Category: Apparel

A Speedy Vest for Commuting

Commuting on a bicycle can be a great way to start the day and for many people it is also the only time to get some exercise. Unfortunately, commuting can also be a sketchy proposition depending on the route that  is used to get to work. When my wife and I lived in California I had a 50 mile round trip commute that took me over the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco. Fortunately for me, there were very few incidents that occurred, but occasionally there was the run-in with an inattentive driver or bus operator. Since those days, I have always been alert to new ideas regarding commuting. Recently one in particular caught my eye – the Speed Vest, which was profiled recently in Make magazine.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading A Speedy Vest for Commuting

Wearable Sleeping Bag

With heating costs rising people who spend their cold evenings in front on the couch watching TV can curl up in such things as a “Snuggie,” “Snuggler, “Doojo” or “Toasty Wrap.” All the various names equate to the same thing, it is a sleeved blanket.

Maybe this was on Chilean graphic designer Rodrigo Alonso Schramm’s mind or possibly on his body when he came up with the idea of the Selk’Bag or Musuc’Bag, which is essentially a wearable sleeping bag. Whereas the “Snuggie” is basically a blanket with sleeves, the Selk’Bag – named after the nomadic Chilean Selk’nam people – is actually a sleeping bag with arms, legs and hood, as well as nylon soles with anti-slip pads. No doubt it makes answering nature’s call in the middle of the night a little easier too. With this Chilean-designed sleeping bag you’ll never have to be chilly again while camping.

There is even a kid’s model with front kangaroo pocket, a light weight version and one coming soon with detachable feet for those who want to wear boots, or possibly let their feet breathe. It is certainly an interesting concept, but we wonder – if you don’t have to get out of bed while camping how is this going to help. We almost expect to see people hiking in Selk’Bags in the future.

Selk’Bag Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Selk’Bag is a sleeping bag that you wear]

EA and adidas Originals Promote the Run

While many video games these days are getting gamers off the couch, one game will likely get gamers dashing to get a pair of athletic fashion shoes. The upcoming racing game Need for Speed The Run, which will arrive this November for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PC, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS will feature the iconic adidas Superstar shoes. Additionally the adidas branded apparel which will be available at all adidas Originals stores across the United States. Continue reading EA and adidas Originals Promote the Run

Hands On: Flash Shopping Site The Clymb

While some of you don’t need an introduction to flash shopping sites, I think it’s required here. Over the past few years flash shopping sites have emerged to bring the “sample sale” experience to online shoppers. They generally focus on an area of luxury goods such as fashion, home goods and home décor. Shoppers generally have to subscribe to be granted entry to the site, and get email notifications listing the sales each day. These sales, like sample sales, are for a limited time of about two or three days, and the site might host three or 12 sales from different designers or manufacturers on any given day. Continue reading Hands On: Flash Shopping Site The Clymb

Made in America: Aero Tech Designs

Descente, Bike Nashbar, Terry Precision, Head and Giant are familiar names in cycling apparel, but a name you may not be familiar with is Aero Tech Designs, Inc. of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. For over 25 years these companies, along with many others, have contracted with Aero Tech Designs to design and manufacture cycling apparel – all happening from their facility in this Pittsburgh suburb.

Founded by Cathy Schnaubelt Rogers, an avid cyclist and former racer herself, Aero Tech Designs prides itself on not only producing cycling apparel in the U.S.A., but also sourcing all of the raw material from domestic suppliers. The 10mm Italian inspired chamois is American made; the fabric is knit domestically in South Carolina; the thread is from American company Efrid of North Carolina – even the paper labels are printed locally in a domestic paper facility. Materials are brought together and assembled in Coraopolis by American workers. The company then sells the goods under the Aero Tech Design name.

(Video after the jump) Continue reading Made in America: Aero Tech Designs

G-Form Goes Stealth with Padding

Some sports require protective gear. Said protective gear is often awkward due to its bulkiness, stiffness and other restraints from the movement of the sport at hand. Rhode Island-based G-Form has impact absorbing protection gear that goes on soft but turns stiff like armor when the pressure of an impact is experienced. Continue reading G-Form Goes Stealth with Padding

EasyTone and Reebok’s Shapely Settlement With FTC

Reebok has reached a settlement with the FTC told to be worth $25 million in customer refunds concerning its EasyTone and RunTone Shoes. The FTC charges Reebok “deceptively advertised ‘toning shoes,’ which it claimed would provide extra tone and strength to the leg and buttock muscles.” As part of the settlement agreement Reebok will pay $25 million. The funds will go toward consumer refunds either directly from the FTC or through a court-approved class action lawsuit. Continue reading EasyTone and Reebok’s Shapely Settlement With FTC

Celtek Let’s You Use Your Digits to Text

Touchscreen devices may rule our gadget world, but when it comes to outdoor sports, they’re the bane of our existence oftentimes forcing us to expose our digits to the harsh cold as we skip a track or answer a text. Fortunately, Celtek’s new line of Touchscreen Gloves will keep your hands warm while letting you fiddle with your favorite touch-sensitive devices. The company’s 2012 lineup, which promises to work with all touch-enabled devices, will offer gloves that come in three varieties: acrylic blended with silver, rip-stop nylon blended with silver, and leather with built-in nanotechnology — the latter of which will provide the most conductivity.

