Simple Hydration differentiates itself by the shape of the bottle. The ergonomic bottle is shaped similarly to a microphone. It has a narrow body that hooks over to a full-size top. The reason for the odd shape is that runners have a hard time holding or stowing a full-size bottle on their run.

Not only is the bottle comfortable to hold in your hand to drink or to run, it fits in a belt or waistband. That’s right, this bottle tucks in the waistband with no awkwardness or risk of losing the bottle. The design is shaped to fit with the curve of your back.

The bottle top is a screw-on cap that’s the same size as a standard water bottle. The wide opening is nice when it comes time to fill and clean the bottle. Some of the other solutions for runners are smaller bottles and that means smaller caps.

While it’s an interesting shape of the bottle, it’s worth pointing out that if you stow your bottle in your waistband along the center of your back, it may be subject to sweat running down your back. The odd shape also might make it difficult to stand up on its own, we’re not sure if that works or not.

UPDATE: Simple Hydration Founder Brian Hock just confirmed that the bottle does, in fact, stand up. “That was an issue made aware to us by runners in our research phase and we made sure it would stand up fine. If you notice in the top photo the bottom is flat so that it can stand in an upright position. Plus, the bottom is perfectly centered under the top shape to also provide balance when standing up straight.”

Simple Hydration Official Website

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.

Providing the right fit has always been a problem with over-the-ear style earbuds, but after a few adjustments we had no trouble creating both a comfortable and secure fit with our headset. Jabra also includes two additional size ear gels should the ones provided not fit. The headset itself is very simple and stylish coated in black with a reflective yellow highlight. They’re a refreshing change from the otherwise dorky Bluetooth headsets we’re used to seeing.

The two earpieces are joined by a yellow, tangle-free cable that does an excellent job to wick away sweat. Fabric cables are known to get damp and soaked with perspiration, but the Sport’s flat, rubberized cable is easy to wipe dry and provides more than enough length to fit around the back of your neck.

Controls are all located on the right ear piece. They include a multi-purpose play/pause button (which is also used to take/end calls, turn the headset on/off, and for pairing), a volume up and down rocker (which is also used to rewind/forward songs or search through FM stations), and an FM radio button (which is used to toggle the built-in FM radio and also to call the last number you dialed). Despite each button’s multi-functionality, operating the headset is simple and since each button is shaped somewhat different, it’s easy tell which button you’re pressing when you blindly slide your finger down the earpiece.

Pairing the device with our iPhone 4S took no more than 20 seconds and the Sport can be paired with up to two devices, so you could have it paired with both a Bluetooth-enabled tablet and your smartphone simultaneously.

When used at home, the headset was near-perfect letting us listen to tracks from our iPhone while walking throughout the apartment. Our music had a nice bass to it, which is something you don’t typically associate with wireless headsets. Call quality was generally solid, though at times we did experience a little static when we were more than 10 feet away from our iPhone.  We also appreciated the built-in FM tuner, which gave our iPhone FM-playing capabilities.  (Although in a congested city like New York, we weren’t able to pick up reception on more than six stations.)

However, our overall experience took a slight hit when we took our headset outdoors.  Even with our iPhone’s volume cranked to high, we found ourselves wishing the headset was louder. At the gym, music sounded faint and was overpowered by our gym’s soundtrack/speakers.  Cranking the volume to the max helped a bit, but at high volume we noticed our music suffered from a little distortion and that bass we heard indoors, was all but gone in our new louder environment.  We also noticed that calls seemed to pick up more static at the gym than at home.

Fortunately, the device makes up for these shortcomings with its ruggedness. Jabra claims the Sport headset offers U.S. Military Grade rain-, dust-, and shock-protection.  Although we didn’t test it in any extreme weather, we did put it through multiple 30-minute runs complete with hills and sprints and we’re happy to report that the headset remained in place and kept working even as sweat dripped down our face and into our ears.

Battery-wise, Jabra claims you can get 4.5 hours of talk time and up to 3 hours of music from the Sport headset. We averaged about 3 hours and 20 minutes with both phone calls and consecutive music-listening.  While that’s more than enough for your average workout or run, it’s nowhere near enough to make it through a full day. On the plus side, we liked that the Sports’ battery meter was displayed on our iPhone and we also liked the audible cues warning us of a low battery as the Sports’ battery meter dropped into the red zone. The free Endomondo Sports Tracker app (for iOS and Android) was also a nice touch providing the same type of functionality you’d expect from apps like RunKeeper.

