Black Sheep Paris 24 Review

Introduction

I am super excited to kick off our review series, a collaboration between Zato AC and Straight At It, by diving into the Black Sheep Paris 24 Launch and their race-specific kit. Since they entered the running space, I've been curious about how they'd stack up against established brands. Disclaimer: they sent this kit out for me to test and review, but this hasn’t influenced the review’s content.

Black Sheep Background

I had the chance to sit down with the founder and discuss their vision, identity, and the decision to venture into running. Here's what I learned:

Why the Move into Running, Given Black Sheep's Cycling Roots?

For those familiar with Black Sheep and my own story, this move might seem very predictable. Beyond the bike, running has always been my parallel passion. I’ve competed here and there at a pseudo-elite level—last year I ran 29.44 at the Launceston 10. In a former life, I also used to be a Professional Triathlete. So, I’m not a hack, but I’m also nothing more than an annoyance at our local Parkrun these days.

Running is not just a sport for me; it’s been part of my life forever. I run to compete, sure, but more so to be around mates. It’s an individual pursuit that pushes us to our limits, but it has such an amazing support system and sense of camaraderie. The only sport that really comes close to this is cycling, making it a natural progression for us as a business.

Expanding into a new category is incredibly risky, especially after 10 years. There’s always the potential that our cycling audience might feel like we’re shifting focus or spreading ourselves too thin. But we couldn’t be more confident about how much both sports complement each other, both technically and socially. Many of our fabric suppliers use developments in both domains to advance the other. Culturally, we’re talking to the same types of personalities—athletes who live and breathe the sport and the friends they do it with. The initial response from both sports shows we are on the right track.

What is Black Sheep's Identity and Focus in Creating Running Products?

To be very clear, we are for the Runner. The person who identifies as a runner, socialises with runners, and consumes everything running. This is not to say that those just starting out or participating occasionally aren’t vital to the sport. They are, and they make up the majority of race entries around the world. But, like cycling, we are developing a very purposeful assortment of garments that address the unique challenges of running.

We’re looking at the specific requirements of track running, road running, and cross-country; the demands of multiple daily sessions on durability; the layers needed for pre-session or post-session; and even what clubs or training groups need in terms of visibility and branding on course. The variability within our defined ‘Runner’ is enormous, from the elite to the casual, so focusing very specifically on this niche is more than exciting for us.

From a brand perspective, the essence of Black Sheep is about being different and standing out. For us, this means inviting inclusion rather than what many associate the meaning to be; seeking attention or being anti-comformist. We want people to feel comfortable being themselves, confident enough to join new groups or clubs. Our bold and colourful designs have allowed people to be unique and standout (if they want), and we will absolutely continue this within running. But more importantly, we want to be a vehicle that helps people get involved, be their true selves, and experience these great sports. It all sounds very poetic when written, but it's been a vital component for us building communities around the world.

Vision and Future for Black Sheep Running

Our focus initially is to immerse ourselves in the running community around Australia and the world. We want to support the clubs that are the lifeblood of running communities and have already started doing so with RunAsOne, BERT in Brisbane, and my local group, the Teneriffe Trotters. You’ll see us at races and training sessions, hopefully.

We will also be extending our work in men’s mental health, women’s sports, and U23 elite athletes into the sport of running. We contribute a significant amount of our revenue to these initiatives, and this will continue going forward.

First Impressions

It was great to chat with John about his vision for Black Sheep moving into running, but how does the gear actually stack up when put to the test? I was immediately drawn to the Paris Collection. Anyone that knows me knows that aesthetics that lean into the heritage of running are my favourite, and the simple clean lines and colour palette of the Paris Collection hit this nail on the head.

Alternatively, the Galaxy Print initially wasn't my cup of tea, but that changed over time, as you will find out below. When we first contacted Black Sheep, they mentioned a heritage-inspired line, which is why I was so excited to tee this up.

Product Review

Dry Range Singlets and Shorts

The Dry range singlets (70 AUD) are perfect for everyday training, featuring a soft material and hemmed edges that add to the heritage feel. The 3-inch shorts in this range were a pleasant surprise.

I love 3-inch shorts for their range of motion, but sometimes they are just a bit too short to wear for a casual run, but this was not the case with Black Sheep. The shorts also feature two internal pockets for gels, which are great for casual runs, but if you are looking for shorts to hold a phone, these won’t hit the brief, and you will need to wear a belt.

Fly Range Singlets and Shorts 

The Fly range is all about feeling light and free. These singlets (135 AUD) felt almost non-existent during my runs, with laser-cut hems adding a sleek touch. Although it's winter, making it hard to fully assess breathability and moisture wicking, the Fly range performed well.

As for the Fly range 3-inch shorts (180 AUD), like the Dry range shorts, 3-inch shorts are normally overly revealing, but these cover up well. If you are looking to test the waters of a short short, these would be the go-to. They come with one large back pocket and what appears to be two loops for gels. However, when I tried to put Maurten gels in, they were too loose and fell out, so I'm unsure what they are for. The shorts also feature a hexagonal pattern that almost gives them a wet look when dry, which I am not sold on. For marathon distances, I would love to see more spots for gels in the Fly range to allow for 5-6 gels, so all gels can be carried without the need for a belt.

There were my picks from the collection and what I would recommend for those wanting race specific for a fraction of higher priced brands on the market.

Design and Aesthetics

The Paris Collection immediately caught my eye with its heritage-inspired design. The collection leans heavily into the rich history of running, featuring simple, clean lines and a classic colour palette that evokes a sense of nostalgia. This approach is a refreshing contrast to the often overly bright and flashy designs seen in modern running gear. The subtlety of the Paris Collection makes it versatile for various settings.

Initially, the Galaxy Print wasn’t my favorite. Its bold and vibrant design felt a bit out of place compared to the understated elegance of the Paris Collection. However, over time, I found the Galaxy Print growing on me. I also think that after wearing it and feeling how good a race singlet it was swayed my mind.

Aesthetics is such a subjective metric and is individual to everyone and hence why I added photos to allow you to make your own decision on the looks of the product.

Recommendations and Overall Impressions

For those seeking a high-quality, Australian-based running gear option, Black Sheep is worth considering, especially their Fly range for race day. Their pricing structure is quite reasonable, especially for their laser-cut race day range, compared to some of the larger independent running brands that are upwards of 200 AUD for a singlet at times.

However, the current collection is somewhat limited, which might not meet all consumer needs. Notably, the collection is missing long sleeves or windbreakers, which would be appreciated in winter. Being based in Queensland, this may not be a priority for the brand, but it's something that would be valuable over time.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Black Sheep has made a great entry into the running community, and their value for the product is hard to beat. They clearly understand runners and are embedding themselves into the culture. I look forward to seeing them continue to build on their existing collection.

Stats

For reference, I am M32, 6ft3 (190.5cm), and 80kg with a 32inch waist.