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I’m writing this review in Roots sweatpants, I do most things in Roots sweatpants.
I’ve been wearing Roots most of my life. It makes sense — the brand was founded in 1973 in Toronto by Michael Budman and Don Green, who met at summer camp in Ontario’s Algonquin Park. I was founded many years later, but lived near Toronto and went to sleepover camp near Algonquin. The brand was successfully marketed to my social circle but I’ve always been sold on its comfort and quality. I still regularly wear a pair of Roots sweatpants I got when I was 13 (they do have holes and I should retire them, but alas).
Roots started as a shoemaker, developed into a leather goods store and evolved into an iconic Canadian brand that carries everything to dress all ages from head to toe, fully accessorized. Roots has its stamp in Canadian history, including being the official outfitter for the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams from 2000 to 2004.
Roots’ most well-known items include varsity jackets, leather bags and sweatpants/sweatshirts. I tried Roots’ latest sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts and athletic gear to rank the clothes from my most to least favourite. No surprise, the sweatpants are my favourite, but I was more than pleasantly surprised with some of the brand’s non-sweats items. I also really appreciate the size range that Roots offers in these styles. I’ve washed and worn these items many times and they wash and wear wonderfully.
Ranking my Roots haul, summary
- Organic Original Sweatpant
- Organic Original Kanga Hoodie
- Womens Organic Relaxed Cooper T-Shirt
- Restore Sports Bra
- Organic Original Relaxed Full Zip Hoodie
- Restore Pocket Bike Short 7 Inch
- Restore Pocket Legging
Ranking my Roots haul, explained
Why they’re my favourite: Roots’ Original sweats are not only my favourite in this haul but are my favourite full stop. They are so comfortable from day one and only get better with age. These sweats are soft, cozy and wash well. I’ve tried many sweatpants over the years and none have come close to these Roots sweats.
Price: $84
Material: 80% organic cotton, 20% recycled polyester fleece
Sizes: XXS – 4X
Rating: 10/10
2. Organic Original Kanga Hoodie
Why it’s my second favourite: I’m more religious about my Roots sweatpants but love the brand’s hoodies too. I don’t usually wear obviously branded clothes, but I like rocking the Roots logo front and centre because it’s borderline part of my identity — especially when I travel. When abroad, I’m proud to sport Roots’ logo so I can patriotically share my love for the sweats. I like to size up in the hoodie (or even two sizes for a very relaxed look).
Price: $92
Material: 80% organic cotton, 20% recycled polyester fleece
Sizes: XXS – 4X
Rating: 10/10
3. Womens Organic Relaxed Cooper T-Shirt
Why it’s my third favourite: This shirt is just as comfy as the sweatpants and sweatshirt. My ideal home uniform is the sweats and this t-shirt — it’s just so soft and comfy. I also wear this shirt with jeans. It’s another Roots classic that comes in many fun colours.
Price: $38
Material: 100% organic cotton jersey
Sizes: XXS – 4X
Rating: 10/10
Why it’s my fourth favourite: This was the plot twist of the haul. I know how much I love Roots sweats and shirts, but usually not a huge fan of its athletic line. However, this bra is fantastic. I don’t have big boobs, so can’t speak to that, but it’s comfortable and easy to put on and take off. I’m used to the feeling of dislocating my shoulders to don a sports bra, but the Restore is a pleasure to put on and remove — and it’s great for fitness. I get excited when this bra is clean and ready to wear. It’s not the world’s cutest sports bra, so I knocked it down to a 9/10 instead of a perfect score.
Price: $64
Material: 81% recycled nylon, 19% spandex
Sizes: XXS – 3X (differs by colour)
Rating: 9/10
5. Organic Original Relaxed Full Zip Hoodie
Why it’s my fifth favourite: What is this hoodie doing so low on this list? The zipper and sweatshirt length. I do like having a zippered option, so I don’t have to put the sweatshirt over my head, but it takes away from its cuddle factor. I also find the sweatshirt a bit long as it creates a bulge at my waist. I still really like the zip-up and wear it a lot, just not as much as I like the items above.
Price: $98
Material: 80% organic cotton, 20% recycled polyester fleece
Sizes: XXS – 4X
Rating: 8/10
6. Restore Pocket Bike Short 7 Inch
Why they’re my sixth favourite: Another win — didn’t expect to like these shorts as much as I do. They’re the same material as the bra, which is a bit more relaxed than the athletic material that I’m used to (I wear a lot of lululemon). I really appreciate the material in the bra, because it’s easier to take on and off, but I prefer a tighter fabric for biker shorts (like lululemon’s Align shorts). The Restore shorts are still comfortable and work well for a jog or fitness class, but I prefer to be more sucked in and compressed.
Price: $64
Material: 81% recycled nylon, 19% spandex
Sizes: XXS – 4X
Rating: 7/10
Why they’re my seventh favourite: Similar to the shorts, the legging material is just a bit relaxed for my liking. I prefer my leggings to have more compression, like lululemon’s Align pants for fitness endeavours or Aritzia’s BUTTER leggings for casual wear. However, I can see the Restore Legging being great for people who prefer a less compressed option.
Price: $88
Material: 81% recycled nylon, 19% spandex interlock
Sizes: XXS – 4X
Rating: 6/10
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rmann@postmedia.com