Nobody is doing spring and summer capsules quite like Ciele right now

What You Need To Know

A Ciele collection for every run

There are some running brands that just get it, ya know? They know just when to release a capsule, just what to put in it, and just what they want runners to do with it. Ciele is one of those brands. From its race-ready, ultra-light Elite lineup to its workout-friendly Icon collection, it has something for everyone. The thing is, though, sometimes we end up rotating between more Ciele gear than we know what to do with.

That’s not a problem — we actually love it. The challenge, however, comes in when we need to write about all of it. If we hit you with a new review every time we get a new collection, you might start to think we were on the payroll. So instead, we’re bringing all of our new Ciele pieces into one big, old roundup. We’ve got stuff for roads, trails, and even dips into the ocean, and we wouldn’t trade any of the collections.

So, let’s get into just how good the Ciele collections have been for spring and summer this year.

LINDSAY: There’s no doubt that Ciele products are high quality. The FSTSinglet 2 maintains those standards with its ultra-lightweight, fully recycled fabric. This is the perfect throw-over for the hot summer days when you want to run around in only a sports bra, but also hit up THB (if you know, you know) with your friends without feeling naked. It also served as an excellent sweat rag because it truly dries so fast without holding on to odor or developing that stiffness that salt tends to cause in cotton shirts. The mesh fabric is so lightweight and breathable, you barely know it’s there.

I only tried the singlet, but it also comes in a full shirt (FSTShirt 2), which I feel like is also a staple contender when you need coverage without added weight or absorption. Initially, I was a bit hesitant to endorse an $80 tank top. Then, I carried a container of fruit through the grocery store after a run and got red and blue sticky juice all over my FSTSinglet 2. It then sat in the hot car for a few hours while running more errands, and, with ease I’ve never known when trying to remove stains, it rinsed completely out with just water. A true miracle fabric that comes in all the basic colors and is machine washable; worth every penny if you are prone to staining clothes.

LINDSAY: A new addition to Ciele’s stellar repertoire is the TRN Tank Bra Crop. If you know me, you know I love a good crop in the summertime, and this one fits the bill. The fabric is very much like swimsuit material, but the TRNTankBra Crop is softer. It kept me cool while being sweat-wicking instead of weighing down with absorption. Bra pads are included and minimal, but they do help with shaping and are easy to remove.

A unique feature of the TRNTankBra Crop is the back pocket. At first glance, it looks like two smaller pockets, and that’s how it’s advertised (two thumbs down for false advertising). It’s really just one longer pocket separated by a single stick at the top center. I almost wish it were two separate pockets, though, because it might be more secure that way. Regardless, this pocket won’t hold your phone on a run without it bouncing around. Think of it as an accessory pocket for a hike or long walk, in which case it would fit your phone and snacks alike!

The single attribute I did not like about this top was the straps. They are not adjustable, and I felt like mine kept slipping down my shoulders, requiring frequent adjustments throughout my activities. A cross-strap or racerback is ideal for movement, in my opinion. The TRNTankBra Crop is a performance top at its foundation, but I can’t justify $85 for a top that functions only as athleisure for me.

LINDSAY: I’ll try to be as objective as I can with this one because at 5’3,” 7-inch shorts are not the most flattering on me. I honestly didn’t hate Ciele’s FSTTight Short, though. They are so, so soft and stretchy yet compressive; they truly give shape to the shapeless. Aside from some pleasing aesthetics, they’re also highly functional. With deep and secure side pockets on each thigh for no-bounce phone holding, multi-prong elastic bands on each waist side for fuel or extra shirt, and an internal waist adjuster, the FSTTight Short has all the bells and whistles a distance runner could hope for.

The stitching, or lack of, is also something out of a dream. Whoever designed these is an artist down to the smallest detail, including the fact that they’re trimmable! Yes, you read that correctly. Ciele designers included not one, but two dotted lines on the inner fabric to guide you into a shorter length. Amazing idea.

In addition to lengthy shorts, I also dislike when seamless shorts have that glue-like strip on the inside to keep the length down. Somehow, Ciele has solved this problem for me as well by constructing these so that they stay in place without glue. I’ve fully enjoyed wearing the FST Tight Short for cross-training days on the bike. Not a chafe in sight.

The color needs a PSA. While the shorts are generally sweat-wicking and dry quickly, sweat still shows in the “Geraldine” color in very unflattering places if you catch my drift. Fortunately, it comes in a few darker colors, so it’s not a huge loss.

LINDSAY: Summer is approaching and, with it, so is the sticky icky humidity. As much as I love the simplicity of throwing on just a sports bra and shorts, sometimes I yearn for the same simplicity with a bit more coverage. Enter the Ciele ICNSinglet.

Part of its Spring 2026 collection, this cropped singlet is just what I needed. Much like FSTSinglet 2, it is lightweight and extremely airy. So much so that I asked myself, “How do they make this fabric?” Well, the answer took a little digging because Ciele product marketers love their unique trademarked descriptors.

Here’s what I discovered: the fabric is knitted from carbon fibers, which means it’s got some texture, but it’s silky-soft and has inherent antimicrobial properties that inhibit the bacteria that make our running clothes so stinky. It’s also got all the properties you look for in a summer top: lightweight, cooling, and quick drying. The fit is also excellent. While most roomy crops end up looking very boxy and athletic, this one has just a touch more length in the back and sits right at my short waistband in the front. It didn’t move around too much during runs, and I had no problem with slippage over the shoulders.

