KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

Play the Whole Life

Life isn’t a game, but staying fit doesn’t have to be work. The Whole Life Challenge promises to make fitness fun – or at least less of an ordeal. This eight-week online and in-your-life game allows players to compete with friends and family and make choices regarding health, fitness and lifestyle habits.

The idea here is to turn making positive changes in health, fitness, and lifestyle into a game-a game that every player can win by making daily choices that support your long-term health, life and vitality.

While the current registration is closed, players can sign up now for the next challenge, which will take place between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Continue reading Play the Whole Life

Le Map de France

The Tour de France is in its final week, but Vive Le Tour until next year. Endurance Conspiracy artist Tony DeBoom has honored the 100th running of the longest race (bicycle or otherwise) in the world with a limited edition print. Each of these posters is signed by the artist and proceeds will be donated to the Bikes Belong Foundation.

Only 50 will be made, so get them while you – but we have to ask… why not 100?

Tour de France 100 Year Anniversary Poster

Nike Looks to Adapt

Adapt or die. For Nike Golf it is apparently never say die, instead the company looks to not only adapt but to Hyperadapt with its new golf jacket that promises to give athletes added comfort, mobility and of course protection from the elements. It featured no-sew technology throughout the inner layer, which helps minimized chaffing, while a four-way stretch system maximizes mobility and eliminates any restrictions in the swing.

The Hyperadapt Storm-FIT jacket recently withstood wind gusting at 35 mph along with heavy rains during the Irish Open, so it should more than work out for most golfers heading for nine holes.

Nike Golf Official Website

Seamaster and Commander

If spending nearly $7,000 for a watch is a normal occurrence for you and you know the sport of sailing, then you certainly know the Omega brand. The company unveiled its Omega Seamaster Diver ETNZ Watch to commemorate the 34th America’s Cup at an event in San Francisco last month. It doesn’t hurt that the watchmaker also has a partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand.

This watch is water resistant to 1,000 feet but most who take part in sailing hope not to test that feature out. It also offers a rotating bezel, a helium escape valve and we expect keeps perfect time.

Omega Official Website

Phone Fitness

Is your mobile phone making you fat? According to researchers at Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services, excessive mobile phone use – including talking, web surfing, game playing, and of course texting can disrupt physical activity and could reduce cardio-respiratory fitness.

What is most worrisome is that it is the youth that could be at greater risk. The researchers reported surveyed more than 300 Midwest college students on their mobile handset use and activity levels, and found that those who spend large times using the devices were less fit than those who averaged little more than 90 minutes of cell phone use each day.

This could suggest putting down the phone and going for a walk, or if you have to talk on it, do so while out on the go.

[Via International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity: The relationship between cell phone use, physical and sedentary activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in a sample of U.S. college students]
[Via RedOrbit: High Use Of Mobile Phones Linked With Poor Fitness]

Difference of Night and Day

Chrome’s new Bravo Night backpack gives new meaning to the concept of versatile. It features full 3M reflective panels that are visible up to 100 meters at night. During the day it looks like a sleek black bag, but when the sun goes down its reflective qualities allow riders to be seen.

The Bravo Night features a 1000 denier Cordura outer shell, with 1000 denier military grade trunck tarpaulin liner, and weatherproof urethane coated YKK zippers. It even offers an ergonomic shoulder-strap with EVA foam back panel so it will be comfortable for the commute to and from work, while the welded-waterproof main compartment will keep a laptop or tablet computer high and dry.

Chrome Bravo Night Official Website

KD VI is A-OK

Basketball shoes continue to evolve and Nike’s KD VI takes a radical turn from traditional high-topped shoes, instead offering a lighter weight with increased agility. These were designed with insight from Kevin Durant, who proclaimed that he wanted “people in the top of the arena to be able to see my shoe,” and with the bright yellow color there will no missing these.

These feature a low-profile with responsive cushioning, along with a Max Air unit for maximum impact protection on hard landings. The shoe feature offers a two-layer upper that is ultra-thin yet features Flywire technology to provide a secure fit, along with stability and support during quick cuts.

