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: $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: $12.99 Great for: Lifting in or any novelty run/5k. The good: It is super inexpensive and light. The bad: It isn't as soft as other lifting and training shirts. Also, the stitching comes apart after a while. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. The design isn't the prettiest but it has a decent amount of options to choose from and is otherwise a nice looking tank top. Feel/Comfort: 7/10. I've had softer shorts and I've had rougher shirts, this falls smack dab in the middle. Quality/Durability: 8/10. I actually bought this for a mud run expecting to throw it away right after. To my surprise the shirt held up and washed out fine, it wasn't until about 9 months to a year later that the stitching around the bottom started to unravel. Value: 7/10. It isn't nearly as long lasting as some shirts (the Under Armour Tech Shirt for example) but it also costs about half as much. Theoretically, you get slightly more time (and comfort) out of one more expensive shirt instead of 2 inexpensive shirts. Other: 10/10. Being able to buy 2 of these shirts instead of 1 of another brand really gives you convenience and a lot of options. First, you get twice as many lifts in before having to do laundry. Also, you can get multiple colors so you can always be matching. And lastly, if you manage to ruin your shirt somehow it isn't that big of a deal because you have a backup and it is cheap to replace. Overall: 39/50. Verdict: I really enjoy using these shirts for training. The price and convenience really have me sold on the C9 techs. |
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
All
|