Author: Peter Suciu

Study: Sports Drinks Can’t Touch Tea, Coffee and Low-Fat Milk

Personal story – I love iced tea, and nothing beats several glasses of chilled iced tea following a long bike ride in the summer. I’ll power up with water during the ride, but when I’m back in the kitchen I’m all about the tea. Various friends have commented that I shouldn’t hit the tea following a ride – that it has too much caffeine and sugar. The irony is that some of these friends say this whilst guzzling a sports drink.

Now I feel somewhat vindicated following a recent study from the experts at the Institute of Food Technology, which found that sports drinks and enhanced waters can’t replace tea, coffee and low-fat milk for nutrition and workout recovery.

This is because tea has antioxidants, coffee has polyphenols and milk of course has both protein and vitamin D. Now of course the best advice is to eat some fruits and veggies after a workout too. But as for a post-workout drink, you actually can’t go bad with tea or coffee.

The irony has been that while I’m an active guy, and a self-professed fitness junkie, some colleagues have said, “but you drink so much tea.” The strange twist is that new findings suggest tea can boost immunity – which could explain why I’m rarely sick – and aid weight loss for physically active individuals. I’m pretty lean, so that could explain it.

All this means is that I’ll keep brewing the tea and have an ample supply for that post-ride beverage.

[Via EmaxHealth: Nutrition and workout recovery best from tea, coffee and milk]

Institute of Food Technology Official Website

Lobster Snowboards Coming for Fall 2011

The reports from the Snowsports Industries America Trade Show last month were that this the best year ever for those in the snow sports business. And next year another player will be on board – as Icelandic snowboarding brothers Eiki and Halldor Helgason announced their new company Lobster Snowboards.

“Eiki and me wanted to get on the same board program since day one. We really have fun and push each other when we ride together so this was a logical step for us,” said Halldor in a statement.

The new brand will be launched for Fall 2011, and will be using triple base technology on the Jibboard, the Parkboard and the Girlboard, and the company will also introduce Eiki Jib Board and Halldor Park Board graphics. Given the new trend towards “rocker” technology, we have to ask… any chance we might see a “Rock Lobster” snowboard. We guess we’ll find out this fall.

Lobster Snowboards Official Website

Flex Belt – Real Deal or High Tech Snake Oil?

One product caught our eye this week, and that’s the Flex Belt, which Susan Brady of HealthNews.com wrote about last Friday. This product offers the same types of promises that we see in many of the items that get called out in as being worthy of a “Kinetic(Mis)Shift.”

The Flex Belt is, from what we found, an electronic muscle stimulator (EMS), a product category that has been around for a while. It has even been cleared by the FDA as a class II medical device, and has been endorsed by Olympian Janet Evans and professional football player Jerry Rice. According to Brady, the Flex Belt utilizes “the same technology used by physical therapists to exercise the muscles of their patients who can’t do it as effectively for themselves.”

Our question is whether these electronic “cheats” are even the best use of technology, even if it actually works. So far, we’ll say this much, we’re not really convinced. The product is reportedly available for $199.99, and that’s a lot of money for a product that bills itself as being able to replace traditional crunches and exercise. For one thing, let’s say it does work. Should we really embrace any product that offers shortcuts? Because if you can get a flat stomach without the pain, couldn’t it encourage people to take the route of least resistance with other workouts? Feeling good is often about more than just looking good.

[Via HealthNews.com: Fitness Fridays: The Flex Belt]

Wahoo Fitness To Turn iPhone Into Digital Trainer

Among the companies at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show that showcased new products in the health and tech space was Wahoo Fitness, which recently introduced a line of Apple-friendly products, with the goal to bridge the gap between expensive fitness gear and everyday users.

Wahoo Fitness has developed the unique “fisica” technology, which via a phone dongle lets the iPhone handset or an iPod Touch receive information from various fitness monitoring devices including heart rate monitors, pedometers and other gizmos and gadgets. This plug-and-play add-on can work with around 40 leading fitness apps, helping deliver data to the handheld. The products communicate using ANT+ wireless protocol technology.

We’ll be sure to watch what Wahoo Fitness brings to market this year.

Wahoo Fitness Official Website

U.S. Digital Health Industry to Triple in Total Revenues Says Study

A healthy America could mean healthy profits for the digital health industry. These are the findings from a new Parks Associates forecast, which sees that U.S. revenues from digital health technology-enabled solutions and services will exceed $5.7 billion in 2012.

