Why You’ll Love—or Hate—Running in a Runsie (2024)

Hoka and Free People have teamed up again for a spring running collection. The latter’s activewear line, FP Movement (in this story, we’ll refer to the brand as Free People or FP), is a spectrum of rich primary colors, neons, and pastels. The shorts revive “twee” style, the tops are breezy and boho, and the yoga wear feels worthy of a co*cktail party.

Pieces in the Hoka collection include FP favorites: the Light As Air Run Shorts, Find Your Way Bra, Righteous Runsie, and more. The apparel and Hoka’s Clifton 9 and Kawana 2 running shoes share a matching palette of dark purple, eggnog white, and citrus shades.

Deputy social media editor Aly Ellis and I took it upon ourselves to test some apparel from the Hoka collection—along with other FP Movement activewear we were curious about. Our biggest question was, “Sure, all the FP Movement pieces are cute—but are they runnable?”

Some of the apparel looked super cute, but maybe not, er, super functional.

The one piece (pun intended) we were most excited to try: the iconic Righteous Runsie. Here’s our back-and-forth after we tested it out.

The Righteous Runsie Test

Amanda Furrer, test editor: I was really excited about testing! When Lululemon’s Further was going on, I was so jealous of the Runsies the participants got to wear—and then sad when the brand announced they weren’t releasing the Runsies in their fall lineup. What color did you get from Free People, Aly?

Aly Ellis, deputy social media editor: I got the sour citrus color, which is brighter in person—a fact that I love.

AF: Sweet! I got the grisaille color. What were your initial thoughts about the Runsie before you got to try it on? I had run in Outdoor Voices’s Exercise Dress so that was my point of comparison.

AE: Last summer, I discovered FP’s Hot Shot Onesie and it became a staple of my daily wardrobe, so when I saw that there was a onesie designed for running, I was super excited about it. I have never run in an exercise dress before, so this type of running outfit was new for me.

AF: I was excited about the back zippered pocket and flirty vibe. I brought it with me when I visited St. Pete, Florida. It fit great, though the shorts part was a little wrinkly from being packed in my luggage. Wrinkles aside, I kind of felt self-conscious when I went outside for my run—I felt the same way when running in the OV dress. How’d the Righteous Runsie compare to the Hot Shot Onesie?

AE: The Hot Shots that I have are mostly pant onesies, so very different! The Hot Shots in my closet are definitely not made for athletic endeavors!

AF: Before I ask you how your run was, I have to ask about the fit of the Runsie. Did you feel comfortable...righteous?

AE: I am torn. It was very comfortable, but if you don’t have a flat stomach—which I don’t—it might make you feel a little self-conscious. And to answer the running question...my run didn’t happen. I have a long torso and just in the walk from my bedroom to my mudroom to put on my running shoes, it rode up so much that I knew there was no way I would survive a run in it. I love it as something to wear to brunch or to run errands, but not to actually run in. I don’t think it’s a good fit for my body type.

AF: Dang. Not so righteous then. I went for one run and had to stop after two miles because of a cramp that felt like I pulled a stomach muscle. I don’t know if it was the Runsie or the Florida heat. I think I’d wear it out to brunch, too. Sweating in it during a run and then peeling it off for bathroom breaks, though...it’s like wearing a one-piece bathing suit after going for a swim. What changes should be made that would make it better?

AE: Adjustable straps to help with my torso issue would be amazing. And maybe they would help with the riding up issue, as well. Also, for warm runs, I always wear bike-type shorts because I have never found a flowy pair of running shorts that doesn’t ride up my thighs. So, maybe a pair of built-in bike shorts underneath the Runsie would be good.

Aly’s Running Shorts Tests

After we chatted about our experiences running in the Runsie, Aly shared her thoughts on the pairs of FP running shorts she tested.

Stinger Shorts

“I love the combo of the flowy outer shorts with the bike shorts underneath! Also, these have a zipper pocket which is elite. I did a bootcamp class in these. They rode up a bit on the inner thighs for the running portion, but they were great for the weight lifting portions of the class. The description of these shorts mentions that they are a quick-drying fabric, and I can confirm that. I was a sweaty beast after my class and these dried so fast.”

Never Better Run Shorts

“Okay, TBH, I have run in better bottoms before. These are too short for me. They keep riding up in the inner thigh area and are becoming accidental buns, which is not ideal or comfy for me. That being said, for the right person, I can see these being great. And for shorter shorts, the pockets are deceptively deep! The fabric is very soft, and not at all see-through.”

