Nike Free Bionic: My New Favorite Training Shoe!

Over the years, I've always just worn my runners to the gym.  This was fine when doing any running, stairs, sprinting, or high impact cardio.  In fact, due to my very flat feet and inclination towards plantars fasciitis, my runners were/are a must during these types of exercises. However, I knew I wasn't getting the optimal performance from my shoes when I was using TRX or doing any strength training (ie weighted reverse lunges, bent leg dead lift, etc).  During these types of workouts, I could feel my feet shifting in my shoes and I didn't have a really great grip on the gym floor.  This always made me wonder if I was doing more harm then good and possibly causing damage to tissue in my knees and ankles with the slippage.

A few friends of mine recently purchased the Nike Free Bionic shoe for such workouts.  They appeared to be a minimalist type of shoe and so at first I thought that the lack of support and cushioning would not work for my feet.  Then I read up on them and figured, if I only wore them when I was doing strength training and TRX classes, they may be just the ticket!  I went online and bought a very cute pair (they come in loads of fun colors)!  I ordered them from http://www.footlocker.com and got them on sale for $79 + tax/shipping!

Black/Anthracite/Pink Foil | Width - B - Medium

I live in Canada but these came in a week!  Awesome! Who doesn't love to get packages quickly!  
Anyway, I tried these out at the gym the very next day for a strength class.  They were perfect! Zero slippage when I was doing weighted reverse lunges.  They are as light as air!  I notice a huge difference when doing box jumps with comparison to when I wore my usual runners. These are very flexible shoes.  As I've said before, they offer very little in the way of support so you couldn't/shouldn't wear them running (unless you are one of those people who can run in minimalist shoes without any injuries).  I'm extremely happy with these shoes!  At first when I put them on and walked around the house in them they felt really weird - they are nothing like my regular runners.  As soon as I started working out at the gym, they no longer felt strange. I really had to pay no attention to my feet at all because for once they felt completely secure!  

I highly recommend giving the Nike Free Bionic a try if you do a lot of strength training workouts!  Again, I would use caution if you are looking for a multipurpose type of shoe (like a cross trainer) - not sure these will be what you are looking for or if they are right for your feet.

Cheers!
Jamie

Awaiting New Glyder Items!

As I have been patiently awaiting the upload of more sizes and colors of Glyder's Mantra Crops and Ninja Crops, a few other items on the site have caught my eye :-)  Surprise surprise!

Currently I am awaiting the arrival of the Paradise Sports Bra in Black, $44.

I love the cute back detailing of the straps!  It looks like a great yoga, pilates, barre and gym workout bra.  It is designed for yoga and pilates but I am thinking that us smaller-chested ladies may be able to get more bang for our buck and be able to wear it to medium impact gym workouts (ie strength workouts). Not sure yet if I would be able to run in it or not, but I will keep you all posted when it arrives!!!  I ordered a small - I usually wear a size 6 or 34C in my sports bras if you would like a reference.  The site has an excellent size chart as well!


I'm also waiting for the Lotus Tank in Cozumel Teal Space Dye, $46.

This tank has built a built in shelf bra and space to put in cups if you wish (I always do as it gives you a much smoother look).  I love this space dye color!  A beautiful mix of pink and blue!  I will wear this to yoga, barre, pilates, and for low impact gym workouts.  I probably won't wear this for a run just because I like lots of support when I run, even though I am not a large chested lady. Nothing hurts more than your girls moving around too much when you are out running!  I usually wear a size 6 in tanks so I ordered a small.

These should be arriving any day now and I will keep you posted as to fit and functionality of these items!

Cheers! Happy Spring!
Jamie


Visit the Glyder Apparel website:
www.http//work-sweat-play.com

Glyder Mantra Crops: So Great I'm Reviewing Them A Second Time!!!!

I ordered Glyder Apparel Mantra Crops in Black and Charcoal Heather a while back and I can not say how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!!

I've worn both pairs at least once a week since they arrived and they are amazing!  I wash them with like fabrics and hang to dry - as I do with all of my workout gear.  Not one sign of pilling anywhere in sight on either pair!  They haven't stretched out one bit with wear!  They continue to stay put when I run, do yoga, lift weights, do burpees, you name it!  It has been at least a few years since I've seen this kind of quality in my workout gear!  

(These are the Charcoal Heather pair.  Sorry, it's really hard to get a good shot of your own pants! LOL You can see from the picture, though, the great compression and how they flatten out your tummy area and hold you in nicely.  No muffins here!)


