The RW Takeaway: For runners wanting to step away from chemical-heavy activewear, the fibers in Tasc’s Air Flow Short are made from the stuff your favorite cuddly bears munch on.
- BamCo fabric liner translates to natural fibers—and a comfortable fit
- Deep pockets store gels and gummies for long run fuel
- While the liner is made of natural fiber, the rest of the short is made of a polyester blend—but it’s a step in the right direction for utilizing natural over synthetic
Price: $78
Sizes: S to XXL
Inseam: 7 inches
Colors: Black, Smoked Pearl
From midrace water cups made from seaweed to veggie burgers designed to taste like meat, products across the running marketplace are being replaced by greener alternatives. The Tasc Air Flow short reinvents this concept, creating a short liner that incorporates an organic material not just to save the dolphins, but for boosting performance.
Their natural solution to apparel production—and maybe even, faster times: bamboo.
Pros
- Deep pockets for storing fuel
- 7-inch inseam coverage
- Produced by a company with a mission to step away from chemical applications in apparel-making
Cons
- Pricey
- Only half of the material (in the liner) is made from bamboo
Before you scramble to double-check the Instagram stories of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s beloved Tian Tian and Bei Bei, yes, bamboo IS what pandas eat. It’s also one of the most sustainable—and comfortable—fibers on the planet.
Plenty of Pocket Storage
Tasc gives runners everything they need for interval training or a weekend of LSD. The 7-inch seam may be far from NBA-length, but they’re long enough to provide protection while bushwhacking through thick summer brush. The deep pockets were able to hold gels, tissues, and two Buffs without feeling bulky against the leg. There’s also a single zipper pocket for securing keys and some loose cash—a relief for anyone wanting to finish their run with the taste of the season, the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
The liner is soft and supportive, more so than you’d expect from panda food. It’s also one of the more absorbent I’ve tested. While a 12-mile run left the polyester exterior predictably soaked, there was no bathing suit feeling from the inside of the waistband.
Not 100% Natural—But They’re Halfway There
Before you call your broker and start investing in bamboo, any PRs set in the shorts will be from your own doing. Aside from half of the material used in the liner, the rest of the shorts are made of polyester blends. The natural material is a step in the right direction for more eco-conscious athletic wear; we can only hope more brands take the lead in the years to come.
Since becoming a video producer for Runner’s World in 2014, Derek has captured such historic moments as Meb Keflezighi and Desiree Linden’s Boston victories and Amy Cragg’s win at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan breaking the tape in Chicago and New York, respectively.
