I wasn't expecting to come home with the Rush Hour Half zip yesterday but I really liked it when I tried it on. I am a huge half zip fan (the Race with Grace and Face the Frost are probably my favorites) but I haven't bought a rulu one since the Energy Pullover came out in 2009. I've been waiting for a relatively simple, solid-colored one that zips into a turtleneck to come along. The last two years I've bought herringbone and pique pullovers but none of them had a centered zipper that zipped into a true turtleneck.
The rulu on the Chilled Grape is nicely thick. Rulu fabric seems to have changed and is brushed only on the inside these days. I felt the black version of this top and I thought the Grape felt thicker than the black. The Spray Jacquard doesn't even feel like rulu so I didn't consider it.
The Rush Hour has nearly everything I like in a half zip - nice thick rulu; a centered, deep front zipper that zips into a turtleneck; nicely long sleeves with thumbholes and cuffins; reflective elements; a zipper pocket; and comes in solid colors other than black. My only nit with this top is that the zipper pocket is not big enough for my phone. The armpits don't have any mesh in them. The fit is on the roomy side and I think many people can size down in this top, though I am not sure if the fit through the shoulders would be compromised if you do.
If you've been in the market for a rulu half zip top you should definitely look into the Rush Hour.
No mesh in the armpits but I can live with it.
Reflective stitching on the cuffins.
27 comments:
So annoying when you wear a size 2 and the fit is big that you need to size down but you can't... :( Aren't these tops supposed to fit looser though... and not like the fitted rulu tops they normally make... I would think sizing down might end up looking off or something then... I don't know... I'm curious to just try it on and see, but I wouldn't be buying it at that price (I mean, it comes to around a $140 top after taxes where I live! It's just NOT worth it) and I normally prefer fitted tops anyway.
Nope at $108.
My chilled grape pulliver came today and I love it!! As soon as I tried it on I ripped the tags off. The rulu is so soft and the color is beautiful. I thought it fit roomy TTS. I love that I can wear it running or casually. Hope it comes in more colors.
I also wanted to add for sizing that I agree it could be a size down. I opted to keep my TTS because I like the length of the arms and body. Plus there is room to layer.
$108.00?!?!?! Wow. I have no words.
Oh my god, mesh all over the place on designs where it shouldn't be and the one place where it is truly functional (rulu hoodie underarms) and they don't use it?!
Thank you for the review though. I buy the rulu half zips every September and was hoping for a report. Was also wondering how the spray jaquard felt - I like the design but it it's not rulu soft I won't buy.
My olive LS swiftly just came and definitely a keeper! I don't see much yellow in the color and the lace print is absolutely gorgeous. The fabric feels very soft. LLA, I noticed that the fabric is a blend of Nylon and Polyester. Have they changed the fabric content recently?
I've been wanting to try this. Not sure i love how loose the back is though. the colour looks great! It looks shorter than other pullovers - is that true or just the way it appears?
It's $118 here in Canada, argh!!!
Last year's Face the Frost on WMTM for $89. Love that one!
I bought the Rush Hour 1/2 zip in the Chilled Grape and like it for all the reasons LLA mentions. I found it tts in a size 6 (5'2"-126lbs). The back pleats lay nicely without any puckering. If I wear this for running i will wear a s/s Swiftly underneath since there is no mesh venting under the arms. The found the price in Canada at $118. very high so I am going to keep the tags on it for two weeks and see what else comes out that I might like more. I love my Face the Frost I bought in Black Grape last year and would prefer another one instead of the Rush Hour.
It's $118 in Canada... then add taxes and it's more like around $140!!! That's just insane to think it's even worth that much.
I hate all the mesh bottoms and I don't like mesh in the armpits either. Looks like big sweat stains plus if it's cold enough for me to want to wear a Rulu pullover then it's cold enough that I don't want to have drafty armpits too.
Who would put a giant size phone (they're all giant size these days haha) into a rulu top pocket anyway... I would think it just stretch out and lose shape and be pulled down with the weight of the phone, not to mention the bounce it would create. Personally I never use the pockets on my Rulu tops anyway, but can see a small pocket being useful for a tissue or a house key or something else that's small and light that you need to have with you. I use my jacket or vest pocket or pants pocket for stuff. The pockets on tights are less likely to cause bounce.
A joke at $108....
@ Anon 5:17
I'm so glad to hear it's a keeper. I was really slow on pulling the trigger on the Swiftly Olive LS. I love olive green and I honeslty hadn't purchased anything full price in nearly a year, no joke. I can't wait to get it!