I've recently messaged the company as I want to order more colors in the Mantra Crop and I want to try the Ninja Crops in black.  Currently my size 6 is sold out in all of the colors that I want on their website http://www.work-sweat-play.com.   They assured me that in the next month or so there will be more stock on hand.  When they replenish the stock these will be mine!!!

Mantra Crop, Navy Space Dye  $52

Ninja Crop, Black $68

Something that I really love about the way this company is dealing with their stock is that they continue to replenish stock items that they know people love!  This is something that I think Lululemon could learn from! Instead of putting out a great item for a short time in limited quantities and then never making that same item again, or at least not making it the same way with the same materials, keep making the tried and true!  Sure, we all like to try something new every now and then but when it comes to core workout gear, keep it simple and keep the quality high!

If you haven't tried Glyder Apparel yet, I highly recommend that you do!  The clothes are high quality, they fit great and the price is right!

Cheers and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Jamie

PS- I do not receive any financial or product incentive when I write about products on my blog.  I do this for fun and to hopefully help inform others on what is out there!  :-)

Latest Lululemon Excursion :-)

So I wandered into a store today that carries a limited selection of Lululemon gear in my area (I live nowhere near a Lululemon store unfortunately) in search of a Bang Buster Headband.  I recently decided that bangs were a good idea (and I still think they are) but they get in the way when I work out.  My head sweats a lot when I workout so all those hairs around my face a just a pain!

Of course I didn't go directly to the wall of headbands right away when I arrived.  I had to take a quick peek around in case something else caught my eye.  Then I saw a few pairs of Cadet Blue Wunder Unders. Tentatively I picked up one of the tags to check the size.  I was sure they'd only have size 10 and 2 left, as per usual.  NOPE!  There they were!  Size 6!  Squeal!  So I tried them on right away.  Did the bend test and PERFECTION!  Not sheer at all!!!  They are reversible too so I can either wear the Cadet Blue or the all Black side if I want.  Needless to say, I bought these on the spot!  They disappeared online rather quickly so I never dreamed I'd find them so close to home!

Reversible Wunder Under Crops  $82

Cadet Blue/Black

I did try on the Bang Buster Headband and it is just the thing I was looking for!  Cute, and adjustable (you can make it as wide or narrow on your head as you want).  This will work well at the gym or out for a run.  I might give it a try in a hot yoga class as well.  If I have it low enough on my forehead it may help keep some sweat from rolling into my eyes!  

Bang Buster Headband   $18

Black

All in all a great Saturday morning shopping trip!  

Happy weekend everyone!

Jamie

Race With Grace Crops: Lululemon Review

A few weeks ago, I was looking through the WMTM (We made too much) section of the Lululemon website as I often do.  They had the Race With Grace Crops on for $59.  I really wanted a new pair of running crops and these had great reviews and the price was right so I ordered them.

Mistakenly, I ordered the Light Soot and Bali Breeze color.  I meant to order the Soot Light and Wee Stripe White, but I ordered quickly before going to a 6 am class at the gym.  I guess my mind was awake enough to remember my credit card info but not enough to check the color I had selected.  LOL!  I love the Bali Breeze waist band, but not particularly struck on the colored stripe down the leg, but they were on sale so I have to keep them anyhow.  It's not so much that the stripe doesn't look sharp, but ladies who are like me and have a more generous hip and thigh area, we usually try not to attract extra attention there with bright colors, stripes, and other frills.  

These crops fit like a dream!  I love the little back pocket for your key when you go out for a run. The waist band stays in place nicely when you run/jump etc.  I wore these to a class that had a lot of cardio (suicides, burpees, sprinting, etc) and they stayed in place throughout the class. The material is lovely and soft.  

One thing that I did notice when I tried them on first is that they are a little on the sheer side.  When I say sheer, I mean I can't wear any underwear with them or not only will you see vpl (visible panty lines), but you will know what color the underwear are as well!  I took out the rip tag and went commando to run in these.  That being said, any deep bends while wearing these crops would not be too smart :-)  I'll wear these to upper body strength and cardio classes and when I want to go for a run.  I won't wear these to an ab class, a lower body strength class (where you would have to do deep squats or lunges), barre, or yoga classes.

The first question most people ask when you say a crop is sheer is 'did you buy the correct size'?  Yep.  I bought my regular size 6.  As it was, I had to pull the drawstring in the waist tighter so if I had purchased a size 8, the waist would have been way too big and wouldn't have stayed up at all.  I don't usually care as much if my tag says 6 or 8, but I do care if the crop does its job and stays put while I workout.

All in all, not a bad crop but not as multi-functional as other crops in my fitwear wardrobe.

Cheers!
Jamie