Category: Equipment

Power (Platform) to the People

Too many Americans are probably carrying around too much weight, whilst those who are toned up and fit probably have too in the way of weights. That’s the belief of Donnie Gorsuch, the inventor of the Power Platform. Her thinking is that since the average American male can only bench press about 135 pounds without risking injury, and the average American woman can only press about 60 pounds, there is little reason for weigh machines that go up to 500 pounds.

Nor does she believe that there is good reason to fill the average home gym with a lot of gym equipment and lifting machines when the only real weight you need to lift is that of your own body. Gorsuch found a way to get the lifting in by essentially creating a brace for bodyweight training called the Power Platform. Continue reading Power (Platform) to the People

A Skateboard Made for Combat

Serious skateboarders are always looking for new challenges, and the DTV Shredder might just be the next big thing in skating. A similar approach came from Bryson Lovett’s Vertrax Electric Skateboard that we wrote about last month, but the DTV Shredder would likely leave that one in the dust!

Continue reading A Skateboard Made for Combat

Biomechanist Jean Jacques Rivet Joins aboutGolf

If you want to improve your performance in any sport, you go to the expert to help you what you’re doing wrong and how to correct it. For golf this means working on swing optimization, and this week aboutGolf announced that Jean Jacques Rivet has joined their team as a new partner.

Rivet is a renowned sportsman, as well as a professional engineer, who has worked on the advancement of biomechanics and body motion. His company, BiomecaSwing has worked with golfers to attain a new level of game performance by applying a proven scientific approach. Rivet will serve as a consultant to aboutGolf in its ongoing product development, including its performance products such as the aG Balance, aG Flix and future TechCentric suite of products. Continue reading Biomechanist Jean Jacques Rivet Joins aboutGolf

Running on a Moving Treadmill?

When we first heard about the Treadmill Bike we were convinced it was a joke. After all, why the need to combine a treadmill with a bike? Couldn’t you just run outside? Running on a tread to move a device not only seem counter productive but it sort of seems incredibly silly too. But in fact it is a real device, and one that has been getting a fair amount of attention lately.

The truth is that most stories about it ask the same exact questions we’re asking, which is why you couldn’t just go running instead. Apparently the benefits of the device are that it offers (according to the official website) “the benefits of running on a convention treadmill but outside.” The Treadmill Bike thus further protects “your feet from dirt and other contaminants commonly found on the earth’s surface.” Continue reading Running on a Moving Treadmill?

CES 2011 to Focus on Lifestyle

As long time attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show we at KineticShift.com know there are plenty of “active” technology to see, but most of the show has been far more focused on passive entertainment. It is after all the show about HDTV, 3D, MP3, etc. But beginning with the CES 2011 the show organizers have realized that the “digital couch potato syndrome” is a growing concern.

Thus with next January’s event CES will include a Lifestyle Series that will include fitness tech to make workouts and outdoor activities safer, more fun and most importantly more effective. The trade show will include several programs including Kids@play, and Mommy Tech, as well as the Digital Health Summit, which will look at the convergence of technology and health care. We’ll be sure to report more as CES gets closer.

CES 2011 Official Website

Granite Gear Sheds Weight

Whether you’re hiking or camping there is always a lot of gear to carry, and keeping it dry is always an issue. The best method is to use drysacks, but every bag you bring along adds to the weight. And we always would think of granite as being quite heavy, yet Granite Gear instead has managed to actually help shed some weight with its new line of overnight Überlight CTF3 Drysacks.

These manage to tip the scales at just 15-21 grams (or in terms you might easier understand 0.53-0.74 ounces). The packs are constructed of the same wafer-thin composites that are used in the construction of World Cup yacht sails. And if the material goes out to sea you can expect that it will be waterproof. The Überlight CTF3 Drysacks range in size from seven to 18 liters (425-1100 cu. in.), which should be ideal to help you get organized without taking up too much space in your packs. The biggest downside to these drysacks is that they shed weight without shedding much in the way of price, in fact the Überlight CTF3 Drysacks come in at $38.95, but can you put a price on reducing weight in the pack? Continue reading Granite Gear Sheds Weight

Miura Looks to Make Grind Permanent and Iron Things Out

In ancient to medieval times Japan was famous for the craftsmanship that went into making its famous “samurai swords” and this level of skill and craftsmanship is alive and well today, but for those hitting the greens not to do battle but to play a round of golf.

After receiving rave reviews for its Yoshitaka Grind wedges and C-Grind wedges and positive response during a soft launch of the products last year, Japanese golf-club maker Miura Golf will make these part of its Series 1957 special edition product line. The two new wedges models will join four iron models. The Yoshitaka is the result of its namesake, master craftsman Yoshitaka Miura. He trained under this father, and company founder Katsuhiro Miura at the family’s forging facility in Himeji, Japan.

