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This Cool Apparel Company Wants You to Run Amok

With Roark’s foray intro trail running, consumers can finally match performance with style.

two men jogging through a woodsy trail wearing roark running gear Roark

By Hayley Helms

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The story goes that Roark‘s founder, an avid trail runner, was on a trail run in Scotland when it hit him that he didn’t feel comfortable wearing his trail running clothes to a post-run coffee or brewery crawl. His own brand — a motorcycle and surf-inspired apparel company — hit the right notes when it came to travel, surf and riding. However, there was a disconnect between what he was producing, and what he was doing.

He realized two things: his trail running gear needed to look cool and didn’t, and his own brand had the ability to make active apparel cool. The two ideas clicked. And with that, the Run Amok trail running collection was born.

Roark combined new tech with the California-cool, global-travel inspired ethos it was already great at producing. The result is a functional, comfortable, cool-as-hell trail running line, with multiple collections, each inspired by a specific location. Spring/Summer 2022 was inspired by by travels to Oaxaca, running through the city and the high mountain terrain of Huautla de Jimenez. The colors reflect the vibrant, warm and tropical culture of mainland Mexico.

I tested three items from the Wayward in Oaxaca Collection; the first was the Serrano 2.0 Short. Breathability and lightness, paired with length and a relaxed fit, meant I was able to wear the shorts during Southern California winter trail runs and stay comfortable, without overheating.

The waistband is comfortable and secure, without being constrictive. The shorts are cool from a creative perspective, as well as a temperature-regulating one. Built with Repreve recycled polyester and coated with a DWR treatment, the four-way stretch shorts are unlined, enhancing their lightweight feel as well as comfort when it comes to off-trail activities like running out for a coffee. I found myself wearing them just as much off the the trails, as on.

This is not your dad’s tie-dye. The second item I tested from the new line is modern tie dye at its best: a cool, minimal color palette, paired with performance features like moisture-wicking DriRelease fabric. Inspired by the peaks of the northern CDT, where earth meets the sky, this running top is fast-drying, with a classic fit and super-soft materials. I noticed the neck was a little tight pulling it on, but once on body, the fit was just right.

The Mathis is cool enough to wear out and about, but also the ideal layer for runs where you don’t expect inclement weather. I liked the tee for its chemical-free nature, as well as its relaxed fit.

Last but not least, what trail running kit would be complete without a hat? Elevated graphics display your penchant for style, while the lightweight, perforated fabric keeps you cool on long runs. While testing the hat I found it to be comfortable as well as stylish — it was light enough where a few times, I forgot I had it on.

The closure in the back isn’t as exact as other technical trail running caps, but Roark more than makes up for that with the packable nature of the brim, the interior taping and the lack of pressure points. If you’re looking for one hat to perform in multiple scenarios, whether it’s scaling a hill or sitting in a plane, this is the one for you.

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