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Newton’s Distance Neutral Lightweight Trainer

posted by gumptiongear March 23, 2012 0 comments

Whether running your first 10k in South Carolina or blazing through the final miles of the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, one thing is certain: training and racing in the “right” shoes can mean the difference between crossing the finish line with a new PR and watching the race from the sidelines.

With slimmer, sleeker, more minimalist shoes appearing on the market every year, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. However, through their lineup of technologically innovative and visually distinctive natural running shoes, standing out won’t be a problem for Newton Running. Based in Colorado and worn by triathletes and running enthusiasts around the world, Newton is determined to put science in motion, and make you a more efficient runner in the process.
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The Altra Adam: Time to set your feet free

posted by gumptiongear March 13, 2012 0 comments

“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” – Leonardo da Vinci

The human foot is incredibly complex in its structures and function, yet in and of itself it is truly a masterpiece of engineering, a miraculous design. A network of strategically placed tendons, muscles, bones and nerves work together in harmony providing the body with support, balance, and mobility. Despite this masterful craftsmanship, we are all guilty of owning shoes that put our foot (and body) in an unnatural position. Those types of shoes treat our feet like a caged animal, inhibiting their natural movement and agility.

It’s time to set your feet free. Time for the Adam™ from Altra Footwear.

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The SKORA Form: Run Real

posted by gumptiongear March 8, 2012 0 comments

Reminiscent of a sleek, low to the ground, high-performance Formula 1 Race Car, the Form from SKORA Running is a minimalist, low profile zero drop shoe that uses a combination of innovative materials and state of the art engineering to provide a fast, form-fitting and responsive ride.

Through the use of natural materials an innovative engineering, SKORA is intent on making shoes that mirror and celebrate the body’s natural biomechanics. The Form, SKORA’s top of the line shoe, is engineered to work with your foot’s natural movements providing a barefoot-like running experience.
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First Look: SKORA Form – WOW!

posted by gumptiongear February 14, 2012 0 comments

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

The essence of today’s minimalist running shoes is “less is more.” By designing running shoes that remove all of the non-essential features found in traditional running shoes – heel counters, stability control, extra cushioning, and weight – runners will be able to rediscover their natural running from, enabling better, more efficient performance while reducing the risk of injury.

For runners seeking to rediscover their natural running form, SKORA has introduced the Form. A low-profile, zero drop runner designed with an anatomical last, the Form offers a barefoot-like feel without wearing those funny finger-like foot gloves. Wait, what? You have never heard of SKORA Running before? Allow us to make the introductions, because if the quality and performance of this shoe is any indication – you’ll want to get to know them up close and personal.
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Sockwell Circulator Socks

posted by gumptiongear February 14, 2012 0 comments

Valentine’s day. A holiday that celebrates love and passion. The week of cupid having arrived, we felt it appropriate to begin our latest review with a short poem of new found devotion.

An Ode to Sockwell….

Life without you was fine, was okay.
It was spent aimlessly, roughing it through each new training day.
Now that you’re here, comfort and relief I foresee,
Each blissful moment filled with sweet recovery.
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First Look: New Balance Minimus Road (aka the MR10)

posted by gumptiongear January 20, 2012 0 comments

The last few years have seen a huge growth in the number of people moving away from more traditional running shoes and transitioning to more minimalist designs. Minimalists shoes offer flatter profiles, far less cushioning on the whole, and a design that encourage a mid-foot strike and enhanced ground feel, minimalist shoes arguable foster a more efficient running form. It’s a movement that has gained widespread acceptance in the past year prompting multitudes of runners to consider making the transition.

