Wear Testing Lululemon’s Latest Gear With Matt James
The Hypebeast crew hit the streets of Manhattan for a four-mile run — with a pizza stop along the way.
Last week, the Hypebeast crew pulled up to Lululemon’s SoHo flagship dressed head-to-toe in the brand’s latest running collection. Outfitted in the collection’s core palette — black, red, and leopard print — the group set out for a four-mile run through Manhattan. The mission was simple: log the miles and put the latest running apparel and footwear through its paces.
The run was helmed by Lululemon ambassador Matt James, alongside community leaders and fellow ambassadors Sheldon Tucker and Greg Laraia. True to form, James worked a quintessential NYC pitstop into the route, treating the team to a slice from one of his personal favorites, Emmett’s.
Technical in construction but fashion-forward in execution, Lululemon’s spring/summer 2026 collection strikes a balance between performance and style by leaning into bold prints, unexpected colorways, and design details that wouldn’t look out of place off the track. Highlights include a new transformable windbreaker; fan-favorite Fast & Free pieces reimagined in layerable reds and leopard prints; and a new high-rise split short with prep-inspired stripe details. “The collection is really functional, especially the lined shorts,” says Hypebeast media strategy intern Sean Barnes. “The compression liner is so underrated. It kept everything locked in during the run, to the point where I forgot I was even wearing them.”
The Hypebeast team quite literally ran with it, styling the collection in a range of ways, from tank tops layered over long sleeves to accessories like sunglasses, hats, and bandanas. The variety of looks was a testament to the collection’s versatility and proof that technical running gear can pull double duty as a style statement.
On foot, the group was laced up in Lululemon’s Split Shift running shoe, designed for everyday miles. They’re ultra comfortable with a nice amount of bounce and return making for an easy addition to any regular rotation. Lindsay Shepard, Hypebeast’s head of fashion and footwear, echoes the sentiment: “As someone who’s usually locked into a specific shoe, it was a pleasant surprise to lace up something new and finish the run completely pain and blister-free.”
The night wrapped up at the Lululemon store with snacks from Happier Grocery, ending on as high a note as it started. Even an unseasonably chilly day couldn’t put a dent in the energy. “The weather was windy, but the high spirits kept me warm,” says Hypebeast producer Yessy Zeng. Account executive Kimberly Hurd agrees: “As someone who’s pretty new to running, there’s nothing like being surrounded by a genuinely encouraging group.”
The Lululemon SS26 running collection is available now in-store and online at lululemon.com.
