- Sustainable brand Allbirds have launched their first lime of run apparel, with a focus on being carbon neutral.
According to research, the athletic industry's most popular fabric, polyester, emits 700 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year. It also contributes to the 14 million tons Natural Bike Short, £68.
Sustainable brand Allbirds have recognised this problem and are trying to change things with their low carbon range of running shoes and now kit. 'Making up 55% of all clothing, polyester’s cheap production cost has made it a go-to for nearly everything we exercise in – from the everyday athlete to those competing for gold medals. The result: in pursuit of our personal bests, activewear’s dependency on oil-based plastic fabrics has left the earth in much worse shape', Allbirds writes.
After the successful launch of their Natural Run Form Tank last year, the brand has now branched out into a line of natural run apparel - designed to 'work hard while treading light'.
The range includes shorts, t-shirts, leggings and vest tops for both men and women and are designed to be two times more breathable than leading synthetic pairs on the market. The kit is also the industry's first performance apparel to be labelled with its Carbon Footprint
Published: 17 August 2021
Published: 17 August 2021
Natural Run Tee, £58
Natural Bike Short, £68
Natural Run Form Tank, £68
Natural Legging, £98
Natural Run Form Tank
Natural Legging
We've been running in the natural bike shorts and run tank for the past few weeks and have been impressed by how soft and breathable the kit is. The bike shorts are a blend of Eucalyptus Tree fibre and Merino Wool and the result is some of the softest shorts we've ever run in. There's is a small hidden pocket in the waistband that will stretch to accommodate a phone and a drawcord to help you get a fit that won't budge as you clock up the miles. They come up a little on the bigger side, so if you're between sizes, size down. (Our Deputy Digital Editor is a size 8 and ran in a small).
The running tank is also made from Merino Wool and felt incredibly lightweight and fast-drying on the run. The natural fabric is also naturally odour-resistant, meaning you can wear this tank to a parkrun, then for brunch afterwards without having to change.
There's no denying the kit is on the more luxury side of the market price-wise, but it's built to last and is designed with carbon consciousness in mind. Unlike rival brands in this price bracket, you can rest assured you're buying into a brand doing their bit for the planet.
