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Hydrapak Gel-Bot Water Bottle with Gel Flask-Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:32:19 +0000

For the past two weeks, we’ve been testing an interesting looking bottle from Hydrapak called the Gel-Bot. The Gel-Bot is a bottle with an additional internal reservoir for energy gel. This is the only review for the Gel-Bot, as there’s not really two reviews worth of information to be had.

About Hydrapak:

Hydrapak is, not surprisingly, a hydration company. They make a number of different packs and bottles for a variety of applications, including running, ultra-running, cycling, mountain biking and hiking. In the coming weeks, you can also look forward to an initial review of one of their hydration packs designed for runners.

About the Gel-Bot:

The Gel-B0t is one of Hydrapak’s unique bottle designs. Hydrapak has a number of unusual bottles, including a bottle with adjustable flow called the DualBot and the PureBot, a chemical free version.

The Gel-Bot is a pretty simple solution to carrying a water bottle and a gel flask or pouch. Gel-Bot is simple: Fill with gel, fill with water, go running, pull open valve for water, close valve and squeeze for gel.

Gel-Bot comes in a 20 and a 24 oz version and holds 3.2oz of gel.

Observations:

Well, basically, it works as designed and advertised. We tested the Gel-Bot a number of times and generally found that it works as designed. We thought the gel might leak or seep out of the top, but that never happened in our tests.

One problem we did have with the gel was viscosity. We used a few different gels in the test, including Roctane from GU, Regular GU, and Hammer. At room temperature, the gel flowed pretty smoothly, though the Roctane seemed a bit harder to get out than regular GU or Hammer, though that could have been a fluke. The problem arose when we plunged the gel into ice cold water in the bottle. Gel still flowed ok, but getting it to flow required serious squeezing.

For longer rides or runs, this isn’t a serious problem, as your water and gel will warm up pretty quickly, but for shorter runs, or if you’re one that loves a lot of ice in the bottle, this is going to make the gel very thick. Our simple solution was to add a little water to our gel and mix it up, thereby reducing the thickness and making it easier to squeeze. Even when we diluted the gel, we didn’t have any problems with leaks or seeping.

The Gel-Bot is top rack safe and we’ve washed our test model a few times since we received it, without any damage. After each run, honestly, it’s more like before the next run, we wash the bottle, gel pack, and bottle top and try to remove most or all of the previous run’s gel. With a little hot water, the gel cleans up easily.

Final Opinion:

We are yet to find a problem using the Gel-Bot. It functions exactly as it claims, it delivers water and gel with no mess and no switching hands, and it cleans up easily. The Gel-Bot isn’t for everyone, but it’s a very simple and very effective bottle. Although this tester normally uses the REI Double Shot on medium to long distance runs, this bottle will probably become part of my normal running kit. Even with the Double Shot, getting a gel requires a bit of work and slowing down, so this is a much more graceful solution.

Rating of Gel-Bot Water Bottle with Gel Flask
Appearance
Basic Clear Bottle, though it appears to have a growth

Function
Hydration and Nutrition in One Bottle

Design
Only logical solution to wanting gel and water.

Performance
Good. Gel is reasonably easy to consume.

Value
A little pricey for a water bottle.

Overall
Simple solution, well designed, actually works.

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Hammer Perpetuem Solids Endurance Nutrition-Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:50:54 +0000

One of the toughest things about an Ironman race is making sure your nutrition plan is going to get you through the day. One essential component of a good nutrition plan is an endurance fuel. Many triathletes swear by real food, PB&J sandwiches and the like, but for some people this is a bit too involved.

Hammer Nutrition produces many familiar fuels and supplements for triathletes and Perpetuem is one of their most popular endurance fuels. Perpetuem has classically been a powder that you mix with water before consuming. It’s pretty thick and can be a bit gritty, but it works. We’ve used Perpetuem in our training and on our half-IM distance races before and were pleased with the performance. However, there are some logistical challenges to using Perpetuem powder, the main issue being that it cannot be mixed more than about three hours before use, depending on the weather. There are no preservatives in the powder so the fuel breaks down quickly in the heat.

Hammer has recently released a new product, Perpetuem Solids, to make taking Perpetuem easier. Thanks to Hammer for providing a few samples that we used at Beach2Battleship.

