The Stirrup is back: Why Ronhill’s 1972 blueprint is the ‘Technical’ answer to 2026’s biggest pant trend
- In 1972, British marathon champion Ron Hill launched the Trackster, a functional running pant with heel stirrups that gained popularity throughout the 1970s and 1980s, designed for winter training conditions.
- The stirrup silhouette is returning for 2026, but its original purpose was rooted in performance engineering rather than fashion.
- International Sweatpants Day falls at the coldest, dampest point in the UK calendar – January 21st – making it an ideal moment to highlight the gap between comfortwear and performance wear.
January is peak ‘wrong-kit’ season: people head outside in cotton joggers because they feel cosy indoors, only to experience rapid heat loss once they meet drizzle, wind chill, and soaked fabric. The classic grey cotton sweatpant is perfect for the sofa, but in British winter weather, it can become a fast track to getting cold.
And with retro athletic silhouettes surging back into fashion ahead of the 2026 cycle – from stirrup pants to 70s running trainers – the contrast between cosy cotton and engineered performance wear has never been more relevant.
British heritage brand, Ronhill, is opening its archives to settle the winter wardrobe debate once and for all: save cotton for the sofa, and trust science when you step outside.
The kitchen roll effect
Ron Hill, the first British man to win the Boston Marathon (1970) and a PhD chemist from the University of Manchester, famously conducted absorption and thermal tests on standard cotton joggers in the early 1970s.
His experiments confirmed what material science makes clear: cotton fibres absorb up to 27 times their own weight in water, and because water conducts heat away from the body approximately 25 times faster than air, the result is a chilling effect on the skin that accelerates heat loss within minutes.
“Wearing wet cotton in cold weather is like wrapping your legs in a frozen sponge,” explains Jacqueline Turnbull, Design Manager at Ronhill. “Ron Hill understood that if you’re moving outdoors in British winter conditions, cotton isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s thermally dangerous.”
The solution: The Trackster (1972)
Rather than accept this design flaw, Hill spent two years developing an alternative. In 1972, he launched the Trackster, the groundbreaking design that introduced water-repellent synthetic fabric to British running wear.
Constructed from a purpose-engineered nylon blend, the Trackster revolutionised outdoor training wear with a water-repellent outer layer to shed rain and sleet, a tapered leg design to eliminate wind drag and fabric flapping, an integrated stirrup to secure the garment in place during movement, and crucially, thermal retention even when damp.
It effectively launched the UK technical sportswear industry, replacing military surplus shorts and woollen tracksuits as the norm for serious runners.
A 2026 look with 1972 logic
This reminder arrives as fashion prepares for a significant shift. Luisaviaroma’s FW 25/26 Trend Report lists “Leggings and Stirrup Pants” among the season’s ten must-have items, citing a shift towards 1970s PE teacher style.
Esquire has noted the decline of chunky “dad shoes” in favour of slim, 70s-style running trainers. This shift in footwear necessitates a streamlined leg, driving the return of the tapered Trackster silhouette.
Gen Z in particular is embracing this “Vintage Athletic” look, but Ronhill notes that true style requires substance.
“We’re seeing enormous interest in the ‘retro runner’ aesthetic,” says Jacqueline Turnbull. “But for Ron Hill, the stirrup wasn’t a fashion statement; it was physics. He added it to prevent drag, tapered the leg to stop flapping, and eliminated cotton to prevent the freeze. This International Sweatpants Day, we’re simply reminding people: comfort is great, but cotton soaked in winter rain is just bad engineering.”
Shop the science: The Ronhill winter edit
From the original 1972 icon to modern thermal tech. These three essentials are engineered to solve the common thermal leaks mentioned above.
- The heritage icon: The Heritage Trackster – The original 1972 icon, updated for 2026. This pairs the trending stirrup silhouette with breathable, moisture-wicking fabric for the ultimate “Run Club” flex. It offers the perfect balance of classic style and modern performance for everyday training or casual wear.
- The hybrid shield: The Tech Flex Pant – For runners who want high specs without the squeeze of a tight. This pant hits the “sweet spot” between a trouser and a tight, featuring a relaxed stretch upper and tapered lower leg. With long ankle zips for easy removal over trainers, it is the ultimate cool-weather layer.
- The rain defender: The Tech Fortify Pant – The ultimate cure for the “Kitchen Roll Effect” in the wettest conditions. This fully waterproof yet breathable pant offers total protection against wind and rain without overheating. Features articulated knees for unrestricted movement on wild hill races or rainy commutes.
