SOAR Winter Running Apparel: Six Premium Pieces Worth the Money?

Introduction

British premium running brand SOAR has built its reputation on technical fabrics, pioneering design, and a genuinely athletic fit. To see whether the prices are justified, we spent around a month running in six items from its winter range, covering legs, torsos, and full weather protection. The short version: the kit performs like a high-end brand, but you need to be sure the money matches your running habits.

What Makes SOAR a Premium Brand

SOAR was founded in 2015 with a clear ambition: super functional, high-performing running apparel built on textile innovation and technology-led design. That philosophy shows in the materials used across the range, from Italian woven waterproof fabrics to merino blends, and in details like bonded seams, laser-cut hems, and extensive reflective detailing.

The honest warning is that none of this comes cheap. Every item tested sits firmly at the premium end of the running apparel market. Sizing runs from XS to XXL across the range, and the fits are tailored and athletic rather than loose. For reference, a 6ft 1in, roughly 78 to 80kg runner wore a medium in everything and found the fit excellent.

SOAR Three Season Running Shorts

The Three Season Running Shorts are a two-in-one design: a lightweight outer short over an internal short. The outer is constructed from 95% nylon polyamide and 5% elastane for a breathable, four-way stretch feel, with laser-cut detailing along the sides for extra airflow. A wide, comfortable waistband with a drawstring lets you personalise the fit, and there is a generous secure zipped pocket at the back.

The internal short uses 71% nylon polyamide and 29% elastane for a more tailored fit with mild support and compression over the quads, and plenty of bonded seams help prevent chafing over distance. High-vis detailing keeps you visible on dark roads. They retail for £95.

In testing, these became a genuine favourite. The internal short fitted well and offered just the right level of support around the quads and hamstrings, and the construction proved similar in quality to other high-end shorts tested earlier in the year. They were worn during a 50k race and performed really well.

SOAR Dual Fabric 3.0 Running Tights

As the name suggests, the Dual Fabric 3.0 Running Tights use two fabrics. The upper section is a slightly thicker Italian woven fabric that adds warmth around the quads, while the remainder is a French woven compression fabric for a more precise fit. Both are highly breathable with good insulation, and the cut is designed to optimise freedom of movement.

Practical details are well thought out: silicone grippers at the waist and ankles keep the tights from sliding down, ankle zips make them easier to pull on and off, and a long, deep secure zip pocket at the back swallows a good-sized phone plus keys or gels. The tights are covered in high-vis detailing and come in the same six sizes as the shorts, retailing for £120.

Despite rarely running in tights, the tester found these performed really well. There was no movement at all, no sagging, and the mild compression around the quads felt right. The fabric is not too thick or heavy either, making them a plausible choice even for a hard winter race.

SOAR Long Sleeve Windbreaker

The Long Sleeve Windbreaker is built for performance windproofing in cold, blustery conditions. It uses an 85% nylon polyamide and 15% elastane mid-weight stretch fabric, with strategic panel placement in the body to stop the top riding up or bunching while running. The cuffs and hem are laser cut to save weight, and the ergonomic arm construction keeps the sleeves exactly where you want them.

Inside, the top is super plush with a brushed fleecy liner that makes it genuinely comfortable against the skin. You can wear it over a thin base layer in the coldest conditions, or on its own when it is milder. A small secure zip pocket at the back holds keys or nutrition, and a lower back cord system keeps out unwanted drafts. High-vis detailing appears front and back, at each cuff, and at the hem. It retails for £170.

On performance, the fit on the tester’s body shape was excellent and the plush fabric is a real highlight. Small touches, like the substantial flap that folds over the zipper so it never digs into your chin, show how much thought has gone into the design. It is a lot of money for a wind layer, but it is a really good one.

SOAR Ultra Jacket

Despite the name, the Ultra Jacket is not a hooded race-certified waterproof, so it would not pass most mandatory kit checks. What it offers instead is a clever balance between breathability, light weight, and waterproof performance, making it a go-to jacket for everything apart from heavy rain.