About Perpetuem Solids:

The solids are made from the same product as regular Perpetuem, only in a convenient tablet form. You can purchase the solids in bulk or in a 6 tablet sleeve. Perpetuem Solids are designed to stay fresh and usable even in the heat. The formula used in Perpetuem is designed to mitigate muscle cannibalization. The tabs are available in Strawberry-Vanilla, Orange-Vanilla, and Caffe Latte which also contains caffeine. The solids retail for $29.95 for a 90 tab container or $3.15 for a 6 tablet tube.

The serving size, 3 tablets, contain 100 calories and a little less than a gram of fat. There are 20g of carbs and 3g of protein in each serving.

Testing the Perpetuem Solids:

After receiving the samples, we also purchased a few additional packs to test before the race. We didn’t want to make any sudden changes to our nutrition plan without testing them first.

We used Hammer Perpetuem Solids on our last few 6+hour rides before Beach2Battleship. We included one serving of Solids in our special needs bike bag, one in our Bike to Run transition bag, and a third serving in our Special Needs Run bag. Generally, it’s a bad idea to go more than three hours without consuming protein during a race. Adding protein at these points helps reduce muscle tissue cannibalization.

Final Thoughts on Perpetuem Solids:

It’s impossible to discuss Perpetuem without discussing the taste. Remember, you’re not eating a Frosty here, you’re trying to keep your body from shutting down during the longest race of your life. When we used regular Perpetuem, we were pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t horrible. The flavor was great, especially the Caffe Latte version, and it wasn’t the most grainy supplement that we’ve tested. That being said, it was still not something you want to drink for breakfast every day.

The Perpetuem Solids were a completely different experience. First, they’re huge. About the size of a stack of 8 quarters. The smell is a bit chalky and the solids are normally a bit powdery after storage and movement. Popping the first one into your mouth, you better have some water ready. They will absolutely dry your mouth out. The second one was easier because we expected the drying sensation. Once you take a drink of water, the tabs dissolve pretty quickly, but they do leave a bit of an aftertaste. The tabs aren’t very grainy when you chew them, but they are a bit chalky, so they dissolve, but they need quite a bit of water to wash them down.

Performance wise, we noticed no difference between the regular Perpetuem and the Soilds. Both products provided a boost of energy and helped keep us full, but not stuffed. Both products helped us avoid muscle cannibalization. The balance of carbs and protein also assists with recovery, which is important since your body will start to recover from each sport before you finish the next discipline.

At the end of the day, an Ironman is a balance of less bad choices. Perpetuem Solids aren’t the most fun thing in the world to eat, I’d rather have a bacon cheeseburger, but that’s not practical. We don’t buy much of the hype surrounding supplements, but we found that Perpetuem is a great addition to your training plan. If you are comfortable using the powder, then you can include a bag of powder and add water as needed. If you want a less complicated plan, there has to be a tradeoff. In this case, the tradeoff is the consistency of the Solids. They’re not horrible, but they are a very different experience. Don’t wait until the day of the race to test these and you’ll be fine. On balance, we prefer the Solids to the powdered Perpetuem because of the ease of use and the limited planning required to use this product.

Rating of Perpetuem Solids Endurance Nutrition
Packaging
6 Tablet tubes are easy to pack and use.

Flavor
Caffe Latte is a personal favorite and includes caffeine.

Consistency
Chalky, but drinking water eliminates the dryness.

Performance
Mitigates muscle cannibalization and helps recovery.

Value
Very reasonably priced. Good Value.

Overall
Great product. Ease of use trumps chalky flavor.

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GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 06:25:44 +0000

Before our big races, we started reviewing the GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack. This pack was provided by GoLite and is one of a series of GoLite products that we’ve reviewed recently. Since our initial review of the HydroSprint, we’ve put in quite a few miles with the pack on our waist and have completed all our testing and review. The HydroSprint retails for $40 directly from GoLite.

About GoLite:

According to their website, GoLite was founded with the “simple idea…That experiencing nature would be better with less. Less weight, less fuss, less waste…more fun”. GoLite strives to not only provide products that are not just light in weight, but also light in their impact on the environment. GoLite uses the GoLite Index to determine the impact of each product and calculates this index using three main measures: Environmentally Preferred Materials, Responsible Production, and Education+End-of-Life Programs. GoLite has also adopted a Fair Labor audit process and follows The Timberland Company’s Code of Conduct.

About the GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack:

The HydroSprint is designed for speed and weight savings. It weighs a mere 283 grams, or about 10oz. With room for only one water bottle and a small gel flask, this is the smallest lumbar pack that GoLite sells. The HydroSprint includes a 21oz BPA-free bottle and a 5oz gel flask. In addition to the water and gel flask, the HydroSprint features a small zippered pocket to hold your keys, additional gel, camera, etc. The HydroSprint pack is designed with a mesh hipbelt that encourages quick drying. You’ll also notice a great deal of reflective material on the pack to increase your visibility.

