Nathan Running Apparel Review

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Nathan is well known for it’s running gear. As an avid runner and ultramarathoner, I have long used Nathan’s handheld water bottles, race vests and hydration belts. When I needed some new running clothes for an upcoming race, I looked to Nathan Running Apparel.

I ordered 4 pieces from their apparel lineup: The women’s Stealth Jacket 2.0, the 365 long sleeve hooded shirt, the Stride shorts and the Run Cool Stash Hat. The shirt and jacket shipped right away but I was notified that the hat and shorts were on backorder. Unfortunately, the shorts are discontinued and were never delivered but the coat, shirt and hat arrived and I enjoyed testing them out for this review.

Nathan Running Apparel: Created with the Runner in Mind

While I would expect nothing less from Nathan Running Apparel, I want to start this review by saying that all of the items I received were clearly designed and crafted with the runner in mind. Sewn-flat seams give the clothing a smooth comfortable feel against your skin and eliminate any chafing points. All three of the items have some level of stretch that allows for movement and a comfortable fit.

The materials wick moisture and the elastic is neatly sewn and protected as to not irritate the skin. There is a difference between clothing made specifically for running and just your basic tech gear. I will break each piece down to highlight the good and bad (if there is any) so that you can get a clear picture of the quality.

Nathan Stealth Jacket 2.0

If lightweight is what you are looking for, this is the right jacket for you! The Stealth Jacket 2.0 is an ultralight, soft and quiet jacket designed for the unique needs of runners. It is made of UltraAire™ extremely lightweight and noise free, 2-way stretch fabric that dries quickly. It is as light as tissue paper but has a stretch component that makes this jacket extremely comfortable. The jacket is mysteriously quiet with no “swish, swish” as you run. The back is ventilated to keep your back dry and allow for heat and moisture to escape.

The Stealth Jacket 2.0 is sized true to size. I usually order a medium in shirts and jackets and this one fit perfectly. It has a little extra room in the shoulder/under arm area to allow for the natural movement of a runner. There was plenty of length for my long arms and waist. The hood is adjustable and has a ponytail hole in the back for you long haired runners. It has one reasonable-sized, zippered pocket on the chest for a key, identification or a few gels. The waist band is lightly stretchy and covered with fleece edging to keep the wind out. The wrist cuffs are 1/2 elastic (the bottom side of your wrist). The top is smooth and easily slides over your watch when you need to check your pace.

Lastly, this jacket packs down super small. If you are looking for a light jacket to take backpacking or carry in your race pack, this is the one. I carried it this summer in my race pack at the Leadville 100 and was able to fit it into a snack size Ziplock. It is definitely worth the $100 cost of this jacket for a lightweight-but-durable running jacket that is super-stealthy quiet.

Wind Resistant But Not a Rain Jacket

The jacket is marketed as wind and water resistant. I can vouch for the wind resistance since I did much of my training this summer in the Rocky Mountains. It really performed in the wind and sun, however, I was a disappointed with the water resistance. Nathan indicates it is treated with a DWR, which I know is not water-proof but, it has zero water resistance. When the water drops fell, they soaked right in. Despite the lack of water resistance, this is still my favorite running jacket. It dries super quick and keeps you protected from the sun. It blocks the wind but somehow wicks away the sweat. Unfortunately, it will have to sit out on the rainy days.

Nathan 365 Long Sleeved Hooded Shirt

The 365 Long Sleeved Hooded Shirt has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of clothing. Designed with the protection and moveability that a runner needs, this shirt was the shining star of my shipment. I wore the heck out of this shirt the first month I had it and then lost it at a race! Leaving it at the race was so disappointing and I immediately ordered another.

The 365 Shirt is a thicker, polyester stretch top. It has plenty of length in the arms and waist. If I were to order another, I would probably order down 1 size, as I prefer my running tops a little tighter. There is plenty of room in the shoulder area for movement and it never bunches up in my arm pit while running. The 3-panel hood sets lightly on your head and is sized appropriately so that the weight of the shirt is not pulling down on the hood. The hip area is slightly wider than the waist to fit neatly without looking tight in the hips. Splits on either sides of the hip add to the style and superior fit of this top.

While this shirt has no real fancy bells and whistles, it is super soft and sewn perfectly. There is a snazzy Nathan logo on the right, upper arm. There are no rubs or chafe points and the fit is super comfortable. The material wicks away moisture while providing sun protection and the result is a stylish running shirt that performs well on cooler days. I cannot think of one negative thing to say about this buttery-soft shirt.

Nathan Run Cool Stash Hat

I ordered the Nathan Run Cool Stash Hat in preparation for some summer races that I expected to be quite hot. I was intrigued by the potential to stick ice in my hat to keep me cool. The hat arrived a little too late for my races but I was able to give it a good month of runs before writing this review.

The Run Cool Stash Hat is designed to meet the needs of a runner with ultralight, wicking materials and a slightly stretchy fit. The inside hat band is stretchy and soft. It directs your sweat away from your face so that it runs down the sides rather than into your eyes. This works great! The back of the hat has a reflective adjustment and the ends of the strap tuck away into the hat to keep from flopping around. I especially like that the light grey material did not show moisture. Even when I was sweating at my best, my hat maintained it’s uniform color and never looked gross and discolored. The hat is very wearable and comfortable while running.

I was quite disappointed with the ice pocket. The pocket, while quite large, has a too-large opening near the bottom of the pocket. The ice cubes fell out while I was trying to put the hat on. Any cubes that did happen to stay in while putting the hat on, were pushed out when I stretched the hat on my head. The design would be a lot better if the opening of the pocket was smaller and placed higher on the hat. If I wanted to use it as is, I would have to put the cubes in a baggy. This defeats the purpose as no cold water would run down your neck to keep you cool.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

My experience overall with the Nathan Running Apparel is very positive. The craftsmanship of these garments is exceptional and features well-sewn seams and lightweight fabrics. The materials used in all of the items wicked away moisture and had light stretch. All of the clothing I tested was color fast in the washer and dryer and maintained it’s shape, even the hat! I used these items pretty hard trying to find the fails, but found very few.

Nathan pleasantly surprised me with the quality and comfort of their running gear. I should have ordered long ago! A few more of their items are going on my Christmas list. I would encourage you to check out their website at nathansports.com. You will see that the prices are very reasonable and the products top notch!