Celtek estimates pricing will range from $24.99 (youth size) to $59.99 (men’s size), with many models coming in at $49.99. The gloves will be targeted at all users from the snowboarder, to the runner, to the urban dweller who just wants to keep their hands warm while updating their Facebook status.

Celtek Official Website
[via Transworld Business: Celtek Broadens Its Horizons With Touchscreen Glove Technology]

Stylish Shades That Protect the Eyes Too

In addition to serving a purpose, which is to keep the sun out of the eyes, sunglasses are often required to look good in the process. Electric Visual accomplished the later with its new Knoxville line, and in the process actually provided a line of glasses that will block 100 percent of UV rays as well.

The glasses feature Electric’s mineral polarized lenses that utilize pure optical glass that provides visual clarity along with color brilliance and contrast. Thus the lenses are good in the sun and because of the polarized makeup, which features two glass wafers and film won’t distort image, making for improved sharpness of vision for the wearer. The design also makes these among the lightest glass polarized lenses available, and as noted they offer 100 percent UV protection. Continue reading Stylish Shades That Protect the Eyes Too

Interbike 2011: KineticShift at the Show

We went, we saw, we rode! Last week’s Interbike allowed us to see the latest and greatest in new gear, gizmos and equipment in the world of bicycling. While a lot of this stuff won’t come cheap, it is clear that bicycles are going to lead the way when it comes to fitness technology. Here is our photo recap of Interbike 2011 from Las Vegas. Continue reading Interbike 2011: KineticShift at the Show

Made in America: DiEM Sportsgear

Name one company that gives away 30-percent of its profits. There aren’t many out that that would dream of such an act, but DiEM Sportsgear is not a normal company. They are a company that was launched earlier this year to supply a non-profit fund with money to achieve its main goal of giving back to the community. The non-profit, David’s Fund, was started by the family members of the young athlete, David Scott Mueller, whose life was cut tragically short in 2009 by a drunk driver in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

DiEM Sportsgear, the name derived from David’s initials, not only is unique with its goal of giving back, but they also pride themselves on making their apparel in the U.S.A. Currently the line only consists of athletic t-shirts for both men and women. Every shirt except for the ‘Basic T’ utilizes fast-dry fabric technology, are tag-less and are 92-percent polyester, 8-percent spandex. All T’s sold by DiEM Sportsgear are made in America.

Video after the jump Continue reading Made in America: DiEM Sportsgear

Fits Like a Glove (Obviously)

Since winter is just a few months away – we already are thinking about the studded tires from the new brand 45North – it is time to think about cold hands, so you don’t get cold feet about wanting to go for ride. HESTRA, the leading international glove brand in skiing, outdoor recreation and leisure, is launching a new line of cycling gloves is especially designed to keep your digits warm while riding in the cold.

This road and mountain bike glove line for fall/winter features flexibility, durability, safety and protection from the outdoor elements; along with grip control and reflectivity; plus GORE Windstopper Breeze technology for warmth during even the chilliest temperatures. HESTRA’s cold fall/winter bike collection presents riders with five options of gloves to choose from for those who spin their wheels in the fall and well into the winter when rain, snow, wind and other elements can chill fingers and hands. Continue reading Fits Like a Glove (Obviously)

Interbike 2011: Darn Tough Vermont Heads to Vegas

From Vermont to Vegas, with the heat, the casinos and the sights we hope that the team from New England survives this week, but as their name suggests they aren’t just tough. In fact, they’re Darn Tough Vermont, and this is the company that offers an unconditional lifetime guarantee that means “no time limits, no restrictions, no tiny type.”

The company is making this its Interbike debut, and showing its Vermont-made, lifetime-guaranteed Merino wool and Coolmax socks. The company takes part in providing the highest density knitting (1441 stitches per square inch), and that is paired with fine-gauge Merino wool yarn (21.5 micron) to create a sock that “simply refuses to quit.”

The company doesn’t quit on its friends either. Last week, in response to the devastation that has affected Vermont communities in the wake of Hurricane Irene, which included Darn Tough Vermont’s own hometown of Northfield, the company pledged to make an initial donation of 2,000 pairs of socks to those in need across the state.

“Everyone is giving what they can during this challenging time for our state,” said Ric Cabot, owner of Darn Tough Vermont. “While food and water take precedent, a new pair of socks can go a long way for a family who has lost many necessities, or for someone who is standing all day in damp, humid conditions trying to rebuild their community. I know it’s just socks, but it’s what we do.”

This isn’t only darn tough, but it is a darn nice thing to do!

Darn Tough Vermont Official Website