This Venice-based menswear brand has been making a name for itself by focusing on what matters; producing quality products, sourced and made in the US, that last. With a range of essentials including sweats, tees, and Henleys, Pistol Lake has recently expanded into the activewear space, maintaining the same focus.
We got our hands on the two performance goods currently offered by Pistol Lake; the Minimalist Performance Tee and the Minimalist Hoodie. The brand likes to keep its design simple, so you won’t find any tacky branding or logos on these two. Just quality athletic goods that can be worn for a variety of occasions – not strictly to the gym. Their products have a vintage look to them, but their style is timeless and remains current with modern fits and fabrics.
Minimalist Performance Tee
The first thing you’ll notice with the Performance Tee is not at first glance but at first feel. The material is amazingly soft and light weight, almost silk-like. In athletic gray, it’s everything you remember about your favorite gym tee but with twice the performance and half the weight.
The comfort and performance of the Performance Tee is credited to a unique material the brand spent two years developing. Called Eudae, it was developed by combining polyester made from recycled plastic bottles and Tencel, which is made from the pulp of sustainably-grown Eucalyptus trees. The result was thread that is incredibly strong and stain resistant.
Eudae also wicks sweat and is very breathable, which will keep you cool and dry quickly. The Eucalyptus fibers also prevent the growth of bacteria and thus, odor. What more could you ask for from a performance fabric that is also machine washable, won’t shrink, and friendly to the environment.
The Performance Tee features an athletic fit that will show your hard work without being too form fitting. The designers included a curved bottom hem on both front and back, keeping up with modern trends, and added a simple hem tag for refined style.
At $55 a pop, the Performance Tee is in line with similar products from competing brands. Don’t be surprised if this becomes your go-to tee, regardless if gym day or not.
Comfort: A+
Fit: A-
Performance: A+
Quality: A
Price: A-
Notes: Sustainable material, American made, outstanding customer service.
Delta Grade: A
Shop the Minimalist Performance Tee and get 10% off your first purchase here.
Minimalist Performance Hoodie
Just as feel was noticed first with the Performance Tee, quality was the feature first noticed with the Hoodie. It’s evident the brand took their time to create something noticeably “premium.” From the stitching, to the fabric, to the weight, the Performance Hoodie exudes quality, almost giving the notion, this product is too nice to sweat in. However, that’s exactly what it’s built to handle.
The material is a mid-weight, sweat-wicking, stretch polyester that is heavy enough to keep you warm in colder weather, but light enough for exercise without feeling bulky. Expect all of the qualities of performance material – fast-drying, breathable, odor control – but in a hooded sweatshirt you wouldn’t mind wearing to your next outdoor concert, ball game, or walk to work.
The guys at Pistol nailed the fit too. The hoodie fits comfortably throughout the torso and chest without being overly tight or too loose. The sleeves fit closely around the forearms, but with the perfect amount of snug. The stretch material also moves with you, allowing for freedom of movement while maintaining form. Any style-minded gym-goer knows the flat-lock seams allow for chafe-free movement.
Sticking to the minimal aesthetic, the Performance Hoodie features no off-putting logos, just a simple tag at the hem with the PL logo. The curved bottom hems again promote modern style, and a clever internal zip pocket inside the front kangaroo pouch is the perfect size for a phone or wallet. Because have you ever really felt secure storing anything valuable in the front pouch of a sweatshirt?
At $115 a pop, the Performance Hoodie falls into the premium category, however, for the quality and craftsmanship, expect to get what you paid for.
Even though you’ll feel nice and comfy in this performance Hoodie, you’ll feel even better knowing it was created from sustainable materials right in the heart of Los Angeles. American made quality, superior comfort, and refined style defines the Pistol Lake Minimalist Performance Hoodie. Well done guys
Comfort: A
Fit: A
Performance: A
Quality: A+
Price: B
Notes: Sustainable material, American made, outstanding customer service.
Delta Grade: A
Shop the Minimalist Performance Hoodie and get 10% off your first purchase here.