With a heritage of design and innovation spanning over 100 years, New Balance has established itself as a player in the minimalist market crafting an extensive lineup of minimalist shoes for both the road and trail. This award-winning, closer-to-barefoot line of footwear features the New Balance MR10. A minimal road running shoe that combines barefoot running benefits with traditional trainer protection. Continue Reading

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The ashmei Ultimate Softshell Running Jacket

posted by Gumption Scott January 12, 2012 0 comments

Your alarm clock goes off at o’dark early and with a few weeks left until your “A” race you can’t afford to hit the snooze button. So you roll out of bed, rub the sleep from your eyes and tumble into your run gear to face the cold morning chill. Sure, the only thing you have to do is run, but why not just stay in your warm comfortable bed?

Nothing puts a damper on your motivation to run like those cold, dark and windy mornings (or even nights for that matter). Not to worry, just slip on the ashmei ultimate softshell jacket and feel the excuses melt away.

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Long Term Durability Review – 2XU 2008 V:1 Velocity Wetsuit

posted by gumptiongear August 22, 2011 0 comments

When the Top-of-the-line 2XU wetsuit arrived on the shores of the United States in 2008 words like revolutionary and game-changing rolled off the tongues of triathletes across the country. The wetsuit not only looked fast, but has since proven to be fast.

Along with use of new materials, the V:1 incorporated numerous new and proprietary innovations not seen together in previous wetsuit designs. Some of the innovations were obvious and others were not. The new innovations included:

· High Velocity Strakes – Grooves on the front torso to channel water and stream water flow

· Aquatic Membrane Arms – for Neutral Buoyancy and improved feel for the water

· Concave Water Entrapment Zones – on the forearms

· Roll Bar – improves buoyancy and helps with a higher body position

When buying a wetsuit, there are three important questions to ask, 1) how does it fit? 2) How does it perform? 3) How long will it last?

On the Fit Factor…

After 3 years of use, the suit still fits like an expensive glove. In comparison to other suits at the time, the thinner and more flexible neoprene around the shoulders improved movement and reduced shoulder fatigue. The neck is comfortable. Occasionally, however, the Velcro on the back of the V:1 rides high and chafes the back of my neck.On the Performance Factor…

My body position in the water, both while wearing the suit and swimming without it, has improved tremendously. Sure, a lot of the improvement can be tied to coaching and swim sets, but I credit a lot of the early improvements in my body positioning to wearing the suit for hours on end amidst the challenges of the open water environment.The 2XU was the first in the industry to offer Velocity Strakes that channel water for greater water stability resulting in less sideways movement in choppy conditions. In still conditions offering a channeling water process for greater lift and cleaner water flow movement will result in more speed through the water.

While improvement in body positioning can be tied in part to coaching and training, I credit a significant portion of early improvements in my own body positioning to wearing the suit for hours on end amidst the challenges of the open water environment.

On Durability…

Including both competitions and training sessions, the V:1 has been worn approximately 20-25 times a year since 2008. Over the last year however, the V:1 has begun to show its age. During an open water swim in the cold Spring 2010 waters of Santa Cruz, upon exiting the water my suit and two tears along the seams where the shoulders and torso meet.

I’ve had the tears sealed by professionals on several occasions, but to no avail. Now, after every use, my V:1 faces a repair session with a $12 patch-up kit.

I’ve talked with many V:1 wetsuit owners. Most are pleased with the suit, but some owners have expressed frustration with purchasing an expensive top-of-the-line wetsuit only to later have problems with its durability. At least with the subset of V:1 owners I’ve talked with, perhaps the V:1 is better reserved for race days, while a second wetsuit can be used (and purchased) for training.

Revolutionary design and innovative gear often comes with an equivalent price tag, and as a competitive athlete you hope that price tag also results in long-term durability.

There is little doubt that my V:1 wetsuit has been an invaluable tool serving me well in numerous triathlons and training sessions. However the longevity factor leaves something to be desired. When spending over $500 on a wetsuit, it should last longer than 3 years before it starts to come apart at the seams.

As 2XU continues to break new barriers in the design and performance of wetsuits, I hope the design team spends equal amounts of time improving the durability side of future iterations.

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