Advnture Verdict
If you care about the environment and like to look good in your comfortable running tights, the BAM Enduros are a good choice.
Pros
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Eco conscious
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High waist
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Bright colors and designs
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Good support
Cons
- -
No phone pocket
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BAM High Waist ⅞ Enduro Bamboo Leggings: first impressions
Our first thought when we unpacked these leggings was that they were bright and beautiful, with a highly feminine shape. Then we put them on and enjoyed the softness.
Bamboo clothing isn’t just soft, though, it’s also a sustainable and eco sensitive material for performance clothing. This is because bamboo absorbs five times more carbon than hardwood trees. It also uses half the land cotton required to produce the same amount of fibre, and it doesn’t need irrigation or pesticides.
These BAM running tights are made from a blend of 64% soft and absorbent bamboo viscose with 24% breathable organic cotton, plus 12% elastane for stretch and movement. The cropped 7/8th length leggings have been updated with a higher-sit waistband for improved comfort and support. They also feature flatlock seaming to reduce chafing (see: How to avoid chafing).
The fabric is opaque, for no show-through revealing underwear or bare skin, and it naturally manages moisture, while also supplying UPF50+ to protect skin from 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.
The leggings have a small internal pocket for stowing keys, but no pocket for a phone or similar. The color choice is wide ranging with some bright and funky patterns on offer, too. (For alternatives see our Best women's running leggings article.)
• RRP: $53.80 (US) / £55 (UK)
• Weight (average): 278g / 9.8 oz
• Size: One size female (UK 8 to 18)
• Colors: Rainforest / Black / Etching / Eventide / Fossil / Foxglove / Granite Marl / Kelp / Purple Aster / Rich Navy / Winter Sunset
• Compatibility: Trail running, road running, hiking, skiing, orienteering, cycling, field sports
On the trails
If, like many women, you are not a fan of revealing your tummy, these high-waist leggings could be ideal. They rise up to the rib area and cover all of the stomach area, as well as providing support around the tum, bum and thighs. High rise doesn’t suit everyone, however, and those that prefer their leggings to sit lower on their waist should choose an alternative. (See also: How to wear running leggings.)
The fabric is really soft and lovely against the skin and while the leggings feel tight and supportive they are not constrictive. It feels like they are hugging you. The tights are really comfortable to wear and ideal for running or doing any kind of sport. Brilliantly, they do not fall down when running.
There are not as lightweight and breathable as other tights because they are made from “heavy weight 340gsm fabric” – so you might find yourself feeling a bit sweaty on a summer’s day. However, the fabric is fairly breathable and you could easily cool off by wearing them with a crop top (remember that your tum is nicely covered).
There is a small internal pocket for keys but it would be good to see a larger pocket, perhaps at the side of the leg, for a mobile phone. Note, the BAM Kennick Side Pocket leggings have two side pockets for a phone.
The choice of patterns and colors is superb. The rainforest design received a lot of positive comments from other people I ran with (so you might want to wear them as much as you can, in which case check out 5 non-running uses for your running leggings).
Another great advantage is that they are made with a more sustainable material, bamboo, and this feels like a good thing in a world that relies a lot on carbon-creating fabrics and manufacturing.
And the price tag is not too hefty either.
