We Tried Pruzan’s Spring Collection, and These Pieces Stood Out

What You Need To Know

Speed Was a Goddess First

LINDSAY: Pruzan says it best: “Running is a vehicle for discovery: of ourselves, each other and the world.” Nothing pumps me up more than a company founded by two badass women who just want to empower and make other badass women feel comfortable in their clothing. That’s just… badass.

Let me back up, though, because if you’re like me, you hadn’t heard of Pruzan prior to reading this article. That’s not a huge surprise, though, because based on my Reddit investigation and an interview by Cole Townsend from Running Supply, it appears the company is waking up from a bit of a hibernation. It started in 2022, and now it’s back with a “new” line of products, which is actually a mix of some of OG hits revamped and some new stuff.

The “theme,” so to speak, of this seasonal drop is “Speed was a Goddess First.” Goosebumps. I love this message and the narrative they focus on: the centrality of female figures in the origin story of speed. I won’t get into all the history because you can find that on their website, but take it from me, this company is brains and beauty.

Sadly, I won’t be able to give you any comparisons from their initial launch, but I’m excited to talk about the products I tried. Let’s get into it!

LINDSAY: I was immediately drawn to the colorway when I received the Hourglass Bra in Blue Violet. It’s smooth like a pastel with the boldness of a primary color. The fabric is so buttery soft, but don’t let that fool you; it packs a lot of support. It’s advertised as medium support, and I think that’s very fair. For reference, I’m a 32B, and the small fits perfectly. The thick liner band is compressive but not tight, and there was zero chaffing thanks to the silky fabric. I know when you hear “silk,” you think delicate, but this fabric is sturdy and durable while still soft and elegant.

Sweat marks were entirely visible, but they didn’t last long after cooling down. The removable pads were a bit of a design flaw, in my opinion. The outline of the pads was easily seen through the fabric, so I would prefer not to have them in at all. There are also no pockets on this bra, and that’s fine. If you’ve read my other sports bra reviews, you know I’m a “cellphone pocket between the shoulder blades” girlie. There is plenty of room for one here, so maybe in the next round, Pruzan?

REESE: A good (or bad) sports bra can make or break a run. Chafing, squeezing, not enough support, etc. And every woman is built a little differently, so I imagine designing a sports bra can be intimidating for a designer. My biggest complaint with sports bras is that they squeeze my ribs, and I feel claustrophobic. Thankfully, the Hourglass Bra doesn’t fall into the chafing/squeezing/restrictive bra category.

As Lindsey mentioned, it’s super soft, so no chafing. The wide band and the large opening on the back provided some relief to any feelings of squeezing. The band was quite pliable, easy to breathe, take on, and take off. Despite the larger opening on the back, because of the thicker, more buttery fabric, I’d say this might not be the go-to bra in the heat; I’d choose something a little more lightweight. Additionally, it’s more of a full coverage bra. I found that I wanted to wear this more as a standalone top, like a crop top. (Side note: I hate wearing shirts in the heat.)

The silhouette is really nice, very flattering. Show off those arms and shoulders, ladies. This isn’t the Victoria era, thankfully.

LINDSAY: I’m sure Reese will also touch on the sizing, but it seems like the shorts run on the larger side. I’m usually a small or a medium, but the small Marathon Short felt very loose after a few miles. At first, the fit felt great, but they definitely loosened up even after cinching the waist. I surely could have sized it down to an extra small. Also, if I tried to run with gels in the many, wonderful pockets, it would’ve been impossible. Hiking, though? That’s where these shorts can really shine.

A few more positive points to round this out. The fabric is soft, stretchy, and sweat-wicking with a shirt loop on the back that’s perfect for summer running. The Marathon Short is longer than your average running short, and for some, that will be fantastic. The market is saturated with tiny, tight-fitting running shorts, so there is definitely a place for these longer-line, looser shorts. Not my cup of tea for marathons, but certainly someone’s!

REESE: I didn’t spend much time in these shorts. The small that arrived was really large. I’m not sure if this was a mistake, a wrongly labeled size, but they barely stayed on me. I had a friend try them on; she’s 5’8, typically wears a medium, and they were too big for her. I had an extra small sent over, and that pair fit my waist, but the length was pretty butt-hugging. I think the lack of a split on the side made them legit hug my butt. I honestly didn’t feel comfortable running around town in these. And that’s saying something for someone who routinely wears split shorts that are split up to the waistband. Love that movement in the fabric though. I hate it when shorts can’t move with you or can’t get out of the way when you move.

I was a little surprised by the fabric of these shorts. Maybe I’m just used to super lightweight things at this point, but these felt heavy. Like lots of fabric and heavy fabric at that. I realize they aren’t going for race vibes, but getting hot and sweaty in thick fabric is a real buzzkill.

Can we worship this goddess?

LINDSAY: I feel like I did a little more learning about this company than I did wearing their product, but that’s something you don’t get from the big names. A true, rooted foundation with leaders who put a lot of thought and consideration into their mission. It’s honest, and I truly hope they continue to succeed.

With that being said, I need to let the elephant in the room out. These pieces of athletic wear are extremely expensive. I’m talking Lululemon and Athleta expensive. It’s going to be really tough to compete in a market with those brands that are far more accessible and have so many more options. There are only three different color options in the Pruzan line.

Right now, there isn’t something in particular about this brand that makes me want to push for this over anything else. Perhaps linking up with a philanthropy to give folks a reason to support this company with such a strong message and leadership to boot.

REESE: I love the idea and concept of Pruzan. I agree with Lindsey that standing out in this oversaturated world of running and athletic clothing is pretty tough. I think their styles and price points need a bit of tweaking, though. For a small brand, I’m guessing there’s not a lot of brand equity or clout, combined with some sizing issues and fabrics that might need some changing, so the price point is a bit daunting.