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: $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: $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: $11.99-16.04 Variety/Appearance: 2/10. What you see is what you get. While I wouldn't say they are good or bad looking, I have to say they fall closer to the "bad" side of the spectrum. They are really a bare basics glove that doesn't offer any room for personalization or customization. Feel/Comfort: 8/10. These gloves fit and feel fantastic but because they only cover part of your fingers they only protect part of them. Some really finger intensive exercises can be rough on you because of this. Quality/Durability: 10/10. The double-stitched material really shows. These gloves take a ton of abuse but because of their sturdy design and quality assembly you would never know. Value: 10/10. For under $20 you're getting a pair of gloves that will last you for years and prevent a whole lot of calluses. Other: 10/10. This seems like it overlaps with the other ratings but these gloves seem too good to be true. It is hard to find such a quality pair of gloves for such a great price. They aren't too pretty but neither is the gym, when you're working hard and covered in sweat you don't need fancy gloves, you need reliable ones. That is exactly what these are, reliable. Overall: 40/50. Verdict: This is a great buy, anyone from a new lifter to a gym rat can afford these gloves and get really good use out of them. They aren't for anyone trying to be stylish, but they are perfect for anyone just trying to get some results at the gym. 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: $40 Cost: $11.98 |
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
|