#Speedup with this Men's Head to Toe Dynafit Review

By: Steve Buelna  

One of the coolest parts to the Donner Party Mountain Runner Newbies Run club is the awesome line up of shoe demos we get at each event from a variety of brands.  A couple years ago was the first time Dynafit came to our run club and I was really surprised with how much I liked their shoes.  So, when the opportunity to try out the entire Dynafit kit (shoes, shirt, shorts, vest, and hat) presented itself I didn’t have to give it a second thought.  

Dynafit has intrigued me since the first time I was able to try their shoes a couple of years ago as it was a brand I wasn’t as familiar with, but I was initially pleasantly surprised with the fit and responsiveness of the shoe. Nobody likes to read review novels, so I will jump in with my first impressions of each item and follow with my thoughts after getting to use them a bit. Here it goes. 

Comfort on Any Terrain: Dynafit Ultra 100

I learned previously to size up at least a half size from my normal size with the Dynafit line and I made that adjustment this time.  I was quite impressed right out of the box. The shoes were very light and the first thing I noticed was an aggressive lug pattern to the sole and I couldn’t wait to see how that performed on the terrain we have in this area. Unfortunately, right after I agreed to do this review, I missed the memo on the fact I’m supposed to ride the motorcycle sitting on it and not under it (oops).  So I wasn’t able to run for weeks while I waited for the swelling in my ankle to go down.    

That said, the comfortable yet secure hold on my foot made this shoe a great option while recovering. But once I was able to hit the trails, I immediately noticed the cushion of the Dynafit does a great job of absorbing the impact while being responsive at the same time. A couple other notes:

• The Vibram lugs provide for confident foot placement on a variety of terrain.
  
  
• The heel stays locked in place while the foot area is wide enough to allow movement, yet not so much that you feel like you are running in sandals. 
  
  
• I was impressed by the protection the shoe base gave and it is a very adaptable shoe for all the terrain I put them through. From sharp rocky sections of the Sawtooth trail to semi muddy terrain in the foothills and even paved sections to connect the trails.

Freedom of Movement: Shorts

Shorts and hats are two apparel items that I tend to be picky about. Aside from the first impression of sizing (I’ll get to that in a minute), my other first impression is that the craftsmanship of the shorts is top notch.

Typically I can get annoyed with the built in liners and just cut them out, but there is absolutely no need to do that with these shorts as they fit as snug as my favorite sports brief but most importantly, they do not have any portions that lead to chaffing. On top of all that, they came in a pretty nice maroon color that I kinda dig. 

The shorts are very lightweight and breathable. Plus the fabric they are made from is very quick drying.  All things I look for in a running short. While slightly longer inseam than I typically run in, I had no issues with feeling restricted on the trail, even when lengthening my stride. One thing to know is make sure you pay attention to the Euro/US sizing and adjust accordingly. I’m typically a large short and not realizing that is a good way to test the integrity of the stitching or wonder if it is time to lay off the snacks for bit. All in all I really like these shorts and will absolutely be sporting them throughout the rest of the summer. 

Performance and Trail-Ready Running Shirt

Just like the shorts, I immediately took note of the quality of the materials as well as the cut and stitching of this shirt. The fit is very comfortable and yet snug enough to move with you as opposed to against you. But not so snug as to make you feel like you are fighting your way out of a paper bag. The material is light and quick drying as well. Definitely will be a staple item for my motorcycle camping trips where comfort, packability, lack of chaffing while running, and quick drying are all key and attributes that this shirt holds. 

Carry All the Essentials

I was trying to figure out how to best describe my relationship with this vest. Have you ever had that pair of slippers that you dread replacing because nothing else fits JUST like them? Well this was what I initially struggled with. The vest material was a little stiffer than I was used to and it didn’t feel just right. 

What tripped me up is I make it a point to not read ANYTHING about products before trying them for reviews. I don’t want to be influenced by anyone else’s thoughts. So, my first run with the vest reminded me of the two year old having a temper tantrum. 

Had I spent more time looking at the vest I would have seen the adjustments on the lower part of the vest in addition to the flask loops on the inside pockets that made this a game changer. You can customize the vest to fit your body precisely. And low and behold, the vest worked with me and not against me. 

The top portion is a nice mesh that breathes well and makes for a lightweight pack.  Ample pockets including pockets with zippers mean your gels and cellphone can be sure to stay with you and not be donated to the trails. The adjustability of the vest with the two chest cinches as well as the lower rib cage adjustments mean that this vest can be custom fit to each runner.  This is definitely a vest you should consider for any day runs or races you have coming up.

Top Off Your Gear with the Transalper Hat

As I mentioned earlier I am very picky about my hats. It has taken me a long time to give in to wearing an actual runner’s hat instead of a trucker hat. I immediately noticed this hat is probably designed to have the bill flipped up, to proudly display the words “no pain no gain”. But I also found that “normal” bill placement is a great option as well.  Which is what I landed on for my runs to write this review. 

I love how small this hat is. It's size makes it a great option for my camping trips, or to tuck into my pack in the winter to switch to after the beanie gets too warm. The material is once again very breathable and has a very comfortable sweatband as well as thick elastic band on the back to ensure a proper fit. I seriously forgot I even had the hat on!

Check out Andrea's blog on the women's Dynafit kit

Author: Steve Buelna

 A Truckee runner that doesn’t discriminate between pavement, trail, spikes, and snowshoes – it’s fun all year long! Known for coercing people into a “bad idea” any chance he gets (his idea of fun). He leads the Donner Party Mountain Runners Newbie Run, which is open to anyone. Steve ditched his Harley in pursuit of finding cool new trails on an Adventure Bike – trip reports are coming soon!