Fitness

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Thinking of Switching to a Face Shield? You Probably Shouldn’t

Even with some pretty cool recent innovations, wearing a face mask or neck gaiter can get old, which may have you considering alternative COVID-19 preventive measures. According to a new CDC study, however, those options remain far superior to face shields.

Using a cough aerosol simulator to expel small aerosol particles into different face coverings, researchers found that N95 respirators, procedure masks, cloth masks and neck gaiters all effectively reduced emissions. Face shields, however, did not.

In terms of hard data, on average, the N95 respirator blocked 99 percent of the aerosol, the procedure mask stopped 59 percent and the cloth face mask blocked 51 percent. Worn as a single layer, the neck gaiter stopped 47 percent; worn as a double layer, it blocked 60 percent. The face shield stopped a whopping… two percent.

It’s worth noting that there are no scientifically significant differences between the blocking powers of the procedure mask, cloth face mask and neck gaiter — and that all are much more effective than a face shield.

Granted, this study appeared in medRxiv, which publishes preliminary scientific reports that have not yet been peer reviewed. Still, these numbers are damning enough that you probably shouldn’t rock a face shield anytime soon.

Read more of GP’s face mask coverage here.

This New Take on a Gaiter Incorporates the Best Feature of Masks

a man wearing a neck gaiter as a face mask

Buff

Neck gaiters are commonly worn as face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, so Buff made them better at doing that.

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October 14, 2020 / Comments Off

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The Supplement That’s Missing from Your Cabinet

Most supplements designed to increase your libido work adequately, but the benefits often end there. VitaFLUX from Promescent was developed to help increase testosterone, boost libido and increase erection strength — benefiting you not just in the bedroom but in your daily life as well. It’s formulated with a suite of amino acids (L-Arginine, L-Citrulline and L-Carnitine), but it also leverages magnesium and zinc, all of which are delivered in therapeutic dosing. It’s a one-stop shop for increasing your drive in the bedroom, but users can also see a host of benefits in their daily life as well.

Buy Now: $50

October 7, 2020 / Comments Off

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Can Neck Gaiters Really Be Just as Effective as Masks?

You may recall a great hew and cry over the summer when news out of Duke University appeared to call into question the effectiveness of neck gaiters in fighting the spread of COVID-19. However, the Duke researchers were not even really researching masks versus gaiters, and a backlash quickly emerged in defense of the latter. Now a new study is backing up that position with its own tests.

Researchers out of the University of Georgia replicated some of what Duke did, but with more stringent parameters intended to more accurately evaluate the effectiveness of different face coverings. With a Class 1000 clean room and a 3D-printed box instead of a cardboard one, they more exhaustively tested four popular two-layer face masks (made of cotton and spandex), five popular single-layer gaiters (made of polyester, spandex and nylon) and three multi-layer gaiters (made of polyester and spandex).

The major findings? Single-layer gaiters provided a 77 percent average reduction in respiratory droplets versus no face covering at all. Two-layer masks just edged them out at 81 percent. However, multi-layer gaiters were the big winners with a 96 percent reduction.

The researchers’ big takeaway? The number and quality of layers of material in your face covering plays a much bigger role than the shape it takes. This finding actually reflects recommendations from the CDC and WHO. The CDC endorses face coverings with two or more layers of breathable, washable fabric. The WHO, meanwhile, advises people to wear three layers of fabric protection.

It should go without saying that the best form of face protection is the one you actually wear, consistently and properly (you know, fully covering your nose and mouth). So find something you are comfortable with that meets these standards. And read more of GP’s face mask coverage here.

The Best Technical Face Masks We’re Testing Right Now

Steve Mazzucchi

Check out the pros and cons of a bunch of interesting approaches from outdoors- and fitness-oriented brands.

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October 1, 2020 / Comments Off

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Can a Street-Legal Version of the Fastest Shoes Ever Work for Regular-Old Runners?

The Nike Air Zoom Tempo NEXT% (we’ll just call them Tempos) have record-breaking DNA.

Eliud Kipchoge ran his legendary sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna last fall wearing an early version of Nike’s Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, a shoe with perhaps the most efficient execution of running’s trendiest innovation — a carbon fiber plate built into the midsole — which aims to propel runners forward at unprecedented speeds.

Nike designed the Tempos to sprinkle a bit of the Alphafly’s race-day prowess amongst hordes of runners who aren’t trying to lay down the best race in history. They’re still springy, but they offer more support and durability, so a $180 pair of sneakers isn’t gassed after a few runs.

Ultimately the pitch is rather simple: Nike’s fastest-ever running shoe, street-legalized for everyday use. Here’s how they played out.

Buy Now: $200

What We Like

There’s a lot of tech in this shoe, but the headlining carbon composite plate — a less aggro version of the full carbon-fiber plate the Alphafly employs — does what it’s meant to do. The shoes have bounce for days. They performed best for me in fast, medium-length runs, thanks in large part to the springy yet flexible plate.

The shoe’s rather steep drop from forefoot to ground pushes you off your heels and into a quicker pace, too, which is helpful because, despite more support on the heel (versus the Alphafly) the Tempo is not the shoe for more leisurely jogs.

