Gear testing is in full force over here, and we’re excited to share some fun things with you this month. We did the hard work of putting the gear to the test to give our honest feedback on whether it’s truly worth it.
If you’re searching for gear to get you through fake spring or even fake summer, looking for new fuel to try for the spring training season, or have questions about new running gadgets, there’s something for everyone on this list.
Okay, enough chatter, let’s dive into our April “We Tried It” list!
Learning to Fuel Your Runs – Fuel Goods
Coach Amanda is really stoked about this one, so you may have seen it in a newsletter already. But we do love a female owned brand, rare in the running space, that is also making it easier for runners to fuel right!
We’ve already torn through our own boxes of goodies, so here’s a snapshot of the ones that Coach Amanda designed for her athletes (and yes you!). First there is a sampler box which gives you a chance to test out a wide range of products, this is an easy way to start identifying what WORKS FOR YOU!
I think that’s the hardest part for many folks. But next up are boxes with exactly the fuel you need for race day! So 60 grams of carbs per hour, plus some treats for pre and post race fueling.
Obviously you get a discount through our team store.
The boxes aren’t the only way to go. If you already know what fuel you like, then drop it in your cart and get ready to rock and roll! They’re doing a great job on pricing and continuing to add brands all the time.
Energy on the Go – Klar Labs Energy + Hydration Drink Mix Variety Pack
Klar Labs Energy + Hydration Drink Mix Variety Pack blends electrolytes with caffeine and other focus-enhancing ingredients. This sugar-free powder provides a good source of electrolytes combined with energizing and focusing compounds.
Our tester Rebecca used Klar Energy + Hydration Mix for 5 a.m. weight training, multiple long runs, and a sunrise backcountry skiing adventure.
In the mornings, hydration helps recover water loss while sleeping and to prepare for the upcoming exercise. Many athletes, myself included, perform long runs and hard workouts better with caffeine. But double fisting an electrolyte mix and a coffee takes precious time from my run. A mix of caffeine and electrolytes simplified my morning.
It has a strong sweet-sour taste, and she preferred the Pineapple Ginger flavor. These flavors are achieved from natural flavoring and stevia. Occasionally, you may notice a slight stevia aftertaste. Rebecca enjoys stevia and did not mind the slightly bitter taste, but others might.
Klar’s electrolyte mix includes two sources of sodium chloride (Himalayan pink salt and sea salt) as well as potassium chloride. It provides 200 mg of sodium and 128 mg of potassium, another electrolyte lost while sweating. In comparison, Skratch Hydration Sport Mix provides 400 mg of sodium and 50 mg of potassium.
While Klar will not replace coffee my morning beverage of choice, I will continue to use it as a sweet pre-workout boost, especially for my earliest training sessions.
-Rebecca, Gear Tester
Stylish and Lightweight Sunglasses – Tifosi SHUMO
If you’re looking for a new pair of sunglasses as we head into the sunshinier months, look no further. I am obsessed with this pair of SHUMO sunglasses. They’re functional but also super stylish and can be thrown on with a casual outfit.
Unlike other pairs of Tifosi, the SHUMO line is designed with oversized lenses, giving you full coverage. They’re super lightweight (only 29grams!) and hold their form even if you sit them on top of your head.
Plus, if you have a lot of hair like me, gone are the days of your sunglasses getting stuck or pulling pieces of hair out. The integrated hinge is designed to provide all-around comfort no matter what activity you’re wearing the sunglasses for.
Extra bonus perk alert!! If you wear prescription glasses, you can get Tifosi lenses swapped out for your prescription so that you can also rock these super cool shades on your runs.
I love the purple color, but it does come in three other colorways if you’re looking for something more subtle.
If you’re someone who needs a larger, more accommodating fit when it comes to sunglasses, run to go snag yourself a pair or three of these!
-Coach Stacey
Redlight for Runners – Biomax 600
We recently did an article on red light therapy for runners, which meant of course we had to put a variety of things to the test. This is an area where the science is still a little back and forth for us, but our testers had some thoughts.
Simply taking time every day to sit for 20 minutes in front of this nice warm light, was a lovely experience. It forced us to pause, relax and breathe. Hmmmm who thinks that might be really helpful in lowering our stress levels, improving our sleep and thus reducing pain? We do.
This particular panel is much stronger than anything you’ll be finding at the drug store and also goes deeper. Many red lights are good for the top layer of your skin, that’s why the masks are so popular, but they don’t penetrate deep enough to actually help the tissue.
Biomax combines both red light and near infrared therapy to help improve results.
It Has Pockets – Ciele W TRNShort 4″
Just in time for the warmer weather, these shorts are nice and breezy. They fit true to size, but I initially didn’t like the amount of the fabric around my legs with the 4” inseam. It felt overwhelming on my petite frame.
That said, it did make them extra breathable, and the fabric didn’t bunch at all during runs so I can certainly get over that. The COOLmatic | PLUS™ brief liner in these is comfortable and smooth without any chafing.
There is one very small pocket in the front for keys (I wouldn’t say much else), and a bigger pocket in the back. I was able to fit all kinds of snacks from gels to protein bars, and it surprisingly fit my phone. I didn’t like having something that heavy back there, but it would work in a pinch. You can keep everything locked in with a tie on the inside of the high waist band.
– Sierra, Gear Tester
Gear Made for Spring Training – Ciele WNSBTShirt
This soft and breezy shirt is great for mild to warm weather training. The cuffed sleeve and boxy fit is a very cool look that I’d carry over into casual wear, and it fits true to size.
I frequently wear a hydration pack and because of that, I tend to stick to either long sleeves or tanks.
There’s something about short sleeve shirts that just rubs wrong on my arms. The flatlock stitching on this shirt solves that problem. I didn’t notice any hot spots, and it eliminated any rubbing from my vest as well. I tried this out on my treadmill, the trail and during a run club road run mostly because I just kept reaching for it any time it was clean.
– Sierra, Gear Tester
Is there something you’ve been dying to know about or an area you’d love to see us focus on? You know the drill, drop a note below and we’ll be happy to get the team on it if we can!
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