Ultimately, the Jabra Sport does what it claims – it frees runners from the shackles of headphone wires.  Volume levels could be louder and battery life could be improved on, but our main gripe was with call quality. In quiet environments it’s more than adequate, but outdoors and at the gym call quality doesn’t come near to the quality you’d get from one of Jabra’s standalone Bluetooth headsets. But if you’re not the type of person to take important work-related calls on the go or if you’re just looking for a reliable (and good-looking) wireless headset, we wouldn’t hesitate recommending the Sport for the everyday athlete.

Pros: Lightweight, comfortable fit, earpieces stay in place during workouts, sweat- and rain-proof design, built-in FM tuner, simple and intuitive controls

Cons: Battery life could be improved on, volume level could be higher, call quality suffers outdoors

Jabra Official Product Page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPdb7ZDJKS4

New Day, Same Old Sh…

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.

 Space, The Final Frontier And New Opportunity For Fitness

From Sport Techie: NASA Seeking to License Innovative Biometric Training Technology

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced today its intent to solicit interest from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market an innovative technology for improving athlete performance.

Get in Step in the Snow

From Snow Shoe Magazine: Snowshoeing in Paradise: Mt. Rainier National Park

Rising above the skyline from 54 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington State’s highest and most prominent volcano in the Cascade Arc, is still considered one of the world’s most dangerous. Reaching an elevation of more than 14,000 feet, makes it an unforgettable sight from almost any vantage point in this vibrant city.

Congress Votes Down Cycling Bill

From BikeRadar.com: US transportation and infrastructure committee vote anti-bike

Today, Thursday, 2 February 2012, the US House of Representatives’ transportation and infrastructure committee voted no — by two votes — on the Petri-Johnson-Lipinski amendment to the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act that would have saved funding for biking and walking, including the acclaimed Safe Routes to School program.

Art on the Slopes

From GearJunkie: Performance Art: Handmade Abstract Wooden Snowboards

Recently, professional snowboarder and artist Corey Smith noted he wanted to get back to what snowboarding was all about. To Smith that meant making powder turns, enjoying the outdoors with friends, and, in a strange twist, crafting crude snowboards from plywood. On his website, Spring Break Snowboards, Smith refers to his creations as “handmade abstract wooden snowboards.”

]]> http://www.kineticshift.com/2012/weekend-reading-list-2-4-12-runners-talk-nasa-innovates-house-votes-against-bikes/feed 0 http://www.kineticshift.com/2012/made-in-america-redfeather-snowshoes http://www.kineticshift.com/2012/made-in-america-redfeather-snowshoes#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:51:56 +0000 Brian O'Connor http://www.kineticshift.com/?p=12429

Redfeather Snowshoes - Vapor

This week’s Made in America post appears on a day when the Colorado Front Range is finally getting pounded with its first winter storm of 2012. If the weather forecasters are correct, we may see up to 18-inches of snow by the time the storm is done. What better day to feature a company that has its roots in Colorado and may actually help me get out and around. Redfeather Snowshoes was founded back in 1988 by another Colorado resident who too was snow-bound, but that individual was a triathlete who lived up in Leadville, Colorado at 10,000-feet. His original design utilized an aluminum frame with a ‘V’ shaped tail that reduced the chance of a tail from one shoe from hitting the other shoe, especially while running and overall improved maneuverability while snowshoeing. This simple change to the shape has lead to the modern sport of snowshoeing that we know today as noted by Jim Tucker on the United States Snowshoe Association (USSSA) website.

Redfeather no longer manufactures their snowshoes in Leadville, but they are still manufactured in America. Now a division of ORC Industries, who also owns Bell Canoe and produces ponchos for the U.S. military, Redfeather Snowshoes are now manufactured at the ORC factory in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The V-tail design is now used in a number of their snowshoes, but other features have been added  to the product line over time. The Epic Binding, a ratcheting binding similar to a snowboard binding ratchet; the Summit Binding, an injection molded binding with a “stand up“ design for easy entry and exit; and the Live Action Hinge, a binding to snowshoe hinge that ‘springs’ the back of the shoe off of the snow when walking to allow people to run/walk with a more natural stride are just a few of the innovations that have been developed in their history.

Redfeather Snowshoes - Snowpaw

All of the adult Redfeather snowshoes feature crampons below the toe and heel area. Crampons are essentially metal teeth used to bite into the snow and ice for traction and stability. Most models use powder coated stainless steel as the basis for their crampons with the exception of the running or ’Race’ series. The two models that fall under the ’Race’ series, the Vapor and Race, use titanium as the metal to help create a lightweight snowshoe weighing 2.4-pounds and 2-pounds, respectively.

