Monday, January 27, 2025

Tracksmith Winter 2025 No Days Off Collection Reviews: NDO Harbor Jacket, NDO Fells Turtleneck, NDO Bib

Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum

Dominique: For my first Tracksmith running gear eview, I did not get a famous Tracksmith sash singlet, but a three-piece matching outfit from their No Days Off Winter Collection: the NDO Fells Turtleneck ($140); NDO Harbor Jacket ($255); and the NDO Bib ($225).  


Over the past month, I have been wearing the NDO apparel pieces almost daily, either individually or in combination – Fells Turtleneck and Harbor Jacket – and now that I am in Park City with temperatures in the 15 F range, I wear all three when hitting the trails, not just for running, but for Nordic skiing as well.  


Truly, the NDO apparel pieces deliver high end comfort and performance in a stylish design as the cold winter weather calls for layering up, yet minus the bulk.  A sneak preview about the NDO Bib – its’ got 37.5® Technology! 


Tracksmith Fells Turtleneck ($140)

A turtleneck as a base layer streamlines layering up in cold weather adding extra warmth around the neck along with an overall cozy comfortable feel.  











With just the right amount of ease, the Fells Turtleneck has a slightly loose fit that drapes the upper body as opposed to sticking to the skin.  That includes a more relaxed neck in the 2025 edition allowing to be worn all the way to the chin or rolled down to become a mock turtleneck. A fit that creates a freer feel when running along with better air flow. 











The fit of the Fells Turtleneck is true to size and feels extremely comfortable. I like the relaxed fit and the overall coverage, including the generous length of the neck and the back. 


I have been making good use of the thumbholes whether  I wear gloves or not.


Made of a Merino wool blend that is 65% Merino and 35% Polyester honeycomb jacquard, the waffle-like texture enhances air flow and moisture wicking.  Truly, its Merino wool blend is keeping me dry and warm during my workouts in cold weather and “stink free” – no lingering sweaty smell under my armpits!


The Fells Turtleneck is a great running top on its own when it is no longer t-shirt weather.


As with the Harbor Jacket, the Fells Turtleneck does double duty as a workout layer and as a casual and trendy looking top.  The Tracksmith brand is featured on two logos, left arm top and bottom right, proudly highlighting the company’s New England roots and the NDO Collection.  

The Fells Turtleneck is available in 9 attractive colors – I received mine in NDO Bronze. I personally appreciate the fact that I am staying comfortably warm and dry when working out whether it is walking, running, hiking, or Nordic skiing. 


It is comfy and stylish as day wear and pairs well with tights or jeans. 


It still smells fresh after several workouts, so I tend to wear it multiple times before I wash it in cold wash and gentle cycle. Like all my high end sportswear apparel, I dry it on a rack.  


As a comfortable and stylish performance apparel that is resistant to odors the Fells Turtleneck is ideal when traveling, whether as a workout top or a lifestyle piece in cool to cold climates. A three-season versatile turtleneck that does double duty, the Fells Turtleneck at $140 is a good value though a bit of an investment.    


Tracksmith NDO Harbor Jacket ($255)

The jacket is very lightweight and bulk-free, an insulated outer layer that is designed for running in the cold weather as Tracksmith says: “Out Cold.”  











It is designed to optimize thermoregulation, from the quilted outer fabric to the inner mesh back vent.











The breathability of the jacket is excellent, keeping me dry and toasty on my outings in the cold weather.  

A lightweight jacket with top-rate Primaloft® Gold insulation so it’s more than just a shell or outer layer for running. I enjoy wearing it as it keeps me comfortably warm and dry when working out in the cold.  

There are a few downsides to the jacket; it is not perfect.  First, the fit around the chest and the arms is a bit constrictive. 

It is a sleek looking jacket, yet as a running and nordic ski jacket, it is too tight around the torso and shoulders, at least for me, who is not flat chested.  

Second, after several workouts and one wash, there is quite a bit of piling underneath the armpits.  If most of the white piling can be removed with the fingers, some of it is stubborn and feels like pulling out threads of insulation.  This is a flaw for sure. 


Pockets are plentiful – 2 inside pouch pockets for gloves and hats as well as a 3d inner pocket. An iPhone fits securely in the small inside pocket though it is not easy to retrieve. Upside, it is safely stowed away and won’t bounce when running. 


There are 2 exterior handwarmer pockets as well a small, zippered pocket for keys and a wallet.  Lots of options for storage! 


The Harbor Jacket in two attractive color choices: NDO Emerald and Navy. 


No doubt about it, the Harbor Jacket pairs well with the Fells Turtleneck, both for running in cold weather or for outings to town, whether wearing tights, NDO Bib, or jeans. 

Sam:I too tested the Harbor Jacket in a wide variety of conditions: windy milder weather, a snow squall, and many days in Park City in deeper cold on the run and nordic skiing.

I think of it as a sweater weight insulation piece best used in in deeper cold windless conditions or as a layer under a shell. Its wind resistance is on the light side and its water repellency in precipitation is also light, as I found out above. 

Due to its snug shoulders and arm fit I found it overly warm at temperatures above 40 F on the run but fantastic around town at those temperatures and below for running and general wear.

