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: $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. Cost: $24 Great for: Casual use and every day comfort. The good: Moosejaw makes hands down some of the softest shirts I've ever had the pleasure to use. The bad: Considering it is a cotton t-shirt it is awefully expensive. Rating Variety/Appearance: 10/10. The shirts are kind of funky but in a fun and cool way. Also Moosejaw carries a ton of options so finding a shirt you like is never a problem. Feel/Comfort: 9/10. Like I said above, I have no idea how they made cotton so soft but they did and it is great. Admittedly some of the shirts do run small/tight though. Quality/Durability: 10/10. No issues, everything has held up just fine. Value: 8/10. I don't particularly like spending so much for a cotton shirt (or any shirt that I will only wear casually) but considering all the benefits that come with it makes it a lot easier. Other: 10/10. The experience you get shopping at a Moosejaw store is unlike anything else. The sales associates are helpful, fun, and informative and everything about the store puts you to ease. There are no commission seeking workers trying to hound you into a sale, only workers who genuinely seem to care about helping you find what is right for you. Overall: 47/50. Verdict: If you haven't heard of Moosejaw before you need to check it out, go in and pick up one of these shirts and you'll be sure to have a great experience. Cost: $39
Great for: Night runs, morning hikes, or during fall weather. The good: It keeps you warm, where the short sleeved version would fall short (see the full short sleeve review here http://gearandwear.weebly.com/gear-and-wear/patagonia-capilene-shirt) The bad: It is a really plain shirt without much of anything going for it style wise. Rating Variety/Appearance: 4/10. It is ok. It is not unique at all though, from looking at it you may confuse it with a cheap $10 shirt you can pick up anywhere. Now that doesn't mean it looks bad, but it is underwhelming. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. This is what I expect when I buy a Patagonia product. It hits a sweet sport of coziness and warmth and airy and breezy. Quality/Durability: 10/10. I've had no problems with this shirts' condition diminishing. Value: 8/10. The resilience and comfort this shirt gives outweighs the poor look, making it a good return for your dollar. Other: 10/10. Sometimes you get too hot with a jacket and too cold with just a t-shirt. This shirt is perfect for that weird middle area and is able to be compressed small enough that it is an easy addition to any pack meaning you can easily bring and use it anywhere. Also, for morning runners it offers warmth and as time passes all you need to do is roll up your sleeves and you are easily cooled. Overall: 42/50. Verdict: This is my go to shirt if I want to be unburdened by a jacket's weight, but still need some of its' heat. Additionally, I think anyone can utilize this shirt, especially in the fall. Cost: 24.99 Great for: Working out or running. The good: This shirt is everything you want in a athletic shirt, it is breathable, flexible and feather light. The bad: It can develop a smell. Rating Variety/Appearance: 10/10. An array of colors and a classic Under Armour design keep you looking your best. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. The smooth fabric follows your every move with no resistance or tightness, giving you the freedom of being shirtless. Quality/Durability: 8/10. The tech short sleeve will last, but it isn't made of a fabric like merino wool that will stop odor. Value: 8/10. Under Armour always makes some top notch clothing and gear. This shirt is great if used for training, it does have some limited use beyond that though. Other: 10/10. Aside from the shirt looking great it really does make you look great. Under Armour clothing has a way of hugging your body and making you look jacked. Just putting on this shirt is a confidence builder, and because of that a great shirt to keep you motivated to go workout. Overall: 46/50. Verdict: This shirt makes you feel good physically and mentally, making going to the gym consistently easy and enjoyable. It is a must have. Cost: $29 Great for: Running and hiking. The good: The light weight makes for an extremely breathable and comfortable fabric. The bad: The very light fabric is also thin, cold temperatures do not mix well. Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. Very limited color choices, but the simple design does go well with the few colors that are offered. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. Hands down this is the most comfortable tshirt I've ever owned. Quality/Durability: 8/10. While it will hold up to most punishment you put it through, it can also start to pick up a deodorant stain that is tricky to get out. Value: 9/10. The simplistic look and overall comfortable shirt insures that you will get your money's worth. Other: 9/10. There are so many times this shirt has come in handy: running, boxing, lifting, hiking, etc. Having one "go to" shirt makes staying active just a little bit easier. Overall: 43/50. Verdict: Easy buy every time, no matter what you like this shirt will probably be a good fit for it. Cost: $49.99 Great for: Hikes, runs and working out. The good: This shirt will not pick up a smell, no matter how much you try. The bad: The Merino wool can be itchy to people with sensitive skin. Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. A nice, clean (but standard) design. There's nothing flashy about it, and not much variation but what it does it does well. Feel/Comfort: 8/10. This shirt fits like a glove, but the Merino wool can get a bit itchy compared to other shirts. Quality/Durability: 9/10. The merino wool stands up to the test of time. It remains smell and stretch free after many uses and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. However, it's sometimes itchy feel could be improved upon. Value:10/10.Having the baa code to know your shirt is ethically made matched with the extremely durable design makes this an excellent value for your hard earned dollar. Other: 9/10. The ice breaker line makes for easy layering and adjusting, giving the shirt a wider range of uses than standard light weight shirts. Overall:43/50. Verdict: This is a great shirt that anyone should be able to get use out of. The price, while up there, is easily justified.
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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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