While we were at the 2012 SIA snowsports trade show in Denver, Redfeather was showing off their current product lineup. There have been quite a few changes since my pair of Falcon running snowshoes came out of the Leadville factory. Redfeather now has a snowshoe for just about every age, ability and purpose. From the Snowpaw and Y-20/Y-22 for kids; the Guide for those who want to hit deep snow; or the Vapor, used by Erin O’Mara to win the BigFoot SnowShoe 10k Run in Traverse City, Michigan, a regional qualifier for the 2012 USSSA Snowshoe Championship, Redfeather has a snowshoe for everybody.

There is one particular Redfeather design that stands apart from any other snowshoe shapes in their lineup. The Arrow doesn’t feature a V-tail or more traditional round-tail, but an asymmetrical tail shape. The nose of the left shoe fits in the tail of the right shoe and vise versa allowing easier use for those with a narrower gait. Also since the outside frame of the tails follow the round tail shape, more surface area is left in the tail area to help the wearer stay on top of the snow providing more stability.

Redfeather Snowshoes - Arrow Kit

Along with selling just snowshoes, Redfeather also offers some of their shoes in a ‘kit’ package with poles and a carrying bag, all for only about $50 above the price of the select snowshoes alone. Even though the bag and poles are not U.S. manufactured, this kit is still a great package to help those individuals who have none of the equipment to get into the sport.

Redfeather Snowshoes start at $34.95 for the Snowpaw and top off at $274.95 for the Race running shoe and Guide backcountry shoe. Most models fall within the $150-$250 range. Not every model is available as a kit with bags and poles, but those items can be purchased directly from Redfeather’s website or an authorized reseller. All models are covered by their lifetime warranty, so not only are you buying an American made product, but you are buying one from a manufacturer that stands behind each snowshoe that they produce.

As simple as snowshoeing appears to be, it is important to get setup on the correct equipment. Along with being able to purchase snowshoes on their website, Readfeather also offers a fit guide and a 101 guide. Even though a good pair of snowshoes cost over $150, if treated well, they will last. The pair of Redfeather Falcons that I have in my garage are from the 1990’s and though they show some wear, the are as strong as they were when they came out of the factory.

Redfeather Snowshoes Official Website

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!

Sennheiser Official Website

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.

OGIO’s flagship bag, the 9.0 Endurance Bag, has several features to keep any athlete organized. The bag includes two molded and lined compartments that provide protection for goggles, sunglasses, heart rate monitors, other electronic devices and fragile goods. Several other compartments include a wet/dry pocket with built-in 360-degree ventilation gussets for wetsuits, swim suits and soiled clothes to keep them separated from the rest of the bag. Shoes get their own ventilated compartment big enough to carry two parts of shoes. Dirty clothes also get their own ventilated compartment that maintains good airflow to keep post-workout clothes from developing that locker room stink.

Six other bags, the 8.0, 7.0, 5.0, 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0, each have similar compartments for organization. Each bag offers advantages for size and sport-specific features. Bags are designed with adjustable shoulder straps that can be worn backpack-style and an integrated carry handle for options when traveling with the bag.

Expect to find the OGIO Endurance Collection in specialty bike, running, and multi-sport stores starting in February.

OGIO Official Website

The 7.8 ounce shoe is designed with maximum cushioning and support. It features the same adiPrene+ midsole technology used in the adidas ClimaCool Ride shoes. The adiPrene+ midsole provides resilient cushioning in the forefoot, which offers a responsive ride. The shoe’s SprintWeb provides lightweight support. A nylon mesh construction makes the shoe breathable and yet keeps the foot locked in place for stability and speed. A SprintFrame helps return energy to each stride. The shoe’s Lightstrike EVA reduces midsole weight by 15 percent.

Adidas’ adizero Rush comes in nine color combinations, and an additional pair of shoelaces, in a contrasting color, comes with the shoes. A pair of adizero Rush shoes costs $100.

Adidas Official Website

For runners there is the Switch, which is packed with innovative features including nine customizable sport profiles, easy to read high-resolution display, eight hours of battery life, a high sensitivity GPS receiver, 50-meter water resistance, and compatibility with ANT+ sensors. The Switch Up offers the same features as the Switch plus additional features designed for true multisport athletes, including a barometric altimeter for precise elevation data, a thermometer to capture outside temperature, vibration alerts, and an innovative quick release mounting system to easily transition between sports. The Switch series will launch this spring.

