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: $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". Cost: $19.95 Cost: $39.95 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: $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: $10.99 Cost: $19.99 Great for: Running, working out, hiking, or people with bad knees. The good: You can definitely feel a load being taken off your knee(s) when worn. The bad: If you are running or moving a lot they will slide. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. I think it looks sporty and good, but a less flashy version would be nice to wear around more casually. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. The pressure on your knee is instantly relieved when worn making everything you do more comfortable. Quality/Durability: 10/10. I've been using mine for over 2 years and I haven't had a single issue with its' quality yet. Value: 8/10. The relief you get from this brace is amazing, literally the only thing I would change is making the brace tighter on both ends to avoid sliding. Other: 2/10. For a product that is advertised as non-sliding it sure does slide a lot. Overall: 37/50. Verdict: A great buy if you aren't doing a ton of cardio, otherwise it might be better to try and find one that slides less. Cost: $24.95 Great for: Extended outings with your dog. The good: This bowl is very light weight, compresses small and has a place for a clip which is great for carrying. The bad: Pretty easy for dogs to flip over. Rating Variety/Appearance: 1/10. Not really any options for color or design and there is nothing that really sets it apart from other collapsible dog bowls. Stability: 5/10. It will stay in place when full, but when it is only partially full it is very easy for dogs to bump it over. Quality/Durability: 10/10. This is a very strong bowl that is made to be handled rough. It's resilience is note worthy. Value: 6/10. It is pretty convenient and useful but not much different from other travel dog bowls I have used. Other: 10/10. Cleaning it is as easy as running a little water over it and the clip area is great for attachin g to a pack via carabiner or rope. Overall: 32/50. Verdict: Not a bad product, but not great either. It is useful but nothing that has me saying, "I need this". |
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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