My wife has been running in the same Nike jacket since HS cross country. I admire her ability to try to eek the last few wears out of a garment and thus reduce waste, but ever since that german shephard tore a hole in it while she was running the Green Bay trail in Chicago three and half years and two kids ago I’ve really thought she deserved better. The guy whose dog it was what tore her jacket even gave her money on the spot for a new one (!) but she still doesn’t want to spend the time or money to find a new one.
So, I’d like to surprise her with the perfect new jacket. She just gave birth to our second child (daughter) 6 weeks ago and is getting ready to run again. Its fall here in Michigan, so its definitely jacket weather. I need recommendations for the right jacket. Here’s the kicker: she loves the pull over, 1/4 zip styling of her current jacket. So, I’m looking for a similar product. Does anyone have any experience with such a jacket that they can recommend to me?
You’ll probably get 10 different experiences from 10 different posters. So i’ll start by giving you my personal experience. It’s a brand called Sugoi (www.sugoi.com). I love the stuff… It lasts extremely well (I have training stuff that I use regularly that i’ve had for over 5 years). Here’s a directly link to the “1/4 style zip” that you’re talking about. Has some neat features on it like hand covers to give that extra warmth if you want it:
That’s more of a fleece type material… If you’re looking for an outer shell for the less than pleasant days (not 1/4 zip mind you) here’s a direct link to their outer shells:
Good luck… I have a similar issue with regards to Christmas gifts for my girlfriend… And one of these gifts is going to be part of it. Mainly so that she stops stealing my Sugoi jacket for runs!
I hear you all on the time issue. We already work it out so that she gets some time sans kids, and she uses it to go for a run or a walk or to go to the pool for a swim; sometimes its just a matter of her going to a another room to read for half an hour (or until daughter needs to nurse) without interruptions.
As far as the jacket goes though, she HATES shopping and spending money on herself, for that matter–am I wrong in thinking she’d rather get a jacket and time to run in it rather than time to go shop for a jacket when she hates shopping?
The thing is, if she’s going to wear this thing for the next 10 - 20 years you want to make sure it fits her really well and she really likes the style, so that’s why I think you’ll be better off with her picking it out. Alternatively, buy her something that can be exchanged easily. The different manufacturers out there make very different sizes and fits, so I always have to try it on before I know if I’ll enjoy running in it.
Good for you for giving her time for herself. Just a half hour a day makes a world of difference. Congrats to your wife, too, for getting back running so soon.