The study, titled “Delivering Quality Care to the Digital Home: 2010 Update,” shows that revenues in this space hit $1.7 billion in 2010, and further notes that this is a growing market. After all, there was the CES 2011 “Fitness TechZone,” which showcased digital innovations including apps, while numerous companies have gotten on board with the idea of digital health. Continue reading U.S. Digital Health Industry to Triple in Total Revenues Says Study

Flex Goggles Let Swimmers Become Predator in the Water

While much of the United States is being hammered with snow, down under is another story. Despite some floods and a terrible cyclone, summer is in full swing and thus time to get in some swimming before the coming of fall. This week keen swimmers were offered a way to improve their stroke techniques and help their level of performance with two products from Zoggs.

The 4 Flexpoint Predator Flex Goggles are designed for use in pools as well as open swimming, and these feature enhanced frame styling, along with Fogbuster impregnated anti-fog lenses. The goggles offer quick adjust straps that can make for easy adjustments while swimming, plus 180 degrees of undistorted peripheral vision from the Curve Lens Technology. There are even mirrored lens to suit a variety of light conditions.

The Four-Stoke Positive Drive Fins can help users with all strokes. These training fins feature an offset foot pocket, which promotes natural supination in the kick turning for positive drive, while the ellipsoidal shaped blade provides ideal thrust in all the main four kick cycles. There is also an ergonomic foot pocket that is designed to provide greater comfort for training. The fins come in sizes 2/3 to 13/14.

Both products should help you feel like a big fish in a small pond, and more importantly a much faster fish at that. Let’s hope these products catch the current to North America this year.

Zoggs Official Website

Macworld Expo:Abvio Brings Out the Meters

While last week’s Macworld Expo didn’t exactly bring out any big announcements – the Verizon iPhone was already old news, and it was hard to say much about updates to the iPad or iPhone anyway – fitness was in the news.

Last week Abvio previewed its 5.0 version of its trio of iPhone apps, which include the Runmeter, Walkmeter and Cyclemeter. These offer similar features yet are a tuned into – note we didn’t say iTuned in – to specific forms of exercise. The 5.0 releases have also been submitted to Apple, so now it is just time to play the waiting game before going the distance with the meters.

Each of these will take advantage of the social networking opportunities as the company has partnered with dailymile.com, a 200,000 member social network for runners and fitness buffs. This integration will allow users of the Abvio app to share workout results in real time through the website and even get responses from other users during their workout. Information can also be shared with Facebook and Twitter, or send to friends via e-mail.

The apps will also utilize the GPS capabilities of the iPhone, allowing users to trek their course and monitor the progress, complete with audio feedback about pace and distance.

The dailymile link-up will further add a new level of friendly yet Virtual Competition. Friends can import a friend’s route as well as time and progress and try to beat it. We say game on, so get going.

Abvio Official Website

SIA: Like Sleeping on Air

One thing that isn’t so great about the great outdoors is sleeping on the ground, especially in the winter when said ground can be frozen. If you’re looking to be a little less extreme in your extreme travels, or just seek a little comfort while roughing it, Kymit has you covered. Or rather they have you undered, as in the company has a product that means no more sleeping on the ground.

At least weeks Snowsports Industries America trade Show Klymit showed off the Interia X-Frame, a sleeping pad for campers that can fold down to the size of a nine-ounce, soda can-sized pack – yet blows up in no time. It inflates via a simple push-pull valve that is entirely lung powered with 10 or so puffs. In other words a bit of huffing and puffing means no more sleeping on the dirt.

Klymit Official Website

SIA: Bluetooth Comes to Googles

If you’re having a working vacation on the slopes, or just think you can do serious multitasking, the Recon ski goggles with Bluetooth might be for you. The company has added the wireless technology to its latest line of Transcend GPS-powered alpine goggles, and these can connect with a smartphone to access playlists, caller ID or even to read text messages.

The new goggles, which were shown last week at the SIA (Snowsports Industries of America) trade show in Denver, can also connect to a video camera, with the LCD screen within the eyewear lens acting as a viewfinder. These Transcend goggles further feature a navigation system with buddy-tracking and even integrated trail maps.

Pricing and availability haven’t been announced, but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for these.

