My love for Axio Lite in mountain running
"The appeal of mountain running is that you can fully enjoy the comfort of being in the mountains and the scenery of the four seasons in a short amount of time," says Nishizawa, a sales representative for Teton Bros.
Nishizawa enjoys running not only in races but also as part of his daily routine. We will introduce the products he uses and wears as his competitive wear.
My home is just a few minutes' run from the trailhead of a rural mountain area. This means that depending on my mood and physical condition in the morning, I can choose to go for a run in the mountains or along the riverbank, making it the ideal living environment for someone like me who enjoys mountain running.
Perhaps it's because I'm from the Kansai region and tend to be impatient, but I feel that mountain running suits me as a way to enjoy the mountains. Not only do I feel refreshed after a run, but I can also fully enjoy the comfort of being in the mountains and the scenery of the four seasons in a short amount of time. That's one of the reasons I love it.
For me, the key to choosing clothing for mountain running is always to ensure that the condition remains the same in any environment.
For example, I personally love the "ELV1000" series, which is popular among many mountain runners, and I often wear it when running routes where I can jump into rivers in the summer. On the other hand, when I go into the mountains where the weather conditions are changeable, I choose the "Axio Lite" series, which is a hybrid of wool and synthetic fibers.
Despite being wool, it dries quickly, and thanks to wool's unique ability to not feel cold even when damp, it is less likely to cause chills from sweat. This makes it a great choice as it allows you to stay in a consistent condition even in changing weather conditions or in environments where you are more likely to feel cold, such as in streams or on ridges.
When it comes to wool base layers, my friends often ask me, "Won't it be too hot to wear wool in the spring and summer?" But with Axio Lite, there's absolutely no need to worry. Made with a unique hybrid material that maximizes the benefits of wool and polyester, I can confidently recommend it as a comfortable base layer even in the summer.
The Axio Lite series comes in a wide variety of styles, including short sleeves and hoodies, but my personal recommendation is the long sleeves (L/S).
In addition to the benefits of the hybrid wool mentioned above, the thinness of the material makes it easy to regulate your temperature even in the summer, and you rarely feel uncomfortable stuffy even when you roll up your sleeves. We can confidently recommend this product as a great item for all seasons, including the Northern Alps in the summer. 
Combining this Axio Lite long sleeve with the SCRAMBLING OCTA VEST completes your mountain running layering routine, perfect for fall and winter. The Octa-mapped vest keeps your core warm, and heat generated during high-intensity exercise is dissipated through the thin Axio Lite, allowing you to keep moving at high intensity without overheating (I personally won a short winter race two years ago wearing this combination).
The ELV1000 5.5IN HYBRID SHORT, which was redesigned last year to complement the Axio Lite, is a great pair of shorts that every mountain runner should have. Thanks to the new material, the shorts don't stick to the skin when wet with sweat, and they dry quickly. Personally, I think they are the pinnacle of shorts.
By the way, another major feature of Axio Lite is its outstanding comfort, making it ideal for outdoor activities other than mountain running, and it is also perfectly comfortable to wear as everyday underwear under a shirt.
If you haven't tried Axio Lite yet, give it a try this season - once you experience its benefits, you may never go back.
This season, we are planning to hold pop-ups at various authorized retailers. I will be there, so if you see me, please come and say hello. I am looking forward to sharing as much of my love for Axio Lite as I can, and there is more to share in this article.