FitEgg.com » Women’s Gear

Ryders Eyewear HEX Sunglasses-Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:37:12 +0000

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.

Native Eyewear Customer Service

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Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer–Mid-Term Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Mon, 16 May 2011 11:09:06 +0000

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.

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Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer-Initial Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:23:19 +0000

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:

Although the style is clean and simple, it is a bit too simple. For being a woman’s shoe, there is a men’s version online that looks identical. What really makes it gender specific, from an appearance standpoint, I’m not sure.

Upon further inspection, as a long distance runner, we appreciate the makeup of the shoe is predominantly mesh. It helps with ventilation on those hot, long runs. Since we’re located in Chicago, we would be concerned to wear them on a rainy or snowy day.

As for the initial fit, we liked the snug feel. Your forefoot seems appropriately cushioned and secured. Yet both the heel and toe box feel narrower than we are used to. We were initially concerned because I have a wider foot, but thus far have no problems. Upon walking, you definitely feel a difference in your stance. You sit back in your heels and your forefoot and toes are significantly higher. It is a different sensation that is a bit awkward at first but we hope it will not take long to get used to. The “lugs” as Newton calls them do give an immediate sense of bounce. As you walk in the shoe they have a good bounce and springiness to them. You will also notice how light they are. They almost feel like racing flats they are so light. This could attribute though to the feeling of less cushion to them.

Per the box’s insert suggestions, we started slow and intend to slowly add miles. We finished two short slow runs and one cardio workout. At this point our feet were comfortable (not to hot, too tight, no blisters). We are landing on our mid foot and will be excited if these shoes actually will improve our form. Our biggest concern thus far is how these shoes will measure up during long runs or workouts.

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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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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L’Oreal EverPure Rosemary Deep Restorative Masque–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:07:01 +0000

For the past few months, we’ve reviewed skin and hair care products that can be very useful to triathletes. Here’s a quick review of some of our recent reviews:

SBR Sports TriSwim Lotion

Nexxus Aloe Rid Shampoo

SBR Sports TriSwim Body Wash

Today, we’ll take a final look at a hair product we’ve been testing for a few months. Back in August we first reviewed the L’Oreal EverPure Rosemary Deep Restorative Masque. This masque is designed for seriously damaged hair or, in our case, the hair of a triathlete. The link above will take you to Amazon.com where you can purchase this masque for about $5, but we picked our samples up at WalMart for less than $4.

About L’Oreal EverPure Rosemary Deep Restorative Masque:

This is a serious product for serious haircare. The L’Oreal EverPure Rosemary Deep Restorative Masque is 100% Vegan and the main ingredient is regular water. The masque is thick, the consistency of heavy body lotion, and has a pleasant natural smell. It does smell a bit like rosemary, but not completely. The masque is sulfate-free. Sulfates, generally found in shampoos and other detergents, can damage your hair and damage any coloring you might use in your hair.

Testing L’Oreal EverPure Rosemary Deep Restorative Masque:

During our Ironman training program, we spent quite a few hours a week in the pool. We chose not to use this masque after every swim because it’s very thick and would cause some serious build-up if used too frequently. Generally, we’d apply the masque after swimming more than 2 hours in two days.

We used the product according to it’s directions. We apply the product and leave it in for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing the product.

Final Thoughts on L’Oreal EverPure Rosemary Deep Restorative Masque:

As we mentioned in the first review, this masque truly softens hair, though it gets a bit weighted down. The masque is best used when you are doing serious swimming for multiple days, not for the one-off swimmer.

We love that the rosemary scent is powerful enough to block the smell of chlorine, but not so powerful as to make you smell like a spice rack. Though this is clearly a product targeted for women and has a bit of a perfume odor, the scent is not so feminine as to prevent male use.

We found this product to do an excellent job restoring all types of hair after extensive exposure to chlorine. For less than a fiver, this masque provides nourishment, body, and moisture to your hair.

Rating of L'Oreal EverPure Restorative Masque
Application
Tub. A little messier than a tube or bottle.

Function
Serious moisture for damaged hair.

Feel
Very heavy with moisture and nutrients.

Scent
Ok for men, but a little perfumy.

Value
Cheap and lasts ages with biweekly use.

Overall
Great value and good moisturization and renewal of damaged hair.

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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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Luna Sport Gear Terra’s Knicker-Initial Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:53:27 +0000

A little over two weeks ago, we received a sample of the Terra’s Knicker from LUNA Sport Gear. Thanks to the folks at LUNA for the review sample. Since then, we’ve tested these knickers in a variety of situations and workouts. Terra’s Knickers retail for $90 and are available directly from LUNA.

