We’ve chatted before and y’all know I have my toe pretty deep in the proverbial pond of the gear testing world. And while it clearly has its perks, the negatives do exist. Gear is expensive, regardless of the sport, so why waste money on something that isn’t going to make you happy?
Quite a few of you expressed interest in a “gear I’m not loving” post, and I am happy to oblige! However, here is the thing: there truly aren’t too many products that I abhor. Sometimes I will dislike the fit; other times, I am simply indifferent. In the end, I’m willing to share the good, the bad and the unnecessary in the hopes that you guys will trust my opinions the next time you fork over the cash for a pair of sneakers.
How often will I post these Gear Friday posts? Not sure. As of now, I am so backlogged with unwritten reviews that I could easily do them once per week until the snow falls. But will I do that? Highly unlikely! First of all, I can’t always promise I’ll write on Fridays with weekend adventuring to be had! Secondly…I just don’t know. Can’t be more honest than that!
What I’m Loving: PULSE Activewear
Photos by Will Rochfort
I’m willing to bet the majority of you haven’t heard of PULSE Activewear? Truthfully, I had never even heard the name until last winter!
Since my family owns a small business, I am all about staying local and small when possible. PULSE fits the bill! They are a local Denver company that sources Merino wool from animal and environmentally-friendly farms in New Zealand. They then turn this wool into outdoor and fitness apparel, and while they don’t have a massive inventory, they do have plenty of products to choose from.
I was doing pull-ups on a ledge in an old barn, but that big ol’ nail was cramping my style!
For those that are unfamiliar, Merino wool is the bomb! It is incredibly soft but breathes and wicks moisture better than synthetic material. Plus, it doesn’t hold odor like synthetics can which means you don’t stink in the backcountry. True story!
I tested out PULSE’s Ultra sports bra, the PULSE Naked Sport Camisole, and the Fitness underwear {sorry, but I refuse to use the word panty by choice. It’s just awkward!} Of the group, I fell in love with the Sport Camisole and the underwear!
The camisole works fantastic for backpacking or day hiking, and I even wore it to CrossFit a few times to see how it fared under supremely sweaty conditions. It was disgusting, but it really didn’t stink that much. Same goes for the underwear; I’ve worn them on multiple backpacking trips since December, and I continue to be astounded by how comfortable they are. I was never someone that truly subscribed to expensive underwear for backpacking, but I’m starting to see the light
On the down side, I was not a fan of the Ultra bra. The velcro that cinched the straps on my shoulders was slightly itchy and I never figured out how to get beyond that. Was it tolerable? Sure, but it definitely did not become a go-to favorite.
What I’m Liking: currexSole
I was hesitant to agree to testing the currexSole insoles because I don’t typically wear them. Would I be able to offer a solid opinion when I didn’t have much experience in that genre?
In the end, I decided to go with their ActivePro insole. It is meant to go inside all-around shoes that are worn for sports or general fitness activities. For me, that meant that I wore them to CrossFit!
I have worn the same shoes to CrossFit for at least six months now, so it was easy to determine the difference upon using the ActivePro inserts. They are offered in three profiles – low, medium and high – depending on how high your arches are and where your feet naturally rest. Since I have flat feet, I went with the low profile insoles, and they fit great.
I favored the insoles the most while doing sprints at CrossFit: the medium rebound PORON cushion gave me a little extra pep in my step when I pounded on the pavement behind the building. While it wasn’t a huge, eye-opening difference, I did feel that the extra padding allowed my body to absorb and manage the impact better than it usually does.
However, I didn’t put these insoles in the “love” category because I noticed a few issues with them. First of all, the heel of the insole was a bit wide for all of my shoes. Upon inserting it into my Nanos, I noticed that it creased just a bit in order to fit. I tried them in two other pairs of shoes and experienced the same thing. Additionally, the surface of the ActivePros was slippery, and I noticed my socks sliding against the surface while running and doing lunges.
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