Will Price

There are two versions of the Tempo, traditional lacing and FlyEase, Nike’s accessibility-oriented innovation that enables getting in and out of the shoe with one hand. The existence of the latter left me thinking the former (the one I tested) would be a challenge to get and keep on my foot. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had zero issues slipping into it, lacing up and feeling comfortable and secure. (In retrospect, I believe the FlyEase is simply even more user-friendly.)

Watch Out For

Because of the way the steep forefoot drop, springboard of a midsole plate and welterweight heel cushioning play off each other, you’re urged into faster runs. This is fine when you’re up for it, but it proved a challenge for more meandering or long distance efforts. At or below my regular pace on runs longer than seven miles or so, I felt leg fatigue more acutely than in my normal running shoes (NB 1080v10s). This could be attributed to my legs adjusting to a slightly different gait, but after 70 or so miles I wouldn’t expect it.

Will Price

Lateral movement is not supported well at all. For me, this wasn’t an issue — I’m typically jogging Charleston’s very straight Ravenel Bridge — but was noticeable when coming back down into the city and heading to my apartment. The minimal support meant I eased up significantly on turns.

Price-based grievances feel cheap, but $180 for daily running shoes feels fairly rich for my blood, despite the Nike-only tech and pedigree.

Alternatives

There’s a host of other plate-propelled shoes out there now, but runners looking for a fast pair of daily trainers around the same price can look to Hoka One One’s Carbon X ($180), which offers a bit more support than the Tempos, and New Balance’s FuelCell TC ($200), which sports a more durable build than its race-focused peers.

Verdict

If you need a shoe to support consistent, fast-paced runs, I doubt there are options that perform to the standards set by Nike’s Air Zoom Fly Tempo NEXT% shoe. If you catch yourself running on a slight decline you’ll feel like you’re wearing springboards on your feet. That said, if you’re a less-than-elite runner pounding out 8-plus miles regularly or simply prefer a calmer pace, I’d look elsewhere. The shoe wants to go fast to the degree that it undercuts the middle bell curve of runs.

Buy Now: $200

October 1, 2020 / Comments Off

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These New Shoes Are Like Spotify for Runners

It wasn’t too long ago that the concept of owning the music we listen to was definite, unequivocal. If you wanted a new album, you bought it — as a CD or, more recently, as digital files. And if you didn’t want to pony up $10 to $20, then you stole it, but you still owned it. Spotify changed this notion to such a degree that it’s now far less practical (or, perhaps, sensible) to maintain a personal music library. On, the Switzerland-based running company, now wants us to think about sneakers the same way.

The company recently revealed the Cyclon, “the running shoe you will never own.” It should surprise no one living in 2020, when you can subscribe to have toilet paper delivered to your front door, that this too is a subscription service. But On’s program, which will cost $30 per month, isn’t set up as a recurring delivery like many product subscriptions are. After you wear out a pair of Cyclons, you’ll have to give them back. Only then will On send you a fresh set.

Every component of On’s Cyclon running shoe is derived from castor beans.

On Running

That’s because the core of On’s subscription is its ability to recycle the Cyclon and use it to create more Cyclons. The shoe, which On claims is built for training and racing rigors, uses one single ingredient: a polyamide derived from castor beans. The sole, the single-piece upper, the laces; all of them come from castor beans. That makes it possible for On to break it all down and reuse it to make new shoes.

Recyclable shoes aren’t a wholly novel idea — Salomon recently revealed one that it will be able to turn into ski boots and other items — but tying them to a subscription model is. It creates a financial incentive for runners to actually return the Cyclon when they’ve worn through a pair.

There’s still a high bar for buy-in, though. On estimates that the shoe is good for 400 kilometers (roughly 250 miles) of running. It’s up to runners to calculate whether they log enough miles to make the $30 per month fee worth it, and if the idea of a more-sustainable running shoe is enough to balance any difference between the final figures.

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September 28, 2020 / Comments Off

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The Best CBD Products for Fitness, According to Professional Trainers

Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is hailed as a wonder substance. It can improve your mood, salve your anxiety, rock you to sleep and soothe aching muscles. You’d expect such a miracle ingredient would be hard to get your hands on, but CBD is everywhere. It’s in granola bars, soap, soda, deodorant, gummy candies — everything. The industry hit $3.9 billion in 2018 and continues to grow.

One might attribute CBD’s rapid rise to how well it gels with contemporary ideas of wellness. No stress, no pain; who wouldn’t want that? And while studies aiming to uncover its true nature are ongoing, one widely accepted notion is the ability to reduce inflammation. That quality alone presents significant potential for athletes and active individuals.

“It is a nice addition to a solid wellness program that must include regular exercise, a healthy nutrient-dense diet, proper sleep and stress management practice,” says Dr. Chad Beauchamp, founder of REPAIR Sports Institute in Huntington Beach. “Without a solid foundation to a wellness program, CBD is limited in its effect.”

