Ok folks, this might be one of the more unique reviews we’ve ever done.  Today we’re going to take a look at the RUEZ Performance Underwear.  These unique underwear provide a ‘performance pouch’ to store your “man parts” during exercise.

We received two samples, one boxer and one brief.  We have tested these underwear in the pool and during runs.

Overview of RUEZ Performance Underwear:

RUEZ is the produce of years of development and fitting to solve the problem of certain body parts sticking to other body parts during athletic training and competition.  Actually, let’s dispense with the silly allusions to body parts: these underwear are designed to keep your penis and balls from sticking to your legs when you’re running or swimming.

The underwear are available in boxers or briefs and both versions feature a personal pocket to hold your ID or your key.

Testing RUEZ Performance Underwear:

We tested these underwear during short to medium distance runs and also in the pool.

During the runs, we noticed that the underwear performed as designed, providing a physical separation between our body and our wedding tackle.  Of course, the weather is quite nice for running this time of the year, so excessive sweating and stickyness isn’t a huge problem, but it’s clear that these underwear provide a nice solution to the problem.

We did notice that occasionally the seams in the boxers can cause a little discomfort on longer runs.  We noticed this most on the first run with these and in successive runs the seams were not a problem, but some people that are susceptible to chafing might want to look at the briefs versus the boxers.  At the end of the day, these underwear performed quite well and did exactly what they advertised, that is, kept a physical separation between our body parts.

We tested the boxers a few times in the pool.  This did require that we wore a different pair of swim trunks that we weren’t used to, so that threw us off a little.  But, as with the run, the underwear performed as designed.  They stayed in place and maintained a separation between our parts and the rest of the body.  Even during long swims and hard swims, the boys stayed in the pouch and didn’t stick to our legs.

Finally, the personal pocket also worked reasonably well.  We only tested it in our runs.  We carried a standard drivers license and also a single key.  Both stayed in place and didn’t cause discomfort or rubbing.

RUEZ Underwear Final Thoughts:

We believe the RUEZ underwear are a elegant and simple solution to a common problem.  Unlike sprays and other topical solutions, the underwear provide a physical separation for your penis and scrotum.  Unlike these other options, the RUEZ underwear won’t wear off after time.  The pouch is comfortable and doesn’t pull or stretch your man-parts, so there is almost no sensation to using these underwear.

Once the weather warms up here, we’ll provide an update on performance in high heat and humidity, but we expect our final thoughts to be similar.  The physical separation either works or it doesn’t and our experience has been that it works.

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Here’s a quick review on from our newest writer.

We’ve been using the Nathan Quickdraw Plus handheld water bottle for about three years.  We purchased the product for about 15 bucks.

The Quickdraw Plus features a moisture wicking hand strap with a 22 oz. hydration bottle.  The Quickdraw Plus features a zippered pocket and has a waterproof card holder.

What we like about the Quickdraw Plus:

The Quickdraw allows you to carry a gel or two, S-caps if desired, and a key in the small pouch on the side.  There is a small clasp that will clip onto your key…just in case you worry it might fall out.  We like this because we have lost our solo key while on a run…no more tying it onto our shoelaces.

You can go for 1-2 hours with the liquid contained in the 22 oz. bottle depending upon your consumption rate/sweat rate. The adjustable strap fits over the rear of your hand and has a nice foam filled pad.  Reflective portions of the system keep you visible when out for a late run.  The bottle has a screw top and a nice “nipple” on the top that allows you to bite and pull open to get at the liquid.  Some other manufacturers use a hard nipple (think your average bike water bottle) and that can suck.  The bottle breaks down into three pieces for cleaning.   You can wash the holder with regulate clothes, but I suggest air drying.

What we don’t like about the Quickdraw Plus:

The Quickdraw Elite (for me) was a better product.  Of course, it costs a few bucks more, but it’s worth considering.

The adjustment strap will slip to a less tight position if you get it wet.  Sometimes it rains, sometimes you are splashing through crossings, and sometimes you get the liquid from the bottle all over, so you have to be careful about keeping the strap tight.

Buy it Again?

Absolutely.  Great value and very functional.  We prefer the Quickdraw Elite, but wouldn’t hesitate to purchase the Plus again.

