Active Wraps - high quality and utility at a very good price

 Active Wraps $26-$69 http://activewrap.com/

Running provides tremendous benefits but the rigors of any given workout can take a toll on the body. It's always a good idea to ice your muscles after a run and if you are experiencing joint or muscle pain from inflammation it's especially important to do this. Before a workout it helps to apply heat to tightened muscles. This, along with stretching, can help prevent injuries during a run.

Active Wrap is a company that produces heat and cold wraps that are designed for specific body parts: ankle/foot, back, elbow, knee, shoulder and wrist. The clever thing about these wraps is that they use patented (per their website) "soft, non-migrating hot/cold packs to be adjusted and positioned anywhere throughout the wrap for targeted relief." These packs look very different from the usual gel packs that are sold for this purpose. The pack is filled with a substance that resembles rice pudding that, unlike gel, does not pool at its lowest point due to gravity. The pack is much more stable than gel and it consistently maintains its placement of heat and cold exactly where it was originally positioned.

After receiving samples of the Active Wrap for knee, foot and ankle I spoke to Shawn Hickling, the president and founder of the company. Shawn is an interesting person who used his background in physical therapy to design these unique products. Shawn said that the clear advantage of his wraps comes from the reusable packs that can be frozen or heated (via hot water or microwaved). It was very easy to prepare the wraps and slip the cold/heat packs into the generously large sleeve openings. I was able to set up the two wraps in less than 5 minutes and this was helpful because I'm often racing against time with my workouts. The cold packs are even easier, going from the freezer to the wrap in seconds. I have used the knee wrap numerous times after racing.

Using the Wraps

I don't use heat or ice as much as I should but when I do I really appreciate the benefits. I most often use the wraps to heat my knees and quadriceps prior to the longer runs that I do on weekends. I have noticed that this really helps my flexibility at the beginning of a run compared to just stretching. After the Cape Cod Marathon relay in October I used the wraps to apply cold to my knees and legs and that clearly lessened my recovery time. I find that the design works well for isolating, cooling or heating muscles on all areas of the body.

Design

The wraps are designed with long flexible straps that can be tightened to optimally position the device on any muscle or joint. The positioning of the sleeves that hold the cold/heat packs is well thought out and the packs naturally move into place with little adjustment.

Value

Compared to other solutions I found Active Wraps to be a good value. With prices ranging between $26 and $69, depending on the product, it is easy to afford and the benefits are clear. The quality of construction is good and the wraps hold up well under rough use.

Conclusion

Active Wraps are well designed and innovative tools that provide both preparatory and therapeutic benefits. The price is competitive and you get a lot for your money. Additional cold/heat packs are also available for under $20. This would be an excellent gift for a runner or for any athlete who can benefit from cold or heat therapy.

For more information check out their website at http://activewrap.com/


This review by The Emerging Runner

SPIbelt - an inexpensive and clever way to carry a runner's essentials

SPIbelt: http://www.spibelt.com/

I received an offer for a sample SPIbelt, a storage pouch invented by a woman named Kim Overton who had trouble transporting her keys during her runs. My SPIbelt arrived in October and I started using it during my long weekend runs when I wished to carry more than the ID and $5 bill that I'd slip into the small pouch of my running pants. Despite what you call it the SPIbelt is not much different than a fanny pack but the SPIbelt design is superior for athletics. I decided the real test would come during the Cape Cod Marathon Relay when I would run well over an hour with it but before I did that I wanted to get a feel for the device and make sure it wouldn't interfere with my run.

First Impressions
The SPIbelt is a pouch that connects to a stretchable/sizable belt that clips securely behind the runner's back. The pouch itself is made of a stretchable fabric that expands impressively to accommodate multiple items, some as large as a flip-style cell phone. The design of the belt holds the pouch close to the body and, with proper tension, the items are held securely to the body with no bouncing or movement to distract the runner. The zipper pull on the pouch is large enough to allow easy access while running and the position of the zipper is designed to open at the top to prevent items from falling out when the zipper is opened during a run. I found that I could place items collectively weighing up to ten ounces without noticing the unit during a run. It did take a few tries to find a balance in tension on the belt between too tight and too loose but it was simple to adjust and change to accommodate positioning, layers, etc. One properly positioned the SPIbelt was completely transparent to the experience and I've found myself forgetting to take it off after a run a number of times.

