Russell Athletic

Russell Athletic has been making athletic wear since 1902, which makes it one of the longer-running names in sportswear. Retailers say it began producing athletic wear in the 1930s, and it has a reputation for quality and durability.

Today the label covers men's, women's and youth apparel, along with team uniforms. Its performance collections include Dri-Power and CoolCore. The Dri-Power Fleece is a good example of the approach, pairing soft brushed comfort with moisture-wicking.

The brand describes its focus as functional comfort in athletic wear, and that is a fair summary of what you get: practical, hard-wearing sportswear built for regular use rather than for show.