Related posts:

1. Nathan Endurance Race Vest-Initial Review
2. RoadID vs. Nathan Sports Shoe Pocket Review
3. GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack–Initial Review

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Knuckle Lights are a new approach to running lights.  Instead of using the traditional headlamp or carrying a flashlight, Knuckle Lights are handheld lights used to light your path and to be visible to oncoming cars.  We received these samples directly from Knuckle Lights.  Thanks to them for providing the samples.

About Knuckle Lights:

Knuckle Lights are sold in pairs and are available directly from the manufacturer for $39.99.  Each Knuckle Light produces 45 Lumens of light from two AAA batteries.  The lights are word on your hands and feature adjustable straps to get the fit just right.  The lights are available in 5 colors.

Testing Knuckle Lights:

Oddly enough, our first test wasn’t during a run.  Two of your testers, along with a few friends, went for a short hike early one evening.  Planning to be back before dark, we didn’t think to pack a flashlight.  Before leaving our cars, we made the last minute decision to bring the Knuckle Lights, just in case.  Thank God we did.  The hike took a bit longer than expected and had we not had the lights, we would have spent the last 3 miles or so groping our way back in the dark.

Other than the unintended testing, we used the Knuckle Lights during a number of our training runs.  Some runs began before sunrise and a few lasted until after twilight.  Here in Beaufort, the weather is so horrible this time of year that we can only run very early or very late if we want to avoid 90+ degree weather.  Some testing was done during twilight or dawn with a bit of ambient light, while other runs had no ambient light.  Our run courses occasionally had streetlights, but not always.

Thoughts on Knuckle Lights:

Going into the review, we had a few concerns.  First, we were worried about carrying the lights in our hands.  One tester truly hates carrying gear on a run and shies away from carrying bottles or the like in his hands while running.  Our second concern was the bounce or movement of the lights during a run.  Thankfully, neither of these proved to be a problem.

Running while holding the lights was a bit of a change, but both testers became accustomed to the feeling quickly.  Even the tester that won’t carry a bottle didn’t find the lights too much of an adjustment.  Getting the proper fit and feel decreased the adjustment period.  After 5 or 6 runs, the lights were almost unnoticeable.

You will notice a bit of movement in the lights, depending on how you move your arms during a run.  The nice thing about Knuckle Lights, and what keeps this movement from getting irritating, is the wide beam of the lights.  Even if you move your hands a lot during a run, the wide beams keep the sidewalk bathed in light, no matter how much you move.  Both testers also commented on how nice it was to be able to use the lights independently.  When running at night, it’s dangerous to turn your head, as you do with a headlamp, to illuminate the side of the road. With Knuckle Lights, you can direct the light out of your normal path without turning your head and taking your eyes off your path.

Unscientifically, we feel that these lights made us more noticeable to cars. We didn’t measure response distances, but in runs that included off sidewalk running, approaching cars seemed to see us earlier. Maybe it’s the moving lights, or maybe it’s having two lights, but drivers seemed to spot us more quickly than with a headlamp or no light source.

Overall:

Not every runner has to be out before dawn or after dark, but if you do, you should consider these lights.  They are very reasonably priced, deliver a lot of light, and are very stingy on battery use.  We have used them for dozens of runs, we estimate 70+ miles total, and the first set of batteries are still going strong. The lights seem to be sturdy but aren’t so heavy they weigh you down. The wide beams provide good illumination close and enough light at the sides to see your surroundings.  At less than $40, they’re a great value, especially when compared with many high end headlamps.

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SPIbelt is the Original Small Personal Item belt, designed for a multitude of uses and used by many runners and marathoners.  SPIbelt makes numerous different versions; the basic belt, the inner pocket belt, a waterproof belt, a water resistant belt, the energy belt, and even a belt for diabetics that has room for an insulin pump.  We chose the Energy Belt with the water resistant pouch.  The SPIbelt Energy Belt retails for 21.95.  We received ours as a promotional sample directly from SPIbelt.

About the SPIbelt Energy Belt:

These belts are functional and simple.  The belt resembles the number belt that many triathletes use.  Attached to this basic belt are six elastic loops for holding energy gels and an expandable pocket to hold keys or other personal items.  The actual belt is adjustable and should fit any size waist.  The Energy Belt also has a small pouch in the center, designed to hold keys, your phone, or other small items.

Testing the SPIbelt Energy Belt:

Unfortunately, we have not competed in a race since receiving this sample, so all of our testing was done during our marathon training runs. We tested the SPIbelt Energy Belt on a variety of runs ranging from 3 to 8 miles.  At the start of our testing, we only filled two of the six energy gel slots to get the feel for the belt, but eventually tested the belt with all 6 gels in place.  We also tried a number of different items in the pouch, ranging from toilet paper ( to get a sense of how ‘water resistant’ the pouch is) to our HTC EVO phone.

