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Jen Hamilton
Jen has been doing triathlon for four years. She is a member of the TriEdge Triathlon Team and the GOALØ Ambassador Team. She's also a former bobsled pilot for America Samoa and has a passion for the outdoors. At home she is a wife to a cyclocross obsessed husband and mother of three girls, but here at TRIEDGE, she is an author, Managing Editor and token chick.
Mother's Day Must-Have's for the Triathlete
Wednesday, 01 May 2013 00:00 Published in Product Reviews
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Louis Garneau Tri-300 Shoes
Nothing says "I love you" like a pair of top-of-the-line Garneau Tri-300 Shoes. These unisex, tri-specific cycling shoes are heat moldable and conform perfectly to the shape of the foot; getting them as close to 'custom' as you can get without the employ of a cobbler elf. While I was apprehensive at first to slip these ginger colored beauties in the oven, I was surprised at how simple the whole process was. The resulting feel when cycling raised the bar in my mind as to what constitutes a good fit. Slightly irritating, occasional foot pain that I've experienced with other brands, is completely gone. The large, vertical pull loop and stiff, rubberized closure strap make them easy to slip on in transition; even with my barely functioning, water-logged brain. They have a well designed mesh and drainage system for quick drying, but there's even more to be impressed with. Garneau has included silver fibers in the out-sole to reflect heat and keep your feet cool and comfy. Combining the weight (10.4 oz., size 42) and the Exo-Jet carbon out-sole, Louis Garneau struck the perfect balance between feeling substantial without weighing you down. The sole is their stiffest to date and I could feel a noticeable increase of power translating to my pedals with each stroke. While the price tag ($299.99) will deter some buyers, if it's the top of the line comfort and technology you're looking for, you'll have a hard time doing any better than the Tri-300 Shoes.
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Wicked Audio Helix
If we're being honest, I will freely admit that at least 75% of my training has to do with releasing stress. A good solid workout is downright enjoyable with some sweet ear candy. This is where the Wicked Audio Helix comes into play. The comfortable, around the ear fit is made with soft plastic and kept the buds in place even when bouncing around on a trail run. When cycling, the 4 foot cord made it easy to keep my iPod in my rear pocket and still have plenty length left to prevent yanking while in motion. The gold plated plug and enhanced base combined with noise isolation buds made the whole experience complete for me; they have a great sound quality. The Helix comes in three colors and three sets of tips for optimum fit capability and at $19.99 it's a quality buy.
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Athleta Queen K Short
The most consistent complaint I hear with any race story has to do with chaffing, blisters and painful rubbing from ill-fitted apparel. This is exactly why I decided to include the Athleta Queen K Short in our list of Mother's Day necessities. It's easy for me to say that these shorts are an absolute must-have in your training rotation. The soft, stretchable fabric feels supportive without creating 'sausage legs' or 'muffin top' issues and they've even thought to use black lycra spandex "for the no-shine effect when stretched". I've really put these shorts to the test in training and in races and they are one of the most consistently comfortable shorts I have. Although any tri shorts should see limited chlorine exposure, I have been wearing them twice weekly to the pool to see how they'd hold up. I'm happy to report that after months, there are still no signs of any wear and tear. The minimalist chamois is comparable to other tri chamois, but it's the extra features where the Queen K really stands out. There are two mesh side pockets as well as a rear zipper pocket for stashing nutrition and the occasional car key. There are also 360° of reflectivity accents and panels created to conform to the body in motion. The mid-rise, wide waist band lays flat and is slightly higher in the back to avoid the dreaded 'cyclists tramp stamp'. Combining all these features with the $69.00 price tag, the Queen K is certainly in the running for one of my favorite tri shorts ever.
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Ryders VIA Photochromic
At 24g., these rimless photochromic sunglasses (the lens lightens and darkens in varying light conditions) are perfect for cycling and snug enough for running. If you haven't owned a pair of photochromic sunglasses in a while, you'll be surprised at how fast the technology has advanced. Made of durable polycarbonate and using an injection molded process to ensure they're optically correct, these sunglasses protect against 100% UVA, UVB, UVC and blue light to 400nm. They're shatter proof for safe cycling (and crashing) and the adjustable nose tips are covered with soft grip, to make sure they stay in place when the sweat starts dripping. The coverage on the VIA Photochromic lens is fantastic and kept out much of the wind while still allowing for ventilation. They especially shined as time trial glasses or for rides with fast descents. I love, (love!) the rimless frames for riding in aero position and thanks to Ryders, I now need them in at least two more of the nine available frame colors/options available in this same style. Retail on the VIA Photochromic is $89.99 and this particular model is a medium fit.