One interesting feature is that the HydroSprint comes in two versions; one for men and one for women. GoLite designed these belts to provide the best fit for customers. Nice touch for a product that normally comes in a one-size fits all design. You’ll notice that the bottle holder is also insulated, helpful on those long hot summer runs.

The HydroSprint is made from recycled 210 Denier Nylon and features a No-Bounce system to help balance the load and is easier to adjust while running. There’s also a bungee system that can be used to secure a windbreaker or hat.

Testing the GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack:

Off the bat, we loved the weight and fit of the HydroSprint pack. The pack was clearly designed with comfort in mind and our testing found that the pack remained comfortable after the long distances we clocked during our HIM training.

The zippered pockets were useful for holding house keys, a small wallet, or your ID and a credit card. Though the smaller bottle is designed for gels, our tester preferred to carry additional water, or more frequently, a highly concentrated sports drink, in place of the gel.

During the test runs, the pack stayed basically in place. The tester experienced slight clockwise shifting, but not more than an inch or two. The pack was most comfortable for our tester when she kept it above her hips, not down around her waist.

After extensive testing, we did notice that the insulation around the bottle made very little difference. Compared to other, non-insulated, packs, the insulation didn’t extend the life of the ice in our bottle significantly.

Final Impressions of the GoLite HydroSprint Pack:

The HydroSprint is a good, lightweight pack that has more features and space that you might expect for a small pack. The pack is only useful for runs under 13 miles, unless you plan to stop somewhere to top off your bottles. On runs of this distance, the pack didn’t move too much and remained comfortable for the duration of the our test runs.

The HydroSprint is on the expensive side of similar products. We have tested the REI DoubleShot before and were pleased with the performance. The single bottle version, called the SingleShot, is available for between $17 and $25 from REI and is similar in weight and design. If you are concerned about sustainability and are willing to pay a premium to reduce the ecological impact of your lifestyle, the HydroSprint is a good option, though probably not the first choice for anyone that’s highly price sensitive.

Rating of GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack
Appearance
Great design, multiple colors, good lines.

Function
Carries more than you'd expect.

Comfort
Comfortable design, mesh belt helps with fit and coolness

Durability
Still in great shape, no wear or fading.

Value
A bit pricey, but that's the cost of being green.

Overall
Great pack, decent price, very eco-friendly.

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SBR Sports TriSwim Lotion-Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:16:04 +0000

Since July, we’ve been using some products from SBR Sports, a manufacturer of body care products designed to meet the needs of triathletes. Today, we’re going to finish our review of the TriSwim Lotion. This lotion is part of a product line that includes shampoo and conditioner and bodywash. SBR also manufactures TriSlide, a body lubricant for triathletes.

TriSwim Lotion is available directly from SBR for $13.20 or as part of a travel kit for $21.30. You can also request a free sample from SBR. If you do, please note that you heard about them from FitEgg.com.

Background on SBR Sports:

SBR Sports was established in 2003 by Karen Allard. Karen is a triathlete and USAT Certified Coach. Through her training, she became aware of the damage chlorine and other chemicals cause to athletes’s hair and skin. After using many available products, Karen decided to start her own line of products to assist athletes facing the same issues.

Background on TriSwim Lotion:

As with their other products, TriSwim Lotion is designed to help your body recover from the harsh chemical treatment it receives during your swim training. Chlorine is a very tough chemical that strips moisture and fullness from your hair and skin. TriSwim Lotion is designed to hydrate your skin while neutralizing the odor of the pool. As with their other products, this lotion contains aloe, a natural ingredient that helps moisturize and protect your skin. TriSwim has the same light citrus smell that you find in the other TriSwim products.

Testing TriSwim Lotion:

As we mentioned in the first review, the first thing we noticed about this product is that it’s appealing to men and women. The scent is a light citrus smell that disappears within an hour or two of application. The lotion goes on smoothly and is readily absorbed by your sking, especially just out of a hot shower.

Our testers noticed that the lotion doesn’t leave an oily or greasy residue and one tester commented on the lack of sticky feeling after application, as many other products do.

