REASONS TO BUY
Relaxed fit
Soft fabric
Mesh back panel
REASONS TO AVOID
Too much unnecessary seaming
Not the most breathable
Heavy
Nathan Rise Short Sleeve - Women's Review
A loose-fitting tee that works best in mild temps due to heavier fabric
Credit: Nathan
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Our Verdict
For the runner who prefers a relaxed fit and doesn't live somewhere with extreme weather, the Nathan Rise could be a comfortable option. It's not the most breathable, and during testing, we found it to be a bit heavy and slow to dry. However, it is made of a very soft fabric that feels nice against the skin. Still, it seems to be overdesigned with too many seams that increase the potential for chafing over long distances. We will wear this shirt for shorter runs but won't choose it for runs that require a running vest or when there is inclement weather.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Marketed as Nathan's ultralight running shirt option, we are a bit let down by the lack of breathability and slow drying speed.
Performance Comparison
We took this shirt for numerous post-work runs in the foothills.
Credit: Paige Klugherz
Comfort
There are a few conflicting thoughts about the comfort of the Rise. It is made out of a buttery soft fabric blend of 89% polyester and 11% elastane, but we aren't wild about all the details. We appreciate that they chose a raglan sleeve, which means there are no seams running along the top of the shoulder, but the back is made up of so many panels with seams that can cause chafing over long distances or under a pack. While our testers appreciated the crew neck and slightly longer sleeves that help with sun protection, they were confused by the addition of unnecessary decorative details on the sleeves that could contribute to chafing.
Lots of additional panels and seaming on the back of this shirt are extra potential opportunities for chafing over long distance or under a running vest.
Credit: Paige Klugherz
Breathability
The Rise is a mid-pack performer when it comes to breathability. The looseness of the fit does help with airflow, as the shirt can move away from you when running. The majority of the fabric has a faint grid, with the lines being a bit thinner and therefore more breathable. The panel running down the center of the back is subtly thinner and more pinpricked than the rest of the shirt. While the design intention of this is to provide more ventilation where you'll be sweating the most, in practice, we didn't really notice a difference. With a size small weighing in at 3.99 oz, this is the heaviest shirt we've tested over the past couple of years.
While the majority of the shirt has a faint waffle pattern, the panel in the middle of the back is more of a pinpricked mesh.
Credit: Paige Klugherz
Drying Speed
To test drying speed, we thoroughly soak each shirt, wring them out as much as possible by hand, and then hang them to dry with a timer running. The Rise tee was one of the slower ones we tested. This result means that this shirt would not be our top choice for hot summer runs when that wetness will feel sticky and heavy against our skin or for cold winter runs when our sweat may chill us if it doesn't dry soon enough.
The heaviest shirt we tested this year, it's pretty far from ultralight and didn't dry quickly, either.
Credit: Paige Klugherz
Features & Versatility
A feature we always love to see on running clothing is reflective decals, and on this shirt, Nathan came through. With one reflective logo on the right sleeve and another long reflective graphic in the middle of the back, you'll be visible on your pre-dawn runs. The Rise is long enough to stay under a climbing harness and is pretty durable, but it would probably be too warm and loose for a yoga class, and we wouldn't choose it for travel since it's on the heavier side and doesn't pack down that small.
The soft, midweight fabric is nice in moderate temperatures.
Credit: Paige Klugherz
Value
We're not wild about the value of this shirt. Taking into consideration its drawbacks and the fact that we preferred other shirts that sit at the same or a very similar price point, we think you'd be better off with one of those. Unless you're really enamored with this particular fabric or fit, you'll probably find another lighter shirt to be a better value.
Conclusion
The Nathan Rise is made of a super soft fabric, and although it lacks some breathability, if you're looking for a looser fit with plenty of coverage, this may be the right choice for you.
You'll be happiest using this one for shorter, easier efforts.
Credit: Paige Klugherz
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Paige Klugherz
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