Luluaddict, thanks for your review. I just can't even humor the idea of paying 108.00 + 13% taxes for a top that has nothing special about it excpet for 3 pin tucks ( or whatever they are ) in the back. The cuffins look no different from something by Gap or even lower quality. Remember when they put love notes on them like "cold hands, warm heart"? Maybe you were the only one that ever saw those small details but they still made me feel like I was getting something extra special, something worth the extra $$.
I bought more non-LULU athletic wear this summer than I ever have before. Maybe I'm just getting older and the trendy short tops and such are just a turn off for me. I'm also just getting priced right out of their market. When a pair of pants, a shirt and a bra adds up to a car payment you just has to reconsider the value of what your geeting.
I love this blog and appreciate the honest reviews!
@ anon 7:00 am - The older rulu half zips have large zipper pockets in the small of the back. They are separate pouch pockets made of mesh so don't stretch out the rulu in the top.
@ anon 10:58 am - One reason I like this pullover vs others that have come out in the years since the Energy Pullover came out is that the we finally have a solid colored rulu in a nicely thick material. There have been tons of heathered and striped rulus but I don't think we've had solid colors, other than black, in a good 5 years. Agree about missing the small touches. What other brands did you buy this summer? There really aren't that many whose aesthetic I like.
@ anon 7:00 am - agree about the drafty armpits issue. It's a trade off - drafty armpits or mushy wet fabric in my armpits.
@ anon 5:44 am - I ended up ordering the Black Grape Face the Frost Half Zip off WMTM yesterday. I bought the black last year and absolutely love it. Seeing the direction the company is headed in and how long it took them to come out with the FTF anyway, I figured I'd better get a back up since it's such a nice piece.
@ anon 5:44 am - I am going to keep the tags on, too. I've been getting burned by paying full price for things that quickly go to WMTM. It's very annoying.
Random comment, but I know some of you (including Lulu Addict) are from LA/Orange County. Is anyone on here heading to Desert Trip festival next weekend in Indio? I'm heading there from Canada (Alberta) and SO excited!!
@ anon 7:00 am - agree about the drafty armpits issue. It's a trade off - drafty armpits or mushy wet fabric in my armpits.
Yep, I guess it depends on where you live and what kind of weather you get. I live in Canada in an area that has *very* cold and snowy winters and I prefer no armpit mesh. Just as long as ALL the tops they make don't have mesh armpits and I have choice of some nice ones without mesh I'm happy. I find Rulu fabric breathes fairly well anyway.
@ anon 7:00 am - The older rulu half zips have large zipper pockets in the small of the back. They are separate pouch pockets made of mesh so don't stretch out the rulu in the top.
Oh, ok, that's good to know! I don't have any like that! All mine are small and on the bottom hemline area or a small one along the side area... I've been buying Lulu for years but used to only buy stuff for yoga and pilates when I first started. Haven't been buying Rulu tops for as long but eventually started buying them for hiking/long walks/walks with the dog/bike rides/some running(more like jogging, haha! I'm slow!) and casual wear, I've even started wearing them for yin yoga and restorative yoga in middle of winter.
As someone new to LLL can I just ask a stupid question - what is RULU? I can't find anything on their website (also I'd like the inside gossip as to whether it actually works or not)
Hi Luluaddict,
You're right, there aren't too many brands that come close to the same look & feel of Lulu. I have been purchasing certain items from MEC ( Mountain Equipment Co-oP) in Canada. I purchased a pair of leggings and a performance type shirt I really like. I also ended up getting a pair of ROXY leggings this summer ( I know-surprising ) that don't fall down and are pretty well made. I also like Karma athletics ( Lulu mum did a recent review ), they have been around for a while and were available from Nordstrom for a time. I also purchased some Prana itmes that I'm pretty happy with.
I have to correct my price on my first post, as other readers stated the CDN price is 118.00 plus taxes, it is almost 140.00!!
@ anon 6:09 pm - I totally get that. My first two rulu half zips have mesh down the underside of the arm *and* down the sides of the torso and aren't very useful on cold days. I get a lot of use out of my half zips watching my son play soccer so often need something that blocks the wind, too.
@Lottie - rulu stands for "running luon" and is a soft stretchy, almost flannel feeling version of luon. It's used for colder weather layering pieces.
@anon 6:09 am - thanks! I'll look into these other brands.
I just bought the face the frost half zip in tender violet from WMTM. It seems like such a great ideal compared to the price this season, lol. Hopefully it works out.
I like this and normally scarf up all of the rulu tops but I just can't do the price point.
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