I get that “tech” fabrics are cheaper and more accessible these days, but does EVERY race T-shirt have to be a “tech” shirt. Like most of you, I am fairly picky about my training gear (and I also prefer not to rock tech gear casually) so most of these t-shirts end up in a drawer never to be worn or seen again. Am I alone in preferring a nice fitted, cotton, T-shirt that I can wear casually with shorts or jeans?
Gildan, Fruit of the Loom, Hanes…I miss you so very much!
This sounds like a personal problem.
Start wearing those tech t-shirts to work, easter sunday, family events, to the pub!
I’d never wear a race T-shirt casually, they only get used for training or gardening. So very happy with tech fabric, though would prefer some of them aren’t quite so cheap and nasty!
Like most of you, I am fairly picky about my training gear (and I also prefer not to rock tech gear casually)
Training gear? For running? I rock the tech race shirts on just about every run I go on (unless I am shirtless)… And casually I wear my race shirts all the time around the house, mowing the yard, around town running errands.
I am fine with tech.
I’m with you: I miss plain old cotton race shirts. But I think we’re in a minority, based on other surveys I’ve seen.
It’s actually a funny issue and I agree with you. Funny in that just a half dozen or so years ago we were complaining about all the cotton T shirts and I personally had literally stacks of them, folded on my closet floor that were as tall as me. Then the tech shirts starting coming out and that was great because now I had more rotational workout clothes for the gym and my runs (I’m picky too, but generally the race tech shirts are great for runs). Now I usually tell the volunteers handing out the shirt I don’t want one. Occasionally they still say “oh this is a nice tech shirt” and I’ll say I have too many already. Sucky thing is the tech shirts don’t work as well as the cotton shirts for cleaning your bike.
Ohhhh the problems we have.
Personally, I like the races that hand out different things, arm warmers, hats, gloves etc. Fred Lebow Half Marathon in Jan had “old school” cycling hats since Fred always wore one. That was cool. I got a couple and gave them to my 15 mo old twins. They love the hats.
I did two races last year that gave out cotton t-shirts.
Good question. I have way too many tech shirts. I want the cotton back!
I agree, the tech shirts don’t clean cars and bikes nearly as well as the cotton ones.
Thank you. I was talking about this last night with my wife. I’ll use the tech tees for running or other gym work. But nothing screams “TOOL” to me more than somebody wearing one casually to the grocery store, Disney World, or anywhere outside your property that doesn’t involve working out or an activity that involves heavy sweating. That is why I do not wear them. They also do not recover well from a simple snag, so they look bad quickly.
This is a lot less of problem for me these days but there were years when I racked up almost 20 shirts from races (mostly running). Most went to Goodwill. I like it when they do socks or towels or little gear bags or something else.
I hand the shirts back. The day that events stop producing yet-another-shirt-we-don’t-need will be a good day.
You have to get something that proves you were there. How will people know you are a triathlete?
If it were a plain-colour shirt with a small logo, fine. But with all the logos on race shirts these days, it doesn’t matter what material it’s made of - you won’t see me in it “casually”. Might as well have another tech shirt for the gym. I have a long list of friends and family who don’t race and wouldn’t spend money on a tech shirt, and they really appreciate it when you hand them a pile in preparation of their first 5K.
However, I don’t understand races that hand out low-quality tech shirts. As far as I’m concerned, Go Big or Go Home - if an organizer gives out brand-name, higher quality shirts, there’s a better chance of people using it and his logo being seen. Last year’s Jerusalem Marathon had proper New Balance shirts which are one of my favourites, whereas this year’s was a low-quality shirt with the logo stamped on - and it went straight to the charity pile.
On the other hand, those in warmer climates appreciate tech clothing even for everyday life. I often wear a race shirt around the house or when running errands in the summer when the temperatures soar.
By casually, I meant running to the grocery store, Home Depot, playing with the kids, etc.
I agree, maybe it’s the quality that bugs me more than anything, as well as the massive, poorly designed logos all over everything.
These truly are first world problems…
Personally I use all the shirts for running as I am not that picky. But I did get a shirt at the Lifetime Tri in Dallas last year that is a cotton blend that feels and wears awesome. I would actually buy that shirt if not given to me as it fits really well and feels awesome.
Now the other thing is either I am getting smaller (which is actually somewhat true) or the shirts are getting larger. I have a sneaky suspicion it is the latter.
A bag of cotton rags instead of a race shirt would certainly save me time.
Is it still important to get a Race Shirt?
I asked that question in a blog I wrote a year ago.
http://stevefleck.blogspot.ca/.../the-race-shirt.html
Has anything changed?
I hand the shirts back. The day that events stop producing yet-another-shirt-we-don’t-need will be a good day.
But then what will you wear to your next race check in to let everyone know how badass you are?
We have a pretty big running weekend every year with a very popular half-marathon/marathon on Thanksgiving weekend. I swear everyone who owns a Boston jacket or any IM apparel wears it to the race package pick up expo. God help us if these people ever discover crossfit, we would never hear the end of it.
You have to get something that proves you were there. How will people know you are a triathlete?
By two different USAT stickers on my car, an M-dot sticker, a license plate holder with Triathlete on top and Swim Bike Run below. Once I exit said car, they will see my M-dot tattoo on my calf AND shoulder. If they don’t see either I will be sure to somehow work “I’m a triathlete” into my response to “debit or credit”. Of course I’ll be wearing too short running shorts and a TECH race T-shirt, sport sunglasses and my Vibrams (hey, I’m training my feet too)! Ha ha.