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: $2.98 (for a 6 pack). Great for: Snacking, a quick breakfast (with some fruit or other filling addition), or for pleasure eating. The good: It has a lot of tasty but healthy ingredients. The bad: With only 140 calories and 2 grams of fiber this is not very filling, even for a snack. Rating Taste/Texture: 10/10. There is a lot of really diverse textures and flavors melded into one single granola bar and it was done perfectly. The granola is more or less what you expect out of a granola bar, however, the raisins and cranberries add some sweetness to the granola while the peanuts and almonds offer a crunch. This makes it so every bite is a little bit different but still delicious and satisfying. Nutrition: 8/10. This bar comes in at 140 calories with a reasonable amount of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. However, it is concerning that corn syrup is the second most used ingredient after oats. Other: 10/10. This bar fills a niche that most companies ignore. Most energy bars are in the 200-300 calorie range to offer a sustained amount of energy. This bar is different, it is about half the calories and is perfect for snacking because you feel like it. Many times I've hiked or camped and got caught in some bad weather and just wanted to munch on some food for a "pick me up". These Nature Valley bars are tasty enough to do that, but small enough to not feel guilty about it afterwards. Overall: 28/30. Verdict: These are really great to have around as an alternative to bigger and higher calorie energy bars. Cost: $24.99 Cost: $29.95 Great for: Increasing your finger strength and training for climbers or boulderers. The good: It is a great tool to get better at pull-ups while increasing your back, bicep, and finger strength. The bad: It is kind of awkward to put up and doesn't offer nearly as many options as a Metolius Simulator 3D Training Board (http://gearandwear.weebly.com/gear-and-wear/metolius-simulator-3d-training-board). Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. The Metolius Rock Rings come in 3 colors (seen above) with a pretty basic hold design. There isn't anything bad about their look but there isn't anything good either (not even a wow factor like the Simulator 3D Training Board). Ease of use/Set up: 9/10. It is easier to put up than most rock holds, but still more difficult than other pull-up products (like the over the door products. However this product is rock solid (pun intended) and won't fall apart or fall down on you like the over the door pull up products. The combination of these 2 traits makes the Rock Rings extremely convenient to set up and use. Quality/Durability: 10/10. As mentioned above, these are solid pieces of equipment. Value: 8/10. The Rock Rings are very useful and come ready to be hung up. However they lose some points because they can be replaced by a number of items that are cheaper (although none really match the quality or convenience). Other: 10/10. Because of its' small size it can easily fit in any rock climbing or fitness area without getting in the way. Overall: 43/50. Verdict: This is a very nice piece of training equipment that is awesome for personal use, the main reason someone shouldn't buy this is if they don't have a place to put it. 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: $18.75 (for 15 pack) Cost: $119.95
Great for: Any short biking excursion. The good: It is a small pack that fits comfortably and has a lot of storage for its' size. It also comes with a removable tool pouch (at the base of the pack) that is excellent for bikers to store any tools for a quick tune up. The bad: A pack this size can only carry enough for a few hours, so I would hardly even consider it a day pack. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. Osprey has a habit of making some really incredible looking and performing packs. The Raptor follows that trend with a pack that is simultaneously simple enough and busy enough to appease most consumers. However, Osprey also has a habit of only producing these packs in a handful of colors (usually black/grey, red, green, or blue). This particular pack only comes in black (seen above), red and green. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. Sits comfortably and has a lot of the same amenities you would expect to find in an Osprey pack like the wide hip belt and shoulder pads and the chest clip. Quality/Durability: 10/10. Like all Osprey products the Raptor is backed by a fantastic lifetime warranty so f there is a problem (which there rarely is) then they will make it right free of charge. Value: 8/10. This is a textbook example of a niche product. The Raptor is a great pack to have for bikers, as it is specifically built with their needs and interests in mind. However, if you aren't a big biker chances are you won't use it enough to justify the $120 price tag. Also, if you don't fall into the niche chances are there is another Osprey pack that is a lot more suited to your wants and needs. Other: 10/10. This tiny pack has a ton of little compartments that are super useful. My favorite two are the hip belt pockets that are perfect for snacks and the low tool compartment that is easily accessible and made to hold most bike tools you could need. Overall: 45/50. Verdict: If you are an avid biker then this product is a godsend, for casual bikers or people who don't bike at all it would be smart to buy a day pack that is a bit bigger and a bit more versatile. Cost: $18 (for 12 pack)
Great for: Canning, freezing, meal preparation, dry food storage, etc. The good: There are so many uses for this product, literally anyone can use them (and for a wide range of uses). The bad: This particular size is a bit small, in some cases it is better to use the Pint and Half jars (24 oz instead of 16). Rating Variety/Appearance: 8/10. Their look is pretty iconic. Ball has become the go to brand for all things mason jar. Additionally they come is a huge array of sizes including common sizes like 16 oz, 24 oz, and 32 oz. As for color, they have limited variation (color availability depends on what size jars you buy) coming in clear, blue, green, and purple. Functionality: 10/10. They are great for canning, pickling, or freezing foods but my personal favorite use is to prepare meals in them on my days off and continue to eat healthy through the work week when I'm too tired to cook. Quality/Durability: 9/10. Aside from a few chips on the mouth of a few jars (which admittedly were my own fault) the jars have held up beyond my expectations. Considering they are glass and how they see a fairly consistent use I'm seriously surprised I haven't been able to break one yet, but that's just a testament to their quality. Value: 10/10. You can easily buy other products that do some of the same things Ball jars do, but you can't easily find a product that does everything a Ball jar can do. If you happen to find a product that can, chances are it won't be able to do it as well or for as cheap as Ball. For those reasons Ball is the top of the line. Other: 10/10. The measurements on the side make it easy to count or track caloric intake. Also, they make it very easy to serve consistent meals that take portion size into consideration. Overall: 47/50. Verdict: Every household can and should utilize these mason jars for something. They are a staple in my kitchen because of their high functionality and affordable price. 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: $79.00 Great for: Increasing finger strength, training for climbers and boulderers, or training back and bis. The good: With so many hold depths and widths you can continuously train harder without needing to buy another board. The bad: The worst thing about this product is finding a place to securely mount it. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. The board's appearance is very unique compared to other climbing holds. However, that is mainly because this single board has over 20 holds incorporated into it. It is no wonder it has become a staple at climbing gyms. It only comes in 3 colors (seen above) which all look very cool (although my favorite is the white and black). Ease: 8/10. These boards can be used for anyone from children up to the most experienced of climbers. As for set up it will take a bit of work, since you have to find a secure, weight bearing wall to hang it on. However, once you set it up you'll never have to mess with it again. Quality/Durability: 10/10. These boards last so much abuse, even at a gym with every day use from numerous people this board will stand up for years. Value: 10/10. If you take your climbing seriously this is easily worth investing in. Other: 10/10. This will single-handedly increase your strength and endurance in your back, biceps, and forearms. It is hard to get so much out of a single product but this Metolius board does the job. Overall: 45/50. Verdict: Any climber or boulderer, who has a place to mount this, should buy one. It costs a pretty penny but it is something you can get use out of every single day without any issues or risk of "outgrowing". |
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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