Final Impressions of TriSwim Lotion:

After using our entire sample tube with two testers, we feel that this product works as advertised. The TriSwim Lotion provides moisture to dry skin, especially if used after exposure to chlorine. TriSwim Lotion also relieves or eliminates itching due to dry skin and restores elasticity to your skin. The light scent eliminates chlorine odors and replaces them with a slight citrus scent, before disappearing a few hours after application.

As we mentioned in the first review, if you have seriously dry skin, this might not be the best lotion. If you’re used to using a serious lotion, like Eucerin, this lotion might not provide enough moisture.

TriSwim Lotion is good for occasional use to combat dry skin caused by wind, sun, and chlorine exposure. We are pleased with the performance and hope that you will give this lotion a chance if you’re looking for a new product to help with dry skin and other skin discomfort caused by triathlon training.

Rating of TriSlide Lubricant
Application
Tube, apply by hand. Easy to apply.

Function
Remoisturizes dry and damaged skin.

Comfort
Goes on smooth, light scent that disappears in hour or two

Durability
Refreshes skin and moisturizes, lasts for one day per application.

Value
Tube lasts for months, depending on use. Expensive, but good value.

Overall
Great unisex lotion product that works against dry skin and chlorine damage.

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Giro Bravo Men’s Gloves-Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:32:37 +0000

Today, we’re going to take a look at the Giro Bravo Road Cycling Gloves for men. These gloves retail for 24.99, which puts them squarely in the middle of the pack of Giro’s offerings. The Bravo’s are fingerless and feature a details that you might not expect on a lower priced glove.

About Giro:

Giro is based in Scotts Valley, Californian and is a part of the Easton-Bell Sports company. Easton-Bell has a number of other product lines focused on cycling and other outdoor sports. In addition to the gloves we review today, Giro is well known for their helmets and shoes.

About the Giro Bravo Men’s Gloves:

As we mentioned above, the Giro Bravo Gloves are priced at a entry to mid level point and are widely available online or in local retail stores. The Giro Bravo gloves are available in five colors to suit most people’s preferences. The gloves are available in men’s sizes from small to XXL.

These gloves use what Giro calls the Super Fit design. This design features a three panel palm to ensure a tailored fit. The palm of the glove is made from Clarino synthetic leather which provides durability at a reasonable cost. In addition to the synthetic leather, you’ll find additional padding under the leather to make the gloves more comfortable.

The uppers are made of a stretchy and breathable mesh. There is a patch of microfiber that is highly absorbent for wiping sweat or other things… The closure on the gloves is a small tab of Velcro.

Testing the Giro Bravo Gloves:

We picked these gloves just before our Ironman training peaked when our old cycling gloves finally bit the dust. We purchased these gloves online at the retail price of 24.99.

We used these gloves during the last two months of our Ironman training program and during Beach2Battleship race. We used these gloves during our longest and toughest rides, in excess of 6 hours and 100 miles, and also on our 6:22 112 mile IM distance ride in Wilmington, NC.

The peak of our training was during some of the hottest days in a long South Carolina summer. The mercury hit 95 at least twice during our long training rides. During these hot rides, we appreciated the wicking abilities of the Giro Bravo gloves. It would have been impossible for the gloves to keep our hands completely dry, but the wicking properties of the Bravo gloves were noticeable.

We also appreciated the padding and the synthetic leather in the palm of the glove. The combination of the padding and the thick faux-leather provided enough padding to keep our hands in good shape for most of the rides. By the time you hit 100 miles, your hands are going to be sore, no matter what glove you’re wearing. However, the Bravo gloves did a great job mitigating the soreness and pain that always arises on these long rides.

Final Thoughts:

Our tester was pleased with these gloves. At this price point, you generally don’t expect too much in terms of design and padding. These gloves look good, fit well, and wick moisture. If you’re currently using a $50+ pair of gloves, you’ll probably be disappointed with the performance of these gloves. However, at the under $25 price point, you’ll have to search a bit for a pair of gloves that combine a reasonable fit, well-padded palms, and a good design. The Giro Bravo Cycling Gloves are the best gloves we’ve tested at this price point and we have no hesitation in recommending them to our readers.

Rating of Giro Bravo Men's Cycling Glvoes
Appearance
Multiple colors available, clean design.

Function
Well performing gloves. Wicks moisture and keeps you cool.

Comfort
Well padded palms with synthetic leather. Lightweight and cool

Durability
Still in great shape after 500 miles and many washings.

Value
Best glove we've tested under 25 bucks

Overall
Good performance at a bargain price.

