I think sometimes we gear reviewers get so focused on what’s new and hot that we forget that some of the best products have been around for a while—and are equally deserving of a wider audience. So this week, I want to give a well-deserved shout-out to the two companions that have been getting me through my dark morning walks during the colder months of the last couple years: my Brooks NightLife jacket and gloves.
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Several of my friends have recently given up their gym memberships to save some badly needed bucks by working out at home instead. To do that properly, you need some equipment. Life Fitness, the folks known for their treadmills and elliptical trainers, are seeking to rise to the occasion with their new Body Shape Kit and Body Shape Kit Plus.
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With all the rain here lately, I’ve found myself living in a very damp climate—the kind of damp in which my bath towel never fully dries, a leather bag stowed in the closet sprouts mold in a matter of days, and my sneakers live in, well, a perpetual state
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The idea behind the Boom Board Body Shaping System is intriguing: You use your own resistance to build strength. In other words, no need to scatter a bunch of dumbbells around the den. For that fact alone, it’s definitely worth a look.
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I love sleeping out under the stars. Although I’ve fallen out of practice during my adult life (something I’m hoping to soon remedy), I spent many girlhood summer night in tents at various sleep-away camps. Thus, testing the new Sierra Designs Lightning XT 3-person, 3-season tent was a delightful prospect.
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I owe Shiva Rea a debt of thanks. A few years ago, when I got too pregnant to continue with my usual yoga class, I turned to her excellent Prenatal Yoga DVD to keep me limber…and I truly believe she deserves some credit for the relatively short, easy labor that brought my daughter into the world. Her newest DVD is Shiva Rea: Daily Energy—Vinyasa Flow Yoga; given our history, I felt compelled to give it a try.
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Dressing for a fall outdoor workout can be a challenge. It’s usually a little nippy when I start out, then by mid-workout I’m ready to shuck a layer. To my rescue: the New Balance Lightweight Convertible Jacket, which converts easily from a jacket to a vest, thanks to removable sleeves.
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I do a lot of walking, so I’m picky about my shoes. My last three go-to pairs have all been the same style of Rykas; I fell in love with the first pair, then eventually bought two more before the style was discontinued. Recently, I wore through the last of them. As if on cue, Reebok sent me a pair of their new Versawalk DMX Max walking shoes to test out. Excellent timing!
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Sure, pocketless workout wear looks sleek, but it presents a bit of a problem when it comes to finding a place to put my keys, ID, etc., when I head out to skate or Nordic walk. I’ve tried holders that clip to my waist, wrap around my arm or ankle, clip to my shoe, but I’ve never been totally satisfied—until now. Allow me to introduce the SPIbelt.
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Most folks think of “training computers” (sport watches that also tell you things like heart rate, lap time, etc.) as tools for hardcore athletes, not the “recreational exercisers” that most of us are. Still, even though I’m not training for anything at the moment, the Polar RS300X G1 caught my eye, not least because, with the GPS unit, it lets you also measure your distance and speed while doing just about any activity. I like to vary my walking/skating routes and never really know how far or fast I’m going. But I’d like to!
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Everyone needs a good gym bag, whether you actually belong to a gym or—like me—you simply like to keep your workout stuff in your car or office so it’s always handy. Since my daughter Zoe recently commandeered mine to carry her books, dolls, and stuffed animals whenever we go somewhere, I found myself in need of a new one.
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Every once in a while I come across a really cool gadget that seems so obviously useful, I wonder why it took so long for someone to invent it. The Shoe Odometer is that kind of gadget.
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I love the idea of exercising with a personal trainer, but as a working mom on a tight budget, it’s not really an option either time- or money-wise. That’s why I’m loving this trend of “virtual” trainers, where you download personalized programs designed by experienced trainers to help you achieve your fitness goal, then do the workouts on your own time—all for a monthly price equivalent to that of two or three sessions with a live trainer. Time to test the newest entry in this crowded field, the NextFit Keychain Trainer.
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While on vacation last month, I found myself missing my second-favorite cardio workout, Nordic walking. (Inline skating is my first love.) I went out for plenty of “regular” walks, but it just wasn’t the same. The problem was, my poles didn’t fit into my suitcase, so I couldn’t bring them along. If only I’d known then about LEKI Travellers.
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I’d been thinking recently that knowing how much I weigh is all well and good, but it doesn’t tell me about the kind of weight I’m carrying. How much fat is burdening this body of mine? Do I have an excess of it, dragging me inexorably toward unappealing destinations like heart disease and diabetes? This inquiring mind wanted to know. Since I don’t belong to a gym or have a trainer on-hand to perform such calculations, I chose to do the deed at home (twice!) with Sequoia Fitness’ new Defender Body Fat Caliper and Warrior Digital Body Mass Caliper.
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I love boats—and no wonder, since I grew up on the shores of Lake Champlain. I’m especially fond of kayaks, as they allow you to be so close to the water, it’s almost as if you’re part of the water. Living landlocked as I do now, though, I don’t get to use boats of any kind very often. So when I was offered a chance to test the new canvas Folbot (pronounced “fole-boat”) Citibot Folding Kayak during a visit to my sister, Kym, at her lakeside home in upstate New York, how could I say no?
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Outdoor workouts in the summer in Alabama are steamy affairs. I naturally sweat a good bit anyway; in the summertime, I’m often drenched halfway through my workout. So I was intrigued when a friend sent me a sample of the new CompetiTowel from West Coast Fitness Products, a little retractable device that clips onto your waistband or shirt to hold a small towel you can use during your workout for sweat control.
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