Experience in Use
My first impressions of the SPIbelt were positive, I could put a small package of energy chews, a compass and the remote FOB from my car into the pouch, along with an ID card, cash or a credit card. The position of the pouch and the fabric prevented any sweat reaching the items. I've had more than a few experiences where I've pulled damp, wet dollar bills from my running pants pocket to buy water after a vigorous run in Central Park so this was a welcome change.

I often run with my iPhone positioned in an arm band holder but occasionally I prefer to take along my other, smaller phone. I've found that placing that phone in the pouch does not impact my motion or balance and I suspect that it would be much easier to answer a phone that's in a zippered pouch than one that's tightly held on my arm within a sleeve. I experimented with the pouch a week before my relay during a hill training session where I ate energy chews during the workout and I found the process of accessing them very easy.

The Relay experience was similarly positive, I packed everything but a phone since I was using the iPhone with MotionX GPS to track my route. I forgot I was wearing the SPIbelt until I was making my way up a hill during my second leg and really felt I needed a boost. I remembered that I had a package of Luna Moons and after consuming a couple on the go I was good to go for the completion of the leg.


Conclusion
The SPIbelt is the best solution I've seen for runners who wish to carry small items during a run without distraction. The line of SPIbelts includes dual pocket belts, belts with inner pockets, water bottle holders and race number belts. There is a wide variety of colors including reflectives with prices ranging between $11.95 and $29.95. It's a useful item that has become part of my long run gear. Theses are inexpensive devices relative to their utility that would make a great holiday gift for any runner.


This review by The Emerging Runner

AKG K 321 in-canal headphones - They do the job

AKG K 321 In - Canal Headphones

http://www.akg.com/personal/English,lang,1.html

$79.95 (Amazon.com)
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Ever since I got my iPhone 3GS I've experimented with its capabilities as they relate to running. Over the past month I've broken my cardinal rule about listening to music as I run and have enjoyed the experience. The main reason for this change is due to my acquiring a pair of AKG K 321 in-ear headphones that are remarkably comfortable and provide a great combination of sound quality and outside noise suppression. I say remarkably comfortable for a reason - I normally dislike ear buds and when I say dislike what I really mean is that I HATE THEM. It may be the shape of my ear aperture but I've never been able to keep ear buds in place for more than ten minutes before the pain exceeded the enjoyment of the experience. I was pleased by the way these headphones fit when I put them in and even after an hour of jostling on the trails I had no compulsion to remove them. I find that in most cases the driving beat from a Podrunner Podcast (excepting the occasional endlessly repeated vocal motet) can be motivating. I suffer from some hearing loss in one ear and the K 321's seem to provide a well balanced sound experience compared with other ear buds and headphones I have tried.
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My biggest problem right now is that my brand new 3GS iPhone has suddenly died (as did its predecessor) so I'm unable to use it for music while I run. I have a loaner and as soon as I have it configured I'll be back on the road with it. There's not much more I can say about these headphones except that they do the job, fit me like a glove and have allowed me to enjoy an experience that I've always viewed negatively.

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More information about the AKG 321's can be found at http://www.akg.com/personal/K_321,pcatid,7,pid,97,_psmand,1.html

Moji to Go & Moji Knee - Ultimate Icing Convenience

The Emerging Runner and I had previously tested and reported on the Moji Knee. In our review I'd lamented that the Cold Cell hadn't remained cool enough for use during a 24-hour running relay. About 5 hours into the event I had pulled it out for a teammate and found that the temperature of the cell was tepid and unsuitable for use. The Moji folks, upon learning this, provided the Moji to Go cold system to Runner's Tech Review to try. The Moji to Go consists of a large, stainless steel, insulated canister and two ice sticks that resemble freezer pops (inedible of course!). After freezing the Moji Cold Cell and the two ice sticks, it can all be placed inside the stainless steel canister. After that you are free to travel and use the Moji Knee when needed.

The Moji site indicates that the Moji to Go should keep the Moji Knee Cold Cell frozen for 4 to 6 hours. I was admittedly skeptical about this claim but was delighted to find that this underestimates the Moji to Go's capabilities! My maximum test lasted 10 hours, and while the Moji cell wouldn't have remained cold enough for a thorough 20-minute icing session, I was pleasantly surprised to find it still relatively chilled after 10 long hours. 4 to 7 hours is certainly the sweet spot though.

