I can't believe our competitors.

RUNLY NEWSLETTER #123
Thurs Aug 14th 2025

Last weekend I did a (very) quick trip to Sydney to check out the City2Surf expo.

We had the opportunity to be a part of it, but I decided to opt out for this year, because we had committed to some big events already - Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney Marathons.

Whilst I was there, I did a cheeky spy on one of the big international competitors that is distributed in Australia.

What I saw, was unbelievable. At least for me.

With all due respect, I cannot understand how this big brand exists.

It was my first experience with this brand, seeing it in the flesh.

My first thought when I glanced over and saw them on display, was that maybe they were just displayed poorly.

But as I took a closer look, the fact that this particular brand of vest is worn worldwide blows my mind.

It's not good.

Firstly, there's enough dangling straps to hold down some luggage on the outside of an A330 back to Melbourne.

I see it all the time at races.

These old(er) school vest brands have way too much strap. There's dangly straps everywhere. Front. Side. Back. Chest.

TOO MUCH STRAP.

Secondly, the fit is awful. 

You have to wonder what the design process is, if any, for someone to create this and send it to market. Are they tested? Like on real runners?

Thirdly, and perhaps not the most important factor, but they just don't look good.

The colours are dull, they use colours that should never go together, anywhere, and the aesthetic is so flat.

Finally, the price.

I couldn't believe it when I checked the price tag.

$280 AUD was the average price of a vest. No bottles. No bladder. No carry bag included.

I guess you're paying for all those excess straps they give you.

Now, I apologise if this sounds like a rant.

If anything, it was an incredible a-ha moment for me.

It made me realise we're on the right track.

Now, a couple of weeks before that, I ventured into the new Rebel Sport in Melbourne's CBD.

I knew they had a couple of vests on display from the biggest vest brand in the world. You know them, but I won't say it.

Again, I was shocked.

I couldn't believe the lack of structure to the vests, and the amount of excess elastic straps.

Guys, please tone down the excess straps and elastic.

But at least they had reasonable thought-out colour options, and they did come with a bladder (still way overpriced).

I am incredibly enthused about my recent discoveries. It makes me even more sure what we're doing is right.

Excellent performance-based design
Great colours and aesthetic
A very reasonable price

We're not perfect. But we care, and are always improving.

What's that saying again?

Ah yes.

Perfection is the enemy of progress.

SYDNEY IS SO CLOSE.

You know what's anxiety-inducing if you're running an event. The event pages on Instagram and Facebook have these countdown posts almost every day, ha.

If you're running in a major marathon at Sydney, you probably don't need the daily reminder!

It's absolutely exciting though, I'm not even running and I've had to pinch myself a couple of times for the fact that I am even going to be there.

It's one of, if not the biggest road running moment on Australian soil.

And for us, everything is in full swing.

Not for the race, but for the runner's expo.

Where it is anticipated that 60,000 - 80,000 people will come through over the space of three days.

That is wild, epic and daunting.

For every event that we do, I think we get a little bit better at it.

It's definitely a learned skill, like anything, just like running.

You get better the more you do it. You learn, you figure out what works, and try to eliminate what doesn't.

But the learning curve is infinite.

We're trying a few different things for this event, and again in Melbourne just 6 weeks later.

Stay tuned for that.

For now, run well.
Robbie