Beauchamp uses CBD himself and also suggests clients use it when healing from an injury or as a sleep aid. With CBD-enhanced products numbering in the thousands, however, it can be intimidating to find one to fit your lifestyle. So we reached out to a crew of pro-CBD professional trainers to find out what they like best.

Meraki CBD

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For his wellness regimen as well as that of his clients, Dr. Beauchamp recommends Meraki. “I know the purity of it and do not have to worry about it being labeled inappropriately for chemicals or improper dosing,” he says. “I also love the nano-technology that allows for maximizing the absorption of the product in order to work at an optimal level within the body.”

Buy Now: $25+

Smile CBD Oil

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“CBD tinctures are part of my daily routine,” says Corey Lewis, a former pro football player, CPT, and co-founder and CEO of 1AND1 Life, a wellness website. “Smile has a variety of tinctures that help me get better sleep, boost my energy in the morning and promote mental clarity.” Vials come in 500 or 1,000-milligram sizes and have different flavors with different effects; mango and lemon for energy, for example, and mint and vanilla for relaxation.

Buy Now: $43+

Quanta CBD Muscle Rub

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Lewis also highlights Quanta’s CBD Muscle Rub. It’s widely believed that CBD can help reduce inflammation, therefore aiding recovery. “I like to use CBD rubs on my knees, other joints and lower back to help reduce the aches and pains as well as help me recover from tough workouts,” he explains. “Rubs are something I often use due to the fact I played professional football and endured many injuries.”

Buy Now: $32

Recess

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“As an athlete, the way you recover and take care of your body outside of a workout is just as important as the workout itself,” says Lucy Sexton, an RRCA-certified running coach and co-founder of Bonded by the Burn, a digital platform for live and on-demand fitness classes. Sexton has taken to drinking a can of Recess, a seltzer infused with 10 milligrams of CBD extract, on her way home from work. “Not only does CBD contain natural anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate muscle recovery, but it also promotes relaxation, which for me, is a pinnacle component of recovery.”

Buy Now: $40 (8-pack)

Green Roads Muscle and Joint Relief

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“The fact that Green Roads is pharmacist-formulated and has won several awards attests to their quality,” says Ana Snyder, a professional trainer and competitive bodybuilder. Snyder notes that Green Roads makes various products, but it’s the topical roll-ons and bath bombs she likes best, typically after a hard workout.

Buy Now: $30+

Resilience CBD Sports Cream

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“I love CBD products post-workout and right before bed,” says Ridge Davis, an NCSF-certified personal trainer based in Los Angeles. “These are the most crucial times your body requires heavy duty recovery after intense workouts. Resilience is perfect to apply before and after workouts in order to help with inflammation and minor aches and pains. I also trust this brand because their products are put through extensive third-party testing.”

Buy Now: $70

This Workout Recovery Tool Is My New WFH Essential

StrongTek

In the age of WFH, my underutilized calf stretcher found some new (and much-needed) purpose.

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September 24, 2020 / Comments Off

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How Does Apple Fitness+ Stack Up to the Competition?

Apple

Amongst Apple’s many big announcements yesterday was one of particular interest to workout fiends: the company will be launching Apple Fitness+, its first fitness-oriented subscription package, later this year. Powered by the Apple Watch, the new service takes aim at popular existing digital fitness apps such as Nike Training Club and Peloton. With that in mind, here’s a quick look at how the upcoming release compares to other standouts in the space.

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Apple Fitness+

Pros: The subscription will offer 10 different types of trainer-led workouts, including strength, HIIT, yoga, cycling and treadmill modalities, with many routines requiring nothing more than dumbbells or simple bodyweight. Apple Music will be integrated, and you’ll be able to see key stats like heart rate and calories burned. You’ll get realtime feedback and guidance, as well as a data summary at the end of every workout.

Cons: It’s super Apple-centric. To use Fitness+ on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, you need an Apple Watch Series 3 or later.

Cost: $10 per month or $80 per year; included with the premium version of the Apple One bundle, which costs $30 per month

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Nike Training Club

Pros: World-class Nike Master Trainers guide you through everything from bodyweight sessions and yoga flows to cardio routines, HIIT classes and full-equipment gym workouts. There’s also nutrition tips and a podcast, part of why NTC is a repeat App Store Editors’ Choice award winner.

Cons: Some users are unhappy with the transition that happened this spring, when Nike made the premium version free but also removed a lot of the pre-existing workouts and plans.

Cost: Free

Apple Version | Android Version

Peloton

Pros: Thousands of on-demand and live videos available via a number of streaming TV platforms, including AppleTV, Roku and ChromeCast. There are also guided outdoor runs and tracking of key metrics.

Cons: While you don’t need a Peloton bike or treadmill, they do add a lot — and cost a lot. The base bike costs $1,895 and the base treadmill costs $4,295.

Cost: $13 per month for a Peloton Digital Membership (no equipment needed); $39 per month for an All-Access Membership covering both the bike and treadmill

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Aaptiv

Pros: This audio-based service has a library of thousands of music-paired workouts led by expert trainers, plus 30 new ones each week. They cover major modalities like running and yoga but there are also programs for more specific goals like weight loss, race training, flexibility, sleep and more.

