Meet the Mercury Motion Shirts

Meet the Mercury Motion Shirts - Built for the Long Run

If you’ve been following along on this journey, you know that every product I design at Summit Design Works starts with a real need, something I’ve felt on the trail or in the middle of a long run when my gear just isn’t quite right. Today, I’m excited to finally share more about the very first two pieces I’ve been working on behind the scenes: the Mercury Motion Tee and Mercury Motion Longsleeve.

These shirts are built specifically for runners; road warriors, trail runners, marathoners, ultramarathoners; really anyone out there logging miles in the heat, humidity, or dry mountain air. Whether you're hitting steep switchbacks or pounding pavement, the Mercury Motion shirts are designed to move with you and help you stay cool while you’re at it.

What Makes Them Special

Both shirts are made from Polartec Delta, a lightweight, cooling fabric designed for high-output activity. It’s incredibly breathable and feels amazing against the skin even during those brutal mid-summer runs. What I love most about this fabric is how well it manages heat and moisture. It’s engineered to help cool you as you sweat, not just wick it away like traditional tech fabrics. As a bonus: it’s also odor-reducing, which comes in clutch for multi-day use or back-to-back training sessions.

But beyond the fabric, the fit was something I spent a lot of time dialing in. The Mercury Motion Tee and Longsleeve are cut a bit longer and trimmer than your standard running shirt-not overly tight, but definitely athletic. They’re shaped to move with your body and not bunch or tighten up when you're mid-stride. I also designed them with raglan sleeves, so they sit comfortably under a running vest or backpack, with no seams digging into your shoulders. It’s a small detail but it makes a big difference on longer efforts.

From Prototype to Finish Line

I started prototyping these shirts last August, and since then I’ve run in them every week. But I knew I needed more testing than that, so I also sent them out to a few marathon and ultramarathon friends across the country to put them through the wringer. These runners have worn them in everything from desert heat to mountain storms, through training blocks and race days.

That testing phase has been invaluable. I’ve been able to refine the fit, observe how the fabric performs in totally different climates, and track how well the shirts hold up over time (spoiler: they're holding up really well). I’ll dive deeper into the testing process in an upcoming post, because that part of the story deserves its own spotlight.

What’s Next

Right now, both the Mercury Motion Tee and Mercury Motion Longsleeve are nearly ready to launch. I’m working on final production details and plan to release a small batch soon. If you’re a runner looking for something lighter, more breathable, and intentionally designed, you might just love these.

This is the kind of gear I always wished existed. So I made it.

Stay tuned for more soon-including a deep dive into the testing process, production updates, and a behind-the-scenes look at how these shirts come to life.

As always, thanks for following along and supporting U.S.-made, purpose-built gear.

- Ben
Founder, Summit Design Works