Magellan Enters The Fitness Market For the First Time With Switch and Switch Up

LAS VEGAS ­ – ­ Magellan GPS announced to today the launch of its first two products in its new fitness line: Switch and Switch Up. Designed to meet the needs of runners, cyclists, and multisport athletes, the new Switch Series is a powerful, adaptable, and customizable family of crossover GPS watches that will integrate seamlessly with third party sites.

“We are very excited to launch our new fitness line,” said Clark Weber, senior director of fitness products at Magellan. “We have combined Magellan’s heritage in GPS technology, deep consumer insights, and the power of third party sites to offer a fresh perspective in the fitness category.”

The Switch is a powerful fitness training device packed with innovative features that include nine customizable sport profiles, easy to read high resolution display, eight hours of battery life, a high sensitivity GPS receiver, 50 meter water resistance, and compatibility with ANT+TM sensors. Designed primarily for runners, it is also a crossover watch that is convertible for multisport needs.

The Switch Up has the same powerful features as the Switch but also boasts a barometric altimeter for precise elevation data, a thermometer to monitor and capture outside temperature, vibration alerts for notifications in louder environments, and an innovative quick release mounting system to easily transition between sports. Designed for true multisport athletes, the Switch Up is the first of its kind in the fitness category.

“We are cyclists, runners, and multisport athletes. We are the end consumer,” said Mike Maxson, senior product and marketing manager at Magellan. “If you spend a lot of time training, your devices need to be both powerful and adaptable. Features like our quick release mounting system and customizable sport profiles were born from this insight.”

The Switch Series breaks away from the pack with innovative features, including Activity Pacer, which not only shows runners if they’re on target with their goal, but provides specific targets to attain the desired result. For endurance athletes, Magellan offers an optional Battery Pack Extender that provides 16 hours of additional battery life, for a total of 24 hours.

“The Switch series has been designed for easy use out of the box without making compromises for hardcore athletes,” adds Maxson. “Customers can create up to nine different activity profiles based on their preferences. With a few clicks, you can switch from road running to trail running mode with different screens, data fields and settings best suited for your activity.”

Magellan will make it easy for customers to upload, view and store activities at a new Magellan fitness website launching in Spring 2012. This fitness hub is also ideal for customers looking for an online source to store and automatically distribute activities to their favorite social networks and fitness websites. For those who prefer to upload directly to their favorite fitness site, Magellan Switch devices are compatible with MapMyFitness, TrainingPeaks, Strava, and more. In addition, Magellan will be releasing an API that allows any third party website or application to access activity data with customer permission.

The Magellan GPS Switch series will be available Spring 2012. The Switch has an MSRP of $249.99 or $299.99 with Heart Rate Monitor; the Switch Up with a Multisport Mounting Kit has an MSRP of $299.99 or $349.99 with a Multisport Mounting Kit and Heart Rate Monitor.

The Switch Series will be on display at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), South 2 ground floor – MP25539, as well as Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, January 19-22, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information go to www.magellangps.com/switch.

About MiTAC Digital Corporation
MiTAC Digital Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation and promotes and sells products and services under the Magellan brand name. Magellan assists people to travel, work and play with leading portable navigation and positioning solutions across multiple consumer markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the company is the producer of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate series portable car navigation, Outdoor and Mobile navigation devices. MiTAC Digital Corp. is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif.

The belts from iFtiness are not typical ‘fanny packs’. These belts are designed to hold close to the body and be able to carry ID, credit cards/cash, keys, a phone and even the attachment of extra hydration flasks all while not ‘riding up’ or chafing. Most of the belts from iFitness are constructed of Neoprene and Nylon with a large plastic buckle for easy wearing and removal. The base model, Single Pouch, has one compartment and starts at under $20; while the top of the line, Hydration Belt, has every option offered by iFitness including attachment clips for a race number and an area to attach gel packs – for a retail price of just under $40.

All of the belts from iFitness are offered in a number of different color options to match your tastes or attire. For those who like to show their support for the fight against breast cancer, there is a special edition “26.2 With Donna” belt offered in a number of pink and black color combinations. The proceeds from the sale of these single and double pouch models will go to the 26.2 With Donna, The National Marathon To Finish Breast Cancer race.

Don’t like the idea of wearing a belt while you run? iFitness has you covered. For under $20, the Phone/iPod & Gel Holder wraps around the upper part of your arm allowing the easy carrying of a smartphone, ID, credit card/cash, keys and a couple of gel packs. It is also offered in a number of different color choices.