The word “carbon” is such a trigger word in running these days, and while this isn’t the equivalent of a running boost you get from a carbon plate, it is certainly elite-level running attire. Unfortunately, it’s also at elite-level running costs, coming in at $115 ($110 for women). It’s advertised as “designed for people who run,” but really it’s more like “designed for people who run and also make a lot of money.”

LINDSAY: Stop what you’re doing (yes, even reading this review) and go buy the Ciele ICNShort 3-inch Brief right now! I’ll wait.

Ok, welcome back; let’s talk specifics. I rarely think a pair of running shorts for $125 is worth it, but there isn’t a spot of doubt in my mind when it comes to the Ciele ICNShort. I will wear these shorts until the threads are fraying. If they even do, Ciele products are notoriously high quality.

I would consider these high-waisted split shorts. Whereas some split shorts get bunched up between the thighs (looking at you, Janji), these stay in place but still give you that extra extension when opening up the stride length. Some smart cookie over at Ciele design implemented a simple, subtle wraparound with the top split to keep it in place, and it works!

The outer material and the lining are both so soft. Inside is almost like a bathing suit without the annoyingly tight hem stitching that a lot of built-in underwear has. The front and back of the Shadowcast (black) shorts look the same, but you can feel the ribbed pattern of the back versus the smoothness on the front. It’s much more noticeable on the Andorra (burgundy) and Kombu (forest green) colorways.

These are the first pair of split shorts I’ve ever considered wearing for a longer distance race. Usually, there aren’t any pockets to store fuel, but the ICNShort is littered with pockets. I mean, there are more pockets on this pair of shorts than on any shorts I own! Even more than some tights. They list four pockets, but I actually counted seven! The number four is honest in that there are only four sizable pockets: two front and two back, but with the two smaller “key size” pockets and the loop for hanging a shirt or hat through in the back, I’d say no matter the number you count, there’s undoubtedly enough.

The one feature I didn’t like about the ICNShort was the bunching I got in the front when moving. If you’ve ever tried on a pair of men’s running shorts, you already know what I’m talking about. There’s that extra room in the front for any… bulge. Not a deal breaker, though. I will still love these shorts until they disintegrate on my body. Now I just need them in the other two bold colorways.

RYAN: A few summers ago, Robbe did a great job of convincing everyone that the legionnaire hat was the future — or at least the hat of the summer. He got more versions of it than you or I can count, and he even got his own signature design that pays homage to his raccoon alter ego.

I’m here to say that he was wrong. I’ve always been team bucket hat, and Ciele continues to prove me right. The TRLBucket from its Paradis collection was one of the first hats I picked up this summer, and I don’t think I’ve left home without it. So far, that’s meant driving to the beach for a holiday weekend away from a heat wave, a tour of several tall ships in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and my fair share of trail runs where protection from bugs and branches is just as important as protection from the sun.

Through it all, the TRLBucket has been my version of Captain America’s shield, only just for my head, and paying homage to the brand’s Montreal headquarters instead of the old US of A. Its wide, safari-like brim is absolutely brilliant against the sun, while the combination of patterned FlexWeave mesh on the front and ZipMesh on the back is sturdy yet breathable. The anti-odor CoolMatic headband is clutch, too, wicking my boatloads of sweat before they can pour into my eyes.

Just a note: Ciele is getting low on sizes (because the pattern is so sick), so you might want to pick yours up sooner rather than later if you want the Paradis pattern.

RYAN: From an absolute hit to something of a miss, it’s time to talk about the next piece of the Paradis collection. Although I absolutely love the design on the back of the NSPTshirt, which looks like a map leading to the buried treasure of Ciele HQ, I’m not entirely sure when to wear the top itself.

At a glance, the Sorino fabric, which is made with hemp among other natural fibers, should be right up my alley. It’s light, it looks breathable, and it doesn’t feel like a standard tech tee. But when I set out for my first run in the shirt, I quickly felt like I was wearing a towel. The NSPTshirt pulled sweat off of me, but then it held onto it like it owed money. I lasted about a mile before I had to take it off, which left me carrying a wet shirt for the remaining four miles of my run.

Also, I messed up by not laying the shirt flat after washing. I hung it up like I do with most of my running laundry, only for the neckline to stretch a bit in the process. I’ve since washed and laid it to get back to normal, but I don’t love it when one shirt in my load of laundry needs slightly different treatment.

But, if you’re better at reading instructions than I am, and you like the look of the reflective map (which is, indeed, sick), then the NSPTshirt might be worth grabbing. At the very least, it’s a win for those who like to wear natural fibers.

RYAN: Although the NSPTshirt didn’t land for me, we’re not going to finish on a sour note. Ciele’s ATShort, which has a 5-inch inseam, is one of my favorite pieces of the summer, and I know what makes it so good. Simply put, this is a pair of running shorts you can wear right into the ocean (or a stream or pool) after you finish your morning run. It’s made with a salt and chlorine-resistant ripstop material, so whatever you dip into won’t damage the shorts along the way.

Honestly, though, the ATShort is anything but traditional when it comes to running apparel. Unlike most shorts, which stick to simple drop-in pockets, these shorts have large front pockets like a normal bathing suit or pair of shorts. You can easily stash your phone while you stop at the coffee shop, but there’s room for a gel or two, too. Oh, and for security purposes, there’s also a zippered pocket on the right side to stash your keys and a credit card.

Quite honestly, these shorts rule. I can’t even be mad at the 5-inch inseam, because the slight splits at the bottom allow for some free, easy movement. Totally worth the 2-in-1 price.