Gear Review: Brooks PureProject Jacket

 

Brooks launched the initial line of PureProject shoes back in 2011. This year welcomes the third iteration of the PureConnect, PureFlow, PureCadence, and PureGrit (the PureDrift, which was the most minimal of the group, does not appear to be getting an update and looks to be discontinued, as far as I can tell). However, for 2014, the PureProject name will also extend to an apparel line, described by Brooks as a streetwise collection that marries performance and style, such that it's appropriate "for wherever the run takes you." Today I'll be reviewing the Brooks PureProject Jacket.

Gear Review: PRO Compression Marathon Socks and GIVEAWAY!

Compression is a pretty hot topic in endurance sports these days. When Paula Radcliffe made her record-setting run in 2003, few people knew what the story behind her knee-high socks. Today, you see nearly as many athletes using compression socks and sleeves as you do athletes who don't, whether it's during activity or for recovery. The medical industry figured out the benefits of compression a while ago, and it makes sense that athletes looking for an edge can take advantage of some of those same benefits. Today, there are even companies that specialize in compression for athletes. One such company is PRO Compression, who offers the PRO Compression Marathon Socks.

Gear Review: SLS3 FXC Compression Socks

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple years, you've noticed that compression apparel is no longer only for patients with circulation problems, and that athletes are now embracing the benefits of compression. And who can blame them? Increased venous return sounds good to me. Paula Radcliffe was the first athlete I noticed wearing the now-common knee-high socks, and anyone who somehow missed Paula certainly saw Chris Solinsky, when he wore compression socks during his record setting 10,000m run in 2010. (Btw, if you did somehow miss Paula's 2:15:25, watch it! Now!). Seeing as triathletes seem to love gear and toys (honestly, they probably adopted compression before runners, but since I don't pay all that much attention to the triathlon world, I can't say for sure), many triathlon companies began to offer compression socks and other gear. One such company is SLS3, who offer the SLS3 FXC Compression Sock.

Clothing Comparison (or how drivers react when I wear less clothes)

Yesterday, I wore:

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And drivers were nice to me. They gave me space, they didn't fly by at Mach 12, they stopped at stop signs and waved for me to go, no one honked or cursed at me (although I did get one wolf whistle), etc. Also, the construction workers stopped traffic for me. Huuuge difference from the winter when I was bundled up in lots of clothes and people were mean. I figured it was nice outside and maybe people were happy that the weather was warm.

Today, I wore:

And some ridiculous baggy Brooks singlet that is so old that I can't even find a picture online. Drivers did not move over or slow down for me, I waited forever at stop signs until there were no cars, I got honked at and cursed at (but at least no one threw anything, I guess), etc. It was basically what happened in winter all over again, despite the fact that it was just as warm as yesterday, only sunnier (yesterday saw some light rain), so apparently it wasn't just people being happy about the weather. I hate using girliness to my advantage...but sex sells, and if it keeps me from getting hit by cars, I may have to wear booty shorts with 2" inseams more often...

Alright, random post, sorry. I do have another shoe review, just need to find time to write it.

Gear Review: RecoFiT Calf Component Compression Sleeve (Updated Version)

A while ago, I reviewed the original RecoFiT Calf Component Compression Sleeve, a calf compression sleeve that has become my compression sleeve of choice. Recently, Susan Eastman Walton, the owner of RecoFiT who had stumbled across my previous review, emailed me to let me know that manufacture of RecoFiT has been moved to the USA, and that the sleeve has been updated with a hypoallergenic silicone gripper at the top. Updated compression sleeves? Yes, please!

Gear Review: Cold Weather Gear

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Grad school has started and that means all of my time is now being taken up by working out and just plain working.

The Northeast (and no doubt several other places in the northern hemisphere) was just hit with a crazy cold snap. Today wasn't so bad, but yesterday, the mercury was at -10 degrees Fahrenheit when I walked out to my car. Not a huge deal for me since I'm still trainer-ing it up, but many of you are probably still out there gutting it out. Having lived in the Northeast most of my life, and having spent two years in Colorado, I'm no stranger to cold running conditions (for the record, Northeast Pennsylvania has far worse weather than the Front Range). I'm sure some of you Canucks are laughing at me right now, but whatever, my intentions are not to get into a pissing contest, but rather to give you some ideas of clothes to wear.

Gear Review: RecoFiT Calf Component Compression Sleeve

RecoFit is a small Boulder, CO based company that specializes in compression wear. The name RecoFit comes from the words recovery and fitness, and the company currently has two offerings: the Armcooler Compression Sleeve and the Calf Component Compression Sleeve. The RecoFit Calf Component is a calf sleeve, meaning it supports your lower leg but still allows you to wear the sock of your choosing. You may remember me mentioning them during my review of the Saucony AMP PRO2 recovery tight. Here's the full review.

Gear Review: Saucony AMP PRO2 Recovery Tight

Compression to promote circulation has been around for quite some time, since it's been used for a while in the medical industry to prevent blood clots in patients. It's a slightly newer phenomenon in athletics though, and the first athlete to popularize compression was Paula Radcliffe with her Oxysox that she wore during her world record marathon in London (among other races). Lately, compression wear's popularity has surged, and everyone from Chris Solinsky to that mid-pack triathlete who lives down the street from you is rocking compression gear.

There are two main types of compression gear: active gear and recovery gear. Both are intended to improve circulation and promote bloodflow, either to improve performance or speed recovery. There are also different types of compression. CW-X became known for targeted support, similar to kinesio taping techniques, in order to support muscles and decrease muscle oscillation. Other companies (Skins, for example) use a gradient where the distal end is more compressive than the proximal end, which is supposed to return blood back to the heart more quickly.