Results of SPIbelt Energy Belt Testing:

During our first run, we dropped one of the gels, a Honey Stinger Energy Gel.  We think the cause was not adjusting the gel before taking off on the run.  Our advice here is to squeeze the gel once you get it in the loop, making the top larger than the bottom.  This prevented us losing any additional gels as our testing continued.  It also made the gels a bit easier to retrieve during the run if we pulled them up through the loop.

The water resistant pouch is pretty effective.  On one of our hotter runs, we filled the pouch with toilet paper to see how damp things actually got inside.  After a 5.5 mile run, the TP was a bit damp, but not wet and still mostly usable.  During later tests, we noticed a little wetness on our HTC EVO and drivers license, but nothing damaging.  If you’re truly worried about moisture, SPIbelt makes a version that is totally waterproof.  We generally take a small ziplock on runs where we worry about rain, so that’s also an alternative.

What surprised us about the pouch was not the water resistance, but the size.  Out of the package, the pouch looks tiny.  We were very shocked that it could hold our HTV EVO and the keyfob to our car.  The pouch was very full, but closed without problem.  At the end of the day, we chose not to use the pouch to carry our phone; we use the GPS to track our runs and also for music and the pouch didn’t let us control the phone.  If you don’t use your phone for these things, the pouch is capable of holding all you need for a long run.

With the HTC EVO in the pouch, we noticed a bit of bounce that ended once we tightened the belt.  With keys, license, debit cards, etc., we didn’t experience any bouncing.

Bottom Line:

Based on our testing, this is a well made product that delivers on it’s claims.  It’s bounce free, even with the largest objects, water resistant, and adjustable.  We did lose a gel during our testing, but it only happened once, so the gel loops appear to work well.  The SPIbelt Energy Belt is a simple and effective way to carry your ID, keys, and even your phone on runs without worrying about having your hands full.  On race day, SPIbelt claims you can squeeze 5 gels into the pouch, plus the 6 on the belt.  Eleven gels should be plenty for even a full marathon.

We continue to use the SPIbelt when possible and will report back if we have anything to add about durability and long-term performance. Based on our testing, we have no hesitation recommending the SPIbelt Energy Belt to runners and marathoners looking for a simple way to carry their personal effects.

Related posts:

1. Energy Gel Review and Breakdown
2. Honey Stinger Gold Energy Gel-Review
3. Hydrapak Gel-Bot Water Bottle with Gel Flask-Review

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Ryders Eyewear is a manufacturer of sunglasses and goggles for active lifestyles.  They produce a large line of sunglasses intended for sport and relaxation, in addition to goggles designed for MTB and snow use.  We received a pair of their HEX glasses as a test sample just about two months ago and have used them in numerous situations since.  The HEX glasses are available online for less than $40.

About Ryders Eyewear HEX Glasses:

The HEX glasses use a combination of two technologies in their lenses; photochromic and polarized.  Photochromic lenses provide protection in varying light conditions, while the polarized grey lenses darken colors and eliminate glare.  The HEX glasses are designed to fit a medium sized face.  The glasses we tested were Gloss Black with grey lenses.  The HEX cycling glasses feature anti-slip nose pads and anti-slip temple tips, but not adjustable nose pads.

Review of Ryders Eyewear HEX Glasses:

Since receiving the test sample from Ryders, we have used these glasses running, cycling, in the yard, on the beach, and driving.  We have been very pleased with their performance and protection and haven’t had any problems with the fit or the style.  The glasses are designed for medium sized faces and our tester has a narrow face, so they fit much better than many other varieties of glasses, though they occasionally seemed a little large.  The temple tips helped keep the glasses in place during intense exercise, so even though they seemed a little large, this didn’t impact their performance during our testing.

The main attraction for our tester was the light weight.  The Ryders HEX frames are constructed from a very light plastic that was hardly noticeable after wearing for a few minutes.  The grey lenses blocked enough light to make these glasses effective in all testing situations, including direct sun on the beach.

The anti-slip nose and temple features actually work, preventing movement and slipping during exercise, even when very sweaty.

Final Thoughts:

We were impressed overall with these glasses, especially since they can be found online for less than $40 and less than $35 if you catch them on sale.  The polarized lenses are a nice touch at this price point, something you don’t expect in glasses priced below $50.

