catch the tail of summer put on craft 5 inch shorts

At the beginning of this report, I want to express my deep gratitude for being selected. I've been using Codoon since I started running, which has been over two years now, and I've been loyal to it. Knowing about this evaluation opportunity, I kept applying and was finally chosen out of thousands, which is a rare opportunity. Besides being grateful, the most important thing is to do a good evaluation and write a good report.

Friends, did you see that? What is popularity? This is popularity. Out of 340,000 applicants, only one in ten was selected. This number shows that Codoon is now a household name in the sports community.

CRAFT, some may know it, but many might not. Let's get a general understanding of this brand first. Craft is an international high-end functional sportswear brand founded in Sweden. Craft is involved in many sports, both popular and niche. Craft was the first to propose the 'three-layer dressing principle,' providing continuous comfort during exercise and helping you achieve optimal performance.

∵Unpacking

Craft's packaging is similar to most sportswear products, a simple transparent plastic bag, which is quite common. However, a big brand should probably use a more exquisite box.

Here are the product parameters. The shorts for this evaluation are black. The fabric composition chart shows that they are made of spandex and polyester, indicating good quick-drying performance.

I am 182 cm tall, weigh around 80 kg, with a waist circumference of 90 cm and a hip circumference of 100 cm.
I initially chose XL, but due to a stock shortage, I opted for L. I usually wear XL for running clothes, thinking European sizes should be fine.

∵Craft Essential Shorts Appearance

The first touch of the shorts was really nice, smooth, delicate, and soft. The style is not much different from regular shorts, except for too many folds, haha.

∵Craft Essential Shorts Functional Details

A glance at all the technology shows that these small shorts contain many functions. The designers put a lot of effort into making them better for running.

First, the most impressive detail is the brand logo. The logo aligns with the standing direction, featuring six dots of varying sizes arranged in a triangle, which I really like. The reflective points in a streamlined arrangement next to it are eye-catching and enhance the leg lines. The lines and logos on both sides are made of reflective materials, improving visibility during night runs and making them safer.

To enhance my fondness for this logo, here's a close-up. It looks like a billiard ball setup. The middle of the side features large mesh breathable fabric, allowing better sweat and breathability during exercise.

'The best fit ever' comfort is everywhere. The sides of the waist also use large transparent mesh design, ensuring dry and comfortable exercise.

The front waist uses a drawstring design to make the shorts fit better and avoid the embarrassment of slipping during intense exercise, allowing you to focus more on running.

Even a small drawstring reflects the brand's quality. The drawstring feels great, not made of random materials.

The drawstring's entry and exit points are edge-locked to prevent fraying from frequent pulling over time.

The inner side of the waist uses an elastic band design. I didn't understand why the elastic band wasn't fully covered, maybe to reduce fabric usage. On the other hand, these shorts have an inner lining, so the elastic band being sandwiched between the lining and outer fabric is fine.

The back waist features a zippered storage pocket, which looks quite practical. Let's see how useful it is later.

The zipper on the back pocket looks high-quality, with a string attached to the zipper pull and a small logo on the plastic head fixing the string. This small detail is very appealing. The stitching around the pocket is neat and sturdy, ensuring long-term use without easily breaking.

The pocket lining is made of the same breathable mesh material as the sides of the shorts, with large holes and strong breathability.

Clearly, my 5.5-inch phone won't fit in the pocket. Phones with screens under 4 inches might fit, but since most phones are now large-screen smartphones, it's better to use a waist or arm pouch. However, this small pocket is suitable for carrying energy gels, bars, salt tablets, or small items like change, keys, and cards during workouts.

What is the small hole on the inner lining corresponding to the pocket for? I later realized it's connected to the pocket, allowing earphones to pass through if you store an MP3 player. However, I never use wired earphones while running as they feel cumbersome. This design is just for your information.

These Craft shorts come with an inner lining. I've worn two other shorts with linings before, but they were uncomfortable. I always preferred my own shorts for running. However, for this evaluation, I wore them and found them surprisingly comfortable. The fabric is comfortable, and the elasticity is just right.

From the picture, you can see that the inner lining fabric is very breathable and transparent. It looks rough on the surface but feels delicate to the touch. The elastic bands on both sides are also moderately tight, not too tight. The overall edge-locking is neat, with no severe friction, making it very comfortable.

The bottom of both sides of the shorts features a split design with edge-locking. This split design is common in many sports brands, allowing better performance during intense exercise.

∵Craft Essential Shorts Actual Experience

On a sunny afternoon, I went to the school track to try on the Craft sports shorts. The wearing experience was great, feeling light as a feather, everything felt so natural.

Even with the best gear, you need to stretch before running to fully activate your body. No matter how I stretched, the shorts held up well. The fabric has some elasticity, making movement more free.

I unknowingly ran several laps on the track, totaling 17 kilometers. The weather was moderate, with a slight breeze and slightly high humidity. After jogging, I felt very comfortable, not tired. Maybe it's because of the season, I didn't sweat profusely, just normal sweating. The front of the shorts remained dry.

My back was soaked with sweat, and the back of the Craft shorts was wet down to the lower buttocks. As seen in the picture, even when heavily wet, they didn't stick to the body. This is partly due to the inner lining and partly due to the breathable, quick-drying materials like polyester and spandex, keeping the shorts dry and comfortable after sweating.

You can see in this video recorded after running 17 kilometers, the shorts still flutter in the wind, unrestricted, allowing free movement. It's truly a blessing for sports enthusiasts.

The reflective logos and streamlined reflective strips on both sides greatly enhance visibility at night, increasing safety during night runs.

∵Craft Essential Shorts Summary

Before the summer completely ends, I wore the Craft 5-inch shorts for a few runs. Soon, it will be too cold for shorts. The actual experience was great. Through this evaluation, I got to know the Craft brand and felt the European touch. With these shorts, I can focus more on running without worrying about discomfort.

Advantages:

Reflective logos and streamlined reflective points for safer night runs;
Multiple breathable mesh panels for quick moisture wicking and heat dissipation;
Lightweight, slightly elastic functional fibers, feeling light as a feather, with excellent breathability and sweat-wicking effects;
Zippered storage pocket on the back waist for easy storage of personal items.

Suggestions:

The inner lining design may not suit everyone, so consider designing another version without the inner lining;
Why are there no reflective strips on the front and back, only on the sides? Adding some would be nice, as vehicles approach from the front and back during road runs.