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Dolfin Poly Solid Color Aussie Square Leg Shorts–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:34:38 +0000

We’ve been using the Dolfin Aussie Poly Shorts as our main swim shorts for over four months. You can check out our initial review and our mid-term review before moving forward with our final observations.

You can find these shorts online for less than $30. If you head over to SwimOutlet.com, they’re less than $27.

Dolfin Poly Aussie Construction:

We picked these shorts up because of our bad experience with the TYR Square Leg Shorts. We didn’t expect a pair of swim shorts, even ones made of Lycra, to wear out after such a short time. We had previous experience with other Lycra shorts and didn’t see the level and speed of degradation that we did with the TYR shorts. Since we knew we had a lot of pool swimming planned for our IM training, we needed a great pair of shorts that would last through the entire training program.

These shorts are made of 100% Choroband Polyester. They are intended to stand up to months or years of assault from pool chlorine.

Dolfin Poly Aussie Comfort and Durability:

These shorts are the smallest we’ve ever tested. No room for being embarrassed here…

The suit fits snug, very true to size. If you’re on the border line of two sizes, go up a size. After months of use, the suit hasn’t stretched or shrunk and still holds it shape as if new.

We’ve been amazed with the durability of this suit. As you can see in the photos below, the only noticeable fading is in the stitching and that doesn’t impact performance.

Dolfin Poly Square Legs After 4 Months, Back

Dolfin Poly Square Legs After 4 Months, Crotch Seam

Dolfin Poly Square Legs After 4 Months, Front

Overall Thoughts on Dolfin Poly Aussie Square Leg Shorts:

We honestly couldn’t be more pleased with these shorts. After 4 months of serious use they continue to hold their shape, to resist fading, and to show absolutely no wear aside from the fading in the stitching.

We highly recommend these shorts to anyone searching for a durable and inexpensive pair of swim shorts.

Back in August, we started testing the Under Armour Endure C Cup Sports Bra. You can check out our initial review or just keep reading for a small recap. The Endure Bra is available at most large retailers for under $45.

As we’ve mentioned before, one of the toughest pieces of gear to find is a solid sports bra. We’ve tested one other heavy-duty bra before, the Shock Absorber Level 4 Bra and were pleased with it’s performance.

Rating of Dolfin Poly Aussie Square Leg Shorts
Appearance
Very basic shorts, square leg

Function
Provide little coverage, not for the easily embarrassed

Comfort
Almost unnoticeable, very comfortable

Durability
Excellent. No wear or fading of material

Value
Excellent. For less than $30 you won't find a better short.

Overall
Excellent shorts, resist fading and damage, very good price.

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Louis Garneau Men’s Alveo 3K Cycling Bibs–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:08:17 +0000

About two months ago, we received a sample of the Louis Garneau Men’s Alveo 3K Bibs. Since we received these bibs, they have become a staple of our cycling workouts in preparation for the Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Race.

These bibs are widely available from your local retailer or you can order directly from Amazon.

About the Louis Garneau Men’s Alveo 3K Cycling Bib Shorts:

The Alveo 3K Bibs are mid-level bibs; priced at $119.95, they are accessible to most cyclists yet they offer a few features found on higher level bibs.

Louis Garneau Alveo 3K Bibs

The bibs are made from a mesh-like material that offers a great deal of ventilation while not becoming transparent when stretched. The mesh fabric has a UPF/SPF rating of 50, offering a respectable amount of UV protection while riding. The material is 83% Nylon and 17% Lycra.

The bibs also feature Louis Garneau’s AirZone chamois. The AirZone is made from high-density memory foam. The foam is molded, which prevents any pinching points or chafing. Louis Garneau designed the chamois for long distance comfort, including increasing the number and decreasing the size of vent holes. The fabric is treated with an antibacterial solution to prevent bacteria buildup from sweat and chamois cream. The AirZone chamois is thicker where you make contact with your seat, while thinning out a bit in the front, the sides, and the perineal area. This design is supposed to help prevent discomfort.

AirZone Chamois Louis Garneau

The Alveo 3K Bibs also feature front, back, and bottom reflective logos for increased visibility. The shorts are designed with flat seams inside the legs. The leg openings don’t have a great deal of elastic or Lycra when compared to other shorts. The bibs are made of 10 panels, allowing a very comfortable fit with minimal extra fabric.

Testing the Louis Garneau Men’s Alveo 3K Cycling Bib Shorts:

When we published the initial review, we had used these bibs for about 150 miles. Since our first post, we’ve worn these bibs almost exclusively when training for our Ironman. To that end, we’ve put over 900 miles on the Alveo 3K Bibs since we first picked them up.

