Sports Product Review

So what is it you carry to the gym? A gym bag? Excuse me if I chuckle. You may max out at more than I do, but unless you carry that tight, sleeveless compression shirt in the Cross Sport Duffle by High Sierra, (www.highsierrasport.com), you’ll always be jealous.

This is the gadget-lovers bag. One zipper up top? Try about thirty. Everywhere. This thing’s got more hidden compartments than a haunted mansion on Scooby Doo. There's a large, main compartment with U-shaped zippered opening for easy access and, below, a removable roll-out mat, which is great for working out, changing shoes or sitting in wet grass. PVC coating makes it easy to keep clean. The mesh sport flap holds a helmet, basketball or soccer ball and hides away in another zippered compartment when not in use. The easy-clean, PVC-lined, wet end section rolls up and the ventilation panel keeps contents dry.

Want more? The front pocket has a hanging mesh toiletry pocket, key fob and ventilation grommets which also keep contents dry. There is a CD/MP3 player pocket with headphone port, and zippered water bottle pocket which, again, hides away when not in use. Adjustable straps on the back panel hold a yoga mat, baseball bat or a jacket, and an elastic shock cord on the main compartment opening holds additional gear. Finally the Cross Sport offers a detachable/adjustable shoulder strap with non-slip pad, while the neoprene handle wrap wicks hand moisture.

Yes, Bruno, you look good in front of the mirror. But don’t pretend that when you see me pack up my gear and stow it away in my Cross Sport that you’re not a little envious of what I’m lifting.

Source: High Sierra

Before you know it, cold and flu season will be just around the corner. If you go to the gym or play or coach sports where you’re going to be in contact with sick, germ-ridden people, you need protection. The Invisible Armor (www.theinvisiblearmor.net) might be just what the doctor ordered to fend off their attacking germs and bacteria all workout or all game long.

The Invisible Armor does what ordinary hand sanitizers cannot. Most sanitizers contain mostly alcohol, which means they kill germs on your hands instantly, but as soon as you re-touch another contaminated item, you would need to re-apply. This isn’t very practical when using gym equipment or playing a game. However, The Invisible Armor not only kills most harmful germs and bacteria on contact, but it protects the skin, giving up to 4 hours of protection. Sweating does not diminish it’s effectiveness and, it is even an itch-reducing skin conditioning cream that can be applied to the whole body.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been coaching a baseball practice and, as the boys all partner up to throw, the kid opposite mine sneezes into his throwing hand, then grips the ball and fires over a germ-filled sphere to my son, who doesn’t think twice about grabbing it and throwing it back. Obviously I can’t run over and change balls or squirt hand-sanitizer on his hand before each throw. But now, if he’s protected with Armor, I’ll have less to worry about. The same principle applies in the gym when you’re gripping the bar that’s been exposed to dozens of hands before yours.

The Invisible Armor comes in lotion, handy wipes, and they make The Sportsman’s Armor for hunters and fishermen. So this fall and winter, when everyone else is complaining about the terrible colds and flu going around, you can breathe easier knowing you and your family are protected invisibly, with your own convenient suit of armor.

Source: Invisible Armor

If you find a slew of typos in this review, it’s because my arms are shaking. That’s because I just tried out the Wrist and Forearm Developer from Altus Athletic, (www.altusathletic.com). As with most great training aids, it is simple, yet as my jumpy fingers can attest—effective.

After connecting basic plate weights, the rope hangs down about four feet. Extending your arms outward and using your wrists, roll the cord up. Then slowly roll it back down. Repeat. It only takes a few pounds, and a few rolls, and you’ll feel it.

I’m not going for the Popeye look but I will tell you that this is going to be a regular part of my baseball-playing sons’ regimens from now on. Ten reps a day on the Developer between now and baseball season might be the difference between a base hit and a weak pop-out to short on a tough inside pitch. I don’t suppose super-strong forearms would be bad to have in any other sports they play either. 

I think they’re going to like the Altus Wrist and Forearm Developer. It’s just too bad it doesn’t come with a few cans of spinach.

Source: Altus Athletic

In the age of specialization, my son is one of those vanishing breed of high school athletes who plays more than one sport. So when football weight training started up, he developed a blister right under his middle finger that made it impossible to swing the bat in his summer baseball league. Fortunately, the blister eventually healed, and now there will be no more problems with sore hands thanks to his new fitness gloves from Bionic, (www.bionicgloves.com).

Bionic Gloves focus on the anatomy of the palm, fingers and thumb. These areas of the hand have bony prominences, or, high points of the bone next to the skin. The friction of a barbell, baseball bat or golf club against the bony prominences cause blisters, calluses and hand fatigue. Bionic Gloves feature strategically placed pads to reduce the pressure and friction caused by gripping a weight-bar, vastly improving both comfort and grip-strength. I’m sure my boy doesn’t understand or care about the science behind his Bionics. He says they feel great and make him stronger. They must look great too, because everyone has been asking him where he got them.

Working out in the weight room is not supposed to be easy. The team’s slogan is “No Pain—No Gain.” But pain that keeps you from doing your job doesn’t gain you anything. And tools like Bionic gloves, which not only allow you to continue doing your job, but do it better, help everyone get on the winning team.

Source: Bionic Gloves

What do most if not all athletes have in common? Let’s see! They’re rich, super gifted and famous. No! Well yes! But more importantly, whether on the court, on the football or soccer field or simply in the weight room trying to make sure their bodies stay tight, they ALL work up a sweat and increase their body temperatures.

This common problem can be solved with the new cooling vests by Artic Heat USA (http://www.arcticheatusa.com/). They aren’t inexpensive, but health should be the most important thing to any athlete.

This cooling vest takes the premise of the popular neck cooler to the next level. Utilizing special crystals, the Artic Heat vests lower the body temperature of the individual to combat the unavoidable overheating that the body will go through when involved in strenuous activity or extreme heat.

But don’t fret footballers; these vests can also be heated. So when you head to Green Bay this winter, you will be prepared.

The Artic USA vest stays cold up to 2 hours and can be re-cooled in about 10 to 15 minutes; just enough time to whip up a protein shake. And it’s lightweight, weighing in at just over 2 pounds. The average athlete walks around with more than 2 pounds of gear on just to be ready for a game.

So next time your coach says, it’s going to be a long practice today, you won’t sweat it—literally.

Source: Arctic Heat USA
Submitted by: Brandy Johnson