The bottom line with the Ryders Eyewear HEX Cycling Glasses is that they’re a reasonable pair of glasses at a great price.  If you’re not willing to shell out over $100 for glasses, you can pick these up for much less and get many of the perks generally only found in more expensive glasses.  They don’t have all the bells and whistles, like adjustable frames and nosepads, but you can’t expect that for $40 bucks or so.  If you’re looking for a lightweight pair of glasses for general exercise, you could do worse than the Ryders Eyewear HEX glasses.

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Back in March we provided an initial review on the Newton Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer, a neutral shoe designed for running and other activities.  It’s now been a bit over two and a half months using these shoes and we’ve learned a bit more about our running form and these shoes.  We expect to continue testing these shoes for another few months before we bring you a final review.

Before you read this review, make sure you head back to our first review to learn a bit more about Natural Running, Newton, and the barefoot running philosophy.

Our Running Since the Initial Review:

In April, we ran three times a week for an average of 5 to 6 miles each run.  Since our reviewer is just a few weeks away from her due date, this qualifies as her long run.  Also during April, we did a cardio workout two days a week using these shoes, since Newton claims their shoe is great for cardio in addition to running.  Generally, these two workouts were on the elliptical for an hour and a half or a step class.  Occasionally, we mixed it up with a spin class.  Most of these long runs in April were on a treadmill due to Chicago’s unforgiving weather.

In May we reduced our training load a bit.  Twice a week we got outside for a 4 mile run and two days a week we worked the elliptical for an hour.

Pros and Cons of the Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer:

One of the things we haven’t overcome with the Newton shoes yet is being conscious about our running form.  Even after two and a half months, we have to be aware of our form and correct our footstrike to make sure we land mid/forefoot versus landing on our heel.

Though our form feels good, we aren’t absolutely sure we’re striking properly.  Since much of our running has been on the treadmill, our shoes aren’t showing significant wear to tell if we’re landing mid/forefoot versus on the heel.  We hope this changes as we get back on the pavement.

Finally, our biggest concern has been heel pain and soreness.  After long runs, longer than an hour, we have experienced a significant amount of heel pain.  This could be due to improper form on our part and we’re exploring ways to mitigate the pain.  The good news here is that Newton doesn’t expect the process of switching to new shoes to be as easy as slipping on Newtons.  We had a conversation with a Newton rep and she provided a great deal of information regarding natural running.  First, we checked out a few drills as described by Danny Abshire.  You can also check out Newton’s YouTube channel for tips and tricks.  You can also check out Newton’s running clinics if they happen to be close to you.

Now, there are a number of good things we’ve noticed about the Lady Isaac Trainers.  First, we absolutely love the fit of the shoe.  Since we have a wider foot, the spacious toebox feels great and the mesh really helps keep our feet from overheating during long runs.

Second, the lightweight design and cushion in the forefoot is excellent and does give us a bit more bounce during workouts, especially the cardio we’ve done recently.

During our elliptical workouts, these shoes have eliminated the constant numbness we normally experience.  Though we don’t know what causes this in our previous shoes, we never had an issue with the Newton’s.

Finally, our most significant and positive experience with these shoes is the lack of joint and muscle pain.  Even taking into consideration that pregnancy has caused a reduction in training intensity, these shoes have done a great job eliminating joint and muscle pain.  We often experience IT band pain, largely because of lack of strength in our abductor muscles.  With these shoes, we have had NO knee pain, period.

Looking Forward:

Though we normally only test shoes for 2-3 months, we are going to continue using and reporting on these shoes.  Since changing our form and running style is an important component of using these shoes, we think an additional two to three months of testing is necessary before making a final decision.  We’re working on our form and hope to eliminate the heel pain we’ve experienced on longer runs.  We will keep you updated if there are any developments, but barring that, look for a final review in July.

Related posts:

1. Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer-Initial Review
2. Mid-Term Review of Saucony Stabil CS Men’s Motion Control Shoes
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Just before our Palmetto 200 run, we received a few water packs to test.  Our first, received from Hydrapak, is review here.  The second of our packs is the Endurance Race Vest from Nathan Sports.  A special thanks to Nathan for the sample.

About Nathan Sports:

Nathan Sports is a division of Penguin Brands and manufacture a number of race belts, vests, packs, bottles, and reflective gear for runners and triathletes.  We’ve reviewed a cheap and useful pouch from Nathan that we use on almost every run.