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Zoot Women's Ultra TT 6.0
Aside from the fact that I get more compliments about the look of this shoe than any others I've tested this year, the Women's Ultra TT 6.0 is a well designed piece of gear. Zoot has combined six years of tweaking and upgrading to produce one of the most popular triathlon specific running shoes on the market today. This neutral runner features an asymmetrical elastic lacing system to get you in and out of transition fast and with minimal interruption to the anatomical shape of your foot. At 8oz., they are a lot lighter than they look. Walking the line of durability and light-weight race flat is a tricky one. The Women's Ultra TT 6.0 feels surprisingly more durable than other high-end race flats, in part, because of their Carbon Span feature. This tunable control creates a powerful toe off without causing fatigue and the "Z-Bound" mid-sole rebounds the runners energy leaving your feet with less fatigue. In addition, you can tell that a lot of thought was put into the interior of the shoe; they are super comfortable sockless with no rough edges or seams to cause blistering. My single and only complaint is that I had to superglue the ends of the laces into the plastic piece at the toe. That being said, it's not nearly enough to deter me from buying these shoes. While my job allows me the chance to test a good blend of race flats in training, when race day comes, the Women's Ultra TT 6.0 is the shoe I grab. They retail at $140.00 and come in two colors, full and half sizes 6-10 and for me, the sizes were comparable to other brands.
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The coming of spring means that less and less athletes have to trudge through the darkness in the early hours before the sun comes up. However, athletes training for anything more than a 5k, are aware of the total dedication needed to roll out of bed at 4:30 am and greet the dark, even in the spring. While fumbling with headlamps isn't a favorite past-time of mine, the only other option until a few years ago has been a flashlight. This is where the Go Motion Reactor Lightvest made training a lot more simple.
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Reactor Lightvest
Details - Adjustable elastic cords for stowing a light jacket
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Experience
Trying out the Go Motion Reactor Lightvest has been one of my favorite experiences as a tester. While fumbling with headlamps isn't a favorite past-time of mine, the only other option until a few years ago has been a flashlight. I'm not currently training for a full distance triathlon, but with all my other responsibilities, early morning and late night workouts seem to be the only way to fit everything in my day.
This is where the Go Motion made training a lot more simple. It took only a few minutes to adjust the shoulder straps for a good, snug fit and I haven't had any problems with chaffing on my arms; even when running in a tank top. While the vest looks a bit cumbersome on the rack, I was pleasantly surprised by how light-weight and unobtrusive it feels when running. You'll have to make the straps nice and snug to keep the vest from bouncing, but it's still completely comfortable. The sternum strap slider gives you the ability to move the light up and down the chest to find the spot that is most comfortable and best for your lighting needs. The ease with which it adjusts was especially helpful when my husband and I started swapping the vest back and forth for training.
The LED light with 3-levels of intensity and adjustable beam angle was fantastic for running in different conditions (road, trail etc.). I do have headlamps that are brighter, but also much bulkier, and preferred the balance that Go Motion has struck between the weight of the product and lumens.
I was so glad that Go Motion included a rear cell phone pocket, but unless you have a training partner to grab it for you, I wouldn't plan on taking any hand held calls during your workout. That being said, I'm an iPhone user and when partnered with my in-line speaker headphones, the location of the pocket is just fine. The elastic cords turned out to be perfect for packing my light windbreaker when the sun broke through. It's clear, the vest is meant to be light and fast, so make sure you take that into account if you need to carry something more substantial.
In addition to all the other features, the reflective strips and bright orange color make the vest a fantastic choice for all-night relay fans. For relay runners who don't want to lug a hydration pack, but want want the benefits of the safety features, there really isn't a better choice. One of the strongest pluses about the vest is it's versatility. We have even put it on our little girl to keep track of her while we set up camp in the dark. Kayaking, adventure racing and even dog walking... really, there are a ton of uses for this handy piece of gear.
Final Say
When it comes to training, light is freedom. I have absolutely loved testing the Go Motion Reactor Lightvest and highly recommend it to anyone, athlete or otherwise, looking to increase their outside time. While I do wish that there was some storage space in the shoulder straps, I understand that it would make the vest more bulky for running. That being said, for those looking for more storage or hydration compatible solutions, Go Motion sells the Sternum Light Kit 100 that can be attached to the straps of most any hydration pack.
For more information about Go Motion products, go to: www.gomotiongear.com
While Skirt Sports is well known for their running skirts, if you haven't seen already, there's a lot more to this company than you might think. Skirt Sports is constantly designing new and exciting apparel to keep women moving. Check out a few pieces that one of our testers was lucky enough to get her hands on!
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C/D Sports Bra Details
Experience
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Redemption Capri Details
Experience
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For more information about Skirt Sports products, go to: www.skirtsports.com
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