Cons: Aaptiv announced a video component just last month; time will tell if it can stoke the app’s 200,000 users as much as its audio programming does.

Cost: $15 per month or $100 per year

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Fitbit Coach

Pros: This one is probably the most fundamentally analogous to Fitness+, in that it all emanates from a tracker on your wrist. The app offers plenty of trainer-led bodyweight, run and walk workouts, but it also suggests routines based on your Fitbit’s own tracking data.

Cons: Users lament a number of bugs — most notably problems casting to a TV — adding that, especially in the free version, the workouts don’t get particularly advanced.

Cost: Standard level is free; premium level starts at $7.99 per month

Apple Version | Android Version

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September 19, 2020 / Comments Off on How Does Apple Fitness+ Stack Up to the Competition?
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Need a New Yoga Mat? Just Get This

Skip the heavy lifting and go straight to what’s best. Just Get This is our no-nonsense guide to the gear you need, now.

A good yoga mat should contribute two things to your practice: padding and grip. Too little of either and your mind will drift away from your breath and body toward… the floor. But how thick is thick enough? And what type of rubber is stickiest?

Skip the research and get Manduka’s new GRP Adapt yoga mat. It’s not the cheapest, but it can comfortably tackle any type of yoga practice, from restorative to hot. Here’s why.

Buy Now: $88

It can handle sweat.

The unique construction of the GRP Adapt includes an extra-porous open-cell top layer that allows moisture to pass through it for absorption by an interior foam layer. That means that its high-quality grip won’t give, even as the poses get tougher.

It’s fit for any practice (or workout).

The GRP Adapt’s high absorption properties also make it versatile. Use it for hot yoga — no need to spend another $20 to $50 on a towel — or for a 10-minute at-home YouTube session. It’s plenty comfy on elbows, knees and ankles at five millimeters thick, and it packs enough bounce to handle a HIIT workout or kettlebell routine too.

It’s thoughtfully made.

Manduka produces all of its mats without using toxic chemicals, dyes or phthalates, a family of chemicals commonly used to make plastics soft and flexible. It does that in Spain, in a factory that maintains sustainable practices. Additionally, Manduka makes its mats to last years, so consider this one purchase you won’t have to make again anytime soon.

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GRP Adapt Yoga Mat 5mm

Manduka manduka.com

$88.00

The Best Yoga Mats

Lottus Life

Whether you’re a newbie or an expert, these superlative mats will support you through any practice.

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September 19, 2020 / Comments Off on Need a New Yoga Mat? Just Get This
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Get the Ultimate Home Workout Tool for $100 Off

Working out a home can often be a drab, repetitive business. It can be difficult to get up the motivation to workout, and once you do, knowing what exercises to do when, and on what equipment can quickly zap that energy and momentum. But Tempo is here to change all of that. Tempo is an AI-powered home gym that streams workouts straight to your home from expert coaches. The system includes a full weight set, and even has built-in 3D sensors that allow coaches to critique and improve your form while you’re working out. It’s about as close as you can get to being in a live class, without having to leave your home. Best of all, Tempo is offering $100 off a system of your own when you use the code GearPatrol.

Buy Now: ~~$1,995~~ $1,895

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September 17, 2020 / Comments Off on Get the Ultimate Home Workout Tool for $100 Off
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This Timer Is the Tech Your Workout Has Been Missing

Now that you’re confined to working out at home, it can be difficult to make the most of your one hour workout window and keep yourself accountable — particularly when you’re away from your timer at the gym. There’s a good chance this sounds familiar: You’re in your basement — cranking out the last few stomach crunches of your morning routine. You roll over into a forward plank and try to start the timer on your smartphone using your nose, which quite frankly is a bit embarrassing — or maybe you left your phone upstairs and now you have no idea how long you’ve been holding this plank for. Whatever the case, a gym timer is a necessity when working out at home and for avoiding situations like this. But if you don’t know where to start, this pocket-sized gym timer from Timebirds is about as good as it gets. Designed with segmented LED lights, a magnetic spine and seven versatile workout modes (including an alarm clock function), this is the purpose-built workout timer you, your smartphone and your nose have been waiting for. Plus, right now you can get it for $10 off when you back the brand’s Kickstarter campaign — hurry though, because the deal is only active for the next ten days.

Buy Now: $79

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September 16, 2020 / Comments Off on This Timer Is the Tech Your Workout Has Been Missing
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The Best New Fitness Products of September 2020

Traditionally, autumn represents a return to normalcy. Students return to school, offices return to regular hours. Many of us return to fitness practices that may have gone neglected during the summer months (low-cal hard seltzer was supposed to make it all okay, right?). But routines are different this fall. Despite gyms opening, half of all members say they won’t go back. Public transportation ridership remains low, and the bicycle boom booms on. It’s only natural that much of the new athletic gear released this month is for breaking a sweat at home or outside.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 2

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At 7.6 ounces, the Hyperion Elite 2 is made for logging lightweight miles. Everything about the shoe is designed for energy savings, from its bouncy, nitrogen-infused midsole to its rockered outsole, shaped to roll you from one stride into the next. There’s also a springy carbon fiber plate for race-day performance.

