What if you could get all of the performance benefits you love about synthetic fabrics but without all of the smell? It no longer a dream. La Sportiva brings a solid offering with the Motion Shirt and the Rapid Shorts.
La Sportiva Motion Shirt & Rapid Shorts Features:
- Underarm mesh venting inserts
- Polygiene anti-odor and anti-bacterial treatment
- Chafe-free comfort
- Flatlock seam technology
- Bluesign approved fabric
- 1 Rear zipper pocket (shorts)
- Body-mapped seamless inner brief
- Reflective details
- Integrated drawcord
- UPF 50 rated
- MSRP: Motion Shirt – $39.00; Rapid Short – $129
Look what I found. What a great trail running kit.
Where’s the smell?
Hands down the best feature of the La Sportiva Motion Shirt and the La Sportiva Rapid Shorts is the application of Polygiene. Polygiene is a technology that prevents the growth of the bacteria that make our synthetic shirts and shorts smell terrible.
In a typical synthetic running shirt it starts to smell after day 1 but I can usually stand a second use before it fully achieves “what’s that smell?” status. So to test this out I decided I’d wear the Motion Shirt and Rapid Short for as many runs and workouts in a row until I couldn’t stand it anymore.
Can you tell that I don’t smell?
In the peak of summer heat I was able to get five runs/workouts in them before achieving “what’s that smell?” status. That’s pretty good in my opinion. It still doesn’t stand up to merino wool but it’s a solid effort for a synthetic shirt.
Rear pocket is big enough for a gel and your keys.
The Rapid Short are unique
The quality of the Motion Shirt is high. Sizing runs true to size. The fabric is smooth and comfortable on the skin and it wicks well.
The Rapid shorts are special. Special as in, not like any other shorts I’ve run it. The most noticeable difference between the Rapid and other shorts I’ve worn is the liner. It extends down the legs and past the bottom of the shorts. I appreciated the additional length, especially with a 6″ inseam (I’m not a fan of shorty-shorts). It felt good to have the slightest compression feeling and it definitely helps to reduce chafing. It also helped to provide some necessary support. The drawback I found was when I’d run it would slowly work it’s way up and I’d have to keep pulling it down.
All around, the Rapid Shorts had good performance. They wick perspiration nicely, gave good support (as noted above), and were comfortable to wear.
The good and bad of the toggle.
My biggest gripe is with the drawstring. The drawstring itself was fine but it was the toggle. It sticks out a bit, shows through the shirt, and gets in the way if you wear a run belt.
Sizing runs true to size. I typically wear a large but was able to squeeze into the medium. Would have been more comfortable in the large. Maybe the liner would have stayed down better… Also, wearing a size smaller was a little more revealing than I would like. It wasn’t bad but more noticeable than other shorts I’ve worn.
The Good
- Go smell free for longer
- Less washing means longer life
- Good support with the shorts
The Bad
- Liner rides up when moving
- Drawstring toggle gets in the way if you wear a running belt
The Bottom Line: La Sportiva Motion Shirt & Rapid Shorts
There’s a lot to gain and relatively little to give with this running kit. You’ll get good performance and longevity. Choose to go smell-free, your running partners will thank you.
Buy Now: Motion Shirt or Rapid Shorts at Moosejaw.com