Even after all these miles, the LG Men’s Alveo Bibs continue to maintain the same close and comfortable fit. The ten panel design provides a very accurate fit and there is no extra fabric or poorly constructed part of the bibs. The legs are the same length as our standard shorts, ending just above the knee. The shoulder straps are the same material that is used on the rest of the bibs and breathes well and is very soft to the touch.

Most of our testing was conducted above 90 degrees with high humidity. In our outdoor testing, we noticed excellent wicking and ventilation. On our longest rides, 6+ hours and more than 95 miles, the bibs did retain some moisture, but this didn’t impact the overall coolness of these bibs.

Compared to our standard shorts, we loved the lack of a waistband on these bibs. Though this isn’t special to the Louis Garneau Alveo Bibs, the lack of a waistband meant there was absolutely no chafing or irritation after even the longest rides. The AirZone Chamois is one of the largest we’ve ever tested. We were initially concerned about the size and the long term comfort, but we never noticed an issue once on the bike and truly appreciated the thickness and size of the chamois.

Final Thoughts on the Louis Garneau Men’s Alveo 3K Cycling Bibs:

We are very pleased with the performance of these bibs. Since first testing them, they have become an essential part of our cycling gear. On the days that we can’t wear the bibs we notice a difference in comfort, especially after long rides.

We wash these bibs after every use and follow the care tag to make sure they hold up. Even washing these bibs two or three times a week we have not seen any wear, fading or discoloration.

The shoulder straps hit our tester directly on the nipples and could have been a serious chafing issue. On rides less than 4 hours, we didn’t need any lubrication, but on our longer rides we used a body lube to make sure we didn’t experience any irritation or chafing.

At $119.95, these bibs are towards the high end of comparable products. You can find Pearl iZUMi bibs for about twenty dollars less and lesser brands for an even steeper discount. However, these bibs perform at the high end of comparable products, so we don’t feel that the cost is prohibitive.

FitEgg highly recommends these bibs for cyclists and triathletes of any caliber. You will find them comfortable, breathable and durable.

Rating of Louis Garneau Alveo 3K Cycling Bibs
Appearance
Sharp looking. Reflective strips

Function
Great chamois provides serious protection

Comfort
Cool, wicks well, fits close and comfortable.

Durability
Excellent. No wear or fading after many washes

Value
Slightly above average price, Above average performance

Overall
Excellent bibs for cyclists and triathletes

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Under Armour Women’s Endure C Cup Sports Bra–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 03:57:11 +0000

We picked up the UA Endure Bra on the spur of the moment, before heading out of town on a mission trip. After using the bra on the trip and being pleased with it’s performance, we decided to bring you a review. It’s important to remember that this bra is a size 38C and our tester normally wears a 34DD, so the sizing isn’t perfect, but it fit very well and was comfortable.

About the Under Armour Endure Sports Bra:

UA claims that the Endure Sports Bra is the “hardest working bra in Sports.” The Endure, especially in the C and D Cup versions is a tough and sturdy bra. It provides full coverage and a ton of support for your high impact workouts. The bra features some pretty serious compression that aids in stability and reduces motion. The straps are crisscrossed, giving you a bit more support and the bra features HeatGear construction that assists with moisture wicking. The bra is made of 81% polyester and 19% Elastane and is designed to be soft, comfortable, and abrasion free.

Testing the Under Armour Endure Sports Bra:

We picked this bra up on our way to a Habitat for Humanity style mission trip. We knew we needed a great deal of support and moisture wicking during the trip. Thankfully, support and moisture wicking are two of the most important aspects of a bra’s performance for triathletes.

Our early testing with this bra was on a roof in North Carolina in July. After returning from our trip, we continued to use the bra in medium to high impact workouts, including spinning, jogging, cycling, and classes at our gym. We have used the bra for almost three months in a variety of situations, impact levels, and locations.

Final Observations on the Under Armour Endure Sports Bra:

This bra performs flawlessly at moisture wicking. Whether on a roof in 100+ degree weather or jogging around the block, the fabric and design pulls moisture from your body and keeps you cool and dry. No problems at all with rashes or chafing.

When it comes to comfort, we suggest three small changes. First, the seams where the straps join the body rub a bit. No serious chafing, but the seam is a little uncomfortable and could use improvement. Second, the bra needs adjustable straps. Since this bra is available at most large retailers, we don’t expect to get a perfect fit or find every available size in stock. Adjustable straps would allow the owner to fine tune the fit of the bra. Finally, we think it would be helpful to have a rear closure on the bra. We don’t mind pulling it over our heads, but it would be easier to use if it had a rear closure.