Shoe Deisgner Leo Change noted that these “always start with him (Durant)” but now these are ready for everyone else.

KD VI at the Nike Store

Back in the Shell

Mobile devices can keep you connected, but for those with an “active” lifestyle that can also mean a broken or damaged phone or tablet. Armor-X has created a line of waterproof and rugged cases for cycling, running, rowing and even jet skiing.

The company’s new ActionShell series will have your device covered. The European brand has helped athletes take their handsets and tablets on the go, and is now coming out of its shell in America. It might be the next best thing to leaving the phone at home to ensure it is protected.

Armor-X Official Website

Lefties Get Forged Blade

South paws don’t always have an easy time of it, as the world is often created by right-handed people. But Miura Golf is looking to make it a little easier for those left-handed golfers. The company has expanded its left-handed offerings to include a new LH Limited Forged Black Blade and new LH Black Wedges.

The LH Limited Forged Black Blades will certainly seem similar. These feature the same shape and performance to the company’s RH Limited Forged Black Blades. In addition the new LH Black Wedges mirror the successful Miura RH Black Wedges, featuring lofts in 51, 55 and 59 degrees. These also features design that follows the performance principles of the RH Blacks.

The Blades and Wedges offer a striking no-glare, jet-black finish that “breaks in” over time and play, settling into a silvery-gray patina that’s a little different for each golfer, depending on where and how often he or she plays.

Miura Golf Official Website

Scoot Pack Ready to Fly

We’ve seen folding bikes that can help a commute to work, and now Glyde Gear has something for the younger crowd. For those heading back to school in just a few weeks there is the Glyde Gear Fly, which is part backpack and part scooter.

As a scooter it can be ridden like any other, and is made of a glass-reinforced nylon foot platform. It actually consists of three wheels to help maintain balance for those bringing a load of books back and forth to school. The foot platform can folded up and the Fly worn as a traditional backpack. It is made of 600 denier polyester and features a large 25.4-liter main compartment, along with front utility pocket and even a water bottle pocket. There is a padded back panel and shoulder straps so it can be worn like a backpack as well.

Glyde Gear Fly Official Website

Shimano Feeling Blue

While every rider in the Tour de France may want to be in yellow, the Shimano limited edition R320 cycling shoe may have some feeling the need to be in blue. In fact, a group of selected Tour de France riders, including Edvald Boasson Hagen, Simon Gerrans and Marcel Kittel have been spinning through France in these special blue shoes. These offer the same features and technologies as the high end racing shoe R320, including Custom-Fit and Dynalast but has a special blue design.

These limited edition shoes are not only made for professional riders, but are also available for consumers. Shimano produced a limited number of shoes which are exclusively available in United States, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Spain, Slovakia, Poland and Israel. Race to the shop to pick up a pair.

Shimano Press Release: Shimano launches a limited edition R320 shoe during Tour de France

Nike Looks to Incyte

While it might be hard to reinvent the wheel, Nike continues to look to refine the soccer ball. Its new Incyte was designed with Nike RaDaR technology and micro-textured casing to provide for high visibility and consistent touch on the field. This pattern reportedly allows players to see the ball and react faster, while the five-layer construction provides for better control at first touch.

The design also promises faster, farther and more accurate ball flight. Nike might just “incite” a revolution on the soccer pitch with the Incyte.

Nike Incyte Official Website

Speed Beast

Graeme Obree – a.k.a. the Flying Scotsman – made famous for his efforts to set the one hour record on the track with a homemade bicycle that included parts from a washing machine, is now reportedly looking to break the human-powered land speed record. More than that this innovative cyclist hopes to break the 100 mph barrier at the same time, and he looks to do so with the Beastie.

This bicycle will put Obree in the prone position inside a Kevlar and fiberglass shell, which features a rounded front section. Obree will reportedly head to Nevada’s Battle Mountain to look to make his record attempting ride in September.

[Via Human Invent: Graeme Obree unveils the finished Beastie]