15 Most Influential Running Brands Built on Performance, Community & Style

All the best running brands used to be found at your local big box sporting goods store. Nike Dri-Fit and Under Armour were all you needed, but an old cotton tee would do the trick too; you're just going out for a jog after all. That was a long, long time ago. Today, nobody's jogging—but it seems like everybody's running.

A record 55,646 runners finished the New York City Marathon in 2024 (and more than 200,000 tried to get a spot for this year's race). More and more people are taking up running, not just as a daily exercise but as a lifestyle. Run clubs are popping up in every city around the globe, and dozens of bands have sprung up to support every niche within the ever expanding customer base.

In today's fractured media landscape an opportunity exists for smaller, savvy brands to find and build dedicated communities around their particular approach to run culture. From finance bros to recovering punk rockers, a brand now exists just for you. And because good branding means life or death, they're are cooler than ever.

The new running brands are meeting the moment. If running is cool, then running clothing should be, too. In 2025, activewear—a dated term that hasn't found a replacement yet—can't just wick sweat and have well-placed pockets. It has to project lifestyle values. Better yet, access to a subculture (of hot, fit, renegade runners no less). Some brands gatekeep, others run with open arms. With so many running brands out there nowadays, it's important to know where they—and you—fit in.

Below I've outlined the most influential running brands, selected for both their performance capabilities (based on both brand reputation and my own extensive testing experience) and their cultural impact. Also sidestepping hybrid brands like Portal, which makes certifiably cool running gear, but also hiking & cycling. As a lifelong runner and frequent marathoner myself, this one hits close to home. Hope you dig it.

The 15 Best Running Brands Dominating the Culture Right Now

Satisfy

Based in: Paris, France
Year Founded: 2015
Known for: Edgy apparel and something called "MothTech"
Notable Products: MothTech T-Shirts, TechSilk Shorts

To the few who came across Satisfy in its early days, the brand might've seemed like a blip; surely, nobody would spend $140 on a cotton t-shirt with holes in it, (even if they were supposedly for breathability). But founder Brice Partouche knew that he was onto something. Having grown up immersed in punk rock and skateboarding, Partouche recognized the running's creative counterculture spirit (and the hardcore kid to degenerate runner pipeline) before pretty much anyone else. A background as a brand founder primed him to channel it into apparel that's been mimicked but never copied. More and more have become "Running Cult Members," and now Satisfy has a newsprint magazine, supports underground races like The Speed Project, and recently released its first running shoe, TheROCKER.

Bandit

Based in: New York, NY
Year Founded: 2020
Known for: NYC run club vibes in product form
Notable Products: Running Socks, Stamina Scoop Neck Bra

Bandit is one of the fastest-rising apparel brands in running. Founded in 2020 by Tim West, Nick West, and Ardith Singh, the company has gone from a one-product brand (socks) to collabs with ASICS in a few short years. Bandit evolved out of NYC's vibrant run club scene, takes cues from it, and relied on it for its rapid word-of-mouth growth. But the company looks at the fashion scene as much as what's happening in running for inspiration, and operates with similar seasonal drops that members can gain early access and discounts to. Community is core to Bandit—some staple products are always available outside of seasonal drops—but exclusivity is part of the program, too, and many products are quick to sell out.

Tracksmith

Based in: Boston, MA
Year Founded: 2014
Known for: Refined apparel and the amateur spirit
Notable Products: Van Cortlandt Tee, Session Shorts

You can't talk about cool running brands without bringing up Tracksmith, which has been at it for over a decade now. It may not be atop the list of IYKYK cool kid upstarts, but in the new scene, Tracksmith is one of the OGs, one of the first companies to put a lot of effort and energy into run-dedicated branding that puts an emphasis on the sport's history as a lifestyle with hints of inspiration from collegiate athletics and New England roots. Tracksmith has long championed competitive non-professional runners, and its stores in Boston, London, and Brooklyn are hubs for community runs and marathon events. Tracksmith's apparel is refined, not edgy, with minimal branding beyond the recognizable sash (there's typically a tiny hare somewhere, too), and it's all pretty darn nice to run in.