Buy Now: $250

Black Sheep Cycling Adventure Collection

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It’s the beginning of springtime in Australia, where Black Sheep Cycling has established itself on the lighthearted side of a sport too often seen as overly serious. With casual profiles and all-weather materials like merino wool, the Adventure collection is built for any season and occasion, especially gravel riding.

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Tracksmith Mission Backpack

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With schools and businesses reopening in many places, city dwellers may find themselves looking for alternatives to their old public transport commute. Sure, e-bikes and electric scooters are taking off, but run commuting offers a cheaper method that includes a cardio workout. The key to getting it right is a great backpack for plodding along with a laptop and change of clothes, and Tracksmith teamed up with Mission Workshop to make one.

Buy Now: $238

Saysky Running Commuter Backpack

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European cities have long bested American ones when it comes to commuting, so it’s no surprise that Copenhagen-based Saysky is also debuting a run-to-work pack for fall. This one is waterproof, fully adjustable, has space for a 15-inch laptop and looks pretty dang slick.

Buy Now: ~$112

Theragun Duo Adapter

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Already have a Theragun? There’s a new way to upgrade it in the Duo Adapter, which, according to the company, offers “twice the treatment, twice as fast.” The adapter lets you use two massage heads at once and is ideal for targeting contoured areas of the body.

Buy Now: $49

Article One x Ciele GTGlass

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Sport shades that look this good need no explanation, but it’s worth noting that this particular pair draws inspiration from the ’70s and ’80s while using state-of-the-art materials. That technical collaboration is underscored by the one that brought it about, a team-up between Article One and Ciele, maker of our favorite running headwear.

Buy Now: $275

Ten Thousand Tactical Short

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To make a short that can handle workouts that border on masochism, Ten Thousand tapped a crew of over 50 former and current members of the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Marine Raiders and other Special Forces groups. That brain trust dreamed up the Tactical Short, which can handle hikes as well as HIIT workouts, thanks to a unique ripstop fabric that’s both durable and lightweight.

Buy Now: $72

Jaxjox DumbbellConnect

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Following up on its digitally adjustable kettlebell, Jaxjox revealed a new pair of free weights with a range of eight to 50 pounds. Selecting the amount you need is as simple as pressing a button and waiting a moment. With Jaxjox’s app, these dumbbells also count reps and sets, calculate average power, volume and more.

Buy Now: $449

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September 16, 2020 / Comments Off on The Best New Fitness Products of September 2020
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Hyperice’s New App Will Help You Unlock Your Full Potential

Hyperice

Unlocking your ultimate potential, even if you’re a weekend warrior athlete, lies in how well you recover. Ask any top athlete what the most important part of their fitness routine is and nine out of ten will say recovery. But for those who are working out and recovering at home, it can be difficult to understand what products to use and how to use them — recovery can often feel like black magic. Luckily, Hyperice just supercharged its experience, launching the Hyperice App powered by HyperSmart™. The app and its new tech are designed to help you navigate the world of recovery by unlocking the full potential of its best-in-class recovery products. How? More on that below.

1.

More Than Just an App: Think of the new HyperSmart™ tech as the brain of your Hyperice products. The app can actually work to blend your physical and digital activity and create a recovery experience that is fully tailored to you. It will pair to any of your Hyperice Bluetooth devices and will automatically adjust the speed as you follow along with guided routines — it’s never been easier to focus on your warmup or recovery.

2.

It Learns as You Go: HyperSmart™ compares stats from your connected apps like Strava or Apple Health with your Hyperice device usage to find the best routines for you. The more you use it, the better it will be at automatically adjusting settings that will optimize your recovery.

3.

A Complete Ecosystem: With the HyperSmart™ ecosystem, you get access to exclusive content from top pro athletes and experts (the ones who demand the most out of their recovery), recommendations for routines and a snapshot of your activity and recovery progress. Essentially, it gives you no excuse not to take your recovery as seriously as the pros do.

Learn More: Here

Build Your Kit

Beyond the benefits of Hyperice’s HyperSmart™ tech, the brand also offers a handful of best-in-class products that can take your recovery even further. If you pay close attention to any behind-the-scenes shots from your favorite sporting events like the NBA, Tour de France or the Premier League, you’re guaranteed to see these products being used. Paired with the HyperSmart™ tech in the Hyperice app, the products below will give you the ultimate recovery setup.

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Hypervolt Plus (Bluetooth®)

Hypervolt (Bluetooth®)

Hypersphere Mini

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September 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Hyperice’s New App Will Help You Unlock Your Full Potential
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Peloton Was Already Revolutionary — Now It Actually Revolves

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. It’s an old adage, but it still holds true, especially when the wheel you’re starting with is Peloton, which has already revolutionized home fitness. So when it came time to launch an update, the brand wisely focused on little improvements… and still hit upon one change that could be massive. See, that 24-inch HD touchscreen from which your workouts emanate now rotates.

