There’s a slew of new water bottles hitting the market. Features and design make each bottle stand out. But which bottle wins? It’s personal preference. The Simple Hydration Water Bottle solves a problem experienced by many runners: how to hold the bottle while running. The solution is a 13-ounce BPA-free bottle that’s got an interesting shape.
This week we heard about a feel good story, where Nike is helping competitive amputee athletes by adapting its shoe technology for use with prosthetic legs. The Nike Sole has been designed to work with the Össur’s Flex-Run prosthetic running blade, which is used by competitive amputee athlete including Sarah Reinertsen (above).
The sole features a stacked design and comes with a stretch rubber leash over a rubber waffle outsole. Reportedly this material is made up of “regrind” soles that come from recycled shoes, while the polyurethane foam midsole is topped by a thermal plastic that was created from recycled air bags. So not only does this technology offer a benefit for amputee athletes but it is good for the planet in the process. And time will tell how this might help disabled athletes perform. Read the rest of this entry »
The water bottle is quickly becoming a statement of style and personal choice. Though we still like to see function trump fashion in this case with some technical elements, those elements are usually what determines those preferences. The Relaj water bottle brings its own look and technical details to the shelf.
The Jabra Sport is the first Bluetooth headset to unshackle runners from the constraints of their wired headphones. But can Jabra – a company who’s known for making Bluetooth headsets for the home and office – make a smooth transition into the sports world? In a word; yes. The Jabra Sport is comfortable, reliable, and as rugged as any other pair of sports headphones we’ve seen. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid first attempt at a wireless headset for runners.
The $99 headphones are light and sit comfortably over the top of each ear. The buds themselves rest by your ear canal opening (not inside it), meaning they don’t provide any noise isolation. As a runner, that’s a good thing, since you should always be aware of your surroundings when running outdoors. But for use at the gym, that means you’ll have to crank the volume up high to cancel out any noise from the treadmill or your fellow gym goers. Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to the Weekend Reading List. We moved the list to Saturday to give our loyal readers something new for the weekend, and as a way to catch up on stories that they might have missed. This week we being with Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say (video above).
Enjoy the list and be sure to check back every Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
While not exactly brand new, this week Sennheiser let it be known that ultrarunner Karl Meltzer tones up and tunes out with the Sennheiser/adidas PMX 680 Sport headphones. There are a lot of audio choices out there, but Sennheiser has a point. If Meltzer, who regularly runs 100-mile ultra-marathons, uses the headphones then they probably are something the rest of us might consider.
According to Sennheiser Meltzer runs two to three hours with music playing, and says he appreciates the support of the neckband, which also includes a reflector at the back to provide a little safety.
The PMX 680 also allows him to make volume adjustments without stopping or reaching for his audio player. He can adjust the volume from a clip on his shirt. So for those looking for a new set of headphones, think of it this way, if it works for Karl Meltzer it probably is good enough for the rest of us!
Designer sports bag and apparel company OGIO just released its OGIO Endurance Collection. The line has bags that address the needs runners, swimmers, triathletes, cyclists, downhill mountain bikers and other athletes in endurance sports and competitions.
The seven-bag line is built to provide organization, protection and comfort for athletes taking part in high-intensity workouts and competitions. The line is made with lightweight yet sturdy materials that protect gear, yet make it light enough to carry to a race or location to workout.
A heart rate monitor is a key accessory to a training program. And now Pear Sports promises to give you that key accessory, without the distraction of checking your heart rate read out to determine your speed through “smart” biofeedback training with Pear Square One.
Mercury ran like the wind with wings on his shoes. These days wings aren’t required, just some advances in construction that allow for lighter and lighter shoes. This week adidas unveiled the new adizero Rush, which weighs 7.5 ounces. At that weight, you could shave a few seconds off your training run.
This past December saw record smartphone sales, and some of you may be getting used to this new gadget in your pocket and the features it offers. There are a number of music options for these phones and countless apps to track your walk or run. But do you want to be hassled with carrying this device in your hand, or worse see that expensive new phone in pieces after you drop it? A running belt from iFitness may just be what you need to safely and securely carry your new iPhone or Android phone with you while out on your walk or run. Read the rest of this entry »
Whilst creatures of the night such as vampires can see in the dark, those not of the undead are (dare we say) blind as bat after nightfall. We’ve noted many products that help shine the way, and another option is the “Sprinter Headlamp” from Black Diamond. This is an LED light that is worn as a headband and offers 75 lumens of light.
But unlike other lighted headbands this one also includes a red rear blinky light to let those behind see you as well! After all, you wouldn’t only want to be seen by the vampires!
Black Diamond Official Website
[Via GearJunkie: 'Sprinter' Headlamp Made for Runners of the Night]
Carrying on our theme of bringing light to these days of darkness, we make note of the GoMotion LiteBelt, which provides a 100 lumen CREE LED light mounted at waist level. This hands free light system offers three levels of beam intensity, can be adjusted from flood to spotlight and offers adjustable beam angle. There is also two rear LED tail-lights along with reflective trim so you can see your way and be seen!
We’ve seen no shortage of water bottles that make all sorts of promises when it comes to getting, and staying clean. Last year we even did a round-up of water bottles but now there is a new product that has us giving greater though to the problem. What if there was a way of ensuring a clean bottle every time, even if we couldn’t wash it? This is the concept behind FLEXR Sports’ BPA-free sports bottle with disposable and fully biodegradable liner. It promises to keep the bottle as clean and fresh as the first day.
The concept is simple enough. The bottle features a fully biodegradable liner that eliminates bacteria and hence unpleasant aftertaste. It also means an easier bottle to drink from while running or biking as the liner compresses as fluid is squeezed out thanks to a patent pending one way jet stream, and when empty it makes for an easier to clean bottle as well. Additional caps can be purchased as well without the need to buy a new bottle.
The FLEXR Sports bottles are available in four sizes, from 28 oz. aerodynamic bottle for cycling to 21 oz. bottle with neoprene insulating sleeve for runners, as well as 16 oz. and 8 oz. versions for other activities. This could be a new way to stay hydrated and not worry about cleaning a dirty bottle ever again.