District Vision

Based in: Los Angeles, CA
Year Founded: 2016
Known for: Techno-futuristic eyewear
Notable Products: Junya Racer, Ultralight DWR Wind Jacket

Now based in LA, District Vision emerged from the NYC fashion scene when Tom Daly and Max Vallot melded their shared interest in mindfulness and miles, plus plenty of industry know-how, to create a line of ultralight sunglasses made with premium materials. The lenses, crafted in Japan, are "therapeutic-grade" and designed to reduce eye strain, a latent fatigue that accumulates invisibly during exercise, allowing athletes to get some extra ocular relaxation as they pound the pavement. Of course, DV didn't stop at eyewear, and now has a full apparel line featuring fleeces, tees, tanks, three-layer jackets, and more, including collabs with the likes of industry stalwart New Balance.

Kuta Distance Lab

Based in: Stockholm, Sweden
Year Founded: 2021
Known for: Swedish-made and Scandinavian-toned apparel
Notable Products: Kuta Jacket 001

Hailing from Stockholm, emerging running brand Kuta Distance Lab is doing everything it can to channel its home turf into the apparel it makes. With a made-to-order approach based on a partnership with a small-scale manufacturer in Sweden, KDL is able to produce its collection more sustainably, but it also allows the brand to test everything and adjust designs on the fly. It all results in better apparel, and it's no wonder that pale, earthy colors and Scandinavian minimalism are baked into every piece.

Miler

Based in: New York, NY
Year Founded: 2019
Known for: Super-premium fabrics and NYC aesthetics
Notable Products: Base Running Singlet, Work Running 2-in-1 Short

Unless you're steeped in New York City lore, it's easy to forget that Manhattan is home to one of the most vibrant garment production areas in the world. This is where Miler turns high-quality European- and Japanese-milled fabrics into running apparel that's distinctly N-Y-C (and not just because most of the line comes in black). Ben Morrow, Miler's founder, has been dedicated to instilling the city's particular urban aesthetic into his apparel since the get-go after being inspired by experiences he'd had in the running community there. Miler's collection is tight, focusing on essential pieces that are lightweight and versatile. The brand is also the race apparel sponsor of the Empire Elite Track Club.

Soar

Based in: London, United Kingdom
Year Founded: 2015
Known for: Function-first apparel that blends bright colors with premium fabrics
Notable Products: Speed Shorts, Race Vest

Most of the brands on this list draw inspiration from their geographical surroundings, and Soar is the hometown hero in London. Founded by former DJ and fashion designer Tim Soar with a belief that form always follows function, Soar puts a special emphasis on the materials used in every piece and whether they're best for one type of run, like a race or a trail run, or another. Soar is relentless that everything must work on the run, so everything is tested considerably before release. And don't worry, your friends will always be able to spot you in the pack thanks to Soar's bright and bold color palette.

Norda

Based in: Montreal, Canada
Year Founded: 2020
Known for: Super-rugged, super-stylish trail running shoes
Notable Products: 001

Perhaps no other trail running shoe company has been as quick to catch on as Norda. In its first few years, the Canadian brand, led by footwear industry pros Nick and Willa Martire, went from no name to the name for rugged duds with a stylish flair. Norda shoes have an undeniable cool factor and that's due to the same thing that makes them great to run and walk around in: Grade A materials. Long-lasting shoes made with better stuff was Norda's founding mission—materials like bio-based Dyneema, which is ultralight and very durable, and Vibram midsoles and outsoles. Recently, Norda released the 005, a first-of-its-kind trail race shoe. (Check out our deep dive into how the Norda 005 was designed.)

