Each piece has details we didn't know could exist.
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Huckberry might be best known for its rugged styles like waxed canvas jackets and hard-wearing jeans, but as of this month, the retailer can also be known for exceptional men's activewear. Wellen, one of Huckberry's handful of storied house brands, just debuted a three-piece collection of men's technical activewear designed to keep you cool, comfortable, and kicking ass, whether you're climbing a mountain or running the neighborhood, and I got to try it early.
As somebody who frequents styles from Vuori, Under Armour, and Nike for everything from hiking to rec-league softball, I typically approach "new" activewear collections from non-athletic brands skeptically. But as a Huckberry fan, I was immediately curious: Could a company known for making exceptional outdoor-inspired clothing bring something new and exciting to men's activewear?
I was lucky enough to get my hands on three styles—a sun hoodie, a pair of shorts, and a classic performance T-shirt—to see what they feel, wear, and wash like and how they stack up to today's top brands. After using each several times over two weeks, I think I got more than I bargained for. Here's my honest review of Wellen's new activewear collection at Huckberry.
The Wellen Sol Performance Hoodie is the brand's take on a modern sun hoodie. It has a 40+ UPF rating, so it's great for dodging the sun for hours, while its poly-lyocell-spandex fabric works to wick away sweat, ventilate, and keep you cool and comfortable. It's cut to a modern athletic fit without sagging and even has a gusseted seam running up and down both sides to increase mobility.
Why It's Great: The Sol Performance Hoodie has the features I look for in a normal sun hoodie—a high and protective neckline, thumb holes, and a stretchy hood that can cover the brim of a hat. But what was immediately clear was how the brand built on an already great garment. The sleeves are slightly longer than average and, combined with the diagonally-set thumb holes, offer better hand coverage to prevent them from getting roasted.
But the best feature—one I didn't see at first—is the cavernous zip pocket along the bottom right seam of the shirt. I found this incredibly handy for storing my car key before a long hike and even a credit card during a run that ended with coffee. It's supremely comfortable and kept me cool and dry even in 90-degree summer heat.
Wellen's Sevens Sport Unlined Shorts come in a 7- or 5-inch inseam and are made from a combination of ripstop nylon and spandex materials to maximize stretch, durability, and comfort. The shorts feature five total pockets—two side hand pockets, one side zip pocket, an internal side mesh pocket, and a back zip pocket—and each is made from a quick-draining mesh that dries fast after hitting a cold plunge, hot tub, or the beach. It's also available in a lined version that features a liner-attached phone pocket (much less movement) but they'll need to be washed after every use for hygienic reasons.
Why It's Great: I wore the 7-inch style for two weeks straight with two washes in between after a dirty hike and a grueling softball practice in the heat, and I'm convinced these are the best active shorts in my embarrassingly deep collection. I find that most workout shorts fall short in one of two (or both) areas—durability and storage. Most athletic shorts I've worn have great pockets with quality zippers but are too light and fragile to rough up or they're thick and durable but lack secure storage.
Astoundingly airy but undoubtedly tough, the Sevens Sport Shorts were designed to do both. Not only did they secure my house key during a jostling run, but they took the beating of a sliding catch in the outfield and washed up perfectly clean after. I'm confident I could scrape them against a boulder when climbing and the rock would take the brunt of the friction thanks to the ripstop fabric—a must add-to-cart.
The Sol Performance T-Shirt is one of the most essential pieces of workout clothing—a moisture-wicking, quick-drying technical shirt. It has a UPF 30+ rating for sun protection and, like the Sol Performance Hoodie, helps regulate temperature with its soft and breathable fabrication. It also features a side-seam gusset panel that enhances mobility in tandem with the generous cut, and it even has a paracord hanger loop for easy hanging out of the wash (though it's dryer-safe).
Why It's Great: I have a vast collection of performance T-shirts from brands like Vuori, Patagonia, Adidas, Nike, Hanes—the list goes on. Wellen's take on this men's activewear classic does everything my best shirts do to keep my body cool, dry, chafe-free, and non-restricted, but two small features allow it to stand out.
The gusseted panel in between the two side seams changes the shape of this shirt entirely from two 2-D panels to a 3-D shape that stretches and moves supremely well in the chest area while draping more evenly around the waist. Despite that, it doesn't swallow up my arms—the sleeves are cut in a way that eliminates any extra fabric that could have caused rubbing under the armpits and, simultaneously, makes them look nicer. Another small detail I didn't see at first is the mesh stash pocket along the bottom of the shirt's inner left seam. It's the exact size of a credit card but easily fits my car key fob and doesn't weigh the shirt down when running.