About Luna Sport Gear:

Our female readers might recognize LUNAas a manufacturer of female-centric nutrition and food products. LUNA started as a nutrition supplier and has evolved into a lifestyle brand that produces nutrition and clothing products to support women in an active lifestyle.

LUNA Sport’s product line is heavy in cycling gear, but they are currently expanding to more multi-sport products. LUNA sponsors the LUNA Chix Pro Team. The LUNA Chix are a powerhouse group of professional athletes, with two Olympians, three Ironman victories, and numerous other wins, awards, and accomplishments.

About Terra’s Knickers:

Terra’s Knickers are very similar in design to the popular Epiphany Knicker; the Terra’s lack a chamois and are more suited for non-cycling exercises.

The Terra’s are constructed from LUNA R.N.F. fabric, a blend of 88% recycled nylon and 12% spandex. The Terra’s feature 3/4 length legs, falling just below our tester’s knee. They also feature a 1.25″ wide waistband, designed to avoid pressure points. The crotch is gusseted and the legs feature a wide grip band to prevent riding up or bunching.

Testing Terra’s Knickers:

We told our tester to try these knickers in a variety of different applications. Since they don’t have chamois, we felt they could be useful in a variety of athletic activities and our tester found this to be true.

Our tester used these during sever running workouts and a few kickboxing sessions. She was pleased with the fit and construction. The pants reminded her of the Mizuna Exodus tights, although more substantial in fit and fabric. As a triathlete, our tester is accustomed to sacrificing form for function, but reported several compliments from workout partners on the fit and look of the knickers.

The Terra’s Knickers excel at thermoregulation. While testing these on run workouts, our reviewer felt that the pants kept her warm without overheating, but were not too hot to use indoors during a kickboxing workout.

Initial Thoughts on Terra’s Knickers:

Terra’s Knickers are both comfortable and functional, a elusive combination for many women’s products. Too frequently manufacturers sacrifice function for form, but LUNA didn’t. The knickers are strong at thermoregulation and look smart in the gym and on your way home from working out.

Our tester was most impressed with the waistband. Designed by LUNA to prevent pressure points and discomfort, our reviewer commented multiple times on the comfort and design of the band. Unlike other waistbands that can cut into your lower waist after prolonged use, the Terra’s waistband stayed comfortable and in place through all workouts.

These knickers fit well and are well constructed. We look forward to updating you in the coming weeks about the overall performance after more testing.

Shock Absorber Level 4 Maximum Support Sport Bra Review

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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

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.

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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GoLite Tilly Jane Skirt–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:37:58 +0000

So we’ve been testing a full range of gear from GoLite recently and we’re happy to bring you some final reviews and wrap-ups for this gear.

Just to remind you, we’ve recently published a final review for the GoLite Manitou Sleeveless Top and the final review for the GoLite Wildwood Trail Top.

Today, we’re reporting on the Tilly Jane Skirt from GoLite, a trail and running skirt with an MSRP of $60. We did our initial review a few months back and have been testing this skirt in a number of different conditions and locations. To refresh your memory, here are some of the highlights from our initial review:

About GoLite:

About the Tilly Jane Run Skirt:

The Tilly Jane Skirt weighs in at a minimal 100 grams, or roughly 4 oz. The skirt is made of recycled polyester, spandex, and also uses Minerale in the lining, a fabric with microporous particles derived from minerals. This material is designed to provide a quick drying fabric that is comfortable and performs well. These particles are embedded in the fibers, so they won’t wash off or wear out. The skirt also features DriMove Lite, a polyester based fabric that is strong and featherweight and assists with moisture management.

The inner liner, hidden from view when wearing the skirt, features an inseam of about 1.5 inches. This means that the liner isn’t quite a brief, but not quite as long as a real pair of shorts. GoLite calls this length a boy short.

There’s also a zippered side pocket that is very useful. This zippered side pocket can hold a full sized iPod without being uncomfortable.

The skirt is very stretchy and falls evenly around your body. The waistband is substantial without being oversized and fits flat against your body.

Final Observations on the Tilly Jane Run Skirt:

We’ve used this skirt for about three months. We’ve used it running, doing P90X, on the elliptical, and in low to medium impact classes and activities.

First off, the skirt is shorter than some other run skirts we’ve tried. This wasn’t an issue for our tester, but some users might not love the length. Also, unlike some other skirts, the Tilly Jane isn’t very roomy or ‘flouncy.’ The Tilly Jane fits taunt across the hip and the front. Since the skirt fits well everywhere else, we assume this is a design feature. Our tester was split on this fit. She mentioned liking the snug fit because it keeps everything in place, but some wearers might not like the fit. This fit did not restrict our tester’s range of motion.