The new mild-steel wedges are crafted through the company’s famous Precision Forging Finish process that ensures the clubs are consistent in terms of impact and feel. The Yoshitaka (also known as the Y-Grind) wedge will be available in lofts of 49, 51 and 53, while a 60-degree model will eventually be offered. The wedges, which only be available for right-handed, will feature W nickel (satin) chrome/black finish and will come with a stiff-flex steel shaft and Velvet Full Cord grip. The “Y” on the wedge’s sole not only represents Yoshitaka’s mark – much the way the sword makers of old would sign a blade – but it also signifies the special and limited production of the wedge. Continue reading Miura Looks to Make Grind Permanent and Iron Things Out

Mel B Puts on the Weight

Former Spice Girl Me B is packing on the pounds. But not as you would think. While many aging rock/pop stars let themselves go, the once Scary one has become a healthy lifestyle advocate. As we previously reported Mel B is also working with video game accessory manufacturer BLAZE on a line of Fitness First licensed products.

The newest announced product is the Wii Fitness First Wrist and Ankle Weights that will let users get a little more impact on their console-based workout, while still leaving hands free to take control with the Wii-mote. The BLAZE wrist and ankle weights are designed for use with a variety of fitness games. The are made of soft, cushioned fabric, and weight approximately 520 grams, which is considered an ideal weight to add resistance without being too heavy.

The BLAZE Fitness First Mel B Wrist and Ankle Weights will be available in October.

BLAZE Fitness Official Site

Nike+ Plus GPS

The trouble with dongles is that these little things are easy to misplace. Maybe it is some sort of technology conspiracy theory that is part of the planned obsolescence. If you lose it, you must replace it and thus buy it again. That’s basic Marketing 101 stuff, but Nike has long been a company that skips the basics and goes the distance to earn customer satisfaction. To that end the company has decided to ditch the needed dongle that was part of its Nike+ system for the iPhone.

Instead, the new app version uses GPS radio in compatible iDevices to track a user instead. That is already good news, but it gets even better. With the app users can also plot a run on a map with the handset. The only downside is that you do need an iPhone for the full-fledged mapping options, as these aren’t available on the iPod Touch – but that still can keep track of distance via an accelerometer that tracks a runner’s steps.

What really makes us question Nike’s marketing approach is that the app is actually cheaper too. The Nike+ version with the shoe dongle actually cost $29, while the app is a mere $2. Of course, this company knows that keeping customers happy in the long run means making running easier in the first place. Nike doesn’t need to remind us to “Just Do It,” as they just did it, by making the Nike+ system for iPhone a whole lot easier (and cheaper to use).

Nike+ Website

[Via Wired: Nike+ App Ditches Dongle, Gains GPS]

Kick Off with the Nike Total 90 Tracer Ball

As football season starts here in America, it’s still worth thinking about the sport the rest of the world calls football, what we call Soccer in the U.S. Just in time for fall ‘futball’ Nike introduced its Total 90 Tracer ball. The new ball is designed for consistency, accuracy, touch and visual acuity. The ball has hand-sewn seams, improved bladder tension and the surface texture you expect to kick around the field. The surface texture is actually a micro-textured casing, which regulates airflow equally across the ball’s entire surface. The ball is then less prone to wobble, and takes a more direct, arrow-like flight. Continue reading Kick Off with the Nike Total 90 Tracer Ball

Carrera Introduces New Ski Helmets and Eyewear

The Italians take fashion seriously; there is simply no denying that fact. And although it is also a well-established fact that the Italians really like to keep their hair well styled, they also are taking safety on the mountains quite seriously these days. But just because you need to protect your eyes and your noggin on the slopes doesn’t mean you can’t look good at the same time.

This is especially true with Carrera’s new line of ski products that include new helmets with eye-catching colors, fine details and exclusive graphic effects. Among the new products for the 2010/11 ski season are the Bullet Rosso Line of lightweight, but still durable fiberglass ski helmets that ensures users an excellent fit with an aerodynamic design. The helmets feature a special “dry wave” inner lining that will absorb moisture and provide better comfort – unfortunately it can’t promise unkempt looking hair after a day in the powder, but that’s probably why the Italians eat dinner so late. Continue reading Carrera Introduces New Ski Helmets and Eyewear

Water Music

While true “Water Music” is the work of composer George Frideric Handel, whose three suites were first performed on a concert for King George I of England in 1717 on the River Thames, today any type of music can be water music thanks to the new Wavetooth headset from Brando.

This is actually the first waterproof Bluetooth headset, and it can be used near and around water. Users need not worry about being tethered to a headset cord, and this wireless headset can be used with an iPhone, smartphone or any Bluetooth compatible music player. Continue reading Water Music

Nike Brings New, Lightweight Uniforms to 10 College Football Teams

What’s the one defining characteristic of a team? Is it a legendary coach, the color of the stadium’s artificial turf, or the hide of the animal the team’s named after? Nike introduced its Nike Pro Combat Uniform to 10 college football teams that rank in the preseason top 25, and each have unique designs to their uniforms. The design of the uniforms also got a revamp.

Teams will have an advantage with a lighter uniform. The padded base layer allows for specific pad placement to suit each position, which adds a customized element to the new cloth. The base layer’s fabric and padding also allows for critical protection and greater mobility over traditional pads for unencumbered speed. Continue reading Nike Brings New, Lightweight Uniforms to 10 College Football Teams