Custom Team Running Apparel: How to Order the Right Sizes
By BOA | Running Shorts & Apparel | Made in the USA | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to size custom running uniforms for your team without guesswork, from collecting measurements to confirming split short and singlet fits before you submit the order.
Quick answer
Order custom team running apparel by collecting each athlete's waist and chest measurements first, then map those numbers to the size chart for the exact style you are buying. For split shorts, size to the waist and check that the split does not gap; for singlets, size to the chest with 1–2 inches of room. Always order one extra size in the most common range and confirm every size against the final roster before submitting.
Collect measurements before you open the size chart
The biggest sizing mistake in team orders is starting with the size chart instead of the athlete. Ask every runner for their waist measurement at the natural waistline and their chest measurement at the fullest point, taken over a light shirt. For split shorts, the waist number does most of the work because the split leg has no fabric to restrict movement. For singlets, the chest number matters more than the waist because the armholes and shoulder seams control comfort. Write each measurement down next to the athlete's name and preferred fit—snug for racing, relaxed for training—so you can apply the same rule to every row.
Match each measurement to the style you are ordering
Different custom styles sit differently even when the size label is the same. A 3-inch half split trainer and a 1-inch elite split short can both be a size medium, but the shorter split will feel looser through the leg because there is less fabric to hold it in place. A standard racerback singlet usually runs closer through the chest than a training tee, so if an athlete is between sizes on a singlet, go up rather than down. Use the size chart for the specific product, not a generic running-apparel chart, and note any style where the fit is intentionally compressive.
Build the order with a buffer and a clear roster
Once every athlete has a size, count how many you need in each size and add one extra in the two most common sizes. That buffer covers a late roster addition, a growth spurt, or a mis-measured waist without forcing a second order. Keep the roster and size list in one spreadsheet with columns for name, waist, chest, chosen size, and style. Before you submit, read the list back against the size chart one more time—especially for anyone who is between sizes or who has never worn a split short before.
Step-by-step team sizing process
- Step 1: Measure every athlete: Record waist at the natural waistline and chest at the fullest point for each runner, and note whether they want a racing fit or a relaxed fit. Common mistake: using last season's sizes without re-measuring, especially for growing athletes.
- Step 2: Choose the style before the size: Decide between a 3-inch half split trainer, a 1-inch elite split short, or a racerback singlet first, because each style has its own size chart and fit. Checkpoint: confirm the exact product name and size chart you are using for each athlete.
- Step 3: Apply the size chart per style: Map each measurement to the chart for that specific product, and size up for singlets or compressive fits when an athlete falls between two sizes. Common mistake: assuming the same size label fits the same across all custom styles.
- Step 4: Add a buffer in common sizes: Order one extra in the two most common sizes to cover late additions or a mismeasurement without a second order. Checkpoint: your buffer should not push the total order past your budget or minimums.
- Step 5: Confirm the roster against the order: Read the final size list back against the roster and the size charts one more time before submitting, paying extra attention to anyone between sizes. Next step: keep the confirmed size list on file for next season's reorder.
Product facts that affect sizing
- Men's Full Custom Uniforms Cypher Custom Men's 3" Half Split Trainer. (x 1): Men's Full Custom Uniforms Cypher Custom Men's 3" Half Split Trainer, priced at USD 49.50 in the catalog with a comparison price of USD 75.00. The 3-inch half split gives more coverage than a 1-inch elite split, so athletes who are new to split shorts often prefer this length for sizing comfort.
- Men's Full Custom Uniforms Cypher Custom Men's 1" Elite Split Short. (x 5): Men's Full Custom Uniforms Cypher Custom Men's 1" Elite Split Short, priced at USD 195.00 in the catalog with a comparison price of USD 325.00. The 1-inch elite split is the shortest option here, so it is the least forgiving if a waist size is wrong—double-check the waist measurement for this style.
- Men's Full Custom Uniforms Oblique Custom Men's Standard Racerback Singlet. (x 1): Men's Full Custom Uniforms Oblique Custom Men's Standard Racerback Singlet, priced at USD 44.10 in the catalog with a comparison price of USD 70.00. A racerback singlet fits closer through the chest and shoulders than a standard tee, so size to the chest measurement and go up if the athlete is between sizes.