About the Endurance Race Vest:

According to the Nathan site, the Endurance Vest is “The hydration pack, redefined.”  The Endurance pack is full of interesting features you’d expect to find on a nice pack and a few you wouldn’t.  The pack has a 3-way Propulsion Harness designed to reduce or eliminate bounce during your run.  The pack has a two liter bladder, made by Hydropak, with the nifty Slideseal top closure.  There’s a front pocket that can hold up to a 22 oz. bottle, we used it for gels, and a waterproof pocket for pills or small bits of kit.  The front zippered pocket is useful and holds a full-sized smartphone without issue.  We used a HTC Evo and also an iPhone 4 without issue.  The chest strap features a clip for the water tube.  The Endurance vest can be purchased online for approximately $80.

Testing the Endurance Race Vest:

We’ve used the Endurance race vest on a number of training runs, from 3 to 14 miles and carried it with us to the Palmetto 200.  During the Palmetto 200, we completed a 10 mile and two 8 mile legs wearing the pack.  Our training runs were completed in varied weather, ranging from 70 to 87 degrees and all during the day.  Our Palmetto 200 runs were done during the day and night and in temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees.  For the Palmetto runs, we completed all three runs within 18 hours.

Initial Impressions of the Endurance Race Vest:

During our test runs, we noticed immediately that the Endurance Vest from Nathan is well balanced.  Unlike a number of other packs we used, the 3-way harness system significantly reduces the bounce from running.  Unlike most other vests, the Endurance doesn’t feature standard shoulder straps.  It’s hard to explain the difference, so it’s probably best to look at the attached pictures.  Basically, instead of attaching the bottom of the shoulder strap to the rear of the pack, the Endurance attaches from the side of the shoulder strap to the back of the pack.  Slight difference, but very noticeable when running.  We didn’t have to cinch the pack uncomfortably tight to prevent bouncing.

This pack is highly reflective.  One of our teammates described us as being “lit up like a redneck Christmas display” during a night run at the Palmetto 200.  The Palmetto 200 required reflective vests at all times, but this pack is more reflective than most of the vests we used during the race.

This pack is large, but comparatively light when you factor in all the features and pockets.  We didn’t get tired of wearing the vest on most runs, even our final run in the Palmetto 200 which brought us to 30 miles in about 24 hours.  The only time we grew tired of the pack was due to a mis-adjustment in the shoulder straps.  We overtightened the pack and moved the chest strap too far up our body.  This caused additional pressure and strain on our shoulders and neck.  Once we adjusted the pack, we didn’t have any further problems with discomfort or pain.

Though we’re still reviewing this pack, out of the gate it’s one of the most useful and comfortable packs.  We’ll bring you our final thoughts in the next few weeks.

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2. Hammer Perpetuem Solids Endurance Nutrition-Review
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We’ve been testing the Avila pack from Hydrapak for a few weeks now and have been pleased with it’s performance.

We received the pack as a sample from Hydrapak and our testers have used it on multiple runs up to 7 miles with solid results.

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.

About the Avila Hydration Pack:

The Avila is a ultra light pack designed for runners.  The pack is made of ultra light material and features SHUMS, Speed Harness Ultimate Mobility Straps.  You’ll find the reservoir insulated to keep things cool and a clip for your keys.  The pack also includes a number of reflective bits to increase your visibility.

The pack only weights 7oz empty and has a bit (40 cubic inches) of storage.  The reservoir holds 70oz of liquids and the pack is available in a number of different colors.

Testing the Hydrapak Avila:

We allowed one male and one female to test the Avila from Hyrdapak.  Both runners used the pack in a number of different distances and situations.  Our test distances were between 5K and 10 miles.  We never filled the reservoir to it’s limit; the most we carried was 50oz.  We also carried a few gels on the shoulder straps.

Initial Impressions of the Hydrapak Avila:

The first thing testers noticed about the pack is that it’s lightweight, especially when you consider the liquid volume it carries and the available storage space for other goodies like food, gels, and cellphones.  In addition to being light, the back is well ventilated. Shoulder straps are mesh and the actual pack footprint is small, so there’s not a lot of material to trap heat.  The Avila is designed as a minimalist pack and it is.

