I Turned Down 10 Brand Sponsorships and Bought Their Products Anyway — Here Is My Honest Review

This running brand sponsorships review is unlike anything you will find online. Behind me are 10 brands who reached out to sponsor my channel, but I said no deal. Then I bought their products anyway. As a running influencer and D1 athlete at LSU, I get a lot of companies wanting to use my platform to boost their sales. Instead of blindly accepting sponsorship deals, I decided to put these products to the test and give my honest, unfiltered opinions.

Blind Taste Testing Four Electrolyte Brands

The first category I tested was electrolytes. Four different brands had reached out to sponsor me, so I had my roommate set up a blind taste test. I ranked them purely on flavor without knowing which brand was which. Two of the four tasted almost identical, while one had this awful flavor that I can only describe as someone dissolving a piece of chalk in water and adding a hint of grapefruit. The winner ended up being a brand I had never heard of before, which just goes to show that a bigger marketing budget does not always mean a better product.

Testing Energy Patches on a Run

One of the more interesting products I tested was from a company called Kind Patches. The science behind it is that the patch attaches to your skin and the molecules absorb through your skin instead of your stomach. I tested their energy patches, which contain only 3 milligrams of caffeine. I wore one for about an hour before my run. At first I thought I was feeling something, but honestly, I could not tell if it was the caffeine or just a placebo effect. The verdict — I did not notice a meaningful difference, and I would rather just drink a cup of coffee.

The Bojangles Experience

A couple months ago, Bojangles wanted me to come take pictures and help with their grand opening, but I was not in town so I had to turn them down. I decided to visit anyway and buy my own meal. The owner, Benjamin, actually recognized me and ended up covering my food. He gave me the number one chicken biscuit, mac and cheese, and some blueberry biscuits. The food was genuinely good. They even had sporks, which I took as a sign of quality. My journalistic integrity was technically compromised when the owner bought my meal, but the food spoke for itself.

Testing Budget Running Shoes vs. Premium Running Shoes

I saved the best category for last — running shoes. I had two pairs to test, and the comparison was telling. The first pair was from Anta, the brand that Kyrie Irving joined after his Nike departure. At only 50 dollars, these shoes were a fraction of the cost of premium running shoes. After running a mile in them, I found they had almost no cushion and felt quite wide in the forefoot compared to the heel. For someone who just needs a serviceable shoe to jog a couple miles every few days, they are not bad. But for an elite runner, they would not cut it.

The second pair was from Flux Footwear, a company that had been sending me non-stop DMs and emails ever since I purchased their shoes. These had a strange internal foam that felt like it was poking at my feet, but in a good way. They were comfortable for walking around, but running in them was a different story. The zero heel stack height meant my toes were elevated above my heels, almost like a track spike. There is a reason the top athletes in the world do not race in these. They are lifestyle shoes masquerading as running shoes.

Why I Turn Down Most Sponsorships

Testing all of these products reinforced exactly why I am selective about sponsorships. Most of the brands that reach out to running influencers are selling products that do not hold up to scrutiny. If I attached my name to every product that offered me money, my audience would lose trust in my recommendations. I would rather buy the products myself, test them honestly, and tell you what I actually think. That way, when I do eventually partner with a brand, you know it is because I genuinely believe in what they are selling.

As a D1 athlete, the products I use directly affect my training and performance. I cannot afford to use subpar electrolytes, sketchy energy patches, or shoes that could hurt my feet — and neither can you. If there is one takeaway from this experiment, it is this: do your own research before buying anything a creator promotes. And if you are a brand looking to work with me, just know that I will buy your product and test it whether you sponsor me or not.

Running Brand Sponsorships Review: Watch the Full Review

Check out the full video above to see every product test, the blind taste rankings, and my complete thoughts on each brand that reached out.