Thanks to Ms. C. for getting some nice photos of the Run: Reflective Jacket. It looks like the same jacket as last year, to me, though the price is $50 cheaper. The lulu version is a very nice price compared to a similar
Nike jacket which is $450. I know some of you have been looking for these again. I've only seen the silver version pop up this year. Last year there was
also a black version.
19 comments:
that jacket is too heavy for running. it also does not breathe well. I saw a NIKE one at the run store here in NYC that was around $250ish and it's lighter & more breathable. I could see using this jacket for hiking or walking around at night, but not for running.
M
Awful looking and weird, rubbery feeling not to mention way overpriced. I don't see how that possibly can be breathable at all. You wouldn't be able to wear it in warmer weather, so the cost benefit analysis isn't good.
I run a in the dark a lot and have done Hood to Coast and Ragnar Relays multiple times. The best, most visible and much cheaper thing is the Zinglet with the front and back flashing LED lights (Zinglet Flash LED). I cannot say this enough. Plus, you can wear the Zinglet over just a bra, so great for summer night time running, it doesn't chafe. It costs $44.50 on the Amphipod website. So year round wear, more visibility, better safety and cheaper--I hope you guys who run in the dark check it out.
What is up with all these off center zippers, it looks weird.
Or you could get the Running Room Extreme Illuminate Jacket. It retails for $210 right now, and im my opinion is head over heals better than the Lulu one. It has bendy parts at the elbows, doesn't feel like its made out of inner tube material, it breaths but it also keeps you warm and cozy.
I am a die hard Lulu fan, but I would easily pass up their version for this one, in fact I did.
I have been wanting this since last year, but at $300, found it difficult to justify. At $248 this year I convinced the BF to give it to me for Christmas.
I am a 6 or 8 (5'6" 125 lbs 34D) in lulu jackets. I took the 6 in this.
I love the fabric, very soft/supple considering it's outerwear and fully reflective. I found I could wear up to several layers under it, making it great for year round use. I don't love the offset zipper, but can live with it. I can zip it all the way up only if there are no additional layers on my neck. Otherwise I just leave the very top open and the flap down. In the size 6 I found I was actually able to layer the following underneath it - power Y, Star Runner zip neck, patagonia R3 hoody; uniglo down sweater. Yes, I looked a bit like a stuffed sausage, but it worked. Just could not zip it all the way up...but did not need to.
I'll be interested to see what others think.
I agree with LLA for what it is, this is good value at $248. The competition is higher priced. The fabric is clearly highly specialized...a big contributing factor to the cost.
I'm not a low light runner, but I do walk my dog every evening and night in the winter on a windy road with limited lights and visibility. This jacket makes me feel much safer.
I used to want pretty much every new LLL jacket (not so much in the last year, though). I don't want this jacket or "need" it. I would still classify myself as a hardcore runner but I now limit my winter running to the weekends, in the light. I used to slog it out in the dark in winter, whether the morning or evening. Man I recall some cold days, but I was just a machine. I do adore my Run Bundle Up Jacket for winter running!
Now I do yoga more and I'm so happy to do yoga more. Yoga used to get pushed aside because I always wanted to book a run. Now I'm more balanced and it's awesome. Shakti Activewear is definitely getting some of my money over LLL, for side string shorts anyway. So cute and amazing for Bikram Yoga. (They also have great crops and other items.)
I don't run, but use this as a windbreaker. LOVE it and have both colors!
Fully reflective fabric like this costs more than twice as much as regular fabric. It feels different because it *is* different. It's a technical fabric with a very specific purpose of function. No matter what, it will never feel like regular fabric. This is intended for winter night running I'm sure, when the days are short and the nights are long. it gets dark by 5:30pm. If I had the money, I would buy it. But I simply cannot afford it at this cost. I would have to forgo about two months of uploads to afford it. LOL
Anon 9:05 Don't take off the tags on your jacket from your BF. While LLL reduced the price of jacket this year, it may not help sell it any better. I believe this jacket will go on sale on Boxing Day or later. It was not a big bit last year. I saw a lot of them at the Bellingham outlet store. With the extended return period you can wait it out and see if this goes on sale.
I agree with many of the comments. I would not run in this jacket either. I debated buying it at the outlet but just couldn't think up a good use for it.
I loved the high visibility idea. I did find a Nike reflective vest at Winners for $134 so bought that. It is reversible too with less reflectivity on the reverse side. I used it while bike riding beside my son when he was roller skiing in the evenings.
Meh. Save your money and wear a high vis vest over a nicer, more versatile jacket.
@1:50 PM - Hmmmmm LULU CS - are you located in Canada or US?
@ 2:48 PM (I'm not 9:05), interesting you saw a lot of these on on markdown. I thought this was a big seller? Didn't it sell out on-line quickly? I also saw it sell out in stores in my city...or maybe they just moved it to Vaughan Mills outlet? Anyone know?
I personally don't want it. I understand its purpose but there are better jackets, and as others have pointed out, other methods of adding reflectivity for running in the dark (I have them, lights, bands etc.) I get it though, you're hard to miss in this jacket.
Anon 2:48PM
Leaving tags on for now. Thought of that too. Last year they carried over the inventory, this year they shld mark it down. At least it's captive in my closet for now.
It also smudges really easily, but comes right out if you wash it (not that I intend to do that much since I'm not running in it.)
2:48 is right I saw them at Burlington outlet beginning of nov. I only checked my size rack (6) so I don't know if they were available in other sizes at the outlet
Running Room is in Canada. We don't have them in the US except for, I think a store in MN. My relay team won gift cards from there at a relay in Whistler two years in a row, and we had to make a special stop in Vancouver to use them. Their online store didn't ship here.
Anon@1:50, I have other Illuminite items (hat, shorts, shirts and jacket from InSport--so pretty old), and the hand of the fabric, while slightly stiff, still feels better than the Run Reflect jacket. They are also pretty breathable. Your best night time protection (geez, I sound like a condom ad!) are highly reflective things with blinking LED lights on front and back. Cars will see the lights before their headlights show your reflectivity.
So I'm a new addict - can someone tell me about the boxing day sale please? Is it online and in stores and I assume they are markdowns so all final sale?
Thanks!
@ 5:26 AM, are you Canadian or American? Just trying to put it in context: Boxing Day is a Canadian holiday, it's Dec. 26th. Stores mark everything down quite a bit. Boxing Day sales will happen on-line and in store (in Canada, at least. I don't remember if they do it in the US stores consistently too?) Last year, some of the in store markdowns were much better than on-line. Also, last year, on-line LLL scr_wed customers on some items: 3 days after Boxing Day they marked down most jackets (e.g. Bundle Up, Fluff items) an extra $50 and wouldn't price adjust if you bought it the first day (which, many people did because snooze can = lose. I know some customers screamed loudly and some--not all-- received an adjustment from the odd GEC rep.) So fair warning, who knows what they'll do this year, although I would hope they would not pull that stunt again.
Hope this helps. Cheers.
p.s. sales are final sale (generally. There are instances where they've made exceptions). Also, if you currently don't know what sizing works best for you in various things, if possible, try the items on now. Just to try, not yet to buy.
For safety purposes, high visibility Safety vest and Reflective tape are going to make you far more visible.
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