I am not a girlie girl. If you know me or have read this blog with any regularity, that statement will come as no surprise. So when my best friend Bren suggested I try one of the trendy new running dresses put out by companies like Athleta, Lululemon, and others, I balked.
Work out in a dress? Not my style. Still, my job is to test out new gear and apparel that catches people’s eyes, so I chose the least girlie one I could find: the New Balance Bonita Run Dress.
I put the dress on over a pair of black shorts, not wanting to give passers-by a glimpse of my skivvies. It has a flimsy little shelf bra, but unless you’re an A or B cup (nope), or only intend to do a little lounging around in it, you’ll need to wear another, more substantial sports bra underneath.
I chanced a look in the mirror before heading out for my morning Nordic walk. Despite the nagging feeling that I should be sporting a swingy ponytail and heading to the tennis court, I found the dress to be quite flattering—fitted but not too tight on the top, with just the right above-knee length and a hint of flare.
I don’t hate my thighs, but if I did, this dress would provide excellent camouflage. It occurred to me that if I were to sling a little sweater over my shoulders, I could wear this baby out to a coffee shop post-workout…if I lived in a neighborhood that actually boasted a coffee shop. But I digress.
It was time to put the dress to the test. There’s a tiny zippered pocket along the side torso with room only for a key (sans chain) or a tissue. I used it for my house key, which turned out to be a questionable decision. Leaning into the steep hills during my walk, I could feel the key pressing uncomfortably into my side. Odd location for a pocket, I have to say; it would’ve been better placed at the small of the back, or even along the underside of the skirt hem.
I used my best, serious “I’m training for something” Nordic walking form, in an effort to balance out the whole working-out-in-a-dress thing. There was a slight breeze, which kept blowing the skirt around my legs; it was a little annoying, but not too bad.
However, the dress worked the way a good tech piece should; it breathed well, wicked sweat, and dried quickly. And other than the occasional poke-in-the-side from the key in my pocket, it was very comfortable.
The verdict: Were I a girlier girl, or inclined to play tennis or golf, I could see myself wearing the heck out of this dress—for workouts and beyond. Since I’m not, though, I’ll probably just use it for those runs to the neighborhood coffee shop. If we ever get one, that is.
Product: New Balance Bonita Run Dress
Category: Apparel
Pros: Flattering, comfortable style with great thigh camouflage. Breathes and wicks well.
Cons: May be a bit girlie for some tastes. The pocket isn’t very useful, and the shelf bra doesn’t provide much support.
Cost: $55 at NBWebExpress.com
Extra tip: Don’t wear it on a windy day.
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Comments (1)
Thank you for taking the time to look at our product. Working on the product for over a year and half, you can understand my disappointment when reading your review. Unfortunately, we do not believe you read the cards or easy to use instructions correctly.
If you have ever started a business, it is like having a baby, and when someone calls your baby UGLY, not having the facts correctly, you too would want to fix that.
After being OVERWEIGHT or OBESE from 6 years old to my 20’s, I lost 107lbs and used weight training to maintain my figure and finally become happy in my own skin. I learned that switching up my routine was the key to continual results.
But after becoming a personal trainer and realizing that when my clients were not with me, they would do things wrong, or just do the same old exercise, I developed this new system. Our clientele that uses our product regularly LOVES the product, period.
With over 87 percent of the cards at home with a BIG neon green box on the front and a detailed description on the back which shows how to do the move at home. At Home exercises that have a bench in the picture explain in detail how to perform the exercise without a bench. Any novice exerciser would know to use a stability ball or sometimes the floor, but the back of the card explains it all just in case our new clientele needs extra help!
Personal Trainer in a Box is not being marketed to the at home market, at home or at the gym. This set is great for a busy Mom or Dad that can’t get to the gym all the time and needs instruction to get out of doing the same thing over and over. Many people do not have the luxury to stay at home and work, our crazy lives lead us to not getting any exercise.
When I was obese as a child, I was one of three in my school in the early 70’s. Look at the statistics now. Personal Trainer in a Box, you CAN perform at home or at the gym, you just have to spend three minutes reading the instructions and look for the BIG NEON green AT HOME on the front and back of the card. Underneath TIPS, you will clearly see the AT HOME section. You said there were 2 exercises you could do at home in Biceps. I beg to differ.
The bicep section has 9 out of ten cards at home. When a bench is used, it explains that you can perform on the floor or a stability ball. IT’S ALL ON THE BACK OF THE CARD UNDER AT HOME!
Concentrated Curl- Do this exercise at home using the same movement with dumbbells on a bench or stable chair.
Bicep Rope Pull-up- Do this same movement at home using dumbbells.
Double Cable Biceps- Do this same movement at home using dumbbells.
And I could go on as 9 out of 10 cards under Biceps could be performed at home.
As for Back, there are CLEARLY 4 out of 10 for just lower back, many do upper and mid, some upper and lower. Back extension on ball, Stiff legged dead lifts, Leg raise on Ball and Body Hypers. Back has 9 out of 10 and four are lower back! It’s simple reading of the instructions and the card. Over 600 people have used and loved in our 5 months of existence; with the lowest return policy in our industry.
But the clients that pay the 99 dollars, read the instructions and notice the Neon green which say at home seem to understand perfectly!
We have had Fantastic reviews from other media outlets that have actually used the program. We have worked so hard to get our product to this point all on our own without BIG FITNESS companies; we make our product in AMERICA which we are very proud of as we want to keep jobs in America.
Again, our product is exactly what we say it is, it is Personal Trainer in a Box, and it is designed to help people discover weight training at home and at the gym. It has over 87% of the exercises to be performed at home. We have other clientele that have pulley systems at home and benches which only help. It consistently changes up your routine, so you and your muscles are never bored!
I agree with one thing, I NEVER thought the DVD was needed. I KNOW my form is correct, but it is a little fast due to cost and time. We did this after some older clientele asked for it. In May, we mailed out 125 to past clients that suggested it to begin with, and they said it was exactly what they needed. This was designed for Newbie’s obviously. Anything that can add confidence for people to CHANGE THEIR WORLD, I am all for!
Again, thanks for taking the time to review our product.
Kind regards,
Lori Wengle