We selected the bra in white, with black being the only other option. The white bra looks great under any garment, but picks up sweat stains easily. We also experienced some discoloration and staining from our mission trip. Looking back, we should have picked the black version, but we were concerned with it showing through our workout clothes. Producing this bra in gray would go a long way to preventing this staining. We’ve bleached the bra, against the care instructions, once and it didn’t improve the discoloration.

At the end of the day, this is a great bra. It provides a serious amount of support and wicks moisture well. The construction is solid and the seams show no sign of wear after three tough months of use. We would like to see a big more adjustments available on this bra, in addition to a wider selection of colors, but those are small issues. We recommend the Under Armour Endure Bra for it’s strong wicking ability and support.

Rating of Under Armour Endure Sports Bra
Appearance
Basic white sports bra, nothing special

Function
Wicks well, good support

Comfort
Small improvements needed in fit and wear

Durability
Good. Some staining and discoloration

Value
Above average retail price of 45

Overall
Supportive and very proficient wicking bra.

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2Toms StinkFree Odor Eliminator– Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:48:41 +0000

A little over a month ago we reviewed a new product from 2Toms, StinkFree. StinkFree is designed to eliminate the odor common to athletic shoes and athlete’s feet caused by bacteria buildup. StinkFree is available from 2Toms directly and also available from local retailers.

Background on 2Toms:

Based in Dublin, New Hampshire, 2Toms was founded by a research scientist with a Ph.D. in surface chemistry and a marketing professional with an entrepreneurial bent. Their first product was BlisterShield, a product designed to prevent blisters, control excess heat, and reduce pressure irritation. We reviewed BlisterShield and found that it worked well. Since the review, we’ve purchased BlisterShield for our personal use. 2Toms later released SportShield, a lubricant designed to prevent body chafing. We also had the opportunity to review SportShield and again 2Toms delivered. We currently don’t use SportShield only because we’re testing a few other body lubricants and haven’t had to purchase any additional lubricant.

2Toms recently released a third product, StinkFree. StinkFree is designed to combat the unavoidable odors that triathletes and other athletes deal with on a daily basis. According to 2Toms, the human foot can product up to 1 cup of moisture every day. If you’re not lucky enough to have a job that allows you to wear sandals or go barefoot, you know that odor isn’t just a problem with your running shoes.

About StinkFree from 2Toms:

StinkFree is designed to kill the bacteria that forms in your shoes after exercise. These bacteria thrive in the damp and dark confines of your shoes. The theory goes that if you kill the bacteria, you’ll kill the smell. We’ve tested other products meant to battle shoe odor that approached the problem from a different angle. If you check out our Stuffitts review, you’ll see that Stuffitts accomplish this by drying your shoes quickly and using cedar to battle the odor. 2Toms claims that StinkFree will destroy any existing odor in your shoes and prevent odor from reoccurring, or prevent the initial occurrence if used from the beginning of your shoes.

StinkFree comes in a pump spray bottle. 2Toms claims that it doesn’t leave any odor, but StinkFree does have a slightly chemical smell when you first apply it. It smells a little like a very watered down version of Formula 409 cleaner.

Testing StinkFree from 2Toms:

As we mentioned in the first review, we battle foot odor in many of our shoes. Since we use SuperFeet Insoles in all shoes, we have to worry about the smell of the insoles in addition to the smell of our shoes. We use SuperFeet in cycling and running shoes, in addition to dress and casual shoes. This causes some odor problems, moving insoles from our hard working cycling and running shoes to our casual shoes transfers the odor.

We’ve used StinkFree in a variety of situations. To start our test, we applied the spray to our untreated shoes and insoles. After testing the performance here, we scrubbed our insoles throughly and reapplied the StinkFree. We’ve measured the odor in each set of shoes, the odor transfered to other shoes via our insoles, and the overall odor of our insoles alone.

Final Impressions of StinkFree:

In our first review, we noted that StinkFree immediately reduced the odor in our shoes, even after only one or two applications. However, the odor returned if we stopped applying the spray every few days.

We noticed similar performance with our insoles. The StinkFree spray immediately reduced the odor from our insoles, but it returned if we stopped using the product.

Next, we decided to start fresh, or at least as fresh as possible. We’ve recently purchased a new pair of running shoes and started using StinkFree from day one. We also scrubbed our insoles with soap, water and bleach in an attempt to eliminate all existing odors.