With a new year, should come a new you. Browse through the thousands of apps for one that will track your run or walk, your calories burned or just give you some tunes to listen to while exercising. Grab a iFitness belt or holder to keep you from dropping your new smartphone and turning it into an expensive paperweight.

iFitness Official Website

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]

Underfuse is a performance iron-on pocket sized to fit a typical iPhone or other smartphone, plus an ID or keys, so you can bring it along on your workout. The pocket attaches to any garment on three sides, making it stable and secure for your device. The maker suggests you attach it to tight-fitting clothing such as a form-fitting top or compression shorts that hug your body. If you iron this pocket on to a pair of loose gym shorts, your phone or other pocket contents will jiggle around when you move.

As this is a Kickstarter project, Underfuse is looking for people to pledge money. For an $8 pledge, you get one Underfuse, for $20 you get 3 Underfuse pockets. Other pledge packages apply.

Underfuse on Kickstarter

This week Netpulse, Inc, a provider of personalized interactive media for fitness centers and active lifestyle consumers, announced that it has acquired San Francisco-based Virtual Active. As a part of the acquisition, the entire Virtual Active team will be joining Netpulse, also based in San Francisco, to develop engaging exercise media experiences for active people.

This will see Netpulse expand its platform, which provides consumers worldwide with engaging content and data regarding their fitness experience, outside health clubs via mobile devices and home fitness products. Additionally, Netpulse has partnerships with seven of the leading commercial fitness equipment manufacturers, accounting for over 73 percent of global fitness equipment sales to health clubs.

The Virtual Active team adds a bit of “virtual reality” experience by filming and producing high-definition footage of runs and rides through famous locations around the world. These are shot from a first-person perspective to essentially transport exercisers to trails and paths in breathtaking destinations including the Swiss Alps, Northern Italy, the Black Forest, Rocky Mountains, and famous cityscapes like Los Angeles, Chicago, Berlin, and Venice. Soon, exercisers will even be able to experience renowned events such as classic cycling races and famous marathons around the world.

“Virtual Active’s engaging content and propriety methods combined with Netpulse’s patented technology creates an incredibly powerful platform that provides tremendous benefits to our OEM partners, health clubs, and exercisers,” said Netpulse CEO and Co-Founder, Bryan Arp. “With the Virtual Active acquisition, 2012 is going to be an explosive year of growth for us as we integrate sponsored events, social competitions, and other gamification elements into our interactive media solution.”

And all this from the home!

Netpulse Official Website
Virtual Active Official Website

Their solution? “Blaze Orange” for your pooch!

EzyDog has recently announced the release of a couple of their collars and a harness in the bright orange color that hunters often wear when they are out in the woods, and is a visual queue for them not to shoot if they see any traces of that color. This is the same fluorescent orange or ‘safety orange’ that is federally mandated to be used in traffic barrels and signs on the highways around America. These collars and harness are not new models, they are just being offered in this new color to keep your pup stay safe while the two of you enjoy the beauty of nature.

These are the EzyDog models that are currently available in Blaze Orange:

EzyDog Neo Collars now include a gear clip for your dogs ID tags or other clipable items. Like our original they still offer the best in comfort, style and durability. Soft rubber neoprene (the same material used in wetsuits) is reinforced with nylon webbing for strength. Hook and loop adjustments make sizing a breeze and the quick release buckle offers strength with ezy-on and ezy-off convenience. Completely waterproof and easy to clean.
Sizes: Small – Extra Large
Prices: $17.50 – $20.50

The EzyDog Checkmate Collar is a Martingale style correction collar that does not require the act of re-sizing for each fitting! So with all the time you just saved, you can spend it correcting your pup’s unwanted behaviour while on a leash. Just give a sharp tug and the low profile nylon collar with reflective stitching, and it will cinch up to let him know that you’re checking!
Sizes: Small – Large
Prices: $12.00 – $18.00

The EzyDog Harness features an EVA Chest Plate that will form to the dogs chest for an ergonomic fit. The EVA Chest Plate keeps the load of the dog spread across the length of the dogs chest providing comfort and control, not to mention style! The EzyDog Harness uses Reflective Stitching for enhanced visibility at night. A Swiveling Seat Belt Restraint is included for safe travels by automobile and a Rust Proof Welded D-ring is used for attaching leashes.
Sizes: Extra, Extra Small – Extra Large
Prices: $22.00 – $26.00

You may not be the type of person that needs to “be seen”, but when you and your four-legged friend are running through the woods, being seen is actually a good thing.

EzyDog Official Website