Our main complaint about this pack is it’s not designed for runners with a large chest.  Our male tester is a 6’1, 240 pound Ironman with a 48″ chest.  The pack fit just fine across his back and shoulders, but the chest strap was simply not comfortable. On one run, when fully cinched, the chest strap popped from it’s guides. Easily fixed, but not being able to tighten the pack enough allowed it to bounce more than expected. Our female tester has a large bust and it took her a few tries to get the pack situated, though it was possible.

Hands down, our favorite feature of this pack is the reservoir. The bite valve works great and features a shutoff integrated into the end, not a knob like many CamelBak packs.  The highlight of the reservoir is how you fill it or clean it: the entire top opens to allow you to fill, and clean, the reservoir.  If you’ve ever tried to clean Gatorade out of your hydration pack, you know this is challenging.

Hydrapak Avila Reservoir Top-Initial Review

Hydrapak Avila Reservoir Side-Initial Review

We continue to test the Hydrapak Avila and will report back in about a month with our final test results.

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1. Camelbak Lobo Hydration Pack Review
2. Nathan Endurance Race Vest-Initial Review
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If you’re a runner and haven’t heard the hype and discussion about natural running or barefoot running in the past few years, you must be living under quite a rock.  Many people are extolling the virtues of barefoot or natural running as an alternative to the bulky shoes you might be used to.  Today, we’re going to review the Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer, a women’s shoe made by Newton, one of the leaders in natural running products.

Background on Natural Running:

Here at FitEgg, we’re triathletes and ultra runners, not doctors, so we’ll save you any of the medical support or opposition to barefoot or natural running.  But, as a refresher, natural running is a movement centered around returning to our running roots as hunters.  The basic idea is that modern running shoes have so much padding and support that they encourage poor running form by interfering with the feedback, or pain, that your body would normally provide if you’re stride is off.  Standard shoes allow most runners to heel strike, which increases the chances of injury.  Minimal, natural, or barefoot running, forces you to forefoot or midfoot strike, as those are much less painful when you don’t have modern shoes to pad your feet.

Our recommendation is to approach any significant changes in your running carefully.  Discuss things with your doctor or PT and don’t make sudden changes.  If you’re interested in transitioning to natural running, you might want to check out Newton’s own “10 Laws of Natural Running” before embarking on your journey.

About the Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainers:

Newton offers many different natural running shoe options for men and women, including neutral and stability designs for almost any athlete.  Our tester selected the Lady Isaac Guidance based on Newton’s fitting recommendations.

The Lady Isaac Guidance Trainers offer what Newton calls ‘intelligent control’, not a pure neutral trainer.  According to Newton, the main differences are in the beveled heel and toe and the beveled lugs, which guide your foot into the mid/forefoot strike.  The Lady Isaac Guidance Trainers also have a wider mid and forefoot and more support and stability in the midfoot.

Here are the construction details, directly from Newton

UPPER

• Highly breathable, closed mesh
• Slip-proof laces with heel-securing double eyelets
• Lightweight ergonomic support strapping
• Metatarsal stretch panels for foot adjustment
• Reflective logo and heel tab

MIDSOLE

• Single-density, high rebound EVA
• Second generation Action/Reaction Technology™ forefoot and heel
• Midfoot support chassis for added stability
• Beveled heel and toe
• Met-flex enhanced forefoot flexibility
• Enhanced sock-liner that increases energy return and protection
• Accommodates orthotics

OUTERSOLE

• Second generation durable, high traction actuator lugs
• Increased toe spring
• Pronounced heel rocker
• High-wear carbon rubber with traction tread

GREEN FEATURES

• 100% recycled laces, webbing, insole top cover
• 100% recycled PET upper mesh
• 100% recycled box, packaging
• 10% recycled outersole rubber

Initial Impressions of the Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainers:

After Two Weeks:

We’ve been using the shoes for both running short easy runs as well as cardio at the gym.  Per Newton’s website recommendations, we’re slowly increasing my mileage to adapt to the shoe.  Thus far, we really like the shoe.  We’ve noticed in order to get the “full” affect if you will, our stride has shortened and our stance is more upright.  We feel as though in the past we tended to lean forward a bit more.  Overall, we enjoy the slight differences in our stride and gait and definitely love the bounce we get from the lugs.

Our Next Review Update:

In about three weeks, we’re going to provide an update on our testing.  This update will be a midpoint review and our final review will follow a few weeks after the midpoint.  Stay tuned for our next review.

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1. Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer–Mid-Term Review
2. Brooks Ravenna Women’s Running Shoe Review
3. Initial Review Saucony Stabil CS Men’s Motion Control Shoe

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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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