"The convenience and comfort of the system encouraged me to ice more frequently than I ever had..."

In our previous review, I had indicated that the Moji was almost too cold for direct skin application immediately upon removal from the freezer. After storing the Moji in the Moji to Go canister for an hour or more, however, I found that the temperature had dropped just enough to be ideal. The convenience and comfort of the system encouraged me to ice more frequently than I ever had before, and I'm hopeful that this will translate to better recovery and joint health.

Since I do not go home before attending post-work athletic events, the transportability of the Moji to Go is very important. I was happy to have it on hand when a teammate at a soccer match injured his ankle and another aggravated his shoulder. (As a side note, the Moji Cold Cell we have is intended for use on a knee, but I've had success jerry-rigging it to apply cold and mild compression for shoulders, ankles, and quads!) When the cold cell wasn't appropriate, the ice sticks even came in handy for quick icing needs on the sidelines.

"The stainless steel and bright orange rubber stripe get it noticed and a few people asked me, 'Wow! Did that just fall from space?!' "

As a city dweller, the Moji to Go's main drawback is that it is cumbersome to carry around. Athletes who travel to events in cars, however, won't be concerned by its size and weight. The stainless steel and bright orange rubber stripe get it noticed and a few people asked me, "Wow! Did that just fall from space?!" The only other concern I had with the canister was that the cap did not fit well. Instead of screwing in place it pops on, and it was sometimes hard to align it for a proper fit. Other times it didn't fit snugly when inserted.

The device is pricey: $54.95 for the canister and two ice sticks plus the initial $84.95 investment for the Moji Knee. A bundle pack containing both the Moji Knee and Moji to Go is priced at $124.95. It is very well made and will surely have a long lifespan. Moji To Go is an excellent investment for serious athletes and a great gift for a team coach. I can imagine that school athletic departments would happily stock up on these units for use by trainers during games. I'll admit that I have a full day soccer tournament this coming Saturday, and I'm very excited to have the Moji Knee and Moji to Go to bring along!
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Reported by Adventure Girl and the Emerging Runner

Helly Hansen Trail Lizards - a competent shoe for shorter trail runs

Helly Hansen is a Swedish outdoor apparel and equipment company that specializes in durable rain gear. In addition, they have a full line of shoes including several trail runners. We put one of these trail shoes, the Helly Hansen Trail Lizards, to the test at Long Island's Stillwell Preserve. Our exploration of the preserve covered over 4 miles of variable terrain that included wooded trails and open fields. The challenging course varied from packed dirt to mountain bike singletrack to loose sandy soils and wide puddles. This variety allowed us to prove the shoes' versatility.

Men's Trail Lizard

Initial impressions for the men's shoe raised concerns about the total volume of the toe box, which seemed roomy at the expense of side-to-side stability. The shoe provided more than adequate front-to-back stability up and down steep hills. The Trail Lizards felt responsive off the heel in a way that encouraged forward motion.

Women's Trail Lizard

The woman's shoe offers the same features and last as the men's shoe although it did not have the same roominess in the toe box. The most you can ask from a shoe is to do its job without broadcasting its existence and the Trail Lizards did just that. For the first quarter mile I actually forgot I was testing the Trail Lizards. While the soles were rugged, they still allow you to feel the trail.

The Trail Lizards proved themselves as a good shoe for variable surfaces but the roominess, especially on the men's model, worked against us near the end of the run. The instability from shifts during lateral movements made the shoes less comfortable by the time we reached the four mile mark. The lack of waterproofing in the shoe undercut their utility as it required that we awkwardly step around large puddles that could be forded directly with a more capable Gore-Tex equipped shoe. Another limitation to the shoe is its performance on harder surfaces. We found that their responsiveness on the trail did not translate well to paved roads. The men's shoe did not provide enough support in the arch to allow comfortable runs for more than a quarter of a mile. The woman's shoe fell short on the street as well, as Adventure Girl reported pronounced shin pain after a couple of miles running on the road. Granted, these shoes are not marketed for road running.

Many trail running shoes now come with drawcord style lacing systems that do not require tying. The Helly Hansen's lacing is traditional and employs webbing in the place of eyelets. Even though it wasn't overly engineered, the lacing allowed for a comfortable, snug fit that again helped combat the roominess in the toe box.

