Article by Matt Kolat
Stellar Equipment is a brand I’ve come across on various social media as I was on the hunt for a new winter lightweight jacket which they have an abundance to select from. While browsing their website I’ve noticed that they also have a dedicated running range and after a brief exchange of emails the kind folks at Stellar offered to send me a head to toe winter running kit which I am thrilled to review for you below.
With regards Stellar Equipment they hail from Sweden and have specialized in skiing and mountaineering kit and now are branching out into running. Being a Volvo owner and a top notch flat - pack furniture assembler myself, I can assure you that Swedish design has a very special place in my heart. Not to mention the quality, which I will describe in detail as I go through the kit, but it’s there and it’s spelled with a capital Q.
Stellar Hybrid Jacket 2.0 ($219 £175)
The Hybrid Jacket 2.0 is definitely a colder weather item. Here in the North East of Scotland only in recent weeks temperatures started hovering around 5-10 Celsius and only when approaching the bottom end of that range did I feel comfortable running in this jacket. For me this is a winter only jacket but if you are a person who likes it quite toasty you will enjoy this item as a three season piece. With regards to fit I would say it’s relatively roomy, I normally wear either size Large or Extra Large. The Hybrid Jacket fits me very well in XL, it’s neither snug nor overtly loose. When I first received the jacket it reminded me most about motocross because of the big logos - let that not fool you, this is a high end winter running jacket.
The jacket is made of a number of different fabrics. In the front we are kept warm by strategically placed Fieldsensor fleece lining in the chest and shoulder area.
The outer front of the chest area, sleeves and back are made from a windproof ripstop fabric. The cuffs as well as the bottom of the jacket have elastic hems which ensure that despite there not being any cords the jacket stays in place on a windy day. All of the logos are reflective which aids safety. There is a smaller chest pocket as well as a larger back pocket, both zippered.
The yellow fabric on the sleeves and back is the thinnest to aid breathability and the gray panels on the sides are slightly thicker but not fully insulated like the previously described chest and shoulder area. This makes for a distinct and strategic distribution of materials which in my opinion work really well.
RTR Editor Sam tells me the highly breathable back with windproof more insulated front front is classic Nordic kit design, cut the wind on the downhills, big time breathability on the uphills. Applies to running exactly the same he says.
I really enjoyed training in this jacket but I think I will enjoy it even more in the coming months when the temperatures will drop further down.
Stellar Tech Long Sleeve ($79 / £65)
The Long Sleeve is excellent and probably not for the reasons you are thinking of. There are not that many things that you can dial in, in a LS. There is the fit - this one fits TTS. There are the fabrics - this one is very comfortable and soft and the materials feel slightly thicker than most of the LS running shirts that I own.
And that’s the good news. I am not sure if this has ever happened to you but I have gone through a number of LS shirts that were just too soft and thin to be used for trail running together with a running vest. There have been a number of times I got home, took my running vest off and noticed that the tightening cords that run through the middle of the vest had sliced through the shirt - how annoying. This is not the case with the Tech LS as it’s absolutely bullet proof in terms of fabric resistance without sacrificing breathability. That said the fabric is slightly thicker and I would not use it in the heat of the summer. One more thing worth mentioning is that the shirt has got two reflective logos - one on the left sleeve and one at the top of the back, both really nice safety touches.
Stellar Running Shorts ($129 £95)
I received the Running Shorts in size Large which is my size 99% of the time in all sports related bottoms. This item I would say is on the verge of running large. If you often find yourself between sizes I would probably recommend sizing down as the waistline is quite forgiving.
This is once again a three season item aimed more for colder weather. This is due to the fact that those aren’t just shorts - they include built in tights which increase comfort, warmth and reduce the chance of chafing. The quality of materials is as with the other items very high, nothing to complain about.
The only complaint comes from the fact that Stellar is aiming those shorts at long distance trail runners - however to truly compete in this market the shorts should include more pockets. The shorts only include two very small pockets, without zippers or any other security mechanisms. They are intended at holding gels, which they do without fail. However if I had only one wish for the 2.0 version of the shorts it would be to include some intelligent, sizable and secure pockets. Other than that, no complaints at all.
Stellar Tights ($139 / 115£)
Similar to the shorts the tights run ever so slightly large. So if you are often between sizes I would opt for the smaller size to keep things comfortable, especially length wise - they are quite long in my regular size Large.
As with previous items this is a winter specific piece of kit designed primarily to keep you warm (one could think that Sweden is a relatively cold country - jokes aside). In terms of technical features they have a nice thick waistband which greatly adds to the comfort and a secure pocket in the back which can fit key, wallet or another small item but is probably too small for a device.
The fabric is noticeably thicker but very soft which makes these tights a joy to run for extended periods of time without worrying about chafing. The fabric, even at full stretch does not allow any see-through. Overall I found them very comfortable and protective, they will be very useful in those colder months ahead.
Stellar Equipment Running
Maciej 'Matt' Kolat- 37 years old, hailing from Poland but pounding Scottish pavements and trails since 2007. Mainly runs shorter distances on pavement 5-10 km and reserves longer runs for beautiful Scottish Glens. Matt’s opinion sometimes may differ from other RTR testers as he is the slowest of the bunch (5k at 25:38). Matt also uses running as a way to stay healthy having shed 100 lbs so far (and counting).
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
No comments:
Post a Comment