 |
Asics Womens Active Running Top
by sbeach000
As all girls know, the best thing about taking up any new sport is the brilliant excuse it gives us to buy some new clothes! So with the winter weather setting in and my current running outfit of shorts and a T-shirt putting me in danger of acquiring frostbite, it was off to the shops I go (any excuse eh). After checking out what was ... on offer in the winter running tops department I settled on the Asics Active Running Top in pink. I've been wearing this top on all my runs throughout the winter months and have been really pleased with its performance.
** How much is it and where can I find it? **
The top is available in either pink (a nice deep pink not a lurid neon pink!) or black (as shown in the picture here), and in women's UK sizes 10 - 16. I found the Asics Active Running Top whilst perusing the rails in Debenhams, but it is also available online from Sportsshoes.com, Directsportseshop and Amazon (amongst others). The RRP is £25, and that's how much you'll pay at Debenhams, but all the online shops I've seen currently have it on sale for around £20. Personally I think it's worth buying running clothes (at a possibly higher price) from an actual shop rather than online, as the sizing varies so much, and running tops especially are designed to be very fitted. I find there is nothing more disappointing than receiving clothing through the post that doesn't fit as well as hoped and then dealing with the hassle of returning it and starting all over again. Furthermore, Debenhams often have '10% off everything in store' days and so it's worth waiting for those. By taking full advantage of one of these, as well as the extra 10% discount received when signing up for a Debenhams card, I received £5 off my Asics Active Running Top, thus bringing it down to online prices.
** Does it fit well and will it make me look like a running goddess? **
I'm surprised that Asics have only made this top available in 4 sizes. I have the top in a small (size 10) and it fits perfectly, but many fellow runners I know are much slimmer than me and would be left swamped by the smallest size offered here. Additionally with the average UK women's size being a 14, there will be many ladies out here who need this top in a larger size than 16. It's not a particularly stretchy fabric and so you can't really get away with a smaller size than normal. I would like to have seen Asics could producing this top in one size larger and a size smaller than is currently available, as it's a super piece of clothing that should be available to everyone.
The length of this top is perfect for me but I am only 5'1", so taller ladies may find it to be a tad short. The back of the top has a rounded longer hem for improved fit. This means it doesn't ride up, and unlike my other tops I'm not constantly, self-consciously tugging it down to try to cover my bum! The sleeves are about an inch too long, but this is not a problem for shorter women like myself as they have a double cuff which stops them falling down over my hands. It does however mean that if you get warm you can't roll the sleeves up as they are too tight.
The tapered side panelling on the waist and reflective patterns on the back ensure a really flattering look. If like me you are not blessed with a teeny tiny waist then this top helps give the illusion that perhaps you are, always a bonus! There are also a few rows of diagonal stitching on the front that appear to serve no purpose other than for looks. Whatever their purpose they seem to do a good job of adding curves where us ladies want them whilst slim-lining those wobbly bits. I can't attest to this top transforming you into a running goddess but the nifty tailoring certainly makes me feel better about myself.
** Does it live up to its temperature regulating promises? **
In the winter I'm usually freezing for the first five minutes of running and then far too hot and sweaty for the rest of the time. My body is supremely awful at regulating itself at a sensible temperature and embarassingly I often end up looking like I've run a marathon after five minutes of leaving the house! So I've been really pleased to find that this top helps me out a lot in that respect. With, such a long list of technical materials and features, I'm not at all surprised.
The main fabric is made from 52% polyester and 48% coolmax. The polyester gives a nice silky feel to the top as well as a little bit of stretch. This top is not at all scratchy and doesn't rub. The high percentage of coolmax seems great at keeping me cool. Coolmax fabric pulls moisture away from the skin and spreads it throughout the material for increased evaporation. I'm pleased to report I don't return from my runs with any unsightly sweaty patches on my top, even when it feels slightly damp. The coolmax fibres also allow air in for extra coolness and breathability. I really noticed how effective this fabric can be at keeping me dry when I hung it out on the airer after washing it and it fully dried within 15 minutes! These properties are really important with any winter running clothing as wet fabrics will make you chilly.
The Asics Active Running Top has a funnel neck which is snug but not too tight that it feels restricting. Iti s double lined with a mesh panel on the inside for added dryness and warmth qualities. It also features a plastic half zip running down from the neck (which is about 4 inches long). Simply undoing this zip shortly into my runs, makes a real difference in helping me to stay cool. A nicely thought out detail is the addition of a small flap over the top if the zipper so it stays flat to the fabric and stands no chance of rubbing at the neck as you run.
When I picked the Asics Active Running Top of the rail I didn't believe that such a flimsy and lightweight fabric could possibly keep me warm in the winter. Amazingly I was proved completely wrong, and this top keeps me warm enough on frosty mornings not to have to worry about taking out a fleece or jacket. Conversely, on warmer days or longer runs this top has no trouble keeping me cool. A triangular mesh panel on the back as well as curved mesh panels running down the front, sides and the sleeves from the underarm, give me ventilation in the areas which need it the most. And don't worry ladies the mesh is very fine so you won't be inadvertently exposing your non-colour-coordinated underwear!
** Will it last the test of time? **
I wash this top two or three times a week and so it's had a fair amount of laundering in the past few months. However it still looks as good as the day I bought it. The colour has shown no sign of fading, the material is not looking worn or bobbled anywhere, and the reflective adhesive patterns have not come away anywhere. I've followed the guidelines given on the label which recommend washing at 30 degrees, and ironing on a cool setting (avoiding the reflective panels). In fact this top being made of the fabrics it is doesn't tend to crease so ironing is not really necessary. It is not suitable for tumble-drying but as I mentioned it dries so quickly this is not an issue. Fabric softener must not be used on clothing made from coolmax, but this top is already nice and soft so it doesn't need it anyway. As for the other details; the zip seems sturdy enough and it hasn't ever got stuck, and the top has not lost any of its shape over time. Overall I'd rate the durability of the Asics Active Running Top very highly indeed.
** What else? **
Possibly my favourite feature on this Asics top is the reflective pattern on the back down the spine. Instead of the plain reflective strips or piping seen on so much running apparel, Asics have incorporated a row of attractive flower-shaped silver details. They've definitely thought about the location of these reflective details not just in terms of high visibility but also to give what I feel is a streamlined and flattering look. The Asics logo and zip piping is also reflective so you'll have a bit of extra visibility at night from the front as well as the back. Additionally if you choose the pink version of the top instead of the black, it offers really good visibility at dawn and dusk.
** Overall **
This top does everything I want it to - it keeps me warm, dry and comfortable whilst looking good and therefore making me feel good. I think it is super value for money considering how well it is has lasted. I'd recommend this for all ladies out there. I don't think it is limited to running either, it would be great for any aerobic sporting activities.
Thanks for reading my review, I hope it proved useful.
This review appears on both Ciao and Dooyoo under my username sbeach000
Read the complete review |