The skirt “moves and stretches with ease” and dries quickly. Our tester observed that the boy short liner is a strange length. The boy short liner rides up during high impact activities and bunches in the crease of the leg. This is uncomfortable during longer runs. Our recommendation is to lengthen or shorten the liner. If the liner was longer and featured a silicone band, the bunching problem would probably be solved. Conversely, if the liner was a brief, it wouldn’t bunch either.

The skirt is very comfortable, save the above mentioned bunching issue. The fabric is very soft, the DriMove Lite is fantastic–the two-layer skirt weighs only 4oz.

Our tester loved the design and appearance. The skirt is functional and is stylish enough that you won’t be embarrassed to run a few errands before or after the gym.

If other customers experience the same bunching issue, we hope that GoLite will modify the design to prevent this problem. Other than the bunching, this skirt would probably receive a 4.5 to 5 Star rating. It performs as advertised, dries quickly and looks very smart.

Rating of GoLite Tilly Jane Skirt
Appearance
Stylish and hip skirt

Function
Moves and stretches, but boy shorts ride up

Comfort
Cool and dry, but bunching detracts from comfort.

Durability
Absolutely no wear or fading.

Value
Reasonably priced, but would be better value if useful for all activities

Overall
A smart and stylish skirt that fits and dries well, but boy short liner detracts from overall usefulness.

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GoLite Manitou Women’s Sleeveless Top–Final Review

FitEgg Tri Gear Review — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:35:48 +0000

Finding a good looking, comfortable, and breathable top can be a challenge. If you’re also looking for a lightweight top or a top that’s manufactured by an ecologically , you’re normally out of luck.

For the past few months, we’ve been testing and using the Manitou Sleeveless Top from GoLite. In July, we brought you our initial impressions; please check out our initial review of the Manitou Top.

First, let’s take a look back at our previous observations:

About GoLite:

About the Manitou Sleeveless Top:

The Manitou is a very light top, weighing in at a mere 3oz. Since we began testing GoLite products, we’ve certainly been a bit spoiled by the light weight material they use in all their products. The Manitou retails for $36 direct from GoLite, but the top is currently out of stock on their website.

Many GoLite products, the Manitou included, utilize a special polyester called Minerale. Minerale was developed by Cocona, Inc. and uses material derived from volcanic minerals to provide increased moisture wicking, odor control and UV protection.

Just as the Wildwood Men’s Top that we reviewed earlier, the Manitou top provides a UPF, or Ultraviolet Protection Factor, of 50+. This offers you protection against the damage of the sun’s rays while on the trail or the road.

One thing you might notice is the unique design of the shirt back. As we mentioned, GoLite makes gear for hikers and campers and the Manitou is designed to be comfortable under a backpack. You’ll notice the interesting cut outs on the back of the shirt. If you’re wearing a sports bra under this shirt, you won’t have any exposure issues, but if you try the shirt with a regular bra, say to run a quick errand or the like, the cut outs display your straps.

Manitou Top Overall Results:

We were impressed with the feminine cut of this sleeveless top. The neckline is a little lower than a crew-neck and is very flattering but not at all revealing. The sleeves are cut in slightly on the back giving it an interesting shape that adds a little bit of style without impacting performance. The waist is nipped in enough to be flattering without restrictive. The styling details make it attractive enough to wear around town before or after a trip to the gym.

This material is extremely lightweight, comfortable, and fast drying. In

addition to being great for running and other general exercise, it would be great for hiking and camping as it is light to carry and dries fast. GoLite says this item can be worn as a base layer. We have not layered it under other garments and have only worn it as a standalone outer layer over a sports bra, so we cannot speak to how it works as a base layer.

The fabric is very soft and and moves with your body. We have used this top for months and washed it numerous times with no decrease in comfort or performance.

We’re happy to recommend this product. As a matter of fact, this is the first product that’s earned a full 5-star review. We highly recommend the Manitou Sleeveless top and know you’ll love it’s comfort and performance.

GoLite Manitou Women's Sleeveless Top
Appearance
Great cut and design. Very feminine.

Function
Unbelievably lightweight, breathable.

Comfort
Soft, moves with your body, very comfortable.

Durability
No decrease in performance. No fading or noticeable wear.

Value
At only 36 bucks, you'll be hard pressed to find a better value.

Overall
Lightweight, very comfortable, wicks well, and a great value.

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