devreese and Jill Deering started Rabbit because they wanted something better than what was already available.  Both ladies were lifelong runners and tried almost every type of running apparel out there, but couldn’t find that right piece of gear. 

Monica has over 20 years’ experience in the running business, working in product management, sales, and marketing for some of the largest running brands out there.  She also owns a local running shop, so she already had tons of knowledge of what was out there and what customers liked.

Jill ran track in high school and went on to run Division I Cross Country in college before getting her law degree.  Jill is a perfectionist and that shows in the products that Rabbit produces. 

Monica and Jill wanted to not only make clothes that they were proud of, but wanted to make all of their clothing in California.  While it may not be the easiest or cheapest way to manufacture clothing, it was important to them, and they made it happen. 

At Rabbit, they believe in ethical and sustainable manufacturing, which means that all of their running apparel is manufactured in Los Angeles, just 100 miles south of their home in Santa Barbara.  They can keep a close eye on the quality management portion of the manufacturing to make sure that you are getting the best product out there.  They also want to make sure that the people who work on their clothing are treated well and fairly. 

Rabbit has grown to now have an extensive line of clothing that covers all seasons and running surfaces.

EZ Tee

The ez tee is a normal looking tech tee, but you will put it on and immediately notice something different than you are used to.  It is extremely soft thanks to Rabbit’s quick n’ fit fabric.  It’s a combination of 94% polyester/6% spandex.  What does that mean?  It is super lightweight and quick drying for a comfortable feeling whether you are on a 3 mile run or running a marathon.  The fit is not super tight or loose, but just right. There are seven ez tee shirts ranging from solid to two-toned colors.  There are a few special ez tee shirts with some sayings on them too.  They retail for $45 on the Rabbit website. 


Speed Sleeves

For those chillier days where a long sleeved shirt is needed, you might want to check out the speed sleeves.  Again, Rabbit has taken their super soft materials (95% polyester/5% spandex) and made a great, lightweight long sleeved running tee.  One of the things that I really liked about the speed sleeves is that you stay warm without overheating.  It would be a great base layer or you can wear it by itself, which will keep you warm to about 40 degrees, but might not be enough below that. 

It’s similar to the ez tee, where you have a slim fit, but not too tight.  It just feels good.  There are thumbhole slits on the wrist cuffs for comfort and to keep your hands a little warmer.  Some other features include asymmetrical arm-bands and FreeSpeed fabric.

This is simply a very comfortable shirt that you will want to grab on those cooler mornings.  The only issue I have had with this shirt is some chaffing at an arm seam (near my armpit) although I think that can be attributed to the Orange Mud hydration pack I had on at the time.  I have not had that issue since that day, so it was most likely not a major issue and is most likely not even a result of the shirt.

There are four color options for the speed sleeves, including three two-toned shirts and an all-black version.  The speed sleeves retail for $65 on the Rabbit website. 


Quadzilla Shorts

So this is probably my favorite product that I tested from Rabbit.  Let me first say that I have never been a fan of running in short shorts.  My biggest fear is that either my junk is going to fall out mid run, or my big rear is going to peek out the bottom of the shorts (neither would be a pretty sight).  I am not sure if you saw the viral video earlier this year of the marathon runner that finished a fairly large marathon with his junk flappin’ in the breeze.  Totally my worst nightmare!!!

The quadzilla has a 5” inseam, which is rather short for my liking, or so I thought.  It took a run or two to get used to the feeling, but after a while, I felt really free (not in that way).  Most shorts that I wear tend to tighten around my quads as I go through the gait cycle.  The slight side split let your legs move freely and the four-way stretch woven fabric really lets you just enjoy the run.  It is considered a slim-fit, but I don’t feel that they are too tight by any means.

As for my big fear…  The rabbitMESH brief liner is scratch and chafe-free.  It does a great job of holding everything where it needs to be and is extremely comfortable at all distances (tested on runs from 3 to 26 miles). 

Other key features that I really liked include the super lightweight material that does an excellent job of wicking away moisture (98% polyester/11% spandex).  There is an elastic waistband with an internal drawstring.  There is also a rear zip pocket and front internal key pocket.  There are eight different color options for the quadzilla, including striped and solid versions.  The quadzilla retails for $52 on the Rabbit website. 

All of the Rabbit gear is machine washable in cold water and you can toss them in the dryer on low.  As long as you don’t use bleach, you are good to go.  Nothing like clothing that is easy to take care of and feels great too. 

You can return your clothing within 30 days if you buy them on the Rabbit website, just in case they just don’t work for you.  If you purchase over $75 in products, you get free shipping as well. 

Rabbit’s Social Media Links:

If you are looking for some great fitting running clothes that are simple and well thought out, check out some gear from Rabbit.  They have all sorts of styles from short shorts, to tights and pants, to long and short sleeve tops.  They offer something for everyone.  I found that the quality and comfort kept me reaching for Rabbit gear on my most grueling runs.  Pick up some for yourself.  I would love to hear what you think of them.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

1 comment:

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