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: $11.99-16.04 Variety/Appearance: 2/10. What you see is what you get. While I wouldn't say they are good or bad looking, I have to say they fall closer to the "bad" side of the spectrum. They are really a bare basics glove that doesn't offer any room for personalization or customization. Feel/Comfort: 8/10. These gloves fit and feel fantastic but because they only cover part of your fingers they only protect part of them. Some really finger intensive exercises can be rough on you because of this. Quality/Durability: 10/10. The double-stitched material really shows. These gloves take a ton of abuse but because of their sturdy design and quality assembly you would never know. Value: 10/10. For under $20 you're getting a pair of gloves that will last you for years and prevent a whole lot of calluses. Other: 10/10. This seems like it overlaps with the other ratings but these gloves seem too good to be true. It is hard to find such a quality pair of gloves for such a great price. They aren't too pretty but neither is the gym, when you're working hard and covered in sweat you don't need fancy gloves, you need reliable ones. That is exactly what these are, reliable. Overall: 40/50. Verdict: This is a great buy, anyone from a new lifter to a gym rat can afford these gloves and get really good use out of them. They aren't for anyone trying to be stylish, but they are perfect for anyone just trying to get some results at the gym. Cost: $25.99 Great for: Skiing, snowboarding, casual use or running in the winter. The good: It really contours and fits your foot the way a sock should fit. The bad: It's price is a little scary, especially since it is a smaller/lesser known company. Rating: Variety/Appearance: 7/10. You only get the option between two very dark socks, but the design is impressive. There is a lot going on with this pair of socks that really sets it apart and makes it noticeable. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. This is where Fits socks shine. It is extremely soft and warm, which makes it great for snow, and you can really feel the padding when you wear a pair. Quality/Durability: 10/10. Absolutely no complaints. You really are paying for quality with this product. Value: 10/10. The only thing that I really dislike about these socks is the lack of options they come in, which isn't really an issue since they will be covered when worn anyways. Other: 10/10. Whoever designed this sock needs a raise. The amount of times I've bought long socks and they were horribly uncomfortable because of the poor design is too high to count. There are two main things that make this sock fantastic: the heel and calf spaces. Most socks offer no change in diameter for the calf and when they get to the heel just tapers to one side and the bump is for your heel. Fits socks have a special heel space that actually fits a persons heel comfortably! As for the calf, Fits was smart enough to make the calf widen at the opening and smaller by the heel (because that's how a leg looks!). Overall: 47/50. Verdict: If you live in or frequently visit an area that snows this is a sock for you. Even wearing it for casual purposes will be worth the investment because of how great these socks fit and feel. Cost: $39.95 Cost: $24.08 (12 pack)
Great for: Cutting weight, getting extra protein in your diet, or snacking. The good: It is high in protein making it an excellent and easy way to build muscle. The bad: There is an insane amount of sodium. Also, the price per protein ratio is pretty high. Rating Taste/Texture: 10/10. The taste is phenomenal, is has that smooth smoked flavor with an extra kick from the pepper that is really addictive. The actual jerky is cut thicker than most jerky you get and that gives it a texture that is kind of unfamiliar. The "stick" of jerky is tougher than bagged jerky, but only because of its' size, but if you compared both at the same thickness the "stick" would be much softer. Nutrition: 5/10. Low in fat and carbs but very high in protein makes this an excellent choice to meet your protein needs without getting the extra calories from the other macros. However, one pack has over 60% of your daily recommended sodium! Additionally, you can get a similar macro breakdown with skinless chicken and have it contain a lot less sodium for a fraction of the cost. Other: 10/10. The convenience of Jack Link's product really sets it over the edge, any other well seasoned piece of meat is going to take a while to prepare and cook, but Jack Link's made it as easy as opening up some packaging. Overall: 25/30. Verdict: This is a fantastic product, the sodium is the biggest problem with it, but if the rest of your diet is in check then it won't hurt to indulge in some of this great jerky. Cost: $24 Great for: Casual use and every day comfort. The good: Moosejaw makes hands down some of the softest shirts I've ever had the pleasure to use. The bad: Considering it is a cotton t-shirt it is awefully expensive. Rating Variety/Appearance: 10/10. The shirts are kind of funky but in a fun and cool way. Also Moosejaw carries a ton of options so finding a shirt you like is never a problem. Feel/Comfort: 9/10. Like I said above, I have no idea how they made cotton so soft but they did and it is great. Admittedly some of the shirts do run small/tight though. Quality/Durability: 10/10. No issues, everything has held up just fine. Value: 8/10. I don't particularly like spending so much for a cotton shirt (or any shirt that I will only wear casually) but considering all the benefits that come with it makes it a lot easier. Other: 10/10. The experience you get shopping at a Moosejaw store is unlike anything else. The sales associates are helpful, fun, and informative and everything about the store puts you to ease. There are no commission seeking workers trying to hound you into a sale, only workers who genuinely seem to care about helping you find what is right for you. Overall: 47/50. Verdict: If you haven't heard of Moosejaw before you need to check it out, go in and pick up one of these shirts and you'll be sure to have a great experience. Cost: $3.39-4.39 Great for: Hooking up a bottle, keys, or other small item to a pack. The good: It has little black stoppers to lock the carabiner shut. The bad: Nite Ize has a pretty limited size selection. Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. It is hard to be too critical considering most S-carabiners look pretty much exactly the same, that being said this has a pretty standard look for a S-carabiner but nothing special. Because of it this it falls to an ok but not great rating of 6. Usefulness: 8/10. Does it come in handy? Absolutely. Is it easy to use? Yes. Would I be inconvenienced without it? Not really. This product fulfills a need that isn't exactly big, so I don't believe it warrants a 10, but it is still a great product that I am glad I bought. Quality/Durability: 10/10. This carabiner works great and (like most carabiners around) is made strong so you'll never have an issue with it. Value: 10/10. The most expensive option is still cheaper than a sandwich yet will last for years and provide you with a lot of convenience. Other: 10/10. The stoppers to lock the carabiner shut is a great innovation and one that more carabiners should factor in. It offers good peace of mind knowing that nothing will fall off my carabiner and that is easily worth a few bucks. Overall: 44/50. Verdict: It's a good product that anyone can use. It also makes a good "stocking stuffer" type side gift if you are buying for an outdoorsy individual. Cost: $34.99
Great for: Boxing (surprising right?). The good: It comes in a few sizes (and weights) which can be used for different skill levels or purposes (heavier has more padding and moves slower, lighter has less and moves quicker). The bad: Nothing, this is the standard in boxing for a reason. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. Not nearly as flashy as some brands like Venom, but Everlast does offer a good selection of traditional gloves. It comes in 3 classic colors (red, black, and blue) and 3 more modern colors (pink, blue and green, and purple and yellow) so chances are you will be able to find a pair that you like. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. Fits comfortably and is great for sparring because of its' padding. Additionally, it offers a lot of wrist support which reduces your chance of rolling your wrist and causing injury. Quality/Durability: 10/10. They are made to give and get hits, they are made to last and do just that. After a year and a half of bag work and sparring mine still look good and have no defects. Value: 10/10. They are relatively cheap compared to their competitors and yet they hold up great and perform fantastically. Other: 10/10. These are a great purchase for an entry level boxer as they are some of the cheapest gloves available yet they are made by a well known brand and to a high standard, this makes picking up boxing as a hobby a lot easier. Overall: 47/50. Verdict: A truly great pair of gloves and the perfect pair for a new boxer. Cost: $59.99
Quality/Durability: 10/10. Merino wool is seriously amazing, there is nothing negative to say about the construction or longevity of these leggings. Value: 5/10. If it didn't have the fly it would be a better value, but as is chances are you will be wearing it in addition to something else (which cost more money). As is it is already in the upper end of leggings price wise. If it was just a standard pair of leggings (like Icebreaker's Atom Legless design) then they would look better on their own and warrant a higher rating because of that. Other: 10/10. It is really light making it an easy addition to any pack, and, if it is worn alone, is less heavy but just as warm as any pants. Overall: 38/50. Verdict: I'm kind of disappointed in Icebreaker with this one. I'm not upset I bought it, I love my pair, I just think that If they took away the fly it would look like a better version of their Atom Legless and really increase how much use you can get out of it. Cost: $11.99 The bad: The design is relatively bland compared to other mouthpieces on the market. Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. There is a high amount of variety to choose from, but a rather unimpressive appearance making the other all look average/slightly under average. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. If molded correctly then the mouthguard will fit great and take the brunt of any impact you absorb. Quality/Durability: 10/10. If you have a mouthguard that isn't durable you are buying from some shady company. Shock Doctor offers some of the strongest mouthguards money can buy. Value: 10/10. For under $12 you can save yourself a lot of dental work. Also, as mentioned above, these are extremely durable mouthguards that are built by a leader in the field. Other: 10/10. The warranty offered by Shock Doctor stands by this product, and should it fail you and cause you harm you can get monetary compensation easily (or so it appears, I never had to use the warranty). Overall: 46/50. Verdict: This is a must have for all athletes! Cost: $12.99 |
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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