Minor tweak, right? Except that it allows you to dismount the bike to more seamlessly tackle other types of Peloton routines, like strength, yoga, stretching and meditation. This shift not only delights core users but also opens up the bike’s appeal to those who never dreamed of pedaling toward fitness.

Peloton

There are other changes, too, including a new hi-fi four-speaker sound system, the ability to pair with your Apple Watch to sync metrics like your heart rate with your routine and another cool, potentially game-changing feature: the Auto-follow digital resistance system remembers your target metrics and changes the resistance based on instructor guidance, so you don’t even have to tap a button when she pushes you to work harder.

A new, much-requested Bike Bootcamp format is also coming, as is a revamped treadmill. (Weirdly, the new treadmill is called the Peloton Tread, while the original is now called Peloton Tread+).

The new Peloton Bike+ becomes available tomorrow for $2,495. The price of the original Peloton will drop to $1,895. Both products come with a 30-day home trial period, after which an all-access Peloton membership is $39 per month.

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

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September 12, 2020 / Comments Off on Peloton Was Already Revolutionary — Now It Actually Revolves
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Over 50 Special Ops Members Helped Make These New Gym Shorts

When we poll professional trainers and athletes on their favorite gear, Ten Thousand shorts often come up. It makes sense, given that the company gathers intel from the same types of people to fine-tune its designs. But to make a different kind of gym short, one that’s durable enough to handle the roughest workouts imaginable, the company reached out to a distinct group of hard-wearers: members of the US Special Operations Forces.

An advisory board made up of former Special Ops members who have continued their careers in training, fitness, leadership and physical therapy aided Ten Thousand in conceptualizing and prototyping iterations of what would become the Tactical Short, and over 50 active service members wear-tested it to ensure it stood up to real-world use. They worked out in it, swam in it, hiked in it and rucked in it (rucking is the practice of walking with a weighted bag, the foundation of military fitness training).

The Tactical Short includes a no-chafe liner.
Ten Thousand

The Tactical Short’s zippered essentials pocket.
Ten Thousand

Ten Thousand and its team considered every detail.
Ten Thousand

The liner includes a no-bounce phone pocket.
Ten Thousand

The result is a pair of gym shorts that’s durable enough for lifting and lugging but lightweight enough for running. The fabric, exclusive to the Tactical Short, stretches four ways and dries quickly after getting wet. There’s a built-in compression liner that includes a no-bounce phone pocket and doesn’t chafe, and there are zippered exterior side pockets for stashing other essentials.

Buy Now: $72

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September 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Over 50 Special Ops Members Helped Make These New Gym Shorts
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Nike Made an Everyday Version of Its Marathon Record Breaker

When Eliud Kipchoge clocked a 1:59:40 marathon in Vienna last fall, the running world pretty much lost its mind… with good reason. Like Roger Bannister breaking the 4-minute mile barrier in 1954, Kipchoge did something many once thought was impossible. But unlike in Bannister’s case, much of the chatter was about the man’s shoes. Those mysterious, funky-shaped Nikes must be magic, right?

If you consider years of carbon-plated R&D oriented toward this singular goal magic, then the answer is yes. The shoes turned out to be an unreleased version of the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, which represents not only the pinnacle of running shoe tech, but a platform upon which footwear with more widespread appeal can be based.

Case in point? The Nike Air Zoom Tempo NEXT%, essentially a daily training version of the record-breaking shoe. Last night, we attended a (no pun intended) Zoom session where Nike Senior Footwear Innovator Carrie Dimoff introduced the shoe and star runners Mohammed Ahmed and Karissa Schweizer shared their early experiences with it. Here are the highlights of this noteworthy upcoming release.

Composite, not carbon

Nike’s designers sought to create a shoe with a similar propulsive sensation as the Alphafly, but smoothed out for tempo runs and ultimately higher mileage. The most significant corresponding shift is toward a most flexible and comfortable composite plate, rather than a stiff carbon-fiber one. The first plate in a Nike training shoe still provides more stability and transitional assistance than alternatives.

Targeted foam

Two different Nike foams come into play with the Tempo NEXT%. The brand’s bounciest variety, ZoomX foam encases the composite plate, filling the forefoot and midfoot to boost energy return. Meanwhile, React foam reinforces the heel, softening the initial impact of every footstrike. Along with the modified plate, this element represents a significant departure from the Alphafly, which favors elite racers who don’t spend much time on their heels.

Nike

Outer alterations

The outsole is beefed up with more rubber than the Alphafly to increase the shoe’s ability to hold up over many more miles. The upper features Nike Flyknit construction, with an integrated fit band that maximizes the socklike fit.

FlyEase option

Inspired and informed by adaptive athletes, Nike’s FlyEase platform makes shoes easier to put on and take off, user-friendliness any runner can appreciate. The FlyEase version of the Tempo NEXT% features two of the platform’s systems. A collapsible, step-in heel lets the feet slide smoothly into the shoes. And the one-pull fit system employs a strap that can tighten the shoe with a one-handed tug — and loosen it with the mid-foot strap.

Nike

Both shoes will retail for $200. They’ll be available September 24th for Nike members and October 1st for everyone else. We just got our test pair — stay tuned for a review later this month.