The men's models come in four different color combinations and the women's are offered in three. All available colors would well withstand the inevitable dirt accumulated during trail running. All in all, it's an attractive shoe.

We pondered the question of whether the Helly Hansen Trail Lizards would be a good replacement for my New Balance 460's or Adventure Girl's Salomon XA Pro 3D XCR trail runners. Due to the limitations we experienced on the trail we both felt that we'd stick with the incumbents for our upcoming 10K trail race. The Helly Hansens will be put to good use for shorter trail runs in dry conditions, especially when a lighter shoe is desired.

Reported by Adventure Girl and the Emerging Runner

Fruit2O Essentials Water - Sucralose Sweetness

After a 4.7 mile run in high heat and humidity The Emerging Runner and I were excited to sit down in front of six well-chilled bottles of Fruit2O Essentials water for a taste test. The flavors we'd been provided were exotic and broad-ranging. Each claimed that they acted as a substitute for one's daily recommended allowance of fruit, contained zero carbs from sugar, and offered electrolytes and vitamins ranging from phosphorus to B6. We each sampled all six flavors in moderate quantities. You can see our set-up in the below photo.

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As we tasted each flavor we jotted down immediate impressions on Post-It Notes, and after tasting all six, ranked all flavors in order of preference. Here's a sampling of our notes:

• Peach Mango: Strong fruit smell with decidedly more peach than mango. Too sweet to be refreshing. Neither strongly preferred nor disliked by either The Emerging Runner or Adventure Girl.
• Citrus: Smells like grapefruit. Tastes like lemonade. Most refreshing of all flavors. The Emerging Runner's flavor of preference.
• Strawberry Kiwi: Very mild aroma. Tastes like strawberry Jello. A close runner up to Citrus and Cranberry Raspberry.

• Blueberry Pomegranate: Fresh blueberry scent. Taste is too strong and complex for water, and hints of astringent. A runner-up to Cherry Acai for least preferred.
• Cranberry Raspberry: Milder scent than other flavors. Subtle, balanced flavor. Adventure Girl's flavor of preference.
• Cherry Acai: Smells like wild cherry cough drops and tastes like cough syrup or watered down cherry soda. Both The Emerging Runner and Adventure Girl ranked this flavor least preferable.

In conclusion, the drink's sweetener, sucralose, which is known to be 600 times as sweet as table sugar (it's the sweetener in Splenda), was just too cloying to be refreshing. Both The Emerging Runner and I will stick to water for now.

Finally, Fruit2O Essentials is sponsoring a driven young woman who is attempting to become the youngest woman to run cross country. We applaud Fruit2Os sponsorship of Katie Visco and her cause which she's dubbed Pave Your Lane.

QStarz GPS Sports Recorder - Does the Q stand for Quirky?

The Qstarz BT-Q1300S Sports Recorder is a GPS enabled device that can be used by runners, walkers, cyclists or anyone who wishes to capture real time data about their sports activities. The device is about the size of a luggage tag and comes with an armband that helps the user position the unit for ideal performance. Also included with the BT-Q1300S are cables for connecting the Sports Recorder to a PC and a cable that can be used to charge the unit using your car’s power outlet. The unit can also be charged via USB when connected to the PC. The included application software for downloading and sharing Qstarz data only works for PC's with no Mac support at this time. The device itself is simple. There's a mini USB on one side and a small adjacent button for turning the unit on or off. That's about it. When this button is pressed there are four icons that illuminate in different colors that represent different things depending upon how they animate. The manual describes these differences, but just barely.

Adventure Girl and I have used the Qstarz BT-Q1300S on a number of occasions to track runs, both on the street and on trails. The capabilities of the Qstarz are impressive but using the device can be confusing. So are the results that you get after downloading the data. Our primary observation about the Qstarz BT-Q1300S is that it seems like it was designed by engineers who don't really understand a runner’s needs. To be sure, much lost in translation from this Taipai-based company. The manuals, and even their website, suffer from the lack of clarity. This is a description from their website:

"Sports Recorder is the most suitable GPS for use in every kind of sports activities which is capable of recording your sports and applying them in QSports software to analyze track, calculate calories, monitor your personal health, and project training plan."

