Gear and Wear
A comprehensive review of gear and clothing for the active lifestyle, run and written by an avid hiker, runner, and all around fitness junky. The aim of the Gear and Wear is to fill the gap left from the lack of complete and thorough reviews available anywhere else. As such, all products reviewed by Gear & Wear have been used extensively before being reviewed to insure only reliable information is being passed on to other consumers. Reviews can be found categorized as a piece of gear (for hiking, camping, climbing, boxing/MMA, working out or other), wear (for footwear, shirts, jackets, pants and shorts or accessories) or by their brand name. Additionally we'll also upload a review on some food to keep you fueled! We can also be found on Twitter @GearandWearBlog.
Cost: $11.99 Great for: Home gyms and exercising at home. The good: The neoprene is very soft and won't bang up any floors or furniture if dropped. The bad: There is nothing that sets this dumbbell apart from any other dumbbell. Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. They come in a few sizes (although they don't get very heavy) and a few colors. Otherwise they seem very standard and undistinguishable from other neoprene weights. The only way you can actually tell who it is by is from the little C9 above their weight. Functionality: 10/10. Dumbbells are easily my favorite piece of work out equipment. Any upper body muscle group can easily be targeted with a little knowledge and a dumbbell which makes this an awesome tool for any work out enthusiast. Quality/Durability: 10/10. I've seen no noticeable depreciation. With proper care these weights are going to last a very long time. Value: 7/10. These are pretty much in the middle of the pack, nothing too bad or too good and an average price. Other: 5/10. I'm actually kind of let down with this product, I just wish there was something, literally anything, that makes people gravitate towards it but there just isn't. Overall: 38/50. Verdict: I could not recommend having a home gym or some free weights enough and dumbbells are a crucial part of that, but as for any reason to pick Champion over any other brand I have nothing. Cost: $19.25 (for a 16 pack) Cost: $17.95 Cost: $9.07 (for a pack of 12)
Great for: Snacking on and being an alternative to desserts. The good: The paste within the fig is very sweet and thicker than what you find in most figs. This really makes the figs much more sweet than your standard fig. The bad: The nutrition information can be misleading if you don't read the serving size. Rating Taste/Texture: 8/10. One package consists of 2 pretty small figs. Each fig has two very dense pieces of wheat sandwiching a thick layer of very sweet and slightly tarty paste. The wheat on its' own has a neutral smell and taste but when added to the paste it makes for a very tasty treat. Nutrition: 6/10. Each serving size only has 110 calories, 20 of which come from fats. Additionally there are 20 grams of carbs, 10 grams of sugar (which is fairly high), and two grams of both fiber and protein (both of which are a little low). My biggest problem with the nutrition information is the serving size, which happens to be one fig. That is a bit misleading given how they are packaged as pairs and how small a single fig is. I think it would be much more transparent and helpful for the run-of-the-mill consumer to have the serving size as a package not half of one. Other: 10/10. These figs are verified by the Non-GMO Project, which as mentioned above, is important because of the need for transparency in food production. Also, it has been shown that GMO crops tend to do more harm than the environment than their Non-GMO counterparts, which is important to support. Overall: 24/30. Verdict: This is a good food to snack on, however, due to the serving size and the small amount of fiber it is very easy to overeat so it should be bought with caution. Cost: $45
Cost: $16.95 Cost: $15 (for a pack of 12).
Great for: A meal replacement, snack, or pre/post work out food. The good: It tastes amazing and everybody loves peanut butter! The bad: There is a very high concentration of sugar (21 grams). Rating Taste/Texture: 10/10. This bar has an immediate rich peanut butter smell as soon as you open the wrapper. As you eat it you notice each and every bite is incredibly smooth and consistent (unlike some other flavors with pieces of fruit/nuts). Each bite you take has a very savory peanut butter taste that is very enjoyable and filling. If you are a peanut butter fan (and you should be) this is the Clif Bar for you. Nutrition: 7/10. The original Clifs are all pretty consistent nutrition wise. They have a good macronutrients spread but a ton of sugar (21 grams). Besides that there is a decent amount of protein (11 grams) and fiber (4 grams) making not too bad for you. Other: 10/10. In addition to peanut butter being a very satisfying food, this bar seems a little denser than a standard Clif Bar. This makes you really chew and enjoy each bite. Because of these two factors I am often full for longer after eating on of these bars as opposed to any other flavor. Overall: 27/30. Verdict: This is a wonderful snack or meal replacement that really fills you up and tastes great. Additionally it makes a great go to flavor if you're buying snacks and don't know what someone. Cost: $29.99 Great for: Home work outs and home gyms. The good: It has a very soft handle and and rubber coated ball (which is great for reducing scraps and scuffs). The bad: On the higher end of prices for a kettleball. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. There are Champion C9 Kettleballs in most sizes and quite a few colors; however the colored rubber is based on the size not your preference. Otherwise, the kettleballs have a smooth grip and a rubber base making them comfortable for your hands and less likely to scruff your floors. Functionality: 9/10. While they aren't as versatile as other weights (dumbbells come to mind) they are still easily incorporated into almost any workout regime making them very likely to see a lot of use. Quality/Durability: 10/10. Weights are generally made to last, put a layer of protective rubber on and they will last even longer. Value: 8/10. The design is fantastic, allowing both your kettleballs and floor to last longer and look less beat up. However, if you are careful or have good workout mats lining your floor then you really are overpaying. Other: 10/10. It's a simple but fairly essential part to a home gym and if you purchase other weights from Champion then you also end up with a pretty stylish set. Overall: 43/50. Verdict: This is a very good purchase for any home gym or someone just starting to work out at home. While there are cheaper options it only takes one mistake to make owning the protective Champion C9 Kettleballs worth while. Cost: $5.95 Cost: $29.98 Great for: Yoga or meditation. The good: Gaiam has some really awesome designs and styles which really sets them apart from other brands. The bad: You can find mats for half the price. Rating Variety/Appearance: 10/10. Hands down my favorite thing about Gaiam Yoga Mats is their appearances. They are always really eye catching and stimulating while remaining simple enough to really let you focus in on your yoga/meditation. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. It feels a little softer than most other yoga mats and it offers some friction that is enough to keep you from sliding off the mat but not enough to get in the way of your movements. Quality/Durability: 9/10. These mats last for quite a bit of time with proper care and storage. Some weird indentations may arise but they are usually the result of poor storage decisions not the quality. Value: 7/10. These are some really awesome mats that are attractive and durable, however, you can get mats that will last just as long for much less. Essentially you are paying extra for the brand and image on the mat. Other: 10/10. At 68 inches long by 24 inches wide this mat is big enough for even the biggest and lankiest of individuals. Overall: 46/50. Verdict: This is a fantastic purchase that will really make you stick out. In my opinion the only reason to pick another brand is price. |
About your Reviewer: Joe P.Growing up in Michigan and around the Great Lakes has made it easy to be an avid outdoors enthusiast and conservationist my whole life. I love doing anything that keeps me staying active and being outdoors. This ranges from running, lifting, climbing, hiking, camping, biking, etc. All of these hobbies of mine are things I take very seriously and love to do. Because of this, before I make any purchase for one of my passions I try to do as much research about a product as possible to insure I am getting a product that I will enjoy for years. That has led to me starting this site in hopes of helping others avoid the guess work I went through by providing honest and unbiased product reviews. If you have any questions, concerns, or request please contact me at [email protected] ArchivesCategories
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