The average sock is made from synthetic fibers. But a good, premium sock is often made from wool, and preferably merino wool. The truth is that synthetic fibers are constructed to mimic the properties of natural fibers, often wool. A good wool will provide cushioning, where intended, and wick moisture from your skin.
Those are some of the properties Point6 counts on when it constructs its premium wool socks. The company adds durability among its claims, too, and they’re made in America. Point6 just released details for its fall 2012 line, and we thought we’d share some of the goods coming out in the fall. Continue reading Point6 Shows its Fall Line of Merino Wool Socks
We’ve known for a long time that our smartphone is a great workout accessory, but a market research report released by Lab42 just drives the point home. The agency surveyed 500 social media users currently focused on their health and fitness. Among the respondents, 51 percent use their smartphones during their workout. Of those, 91 percent use their smartphone to listen to music; 43 percent track their pace on their phone; and 33 percent check their email while workout out. 
Several forces recently joined together to promote the Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) Challenge. Those forces include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN); the Entertainment Software Association (ESA); and leaders from the U.S. video game industry.
Last year Virginia Tech – Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences began testing adult football helmets. The school just released its 2012 ratings, and added two helmets with five-out-of-five stars, joining last year’s pick.
The most-funded Kickstarter project to date is the Pebble smartwatch, and it landed its first app partner this week – working-tracking app RunKeeper. Users will still have to wait until fall for the release, but when it arrives it will be able to interact with an iPhone or Android device, and with the RunKeeper app will provide data straight to the wrist. Users can take control of their handset, which can remain tucked away in a pocket or pack. 
Many athletes participating in contact sports wear mouthguards to prevent injury. Some researchers are finding that a custom mouthpiece might also aid recovery after a strenuous workout. Researchers from the Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Science at The Citadel and from the Department of Health and Human Performance from the College of Charleston, both in Charleston, South Carolina, conducted research on the recovery benefits of wearing a mouthpiece. 
The Tour de France is still just over two months away, but yellow products are popping up with cycling tie-ins. Polar is offering a limited edition Polar RCX5 Tour de France training computer. 
Athletic shoe, apparel and accessory maker Finish Line just formed a multi-year partnership with the Special Olympics. Finish Line will provide support for the Special Olympics, and become the only national sponsor of the TRAIN Athlete Sports Assessment program, and also support for the Nutrition Education Program that’s part of the athletic event. 
It’s always nice to see a company responding to customer feedback. Endomondo is one such company. It asked users what features they’d like to see in the iPhone app. Users responded with requests for interval training, which Endomondo granted in its newly updated version. 
There’s some innovations we have to applaud for getting people on the bike and doing some exercise. Chalktrail is one of those innovations. Chalktrail is an accessory that drags a very big piece of sidewalk chalk behind a bike or scooter to leave a line. Possibilities for fun are endless. 
Handlebar grips are a necessary accessory on every bike, but they can be difficult to put on. Grip tape wants to be wrapped just right, and then it can slip. Formed grips are extremely difficult to slide over the handlebars and into place. Kickstarter project GripRings by Spurcycle hopes to change that by providing modular silicone rings to be stacked to form grips on several types of handlebars. 
Employees at the Google campus will have a new way to zip around. The company has unveiled new GBike, which was created by a team of engineers within the company. It is the result of about 40 submissions in a design competition from company employees, and it will debut later this month.