Aly’s Closing Thoughts

“After testing FP for the first time, I feel the apparel is great for running errands or going to brunch. For running workouts, it didn’t work amazingly well for me—although I did look very cute! Maybe if the shorts’ lengths were a little longer and did not ride up as much, they would have worked better for me. But I did like the look and feel of all three pieces that I tried!”

Reviewing My Free People Haul

The bulk of my FP testing was done in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I endured hot temps, torrential rain, and a beach cyclone. In other words: I tested the hell out of my gear. The fun style of some of the pieces made me want to head out on the town instead of sweating it out.

Island Time Shorts

These shorts have a super high waistband; given its compression and height over my stomach, I wonder if they’d function well as maternity running shorts. Despite this high cut, the Island Times definitely have a “beach volleyball” vibe with their bold color and white trim.

Comfort-wise, maybe I should have gone up a size. (Or maybe it was that Florida heat again. Seriously—how do runners train through that humidity?) During my third run in the shorts, I had to stop and walk because that waistband—though it accentuated my hips—felt too tight.

Though there’s coverage on top, there’s not much on the bottom. The 2.25-inch inseam is extremely short, verging into bikini territory.

The side pockets are great for storage! I always appreciate a nice snug pocket for my key fob so I won’t have to be distracted while running with it. The right back pocket looks cute but I’d only shove a gel or fuel in that one, out of fear that valuables may slip out.

Find Your Way Bra

I was honestly shocked by how supportive the Find Your Way Bra felt. It’s not quite as long as a cropped bra but the band definitely rests lower, which I think feels more comfortable. The scoop neck plunges a little, but this didn’t mitigate the cups’ compression. Then again, the risk of my B/C cup boobs spilling out is minimal.

I usually prefer simple pullover bras without eye hooks or adjustable straps. Joke’s on me because the Find Your Way had both. However, it wasn’t too much of a hassle to put on. It was slightly difficult to adjust the straps because they’re mid-back, but it’s basically a one-time thing—you’re set after the first adjustment.

Unlike a traditional H-back bra, the Find Your Way is racerback-style. So, you can’t put the bra on backwards to clasp the hooks in front and then slide it around. But there’s only two hooks to deal with, which makes it easier.

Prajna Shorts

These pocketless shorts caught my eye because they looked as soft as a cozy knit sweater. During my first try-on, the FP decal on the left hip was already peeling off. The waistband also wasn’t as wide as I thought, though it did hit just above my belly button and didn’t feel too tight. (Some waistbands that rely on compression without a drawstring sometimes make me feel nauseous.) The fit is compressive but not constrictive. I loved the ribbed pattern—whenever I had to pause at a stoplight during my run, I’d brush my hands along the sides of the shorts to feel their texture.

Speedwork Racing Buns

When I saw these briefs had three pockets, I was intrigued. I wish they were high-waisted; the band sat just below my belly button. I sized up from the extra-small to small for a more relaxed fit, but there really wasn’t much of a difference. I think the medium size would be too big.

However, the pockets are amazing. They’re deep enough to stuff a gel inside without the foil scratching your skin. These would be great marathon briefs: I could stuff two gels in each pocket!

Hoka Kawana 2

I previously tested the first version of Hoka’s Kawana and loved how it was a cross between the brand’s Clifton and Mach. It has the softness of the former and the bouncy, lightweight feel of the latter. The Kawana 2 is a dependable trainer for everyday efforts. It weighs just a tenth of an ounce more than the first version (in a women’s size 7), but the springy ride made us feel like we were soaring.

As of this writing, the Hoka x FP Movement edition of the Kawana 2 is currently sold out on Hoka’s site, but you can opt in for news on uncoming drops. You can still find a few pairs at Free People and Dick’s Sporting Goods (limited sizes available).

My Closing Thoughts

Judging by the multiple occasions I’ve worn FP (running and outside of running) it seems the brand has successfully redefined athleisure by creating its subsets “athbohemian” and “athgirly.” The clothing is—for the most part—functionally sound with its styling and features. I’ll continue to run in most of the apparel, but maybe size up in some cases. Placement of seams around the midsection on some of the clothing caused unwanted pressure on my sensitive tummy (and affected my breathing!) while running. I likely won’t wear these again working out, but I’ll definitely wear these pieces when I’m out and about.