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September 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Nike Made an Everyday Version of Its Marathon Record Breaker
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232

This Gym Bag Is Perfect for All Your Workout Essentials

A great gym bag is essential for your workouts, carrying all the necessary gear to help keep you in shape. But not all gym bags are created equal — some are clunky, overly thought-out and, well, kind of dorky. If you’re looking for a simple yet efficient bag, check out the Gym Bro Bag Lite by Flag Nor Fail. It takes on a minimal approach for the on-the-go gym-goer, is built with water-resistant material and features a lifting belt holder. And after your workout, easily separate your sweaty clothes from the rest of your essentials with its two compartments to keep you organized. In other words, the bag is perfect for maximizing your gains — carrying everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Learn More: Here

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September 10, 2020 / Comments Off on This Gym Bag Is Perfect for All Your Workout Essentials
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241

The Adidas Shoe That Sold Out in 15 Minutes Is Finally Available Again

This summer, Adidas revealed a running shoe that it hopes will be the go-to choice for speed-obsessed athletes called the Adizero Adios Pro. Getting a pair was nearly impossible — runners had to download the Adidas app and sign up for a lottery, the winners of which earned the opportunity to exchange $200 for the shoes. They were gone as soon as they were available, but now the Adizero Adios Pro is back and with a new paint job too.

The Adizero Adios Pro sits at the top level of a new class of shoe primed for speed. Adidas worked with world-record-holding runners like Rhonex Kipruto to develop it, with the explicit hope that it might be used to enable new, even faster speed records — and, no doubt, the implicit hope that it will contend with Nike’s NEXT% as the go-to footwear for such feats.

Adidas

At this point, a key ingredient that makes the Adizero Adios Pro the brand’s fastest running shoe will be familiar: carbon fiber. But Adidas uses it differently from other companies; yes, there’s a carbon fiber plate beneath the heel, but there are also five carbon-infused EnergyRods that sit beneath the metatarsals, sandwiched between thick layers of LightstrikePRO, Adidas’ lightest foam to date.

The design, which also includes an ultralight mesh upper, comes directly from anatomical lab tests with elite runners and is engineered to provide maximum energy return and efficiency from one stride to the next. Adidas went through over 50 iterations — many tested by athletes in places like San Diego and Iten, Kenya — before landing on the final design.

The Adizero Adios Pro’s flashy new color – the first edition was almost entirely white — comes from the athletes too, and reflects the emotional element of running a perfect race. There’s a heavy dose of pink, for passion, that gradually fades through yellow and violet into blue, for rationality and resilience.

It’s stunningly vibrant and should be easy to spot in its debut this Saturday, September 5, at the Prague half marathon.

The Adizero Adios Pro will be available for purchase on September 14.

Learn More

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September 4, 2020 / Comments Off on The Adidas Shoe That Sold Out in 15 Minutes Is Finally Available Again
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Still Nervous About Going Back to the Gym? Consider This Connected Home Setup Instead

Gyms are beginning to open up again, but findings from a recent survey reveal that almost half of all members won’t go back when they do. People haven’t quit exercising though; they’re merely doing it in other places — Peloton’s record subscriber numbers (and stock prices) are proof. Yet one problem with Peloton and the rest of the new breed of at-home connected fitness machines is precisely that they are attached to your home. Rising digital fitness brand Jaxjox aims to change that with its new InteractiveStudio.

Like other machines, the InteractiveStudio pairs gym equipment with a big (43-inch), glossy touchscreen, onto which beams a real (recorded) trainer who can guide you through a workout of your choice, for a fee. That’s $39 per month, which seems to be the going rate; Peloton, Mirror and Tempo subscriptions cost the same.

The machine’s components, however, are less familiar. In addition to a digital foam roller and adjustable kettlebell, both of which predate the InteractiveStudio in Jaxjox’s ecosystem, there’s a new set of adjustable dumbbells and a pushup trainer. Jaxjox designed each tool to count reps, sets and time, and some even provide feedback on form. All data accumulates into an algorithm that spits out your FitnessIQ score, via an app, to keep you informed of your progress.

As connected as all that sounds, each piece of equipment in the InteractiveStudio is portable. Bring the dumbbells out to the yard, or throw the foam roller into a track bag. They don’t require the stand, screen nor subscription for use, enabling this at-home fitness machine to function beyond those confines.

The Jaxjox InteractiveStudio is available for preorder now with expected delivery in November for $2,199. The KettlebellConnect 2.0 ($229), Foam RollerConnect ($99) and DumbbellConnect ($449) are available now, and the Push UpConnect ($100) will be available in mid-November. If you do purchase any of these individual items and decide to pick up the full studio setup later, you’ll be able to do so without having to pay for duplicate items.

Learn More

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September 1, 2020 / Comments Off on Still Nervous About Going Back to the Gym? Consider This Connected Home Setup Instead
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286

What You Need to Know About Cleaning Your Face Mask

By now, it’s a well-established fact that the simplest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to wear a face mask. Let’s review: Face masks help contain the potentially virus-laden respiratory droplets we emit from our mouths and noses when we breathe, speak, laugh, sing, sneeze, burp, etc. Wearing one is just as much about preventing others from getting sick as it is about keeping healthy yourself.

