If you're serious about trail running — or just serious about having the best kit possible for your morning miles — the Alta Elite 3.5" is the short Roark built with racing in mind. Part of their Run Amok Elite Line, these are stripped back, minimal and laser-focused on performance. The lightweight fabric is antimicrobial and moisture-wicking, with an integrated liner that keeps everything where it should be when you're pushing hard. Reflective details add visibility for early-morning and late-evening sessions, and the whole thing weighs next to nothing. No fuss, no distractions — just a short that lets you get on with it.
| Size | Height (inches) | Waist (inches) | Hips (inches) | Thigh (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 5'8" - 5'10" | 28 1/2" - 30 | 36" - 37 1/2" | 21" - 21 3/4" |
| M | 5'10" - 6' | 31" - 32" | 38 1/2" - 39 1/2" | 22 1/4" - 22 3/4" |
| L | 6' - 6'2" | 33" - 34" | 40 1/2" - 41 1/2" | 23 1/4" - 23 3/4" |
| XL | 6'1" - 6'3" | 36" - 38" | 43 1/2" - 45 1/2" | 24 3/4" - 25 3/4" |
| Size | Height (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hips (cm) | Thigh (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 172.7 - 177.8 | 72.4 - 76.2 | 91.4 - 95.3 | 53.3 - 55.2 |
| M | 177.8 - 182.9 | 78.7 - 81.3 | 97.8 - 100.3 | 56.5 - 57.8 |
| L | 182.9 - 188.0 | 83.8 - 86.4 | 102.9 - 105.4 | 59.1 - 60.3 |
| XL | 185.4 - 190.5 | 91.4 - 96.5 | 110.5 - 115.6 | 62.9 - 65.4 |
Some brands make clothes. Roark makes excuses to leave. Founded in 2010 by Ryan Hitzel — a restless artist, former Volcom creative and the kind of bloke who'd rather be digging through a back-alley market in Oaxaca than sitting behind a desk — Roark was born out of a road trip from San Francisco to the Mexican border and a deep frustration with an outdoor industry that had lost its sense of story. Ryan wanted something that wasn't just a surf brand, or a skate brand, or an outdoor brand — he wanted a brand built around the lifestyle of adventurism itself. The kind that sees every trip as a chance to discover something worth telling people about.
Each season, Roark's crew picks a destination somewhere on the map and heads out to test their gear across surfing, climbing, skating, running and whatever else the road throws at them. That real-world thrashing is what shapes the collection — purpose-built pieces that work just as well on a Himalayan motorcycle expedition as they do in a pub in the Lakes. It's gear designed for people who never quite know where they'll end up, and wouldn't have it any other way.