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I put five pieces of Runderwear running kit to the test, from its high-impact sports bra to anti-blister socks – and discovered just how much difference the little things can make.
The cleverly named Runderwear is all about the running kit you might overlook when you're shopping for trainers and leggings, but which can make an enormous difference once you start clocking up the miles.
Anyone who has reached the halfway point of a run only to feel something rubbing in a place it really shouldn't will know the importance of great sports underwear.
Runderwear specialises in running underwear, clothing and accessories designed to tackle exactly those niggles, with a big focus on preventing chafing, rubbing and blisters.
What is Runderwear?
Runderwear was created specifically for runners, with comfort the primary consideration. Its range has grown considerably and now includes underwear, sports bras, socks, base layers, shorts and accessories for both women and men.
The brand makes a big deal of preventing one of running's less appealing side effects: chafing. Its technical fabrics are designed to wick moisture away from the skin, while seamless construction or carefully positioned seams aim to reduce rubbing.
It's specialist kit rather than bargain sportswear, though, so I wanted to know whether I'd genuinely notice a difference when I was out running.
The five Runderwear products I tested
The Energize Running Bra in black, £39, is a high-impact sports bra developed specifically for running. It's the fifth generation of what was previously Runderwear's Original Running Bra, with the latest version designed to deliver plenty of support without feeling unnecessarily bulky.
The Women's Long Boxer in black, £23, is designed to provide extra coverage while helping to prevent chafing and rubbing. Made from lightweight technical fabric, it's designed to wick moisture away from the skin and stay comfortable as the miles mount up.
New to the Runderwear collection is the Women's Base Layer top in teal, £49. It’s designed as a lightweight layer for cooler runs, with technical fabric intended to wick moisture away from the skin while providing extra warmth without feeling unnecessarily heavy or bulky.
Then there are the Unisex Anti Blister Low Socks in white, £15. Feet can take a battering when you're running, so these are designed to manage moisture and reduce friction, helping to keep blisters at bay.
Finally, I've been trying the Running Gloves in black, £25. They're lightweight and designed to keep hands warm on colder runs while remaining breathable once you start to heat up.
What I like about Runderwear
The biggest compliment I can pay running underwear and clothing is that I forget I'm wearing it. I don't want to spend several miles pulling at my underwear, adjusting my clothes or wondering whether the tiny rub on my heel is about to turn into a blister.
The long boxers stay in place brilliantly and are the epitome of comfort. I’ll be buying them again. The base layer is soft and warm without being overly so and, importantly when you start working up a sweat, it’s breathable too.
My favourite piece of the five is the Energize bra. It’s easy to get on and off and offers the sort of support you absolutely need when running. Once it’s on, everything feels reassuringly secure and I can forget about it, which is exactly what I want from a running bra.
The socks smack of quality and grip my feet well with no hint of sliding around inside my trainers. The gloves were my first pair bought specifically for running and I’ve really noticed the difference they make, especially on chilly early mornings. I was worried my hands would get too warm and I’d end up taking them off halfway round, but I’ve actually kept them on throughout my runs.
What I particularly like about the range as a whole is that Runderwear concentrates on the niggly little problems that can spoil a run. None of these products is going to make me run faster, but if I'm not thinking about uncomfortable underwear, bouncing, blisters, getting too hot or cold fingers, that's a pretty good start.
After washing four of the five pieces several times since I first tried them, I’ve also been impressed by how well they’ve held up. The fit, softness and technical feel that impressed me when they were new are all still there, with nothing so far to suggest they won't cope well with the regular wash-and-wear cycle that running kit inevitably gets.
What I don't like about Runderwear
Specialist running kit comes at a price, and Runderwear isn't the cheapest option. The five pieces I tested come to £151, so buying the lot in one go would be quite an investment.
But I'm struggling to find much I actively dislike about the products themselves. If I were choosing where to spend my money first, I'd start with the pieces where I've noticed the biggest difference compared with my usual running kit rather than feeling I needed Runderwear from head to toe.
The £15 socks, for example, are considerably more expensive than an everyday pair, while £25 for running gloves might initially seem a lot for something you could easily overlook. But these aren't everyday socks or gloves with a running label attached. They're designed specifically to deal with the problems runners encounter, and that's where much of their value lies.
Verdict
Runderwear has won me over. I started this test wondering how much difference specialist underwear, socks and accessories could really make, but it turns out the little things matter rather a lot when you're running.
The Energize bra is my standout and the long boxers are another product I can see myself buying again, but there hasn't been a dud among the five things I've tested. Even the running gloves, which I might previously have considered an unnecessary extra, have earned their place in my kit.
Yes, you pay more than you would for generic sportswear, and someone who only heads out for the occasional short jog may not feel the need to invest in everything. But the further and more frequently you run, the more important those seemingly insignificant bits of kit can become.
If they keep me comfortable enough to concentrate on my running rather than what's rubbing, slipping, bouncing or freezing, they're doing exactly what I need them to do.