So, the other day, I was just out and about, minding my own business, and I saw this person wearing an absolutely classic Roots Olympic jacket. You know the type, probably from years back, looked super comfy and just screamed “Canada.” It really got me thinking, “Man, I wonder if you can even still get that kind of gear?” It had that look, you know? Quality.
Embarking on the Search
Naturally, the first thing I did when I got home was hop on the computer. Typed “Roots Olympic clothing” into the search bar, half expecting to be buried in options. Well, it wasn’t quite the avalanche I thought it would be. The official Roots website, yeah, they’ll have their current collections, and sometimes there’s some Olympic-themed stuff when the games are actually happening or coming up soon. But if you’re looking for something specific from a past Olympics? That’s a whole different kettle of fish, let me tell you.
I had this one particular sweater in my head, a really nice one I remembered from a Winter Olympics, must have been ages ago. Figured, “Oh, I’ll find that, no problem.” Wrong. Turns out, a lot of that official Olympic gear from Roots is pretty limited edition. Once it’s sold out from the main stores, it’s pretty much gone for good. They don’t just keep churning it out year after year, which I guess makes sense. Keeps it special, right?
So, where do you even begin to look for this older stuff? My next thought was the usual online spots: you know, eBay, Poshmark, those kinds of places where people sell their old things. And yeah, you can definitely find Roots Olympic items there. But it’s a real mixed bag. You’ll see everything from t-shirts that look like they’ve been through a war, to jackets that are still in the original packaging, looking brand new. And the prices? Wow. Some sellers definitely know they’ve got something desirable, and they price it like it’s gold. Seriously, some of the popular items felt like they’d cost an arm and a leg.
I spent a good few evenings just scrolling through listings, trying to track down that specific sweater I was dreaming of, or even just a decent t-shirt that wasn’t going to break the bank. It’s a proper hunt, you know? You really have to be patient and keep your eyes peeled. I did find a few bits and pieces. Some were a bit too worn out for what I wanted, others were totally the wrong size. It’s not like popping into a shop where you can try everything on and see how it fits.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I found myself doing:
- Checked the official Roots site – mostly just the new stuff, you know, seasonal.
- Scoured those resale websites – total crapshoot, and the prices can be all over the place.
- Tried to find those specific old pieces I really wanted – yeah, good luck with that sometimes.
It really feels like a lot of this Roots Olympic clothing becomes collector’s items almost as soon as the Games are over. People either hang onto them for sentimental reasons, or they try to make a bit of profit later on. And I kind of get it. It’s a tangible piece of sporting history, a bit of national pride you can actually wear. Plus, let’s be honest, Roots generally makes good quality stuff that lasts, so it holds up.
So, after all that digging around, did I strike gold and find my dream sweater? Nah, not that specific one, unfortunately. But I did manage to snag a pretty cool Olympic toque – one of their beanies – that was hardly worn, and I got it for a decent price. It wasn’t the grand prize I was initially hoping for, but hey, it’s something. It’s got that classic Roots feel, and it definitely brings back some good Olympic memories when I wear it.
My main takeaway from this whole experience? If you see some new Roots Olympic gear that you really like, and it’s an official release for an upcoming Games, you should probably just buy it then and there. Don’t wait around too long thinking about it. Because trying to find that same item a few years down the line, well, it’s an adventure. A sometimes frustrating, and sometimes pretty expensive, adventure. But if you’re patient and you don’t give up, you can still find some real gems out there. Just be prepared to put in the effort and do a bit of serious searching!