Once we cleaned the insoles and started fresh with the shoes, we noticed the StinkFree worked even better. After weeks of use, we noticed no odor in the shoes and a very limited odor in the insoles. If our shoes and insoles were a 9 on the scale of 1 to 10, after cleaning and regular use of StinkFree, the odor level never exceeded a 2. Very manageable and respectable.

We’ve also used StinkFree on our fabric cycling gloves. StinkFree has performed very well on our gloves. After numerous washings and applications of StinkFree, we can detect absolutely no odor from the gloves.

We highly recommend StinkFree to any athlete that battles unwanted odors on athletic gear. We haven’t tested on other fabrics, but on gloves and shoes, we’re very pleased with the performance.

Rating of StinkFree from 2Toms
Performance
Reduces or eliminates odors effectively

Function
Easy to use. Dries quickly.

Comfort
Doesn't leave residue or unpleasant smells

Durability
Only need a few sprays, bottle lasts a long time

Value
Reasonably priced. A good value

Overall
Effective at reducing or eliminating odors. Doesn't require heavy use for effectiveness.

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Sigma Sports PC9 Man Heart Rate Monitor–Midterm Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:14:46 +0000

We’ve been using the Sigma Sports PC9 Heart Rate Monitor for almost two months. The Sigma Sports PC9 is available for about $65 online and sometimes you can find an even better deal. Thanks to Sigma Sports for our test sample. First, we’re going to review a bit, but you can also check out our initial review of the Sigma Sports PC9 Heart Rate Monitor.

About Sigma Sport:

Sigma is an old hand in the cycling and fitness world. Founded 25 years ago, they started manufacturing cycle speedometers, the precursor of today’s cycle computers. Sigma continues to manufacture cycle computers and have added cycling lighting and heart rate monitors to their product line.

About the Sigma PC9 Man Heart Rate Monitor:

The PC9 Man is a new version of Sigma’s popular PC9 HRM. The PC9 Man is one of two new versions, the PC9 Woman being the other. From a functional standpoint, these HRM’s have the same features, the difference being the design. The PC9 Man includes the watch, the chest strap, the chest sensor, and a mount for bicycles.

The PC9 Man features most of the standard settings you would expect from a heart-rate monitor. The PC9 Man monitors your heart rate through the included chest strap. In addition to monitoring the rate, the PC9 Man features heart rate limits, zone alarms, a calorie counter, training timer, and training manager. The zone alarms allow you to monitor your performance based on your heart rate. The PC9 Man automatically sets the ideal zones based on your personal details or you can override the standard settings.

The calorie counter feature is also automatic: it calculates your calorie burn based on the weight you enter when setting up the HRM.

Since most athletes are only interested in the heart-rate monitoring features, we’re not going to spend too much time focusing on the tertiary features of this HRM.

Sigma Sports PC9 Man Heart Rate Monitor Midterm Observations:

So far, the Sigma PC9 is holding up very well to our testing. We’ve used the HRM during runs, swims, and rides. We were a bit cautious about testing the HRM in the pool, but the instructions and website assure us that we were in the clear.

The comfort and fit of the chest strap impressed our tester. Having used this HRM on rides beyond 5 hours and runs up to two and a half hours without experiencing any discomfort or chafing, we are pleased with the fit and construction of the chest strap.

The wristwatch part of the HRM took a little getting used to. The watch is made of stiff plastic and the section of the strap closest to the bezel does not bend to your wrist. This was a little uncomfortable to start, but our tester soon became used to the fit.

Our tester has only two complaints about this product to date. First, there is no backlight for the wristwatch. Though our tester doesn’t find himself frequently running in the dark, there are certain times a backlight would be helpful. This is a minor inconvenience.

The second, and more serious complaint relates to the buttons. Ninety percent of the time, our tester didn’t experience any trouble with the buttons. Occasionally, however, the tester experienced trouble activating a button. We mentioned this issue in the initial review, specifically that there was a lag after pressing a button. The easiest way to prevent this is to firmly grasp the side of the watch while pressing the button.

Overall, we’ve been pleased with this HRM. Though the button issue is aggrevating and can prevent the logging of your entire workout, we feel that the Sigma Sports HRM is performing within a reasonable range for it’s price. At less than $65, this is an entry level HRM and performs as such. It’s calculations regarding calorie burn are reasonable and within expectations. The display is clear and large. We look forward to bringing you a full final review in the future.

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