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: $16.95 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. 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: $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. |
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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