I’ve been wearing Janji gear for a few years, and have long been a fan of several of their best selling products. When I was asked to review a few pieces from their latest collection, I said yes, knowing I would likely love these products just as much.
I’m picky about clothing (always have been) as I don’t like the feeling of pieces that are tight, restrictive, compressive, or uncomfortable. That’s often a tall order when it comes to athletic clothing that is designed to be light, sweat-wicking, and breathable, but Janji does it right. The company aims to make sustainable, long-lasting products that are produced in less harmful ways; for example, Janji claims to reduce plastic packaging by 86% while also eradicating dangerous “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
The company is also unique in how they sell their products. Designed as limited-run collections, the pieces you’ll see below are only available this season (so if you like them, jump on them now!).
I was sent four items to review: the popular 3″ AFO Middle Short, the 3.5″ Trail Short, the AFO Hyperlight Cap, and the Long Bra.
3″ AFO Middle Short, Cyanotype Jeune
I’ll start with the shorts I am most familiar with: the 3″ AFO Middle Short. These shorts are light, quick-drying, and colorful, so unless you don’t like shorter shorts, there’s really nothing not to love. I’ve worn these shorts on hot days and through cold creeks, and they dry fast, which is a plus if your running takes you through water. The back pocket is large enough to hold car keys, an extra gel, or a phone, though I personally find that a phone bounces too much if placed in that back pocket (save it for the Long Bra, which you’ll read about shortly.)
The band is tighter than some other shorts, but I don’t find this to be an issue and don’t need to use the extra waist tie to tighten the shorts; they stay secure and snug just above my hips.
I wear an XS for most shorts and pants, and the sizing is accurate. When I was first introduced to the brand in 2014, I found their clothes to run small, but with each season, the sizing feels more accurate.
3.5″ Trail Short, midnight
During Black Canyon 100K, I wore an earlier iteration of the Trail Shorts, mostly because of their carrying capacity: with 5 total pockets made of stretchy mesh, these shorts let you forego extra waistbelts and race vests. In fact, I carried all of my nutrition plus a phone in my shorts with zero slippage, bounce, or that pulled-down feeling that can happen when you overstuff some shorts.
While the shorts boast silicone grippers on the hem to prevent them from riding up, I do find that I need to pull them down from time to time; that could be an individual fit issue, however. While these shorts are compressive, compared to similar brands they’re much more comfortable and don’t feel hot, even in warm running conditions.
Like the AFO Middle Shorts, I wear these in an XS and find them true-to-size.
AFO Hyperlight Cap, cyanotype mix
At first glance, it’s hard to know what to say about a hat: it’s a hat. But I promise, this one is different. At just 29 grams, this hat is super light which it makes it great for hotter conditions, as well as travel where space is limited. The bungee strap is especially nice on windy days, since you can tighten it as needed and it stays put. Like the AFO shorts, this hat also dries fast, so it’s a good choice for both hot, humid conditions as well as rainy weather where you don’t want a sopping wet head.
Long Bra, midnight
I’m late to join the crop top party, and it was this top that made me a crop top convert, because why wear a sports bra and a shirt when you can just wear this? Despite feeling thicker, this top is extremely breathable and also dries fast if you happen to get wet on a run.
The top also has a pocket on the back for a phone, which many women who run with a phone for safety reasons (myself included) may love since it reduces the need to carry it in your hand. While the top comes lightly padded, I removed the pads since I don’t like the added thickness, nor do I like dealing with them getting rumpled in the wash. For women who want total nipple coverage, these can be kept in.
This Long Bra is a bit longer than others I’ve worn, which means stomach coverage is more than most. I have a shorter torso and longer legs, so this might vary if your morphology is different than my own.
Similar to sports bras, I go for a S in this. While I could get away with wearing an XS, I prefer to size up to allow for extra room in the rib cage and across the chest.
The Janji gear here is all worth the cost, in my opinion, especially because the company promises to repair, replace, or provide store credit if your Janji gear rips within five years due to defects. While this doesn’t stand a chance against bushwhacking, I did have a Janji top that pilled after just a few washes and a new shirt was immediately sent to me as a replacement.
Give the French West Indies Collection a perusal here.
Thanks to Janji for sending me this gear!