Janji Runpaca Shirt (Women)

The Janji Runpaca Long Sleeve shirt is made of pima cotton, blended with alpaca fleece to create a performance shirt with all day comfort. Janji is a small, Boston-based running company with a mission of making performance running apparel that connects people. 5% of each of their sales goes to help fund clean water projects in other countries. They have a heavy focus on sustainability and ethical manufacturing practices.

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Specs

• Color tested: Animas (above); other colors available: Potosi (green/blue), and Salar (cream)
• Size tested: Women’s Small
• 75% cotton, 22.5% pima cotton, 2.5% alpaca
• Relaxed fit with slight round to the back hem
• Made in Peru
• Alpaca fleece is sustainably sourced from Peru & Bolivia
• Lightweight warmth
• Odor resistant reduces the need for washing
• Hypoallergenic
• Thumb holes

What’s good

Comfort

The Janji Runpaca shirt is comfy, no doubt about it. You are likely familiar with pima cotton if you have purchased a set of bed sheets in the last 5 to 10 years. Pima cotton is known for its luxurious comfort, so it comes as no surprise that the Runpaca shirt feels soft and luxurious. 

Sustainability

As mentioned above, Janji’s focus is all about sustainability. From choosing materials that are ethically and sustainably sourced, to creating a product that needs to be washed less to reduce water, their mission is driving their product development. If that is something that is important to you, then this is a company that is worth checking out.

Thumbholes

I love thumbholes. They make every shirt better. It alleviates the need to carry gloves when the temperatures are above the mid-40s, and they simply make the shirt more versatile.

What could be improved

Stitching

It looks as though their stitching is a signature look, referred to as “signature ladder stitch semi-hem and back vertebrae stitch” on their website. My concern about the stitching is that it seems a bit looser than most of my other closing, so I’m worried about longevity.

Fit

The Janji Runpaca shirt is a relaxed fit shirt. If you like your shirts to fit close to the body, I would recommend sizing down. I typically wear a small in a shirt, and I would like the Runpaca better in an extra small.

When to use it

The Janji Runpaca shirt is light enough to wear in a variety of different conditions. I wore it on a day in the low 60s and didn’t overheat. I would say it’s low end temperature threshold is likely in the mid-30s, depending on how hard you are exerting. Stick to dry conditions. This shirt is MOSTLY cotton, even though it’s name suggests it has a high alpaca content. This shirt will not function like wool (wool = warm when wet), so don’t plan on using it as your rainy day shirt, unless the temps are relatively warm. Stick to wool or synthetics for cool, rainy days.

Should you purchase? 

Depends. The Janji Runpaca shirt is all about comfort, and it really does deliver on that promise. In addition to comfort, it looks good. Combine the good looks with the lack of stink, and you can easily go from a run to a coffee shop or restaurant post-run, without needing to change. I appreciate the sustainable nature of the company, and fully applaud what they are trying to do with their give back program. At $68, the Runpaca is on the spendy side for a long sleeve. But, if you believe in workers getting paid a livable wage, and want to help people in third world countries get access to clean water, this is a way you can support those efforts with a running-related purchase.

Purchasing Information

Check out your local, independently-owned running specialty store, as independent stores are vital to our community and need all the help they can get. If you can’t find Janji available locally, you can check out their website.

Your Reviewer: Sarah Bradham

I started my love of gear as a climber and as I turned my attention to running I shifted from carabiners, ice tools, and crampons to hydration packs, midsole foam types, compression clothing, and everything in between. After several years of foot injuries, I’m enjoying getting back to my beloved muddy and rocky trails near my home in Portland, Ore. In my work life, I enjoy coordinating an annual Mountain and Ultra Running Camp at the base of Mt. Hood with Yassine Diboun, Amy Sproston, Joelle Vaught, Krissy Moehl and Jeff “Bronco Billy” Browning. 

This product was provided to URP/me for review purposes. Compensation was neither offered nor requested and all words and thoughts are 100% my own.