I have purchased a large portion of the Brooks running apparel collection during the past two seasons so with my last visit to Running Free I was looking for something I had not previously sampled from the Brooks’ wall. As it was still a little frigid during my nightly runs I decided to go with the Brooks Podium Jacket to see if this gear would protect a wimp of a runner, like me, on those slow, long runs when you don’t produce as much heat to warm the system.
The very first night I had the jacket home it dipped into the single digits (Celsius) and I was able to take it for a test spin. The microfiber polyester shell was perfect for keeping the chilly wind away from my upper body while the moisture wicking polyester lining allowed for a nice dry, long run. The jacket is cut in the tradition “running” style with a longer tail to protect your lower back from chilling and the front tapers up to allow full motion below the hips during your exercise. The collar zips up into a mock neck to protect from the elements and is in ideal proportion to the rest of the jacket to ensure a comfortable fit without strangulation or slouch.
My suggestions to Brooks for future warm-up jackets would include design adjustments to the pockets as these ones are very narrow and shallow. My hand feels restricted when using the pocket for warmth or storage and items tend to bounce out while in action. Also, there is a lack of reflectivity on this product which is concerning considering I use my jacket mostly on my night runs.
Overall, the Brooks Podium Jacket is a solid buy from their running apparel line and can be linked with a pair of their matching Podium Pants to create a nice warm-up suit. Even now that the warmer weather has arrived, I use the jacket when warming up and before competitions so the piece is not limited to any one season. As with most performance wear, from all manufacturers, I remind you to try on all your purchases as sizes tend to vary from your everyday casual wear. The arms on this particular jacket were a little shorter than usual and I ended up selecting one size larger than other pieces in my Brooks collection.
Happy Running!
