Lululemon Go Further Review: Running Gear That’s Actually Designed for Women

Last March, a group of Lululemon ambassadors embarked on Further, a six-day ultramarathon where they ran a collective 2,880 miles through the California desert. But the event was about more than seeing how far they could race—it was also the testing grounds for a new Lululemon collection, created to address the unique challenges that women runners face.

Now, the Go Further collection is available to the public (at least, until it sells out), with six brand-new pieces, including a tank with ice pockets ($68), a maximum support bra ($98), an all-in-one runsie (on sale for $89), and shorts with major storage space ($74, all at lululemon.com).

I tested two outfits from the capsule to see if they live up to the hype—check out my full review below.

First impressions

When I first heard that Lululemon was working on apparel inspired by research on women runners, I was thrilled. I’ve often felt like it’s hard to find high-quality running gear that’s made for women: Sports bras are always either not supportive enough or so thick that they take days to dry; shorts just don’t work for people who have thighs that touch—the list goes on. Many of us find ourselves constantly compromising with gear that’s uncomfortable, or that chafes, or that slows us down.

I especially love that the group of ambassadors involved in the research and development of these pieces have a range of body types and sizes, which isn’t always the case.

At first glance, I thought that some of the pieces in the collection seemed more inventive than others. While it’s common for running shorts and tights to have wraparound waistband storage (like all the bottoms in this collection do), the high-support technology in the bras looked more unique. It made me wonder: Are these pieces really new to the running scene, or just new to Lululemon? I set out to find out.

On the run

Lululemon sent me the Go Further Split-Short Runsie, the Go Further Bra, and the Go Further High-Rise Race Tight to test. Here’s how they performed on my runs, all done in the sweltering North Carolina heat and humidity.

The Go Further Split-Short Runsie

Lululemon

The Go Further Split-Short Runsie

$118 $89 (25% off)

Lululemon

Billed as an all-in-one running ’fit, the Runsie is undeniably cute. But having never run in a one-piece, I was skeptical about how it would feel.

Taking a closer look at this piece made me more curious. Though it seems to be designed to be worn without a bra (it has an open back), it doesn’t have any additional support around the chest. The super soft, smooth, and lightweight material just didn’t seem compressive enough to prevent bouncing.

On the run, there was actually far less bouncing than I thought. Though the Runsie wasn’t quite as supportive as the sports bras I typically wear, I didn’t experience any uncomfortable or distracting movement. That said, I’m not sure I’d recommend this piece for runners with larger breasts, and I probably wouldn’t wear it during intense workouts or marathons, where I’m trying to run fast or far.

The Runsie also has pockets all the way around the waistband, with plenty of storage for a phone, snacks, a soft flask, and even a rolled-up extra layer. But my favorite feature is the shorts, which are split in the front for mobility and coverage. (In other words, when you take a step forward and open the split, your upper thigh is exposed—rather than your butt, as is the case with most split shorts.)

I typically don’t run in split shorts because they tend to ride up, and these were no different. But I was impressed at how minimally they crept up throughout my run, and that they didn’t chafe. Unlike other shorts that I’m constantly having to pull out of my crotch, these didn’t bother me (although they did expose pretty much my entire upper thigh.)

And if a one-piece conjures nightmares of wrestling with your outfit in a cramped bathroom stall, have no fear: The Runsie is quick and easy to pull off and on during a pit stop.

The Go Further Bra

Lululemon

The Go Further Bra

$98

Lululemon

The Go Further Bra is billed as a high-impact, maximum-support bra for those with C or D cup sizes. The idea is that these bras are typically so compressive and uncomfortable that you want to rip them off as soon as you’re done running—but now, according to Lululemon, comfort and performance don’t actually have to be at odds.

The Go Further Bra seeks to achieve this balance with some proprietary technology that sounds cool, but remains somewhat mysterious. Lululemon says the bra has “motion-activated support” that kicks in when you’re moving and relaxes when you’re hanging out post-run. I did notice that when I first put the bra on, it felt super comfortable in a way that made me doubt its credentials as a maximum-support bra. But on the run, it was surprisingly supportive, especially considering it’s not at all compressive. Like with the Runsie, I’d be curious to hear feedback from runners with larger chests than me, but personally I found it to be plenty supportive enough.

The bra’s fabric is light and silky—I doubt it’s even capable of chafing. One thing to note: It was fully saturated with sweat after my very hot and humid runs (though, to be fair, I think any bra would have been).

The High-Rise Race Tight

Lululemon

The High-Rise Race Tight

$128

Lululemon

The High-Rise Race Tight is the most similar piece to Lululemon’s current offerings, with one major upgrade: It has tons of pockets. There are pockets all around the waistband, plus a pocket on each leg.

The tights are made from Lululemon’s Nulux fabric, which is soft, cool, and breathable, and I doubt would ever chafe. They don’t have any seams on the inside of the legs, making them further chafe-proof, or an internal drawstring—instead, there’s velvet flocking on the inside for some extra grip. I didn’t experience any sagging or slippage on my runs, but I wonder if I’ll start wishing for a drawcord after some wears and washes.

They aren’t joking about these being high-rise, and the top of the tights did roll a bit on me. Otherwise, I thought they were a solid pair of maximum storage running tights.

Bottom line

While I wish I could have tested the Ice Storage Tank Top (which seems like the most unique piece in the line), I appreciate what Lululemon is doing with the Go Further collection—and I think this is probably the best running apparel they’ve ever made. The bra has quickly become a regular part of my rotation. I’ll probably save the Runsie for more casual running or hiking outings, and the Tights for when it gets a bit cooler out.

I’m excited to see what else the brand has in store (they’ve indicated that there’s more to come on this front), and if the project of making running apparel that actually addresses the issues that women care about helps push the whole market forward. For now, I’ll enjoy running in a bra that I can actually stand to wear off-the-run too.

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