It has been an ideal jacket here in Park City for me in the same cold, sunny and not very windy conditions Dominique tested it in with the Fells Turtleneck underneath.


Dominique/Sam  The Harbor Jacket is in the pricey range. We have both enjoyed this very versatile stylish run and more jacket although we are both concerned about the white piling, namely the insulation seeping through under the armpits and the tight fit around the chest and shoulders. 


Tracksmith NDO Bib ($225)

At first, I was a bit skeptical of the idea of a bib, versus tights, for running and Nordic skiing, but after multiple wears, I am very comfortable with it and I get it. 


In below freezing conditions, the warmth of a one-piece that covers your torso and features a double-knit Merino fabric with top-notch thermoregulation, is hard to beat.  It delivers treamlined layering in a sleek look that provides optimum comfort on your runs in cold weather conditions. 











The NDO Bib is true to size though selecting the right size for a bib is a bit more challenging than for tights as the torso length and chest size must also be considered.  I am usually a size small in bottoms and medium in tops, so I opted for a size medium for the bib, which corresponds to my hip dimensions in the size chart. The fit is sleek and comfortable. I am 5’5 and weigh 138 lbs. 


The NDO Bib is made of a double-knit Merino blend to optimize warmth while providing very light compression from shoulder to ankle for added support and comfort.  

The back of the torso is made of mesh fabric to optimize airflow while the front features Merino fabric, with a lighter layer on the top front above the seam seen below.  

The mesh and lighter Merino fabric are stretchier than the double-knit Merino of the body and which extend to the straps, which sit comfortably on the shoulders. 


All that warmth and natural Merino thermoregulation is enhanced as the fabric incorporates 37.5® Technology. Tiny volcanic and coconut derived particles in the fabric are energized by body heat and then transfer heat and moisture. Given there are billions of particles in the fabric,  the surface area for evaporation is also greatly increased.  The thermoregulation is the best that I have experienced in performance apparel.  


Sam has also extensively tested baselayers and tees, including Tracksmith’s Harrier Tee with 37.5 (RTR Review)  as well as the NDO bibs and also found their performance the best he has experienced. 


The main body fabric also has 19% Spandex adding just the right amount of stretch for a comfortable fit, minus any sagging. 


A large kangaroo pocket at the back provides easy access from both sides for storing items, including gloves.  There is also a zippered pocket for storing small items at the back. 


Instead of a traditional inside seam, the legs of the bib are designed with an additional piece of fabric that is 2 ½ inches at the crotch and which tapers to 1 ½ inch at the bottom of the leg. This helps create an extremely comfortable fit along with a sleek look. 


Sam: I also tested the NDO Bib and concur with Dominique. I was also skeptical about bibs but in the test  I found many advantages to this “format”


  • A warm back and waist with lower layers never riding up

  • The upper bib part keeps the legs area in place, never any sagging

  • The rear pocketing, as a result of being part of the upper  bib, is excellent with no bounce, easy access and high capacity.


The 37.5 treated fabric is very thermo regulating and quite wind resistant while remaining breathable. The bib is not overly compressive and does not interfere with leg motion. 

Generally, I prefer nordic ski type run pants but here by keeping the fabric stretchy but not overly compressive and with the top of the bibs keeping the lower part up and snug Tracksmith achieve a nice balance. 


The Bib balances warmth, thermoregulation, and just enough stretch without too much compression just right. 


Compared to Tracksmith’s NDO Tights from a couple years ago with their often clammy front windproof panel and very compressive fit, the Bib is, for me, a superior in comfort and performance winter run and ski option with more mobility and better thermoregulation. Compared to Tracksmith excellent Bislett Pants (RTR Review) we are warmer here and with less sag. 


What would I like to see changed here? I think a touch lighter fabric would extend their range to warmer temperatures in to fall and spring use.


Dominique/ Sam: The NDO Bib is an innovative if pricey at $255 winter months apparel option for runs and more. 


Available in one color, Navy, the NDO Bib can be your ultimate cold-weather companion. It offers optimum warmth and truly incredible thermoregulation and moisture evaporation enhanced by the 37.5® Technology built into the Merino fabric, along with decent wind resistance, and all in a streamlined look. 


See also Sally Reiley"s earlier HarborJacket review here.

The 2025 Winter NDO Collection is available now at Tracksmith 

HERE


Tester Profiles

Dominique has run for over 40 years, consistently about 25 miles per week at paces between 10 and 11 minute miles and once a week down in the mid 9 minute miles. She races rarely, but always surprises more hard core runners in her age group when she does. She has a 1985 marathon PR of 3:16 in her second marathon which at the time put her on the top 10 Swiss women’s lists. An avid hiker and trekker, she has been around Mont Blanc 3 times, hiked Chamonix to Zermatt, and completed the 48 New Hampshire 4000 footers. She is the mother of two grown children, both runners post college, and also enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, tennis, and gardening. 

Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.


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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not related: Your Aero Glide 3 reviews are offline since the shoe is released now I would love to read your take on it. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Aero Glide 3 review is now live

Anonymous said...

Ah, the weekly Tracksmith review!