HUNTAWAY RUN CO. TRAIL TEE & 3R CAP

New Zealand, you seriously know how to create running gear that’s out of this world.

Seriously. Huntaway Run Co. is in a league all on its own, and deserves to sit at the very top of the game.

Let me explain.

Dr Inia Raumati and Dr Vicki Lim who, as it just so happens, have both contributed articles to TRM in 2023, and it was through collaborating with them on their contributions that I discovered the couple were the driving force – the creators – of Huntaway Run Co.

I was on board to test out their products and see what they'd developed for the trail, so in no time at all I was delivered the company's Ranger Trail Tee, Foster Trail Shorts (which I'll review in an upcoming edition of TRM because they are just so mint!), and their reversible 3R Cap.

With the inspiration of their branding coming from their own furbaby Doug, a rescue Huntaway who has since become their favourite running partner, Inia and Vicki came up with hard-working trail gear that's truly hard to beat.

The Ranger Trail Tee is probably the smoothest, most softest material I've ever run in. No joke, despite it being all black, I hit my local off-road paths and trails right at the height of summer, and didn't feel any burn. And even though the sun was out – and out high it was – I knew I should have been sweating; but the Huntaway Run Co. Trail Tee wicked everything away and when I came through the door, surprise had taken me that there were no sweat marks to be seen.

I'm also generally not a fan of shirts that don't feature a v-neck version, and thought I'd have been pulling at the neck line for most of my run, however that never happened and I later forgot that usually it was something that bothered me.

Onto the tech specs of the shirt. The Ranger

Trail Tee is made of a TENCEL and Umorfil blend (TENCEL is soft and silky with a drape-like finish and breathes beautifully like cotton, whilst Umorfil has skin health properties imparted in the fabric, provides protection from UV light, and is an innovative product – both have sustainability reputations), meaning it kept me cool while at the same time being kinder to the planet as a product made from regenerated cellulose and upcycled fish scales from the aquaculture industry.

The Trail Tee fits to size with room to spare, and it's one of those shirts you actually don't want to take off no matter how much you've sweated in it. The logo looks awesome on the front left while a bigger version sits at the back, and this is one of my go-to's for hot, humid run days because I know the performance won't disappoint.

The Huntaway 3R Cap is also a favourite. Reversible with a neat deep green pattern on the ‘inside'

(fun fact: it's actually a topographical map of Inia and Vicki's Riverhead stomping grounds) and the original ‘outside' pattern featuring the Huntaway dog from their logo with a deep greyish-blue colour, it doesn't sit on my head like a stiff baseball cap. I quite like the logo when I'm wearing it, but enjoy the fact I can so easily ‘flip it and reverse it', and it's also good to know that both sides are recycled, reflective and reversible (hence the 3R in its product name).

When it comes to price, yes, it might be a bit on the more dear side of running shirts and hats, but I'm telling you now it is 100% worth it. When I write that you won't regret making the purchase or hitting the trails with a Huntaway Run Co. product, I mean it. Inia and Vicki have poured their life savings into athletic gear that is high quality, comfortable and dare I say…perfect.

It's made for the trails – or anywhere your dog takes you.

VITALS

RRP Ranger Trail Tee $58.00 NZD RRP 3R Cap $38.00 NZD HUNTAWAYRUNCO.COM