It is constructed from SOAR’s new RainOut fabric, an Italian woven stretch fabric with a DWR water-repellent treatment applied to both the yarns and the finished fabric. Plasma etching the yarns before treatment increases the durability and lifespan of the DWR. Inside, all the seams are taped, but there is no membrane like a standard waterproof, so it runs noticeably more breathable on milder days.

That balance was proven on a 10-mile run when a torrential 20-minute downpour with strong headwinds hit at the halfway point. The jacket kept the runner dry and warm where a basic wind layer would have soaked through in seconds. It is super lightweight, packs down small, breathes well on the run, and the well-placed secure zip pocket on the lower back handles keys, phone, and snacks. It retails for £210.

SOAR Winter Anorak

The Winter Anorak is the most protective item in the group. SOAR uses its unique Italian storm fabric, which carries the same double DWR application but is shrunk under high temperature to create a tightly woven waterproof structure. Bonded and taped seams and an ergonomically designed close-fitting hood round out the weather protection.

The fit is tailored and performance-oriented, with high-vis panels and logos for gloomy mornings and night runs. Storage is generous: a really good-sized zipped lower back pocket with plenty of room for keys, phone, and nutrition, plus a smaller chest pocket on the front. The hem drops slightly lower at the back and a simple drawstring locking system cinches in the hem, even on the move. It is available in black with orange details or a bright orange option, and retails for £290.

In testing, it was a joy to run in. On a cold 19-mile coastal run starting at zero degrees in icy conditions, it offered great protection from the cold at the start yet stayed super breathable as pace picked up. The thumb loops worked well, and the plush interior, taped seams, and well-fitted hood deliver protection comparable to a heavier waterproof without getting hot and clammy. Two small criticisms: a peek on the hood would be nice, and airflow is hard to increase once you start overheating.

SOAR Wall Tech Trail Top

The Wall Tech Trail Top is a long sleeve designed specifically for running with a hydration pack or race vest. It combines a low-volume merino back panel, chosen for its thermal-regulating properties against the skin, with an abrasion-resistant windproof chest panel that protects the areas where a pack might rub. The ergonomic cut optimises freedom of movement, and it features a close-fitting hood and functional thumb loops. It is available in a single black colourway and retails for £205.

This was the most-worn item of the entire test. It was raced in during a cold 50k where temperatures never rose above three or four degrees, and the hood and thumb loops proved genuinely useful. It works over a thin base layer or on its own, and the merino liner is comfortable and excellent at regulating body temperature.

One caveat deserves attention. On a 10-mile run paired with a larger race vest with a substantial closure system, a small amount of fabric damage appeared on the chest, despite the abrasion-resistant panel. Several subsequent runs with a different race vest, including the same 50k, produced no further damage, so compatibility seems to vary between vests. The damage did not affect performance, but at this price it is worth checking how your vest interacts with the fabric.

Buying Advice

After a month of testing, every item performed like expensive, high-end running apparel should. The fabrics feel premium, the construction is meticulous, and the athletic fit flatters a runner’s body shape. If you want well thought-through, high-performing kit that feels great and should hold up to years of training and race miles, SOAR deserves a close look.

That said, this is kit for committed runners rather than casual joggers. The shorts and windbreaker are the easiest entries if you want to sample the brand, the Ultra Jacket is the standout all-rounder for changeable weather, and the Winter Anorak is the pick for harsh conditions. Check race vest compatibility carefully before buying the Wall Tech Trail Top if you plan to use it with a pack.

Conclusion

SOAR’s winter range is expensive, and opinion on the brand will always be divided. But the premium fabrics, innovative construction, and attention to detail are visible in every garment, and the performance during a month of real running backed that up. For runners who value technical excellence and durability over price, this range is genuinely worth considering.