craft functional running shirt review
First of all, I would like to thank Codoon for giving me the opportunity to review the functional running shirt from Sweden's CRAFT. Due to frequent business trips recently, I only managed to unbox it a week after it arrived and could only run a half marathon for testing. I apologize for the delay.
I received the black version, which made me quite happy as it's my preferred color scheme. This short-sleeve T-shirt belongs to CRAFT's functional fashion series for running—Devotion. Based on a chest measurement of 100cm, I chose size M, whereas I usually wear XL for race apparel. I was worried it might be too tight, but it turned out to fit perfectly, with a bit of looseness around the chest and underarms, indicating that the sizing is accurate.
The front and back are made of printed fabric, with the front print slightly different from the images in the review room. This part should be fabric 1: 100% polyester, six-channel structure microfiber fabric, which is moisture-wicking. The sides from the underarms to the hem are large mesh structures, which should be fabric 2: 90% polyester, 10% spandex. The mesh structure allows for faster sweat evaporation and cooling.
The short sleeves have 360° reflective strips on both sides, and the CRAFT logo on the chest and the round hole near the collar on the back are also reflective. These details enhance safety from all four directions.
The inner lining of the shirt is white, not black like the front, which was surprising. I initially thought it was double-layered, but after touching it, I confirmed it is a single-layer fabric. Usually, moisture-wicking single-layer fabrics are the same color inside and out.
On the test run day, from 5 AM to 7 AM, the temperature was 25°C-29°C. The first hour was quite cool without any sunlight, but the temperature rose and the sun came out during the second hour.
However, during the actual test, by the time I reached 7 kilometers, I already felt the shirt sticking to my chest due to sweat. By the time I reached 18 kilometers and stopped to take photos, my front and back were completely soaked, and the shirt was clinging to my body. This was quite unexpected, as moisture-wicking fabric should perform better.
The material is light and soft, the cut is snug, and the appearance is top-notch. However, the sweat-wicking performance is disappointing. Especially after running 8 kilometers, the shirt stuck to my chest and back and didn't dry quickly even after finishing the half marathon. I had to take it off and wring it out. Although the hot weather and my heavy sweating contributed, the purpose of a functional T-shirt is to handle heavy sweating. I wonder if it's because the men's version lacks mesh design on the chest and back, whereas the women's sleeveless vest has a mesh design along the back. Is there a gender disparity here?
From this perspective, this T-shirt cannot be my first choice for running training. However, due to its excellent appearance, it can still be a choice for running gatherings and daily wear.