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: $16.95 Cost: $5.95 Cost: $24.99 Cost: $20.99 The bad: I've tried all earbud sizes and they still like to fall out if I'm moving too much or too fast. Rating Variety/Appearance: 10/10. This is one of the reasons Skull Candy is so widely liked. They consistently crank out quality products in all the colors/patterns/schemes you could ever want. The INK'D 2 earbuds follow that and come in 20 designs that look very fresh and inspired. Feel/Comfort: 3/10. When you put the earbuds in your ear comfortably they fall out super easy. The only real way to keep them in is to shove them into your ear which (as you can imagine) isn't comfortable at all. Quality/Durability: 10/10. Skull Candy makes products that are strong and durable and even offer a pretty cool warranty that covers most defects/manufacturer's issues. Value: 7/10. I gave these a neutral 7 because while I can't get these to fit comfortably (and therefore rarely use them) I have many friends with their own INK'D 2s who love them and can't get enough of them. Other: 10/10. These are some of the loudest and clearest earbuds I have ever owned, they easily compete with Bose on sound quality but do so for significantly less money. Overall: 40/50. Verdict: This is a mixed bag, if you can comfortably get the earbuds to fit and stay in your ears then these are easily the best earbuds you can get for under $25. If you're like me where you can't get them to fit for the life of you then chances are you just spent $21 for a paperweight that won't leave your desk. Cost: $36 (for a 3 pack) Great for: Yoga or wearing with a pair of Vibram Five Finger shoes. The good: These are some of the best athletic toe socks on the market. The bad: They feel a little thinner than standard athletic socks. Rating Variety/Appearance: 8/10. They come in 3 colors, none of which are very flashy. However, they all look good because of their sharp design and customized look. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. Everything about these socks screams comfort! The top of the sock is designed to fit comfortably around your ankles and not pinch of squeeze. Directly under that there is a patch of ventilated mesh to allow fresh air to get to your feet and really help them breathe. Lastly, the toe spaces are properly sized and stretchy allowing for maximum comfort. Quality/Durability: 10/10. The thinness of the socks had me worried that some durability would be lost, however that was not the case. These socks have lasted me about 2 years now and still look and feel great. Value: 10/10. This is the go to brand for anyone looking for athletic toe socks. While they are pretty expensive they last long enough to make that investment worth it. Other: 10/10. Most Vibram owners do one of two things: go sock-less or buy some Injinji socks. When you go sock-less you realize really quick just how fast your shoes can and will get dirty and smelly. The fact is that it is a lot easier (not to mention faster and cheaper) to clean these Injinji socks than try to clean your Vibrams. Overall: 48/50. Verdict: This is truly a great pair of socks. Anyone with Vibrams should own a pair or two. As for other people, I also think they work great for yoga or to wear in standard shoes just to have more "wiggle room". The decision to buy for just those reasons then turns into are you willing to spend the money (because quite frankly the cost is the worst thing about this product). I personally don't think anyone would be upset if they purchased these socks though. Cost: $19.99 Great for: Activities where other headphones might fall out. The good: These headphones are more like earbuds than headphones, but they stay in your ears during activities where other brands (like Skull Candy) would go flying out. The bad: These are not waterproof, if any moisture gets into them then there is a noticeable muffling. Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. There are extremely limited color choices, but the design does catch your eye and make you think it would be perfect for exercising. Comfort and sound: 5/10. The bids fit comfortably in your ear while the flexible plastic sits snugly around it. The sound starts off crystal clear but over time becomes quieter, duller and less crisp. Quality/Durability: 2/10. My first pair died after running in the rain. My replacement lasted a few months longer but even when I avoided getting them wet the max volume gradually declined for no apparent reason. Value: 2/10. In my experience there aren't many good headphones for running and this pair doesn't change that. Even when worn as a standard pair of headphones they still disappoint with a mediocre life at best. Other: 2/10. For a set of headphones that claim to be for active sports and waterproof it sure underperformed. Mix that with the horrible experience of trying to talk to Sony about their products and you have a pretty big headache. Overall: 17/50. Verdict: I regret my purchase so much. Sure it only costs $20 but it was nothing at all like it should have been. Also, you can get a pretty great pair of earbuds (although not for athletic use) from Skull Candy for the same price and not have it degrade so rapidly. As for another pair for active wear I'm still on the search. 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: $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! |
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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