The first time we ran with the device we were, in equal parts, impressed and confused. The Qstarz accurately captured the route around the neighborhood and it showed the run path on a Google Map-like interface (A) along with charts that displayed speed and elevation over time (B). However, some of the summary data (C) didn't seem to make sense as the average speed was far from what we’d expect and some distances appeared to be in miles and while others were in kilometers.

I quickly discovered a problem that has plagued us the whole time we've tested the unit: you’re never quite sure when the Qstarz is on or off. While we recognize that satellite acquisition can be tricky for all GPS-enabled devices, we observed that the Sports Recorder often failed to log data for the first 1.5 to 2 miles of a run. In some cases the average speed for a run event suffered because the Qstarz dutifully recorded long after it had been brought it into the house. Other times the path displaying our runs were noticeably off from our actual routes. It sometimes appears that we are running through people's homes and yards instead of on the path that we actually followed.

Adventure Girl tested the QStarz Sports Recorder during a trail race and remarked that at the frenzied start of a race it can be difficult to confidently engage the very small button that starts the Sports Recorder. Instead of a single push button, the device would be improved with a sliding button that can toggle between on, off, and log. Adventure Girl also noted that while the Sports Recorder is lightweight, the arm band itself was too large for her arm causing the band to occasionally slip off or flop around. The device also has a key chain loop that could potentially rub against a runner’s skin. That said, AG enjoyed using the Sports Recorder to determine the length of a few, favorite trail runs that she’d never been able to accurately measure. After obtaining the initial satellite lock, the QStarz did a commendable job tracking these routes that were covered thickly by trees.

One great feature of the Qstarz is its capability to export a KML file, an XML file that plugs into Google Earth and shows all your run metrics (Latitude and Longitude, speed, elevation) at frequent intervals. This showed how and where my pace had slowed during the run. The biggest issue is that the speed data only appears in kilometers even when preferences are set to miles. This export allows users to share their run data with other Qstarz users, a handy feature for running teams that are planning a trail route.

A fundamental issue with the Qstarz Sports Recorder is its opaque nature. You never quite know if it's on or off. When it is on you never know how well you are doing, only how well you've done after you upload the event data and look at it through the interface. The lack of data availability mid-workout is a limitation that cannot be dismissed, but it’s easy to get hooked on downloading the KML or KMZ file to review in Google Earth post-run. The waypoints (data representing specific points in time) can show running speeds in both out and back runs, a helpful feature for tracking fitness and performance between the beginning and end of a run.

The device is priced at $99.95 at Amazon, an excellent price for a featherweight GPS device that provides some impressive capabilities. The trade off is its quirky, “diamond in the rough” nature, confusing documentation and the fact that you cannot view run performance data in real time, only upon download. It’s a great tool for certain things but the lack of feedback during the run negates its value as a replacement for a Garmin, Nike+, Sunnto or other GPS unit.

Review by the Emerging Runner and Adventure Girl

Moji to Go Test #1 - Soccer Game

Based on feedback provided in the earlier Moji review, the Moji folks graciously sent along a companion product for the Moji Knee known as Moji to Go. This product allows you to keep the Moji Cold Cell (see image above) at a usable temperature outside of a freezer for up to 6 hours.

A more complete review will be posted in the next few weeks, but here is some initial feedback.

After a soccer game, and 3 hours after being removed from the freezer and placed in the Moji to Go, the Cold Cell was practically as cold as when removed from the freezer! It was also handy to have the Moji to Go ice sticks because a teammate injured his ankle a few minutes before the end of the game and the sticks functioned as a temporary source of ice. (I was tempted to try wrapping the Moji Knee around his ankle!) The Moji Knee provided excellent cold and compression for my knee for 30 minutes after the game, and being able to use it as soon as the game ended was a delight and surely was terrific for my knee.

I'm again very impressed with the quality of the Moji products, and I look forward to setting up a test that will require the Moji to Go to keep the Cold Cell frozen for close to 6 hours. It sounds like a good reason to visit some of my favorite, but distant, running trails. A complete review will be posted after that test!

Coming soon on Runner's Tech Review

Reviews of the QStarz GPS Sports Recorder, the Moji-To-Go portable icing unit, Helly Hansen Trail Lizard running shoes (above), AKG running in ear headphones and more!

The Moji Knee - The Smart Icing Alternative

This is the first review from the Emerging Runner's new section "Runner's Tech Review." Look for other reviews in the coming months.