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: $39.95 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: $59.99
Quality/Durability: 10/10. Merino wool is seriously amazing, there is nothing negative to say about the construction or longevity of these leggings. Value: 5/10. If it didn't have the fly it would be a better value, but as is chances are you will be wearing it in addition to something else (which cost more money). As is it is already in the upper end of leggings price wise. If it was just a standard pair of leggings (like Icebreaker's Atom Legless design) then they would look better on their own and warrant a higher rating because of that. Other: 10/10. It is really light making it an easy addition to any pack, and, if it is worn alone, is less heavy but just as warm as any pants. Overall: 38/50. Verdict: I'm kind of disappointed in Icebreaker with this one. I'm not upset I bought it, I love my pair, I just think that If they took away the fly it would look like a better version of their Atom Legless and really increase how much use you can get out of it. 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: $12.99 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: $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: $34.99 Great for: Running, working out, or casual use. The good: Part of the proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. The bad: The length runs short and rides even higher when training. Rating Variety/Appearance: 6/10. 3 colors and a pretty simple but still nice design. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. These shorts are very soft, light, and breathable making them great to workout in. Quality/Durability: 10/10. With proper treatment and care these shorts will last you a few years. Value: 8/10. It is on the higher end of both price and performance. This is one of those situations where people who consistently workout in them will notice and appreciate the difference, but more casual people probably not be able to appreciate just how good these shorts are. Other: 10/10. I think it is great that Under Armour is helping to support the WWP, it feels good knowing you're a part of that effort to give back. Overall: 44/50. Definitely worth the buy, if you don't want to purchase these shorts just because of their performance then consider doing it for the donation and awareness you will bring to the WWP. Cost: $49 Rating Variety/Appearance: 7/10. Extremely limited choices for the HydroBak, but is looks great in every choice they offer. Feel/Comfort: 10/10. Fits and sticks to your body great making it great for staying hydrated when you are on the go. Quality/Durability: 10/10. The actual pack is made very well, it has no issues maintaining its' integrity what so ever. The bladder is also extremely strong and resilient. You can expect to enjoy your HydroBak for years to come. Value: 9/10. Bigger packs start getting substantially more expensive, but offer more room for storage. For a minimalist this is a steal though! Other: 5/10. If I was designing this pack I would have made it slightly bigger, with a special pocket for keys or a cell phone to make it a little more user friendly. Overall: 41/50. Verdict: Great for people who don't want extra stuff weighing them down but for most people it is probably worth upgrading for more space. |
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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