That’s among the most straightforward medical advice you’ll ever receive but, as with everything coronavirus-related, some degree of confusion is part of the prescription. Take, for example, the recent criticism against neck gaiters as face masks, which many national publications including Gear Patrol covered before the story was walked back — yes, gaiters are most likely fine as face masks. Not to mention that the sheer number of face masks — there are cotton masks, neoprene masks, masks with vents, masks with filters, adjustable masks, size-specific masks, homemade masks, and on and on — makes it hard to know which is best. (Make sure it covers your nose and mouth, look for fabrics with a tight weave and avoid those with valves.)

Once you have one, then there’s the matter of caring for and cleaning your mask.

Laundering your face mask is just as easy as washing your other wardrobe essentials — yes, face masks require the same care as t-shirts and socks. The CDC recommends washing your mask, if it is a reusable one, with the rest of your clothing and regular laundry detergent. If it has an included filter, take it out first. Stick to the care instructions that it came with, and use the hottest wash setting appropriate for the its fabric (high heat will sanitize your mask). Then, dry it on a high setting, too, or hang it in the sun.

Nikwax Tech Wash

Nikwax backcountry.com

$19.95

Ready for the dose of confusion? If you’re using a face mask made of technical fabrics, of which there are now many, these instructions may vary, but only slightly. Again, you should stick to the care instructions that come with the mask, but you should also consider the detergent that you’re using. Some of these masks come with water-repellent finishes which can be damaged by regular laundry. Instead, use a product like Nikwax’s Tech Wash.

After that, you can use another Nikwax product called TX Direct to revive that water-resistant factor or add it if it wasn’t already there.

“Having masks that have that water repellency to them helps prevent more gross stuff from escaping your mask, but it also prevents your mask from wetting out like an old rain jacket might,” notes Heidi Allen, Nikwax’s vice president of marketing. Water repellency is one of the general standards by which medical-grade PPE (personal protective equipment) is deemed okay for reuse because it makes these items resistant to bodily fluids. If liquid does penetrate non-water-repellent fabric, it can act as a bridge, allowing viruses and bacteria to travel from the outside of a mask to the inside.

You don’t need a face mask made of technical fabric to gain that extra water-repellent protection. Nikwax’s Cotton Proof formula is a wash-in solution that adds water repellency to cotton, polycotton and canvas products. Allen notes that if you’re planning to fluid-proof your face mask, you should first wash it with a technical detergent like Tech Wash because, again, household detergents can hamper the waterproofing process. She also states that Nikwax products weren’t necessarily designed to wear directly on the face, but all of its chemistry is screened for safety. If people have high-level skin sensitivities, they should do a quick test before wearing a Nikwax-proofed mask for a 12-hour workday, for example. (You might apply the same rule for washing your mask in any detergent.)

Lastly, wash your mask as often as possible. The CDC recommends doing so after each use. Since face masks are going to be part of our daily attire for months to come, it’s probably a good idea to buy a few more, make room in your sock drawer and wash them regularly.

The CDC updates its guidelines and recommendations on masks regularly. To read the latest guidelines, click here.

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August 26, 2020 / Comments Off on What You Need to Know About Cleaning Your Face Mask
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You Should Consider Run Commuting, and Wear This Gear to Do It

Even as life continues to plod back toward its normal pace, half a year of living with the coronavirus is forcing residents of cities and towns to rethink their routines. In New York City, the subway now shuts down at night for the first time since it opened 115 years ago, and daily ridership remains down by roughly 75 percent compared to last year. Meanwhile, the city’s bike-share program has seen only a marginal decline in use, and let’s not forget about the national surge in bike sales that’s responsible for continuing shortages.

With businesses and schools reopening, people will need to move around more. Even though some question evidence of the virus’s spread via public transit, many will look for alternative means of doing so. Here’s a bold idea: run.

Run commuting is easier than it sounds — take these working pros’ word for it — and even though it’s slower than riding a train, bus or bike, it efficiently integrates a workout into getting from A to B. Key to the program are some clothing essentials, like Tracksmith’s recently released Run Commute Collection. The line includes a new jacket, pant, short, baselayer and briefs made with merino wool, which won’t stink like synthetic layers will. The outer layers include features you’ll need, like pockets for your phone, wallet and keys. And like everything Tracksmith, the gear looks and feels great, too.

Tracksmith

Run commuting doesn’t mean leaving your laptop and larger items behind, either, thanks to a few backpacks designed for the task. Tracksmith teamed up with Mission Workshop to add the Mission Backpack to the mix. The bag has space for your computer as well as extra clothing, groceries and a hydration reservoir. Chest and waist straps secure the load from bouncing, a mesh back panel and shoulder straps keep things from getting too sweaty and exterior weatherproofing limits your available excuses for calling an Uber instead.

Learn More

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August 22, 2020 / Comments Off on You Should Consider Run Commuting, and Wear This Gear to Do It
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