Path Projects

Based in: California & Utah
Year Founded: 2018
Known for: Building better running shorts
Notable Products: Graves PX Short, Pyrenees T19 Hoodie

Path Projects started with a single idea: make better running shorts. To do it, the company used a direct-to-consumer approach to keep prices down while using the best technical fabrics the team could find. The shorts themselves are light, stretchy, breathable, and have some of the best pockets you'll find. Also, they don't have built-in liners, but Path Projects makes better versions of those too, creating something like a modular short system. The company was quick to take on the upper body too, making tees, jackets, and one of the most versatile hoodies for running.

Ciele

Based in: Montreal, Canada
Year Founded: 2014
Known for: Running hats of every size, shape, and color
Notable Products: GOCap, DLYTShirt

Lots of companies make hats for running, but none are as well-known for it as Ciele. A combination of performance fabrics and color-blocked designs has turned the company's headwear into something of a secret handshake—if you see someone rocking Ciele, you know they're a runner. A light and breathable five-panel is the original design, but now Ciele makes short-brimmed hats, deep hats, bucket hats, insulated hats for winter, and, more recently, a line of apparel that's just as thoughtful and focused on fabric tech (and playfully designed) as the caps.

Janji

Based in: Boston, MA
Year Founded: 2012
Known for: Lighthearded designs and a global giveback program
Notable Products: Trail Half Tight, Multipass Sling Bag

Janji may be one of the older brands in this crowd, but it might have the most youth in its spirit. Every season, Janji draws inspiration from a different part of the world and teams up with local artists and nonprofits focusing on clean water solutions to retool its line of performance running apparel and accessories with colors and patterns fit for trails and roads. Janji's clothes might not be as edgy or in keeping with TikTok style trends as others, but it's great to, you know, actually run in (and Janji bottoms have some of the best pockets for carrying stuff on the move).

Unna

Based in: Stockholm, Sweden
Year Founded: 2020
Known for: Merging performance, fashion, and a joyful approach
Notable Products: Smiles Club Tee, Flow Shorts

Founded by fashion designer John-Ruben Holtback, Unna makes performance apparel to promote a message that performance isn't the most important thing. Instead, Unna just wants runners to feel the joy and well-being that running can bring them, whether that comes from training for a marathon or jogging around town. Good clothes are important for both, Unna says, and not everything needs a logo.

Balmoral

Based in: Montreal, Canada
Year Founded: 2018
Known for: High-end track club clothing
Notable Products: Metropole Crewneck, Eldridge Tank Top

Canadian brand Balmoral states that its primary concerns when it comes to apparel are quality, sustainability, and how it can promote a general sense of well-being. In practice, the brand's line of premium sportswear is distinctly collegiate-inspired, with straightforward designs and classic logo styling. Cotton hoodies and tees are collection mainstays, but there are singlets and split shorts for the speed-minded fans of the brand, too. All of it is made in Canada, often with Canadian-milled fabrics.

Near Earth

Based in: Munich, Germany
Year Founded: 2022
Known for: Minimally branded socks
Notable Products: The Distance Sock

Professional photographer Christian Brecheis and designer David Benedek saw similarities between running's increasingly vibrant culture and what's happened in sports like snowboarding. They also saw that socks weren't keeping up with the lofty state of shoes, so they decided to make their own. Their two models, the Distance Sock and the Race Day Sock, are super minimal, made with high-end materials, feature carefully designed areas of cushion and breathability, and no logos (minus a subtly knit comet on the side).

Cadence

Based in: New York, NY
Year Founded: 2024
Known for: Salty hydration with good branding
Notable Products: Core 500 RTD

Not even athletic nutrition is immune to a good brand identity, and Cadence is delivering aesthetics alongside a small range of hydration products. With founders who hail from the entrepreneur world, the company launched with a canned ready-to-drink that tastes similar to Sprite but comes enhanced with 500mg of sodium aka electrolytes per serving, more than typical hydration products. More recently, Cadence came out with a cola-flavored can and powdered sachets that include formulations for recovery and pre-race. Cadence still has IYKYK status and, now, you know.