Ronald Hill was no ordinary runner. He set multiple records throughout his career and was only the second man in history to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes. Even more remarkable was his 52 years and 39 days running streak between 1964 and 2017.
In 1970, the same year he became the first brit to win the Boston Marathon in a then course record of 2:10:30, he founded Ron Hill Sports, a running apparel company that, among other things, made waterproof running jackets and reflective strips. His intention was to create kit that would keep him safe and protected during his runs home from work through the dark winter. If he was having issues, others were too.
Although Hill sold the company in the 1990s, the Ronhill brand continues to this day and is known for its premium, high quality running gear. The brand’s recent collaborations have included working with Michelin on the Reverence trail running shoe and with Polartec on its Tech Golden Hour Tee – the subject of this review.
The Golden Hour Tee is a running top that employs Polartec’s Delta, a highly breathable fabric designed for exertion in hot conditions. I’m no stranger to Delta fabric, having previously tested its credentials with the marvellous Thrudark Oryon T-Shirt. While the Oryon is intended as a high performing hiking base layer, the Golden Hour Tee is very much designed as a running top. I was excited to hit the trails to see how it compared to my other running tees.
Meet the reviewer
First impressions
RRP: £48 (UK)
Weight: 121g / 4.27oz
Fabric: Polartec Delta
Sizes: S to XL
Colors: Blue / Multi Colour / Jam / Blue Chevron
Compatibility: Runs across the seasons and warm weather hiking
The Multi Colour version of the Golden Hour Tee is an explosion of color, which will delight some (including me), but may put others off. There’s also the equally ostentatious Legion Blue Chevron option, as well as more understated, crinkled Blue and a gradated Jam designs. There are also long sleeved versions too.
Its textured fabric is pleasant enough against the skin, though not quite as soft as some running tops. Hold it up to the light and it almost looks like its full of holes, which isn’t too far removed from the truth. This is due to the structure of Polartec’s Delta fabric, which we’ll come onto in more detail in a moment.
It’s got a fairly relaxed fit – not so much that it doesn’t look smart but enough to suggest that it’s a top for summer rather than a winter base layer. The seams run down the side, so there’s no irritation on that score, while movement is completely unrestricted. So far, so good.
Beta on the Delta
The obvious standout feature of the Golden Hour Tee is its use of the patented Delta fabric. Designed specifically for hot conditions, its structure is highly breathable, with supreme moisture wicking capability. This makes for a well-ventilated running sensation and fast drying times, while the elevated touch-points provide airflow, accelerated moisture dispersal and reduced clinginess.
It's composed of 49% recycled polyester and 49% lyocell, with 2% elastane for that little bit of stretch. If you haven’t heard of lyocell before, let me fill you in. It’s a material that's been around for a while, having been first produced in Alabama over 30 years ago. A plant-based fabric mainly composed of eucalyptus, these days it’s attracting attention for not only being plant-based but also for its sustainability credentials… up to a point. Eucalyptus grows quickly, while the production process doesn’t use harmful chemicals and uses less than half as much water as cotton production. It’s naturally odor-repellent, so should lead to fewer wash cycles too – also good for that planet of ours. However, the energy used in its production is a concern, particularly if manufacturers are sourcing said energy from fossil fuels.
While we’re on the subject of sustainability, Ronhill partner with the Fair Wear Foundation, which ensures ‘sustainable, fair and safe labour conditions in factories’, working alongside appropriate bodies to improve the lives of factory workers.
Anyway, let's delve into how the Delta fabric achieves its moisture wicking and cooling properties. The hydrophilic – meaning water loving – lyocell fibers are knit in a radiator pattern around the hydrophobic – water repelling – polyester. The result is both hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns, with the lyocell absorbing your sweat while the water-repelling polyester creates breathability in between. This design increases airflow, which helps to dissipate heat, and leads to advanced wicking, doing away with that horrid clinginess sometimes present in running tops. In essence, the top works alongside your body’s cooling system to stop you from overheating.
On the trails
I enjoyed wearing the Golden Hour Tee during training runs and trail races, as well as when exploring the mountains. I run hot when hiking, so a cooling base layer works wonderfully for me in summer and the shoulder seasons. Only once winter starts knocking do I tend to switch to a Merino option.
Whether hiking or running, I found the Golden Hour Tee comfortable and noticeably breathable. My rotation of oft-used running tops includes the Montane Dart Lite and a comparison of the two reveals both strengths and weaknesses. An obvious strength of the Golden Hour Tee is its ability to manage moisture.
I sweat a lot on hot runs and the Dart, as well as most of my other running tops, often gets clingy in these scenarios. By contrast, the Golden Hour tee barely clings at all, instead feeling light and breezy. This has certainly made it my go to top when the mercury's up.
Like the Dart, it’s odor-repellent, which I can fully vouch for having worn it on successive runs on the coast paths of England’s southwest and on a multi-day wild camping expedition in the Lake District National Park. It's not quite as pong-resistant as a Merino top – it does eventually start to smell, but only very mildly.
At 121g (4.27oz), it’s just a little on the heavier side, especially when compared to something as minimal as the Dart Lite. However, I’d assert that the trade-off is worth it for the advanced performance the Delta fabric provides. And we’re talking minimal amounts here too, the kind of thing only the gram-obsessed would fret over.
I’d happily recommend the Golden Hour Tee as a hiking top in the warmer months too, thanks to its performance qualities. Long ascents can be sweaty affairs under the August sun, so this top was ideal. The cut is a little long – I found it would stick out below my mid layer unless I tucked it in, something to bear in mind from a purely aesthetic point of view.