Recon Official Website

SHOT Show: SOG Shows Its Edge In The Contractor Series

Doing the job right starts with using the right tool, and at last week’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas, SOG Knives introduced four tools for the Contractor series, and these are designed specifically for tradesman and those who know that knives are more for just cutting stuff. The company’s line also included the Nautical precision multi-tool, which is geared for underwater digging, prying and scraping, as well as the Force, a nearly foot-long knife for long-duration uses.

In the Contractor series the company builds on its nearly 25 years of experience as the supplier of knives and tools for industrial, contractor and DIY markets, and this year’s four knives are ideal for those who like a bit of adventure as well. These four knives feature multi-bladed lockback, holes/notches for stripping wire and G10 or aluminum grips as well as razor sharp blades. The line will be out in spring of this year. Here are the highlights:

The Contractor I (MSRP: $48.00) will feature notches for stripping wire, one handed opening and aluminum grips.
The Contractor II (MSRP: $48.00) offers a lockback design, sheepsfoot blade shape, G10 grips and one handed opening.
The Contractor III (MSRP: $55.00) is a multi-bladed lockback with G10 grips and one handed opening.
The Contractor IV (MSRP: $55.00) has a lockback design with hooked blade shape, G10 grips and one handed opening.

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools New Products For 2011 Official Site

Push It, This is War

It almost seems fitting that DailyBurn would introduce an iPhone app called “Push-Up War” this month. The late Jack LaLanne still holds the world’s record for doing 1,000 push-ups in just 23 minutes – and now this app, which integrates with Facebook and Apple’s GameCenter, allows users the ability to see how they stack up on the leaderboards.

The app takes advantage of an iPhone’s camera to easily record a video of a user’s push-up session, and this can be uploaded online, where users can earn new “ranks” as they continue entering more pushups. To ensure that there is no cheating – something we know Jack would never do – a video recording of every push-ups entry is required.

The Push-Up Wars app is available for download from the Apple App Store for just $0.99, and we’re hearing word that an Android version in the works. So get ready to push it real good, because this time it means war.

Push-Up Wars Leaderboards

Chris Del Bosco Lights Up Africa From Ski Slopes

This week Nokero International Ltd., maker of the world’s only solar light bulb, announced an interesting partnership with Olympian  and X Games Ski Cross defending gold medalist Chris Del Bosco to provide light for those in Kenya. This is part of a new program called Ski 4 Light, which will be launched at the ESPN Winter X Games 15 in Aspen, Colorado.

Del Bosco will be wearing a Nokero-enhanced helmet outfitted with an LCD display and solar panel when he competes Friday, January 28 and Sunday, January 30. The skier is doing this to bring attention to the 1.6 billion people who live daily without electricity across the globe and often burn kerosene for light. Del Bosco, a Colorado native, is looking to use his talents and exposure in the sports world to spread the word and help bring light to those who need it most.

“I believe in setting goals and going after them,” said Del Bosco. “My goal is to help raise $20,000 in donations, translating into 1,000 Nokero bulbs for the people of Kenya.”

The Nokero bulb is already being used in over 70 countries that have limited, intermittent or no electricity such as Haiti, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Ghana and Chile. The Ski 4 Light project’s aim is to directly help the people in Kenya, who live with no electricity and use dangerous fuel-based lanterns. With each $20 donation, a Nokero solar light bulb will be delivered to Kenyan.

Del Bosco and Nokero have further pledged to give 1,000 bulbs to impoverished people in Kenya if he can win the Winter X Games 15 Skier X competition.

Nokero Official Website

SHOT Show: Universal Combat Shirt

This shirt is strong enough for soldiers on the front line, so while it is a bit pricier than other base layers, you know it is going to stand up to some true extremes. Massif has been producing the US Army issue Army Combat Shirt, and now the company has introduced the commercial Universal Combat Shirt, which is based on the ACS.

The UCS is designed for wear under armor – should you require armor that is – and it even provides flame protection, making this ideal for search and rescue teams, and others that might find themselves in such hazardous conditions. It features FR stretch fabrics that are still lightweight, breathable and even highly wicking to keep the sweat off you.

So what is the big difference between this and the ACS? For one the new shirts are available in a wider range of colors, including tan, OD and MultiCam – sorry, it is still military styled so you’re going to get those military colors. But it still features the low-profile shoulder pockets to provide easy access to gear, with durable mesh pocket bags to increase ventilation and flat seams that won’t chafe under armor or other layers.

UCS at Massif.com