Sugoi Tactic T

We’ve got a number of fairly serious ultra- and trail runners in our SNEWS® testing midst, and they are always on the search for shirts that feel light, comfortable, airy, and yet are somewhat form-fitting for that extra bit of performance. Moisture management is essential. Non-chafing and non-binding in all the key areas (underarms, chest and neck) are a must.

Needless to say, it has been a long search full of many disappointments with lots of shirts ending up in the “extreme gardening” collection never to be run in again. And rarely do we become attached to a T-shirt — so attached, that we angrily pull it out of a spouse’s hands, noting loudly, “That’s MINE!” That is, not until we got our hands on Sugoi’s new Tactic T, which has, aside from greedy grabbing, inspired smiles … very broad smiles of joy.

The fit and feel begins with the material, which Sugoi calls Tactic. In Sugoi-speak, it is a “multiple-knit engineered technology that integrates strategically positioned air flow textures for targeted cooling where needed most.” The shirt features three distinct fabric textures and weights, each “body-mapped” to maximize ventilation and moisture management.

In SNEWS® speak, the T-shirt is a slick-looking, sensuously smooth-feeling, high-performance, well-fitting garment with more ventilation than a screen door. The shirt feels like fine silk, stretches like the best Lycra, and, best of all, it stays airy, light and dry-feeling from the start of the run to the end, even very long runs. Flat seams prevent bulky spots that can easily chafe. The neckline is neither too low nor too high. The sleeves are not baggy. And the way the shirt is constructed, there are simply no spots that bind or pinch. Virtually a perfect fit. (And, heck, it’s rather flattering too.)

We’ve worn the shirt on long runs, short runs and even on hikes and could not be happier. Durability over the long haul is our only question mark at this point, but thus far, even under the abrasion of hydration pack straps and the edge of a waist-pack belt, the shirts we tested appear none-the-worse for the wear.

SNEWS® Rating: 5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)

Suggested Retail: $60

For more information:www.sugoi.com