New Balance Women''s Megaheat Everyday Pant

New Balance Women''s Megaheat Everyday  Pant, Black, LargeThese pants are awesome! They''re comfortable, they''re warm, they''re great to run in, and they''re flattering. They really are very good to run in outside when they weather is chilly; in fact, I DON''T wear them to run if it''s going to be MORE than 45 degrees. I''ve had them for about 6 weeks and they run great. They don''t bunch up or chafe at all. They''re just the right amount of thickness in the fabric and super-stretchy without being clingy, so when you''re doing your warm-up, they move with you nicely.

Two caveats: 1) Don''t count on that back pocket for anything but lip balm. 2) The drawstring is a continuous drawstring, so for me it''s kind of tricky to actually cinch (once I figured out to pretend I was tying a balloon, it got a lot less frustrating), and it''s also not a terribly robust drawstring. I was able to buy these pants when they offered a 2XL (where IS that size now, by the way, New Balance/Amazon?) but I still need to cinch the waist that drawstring''s going to fray/snap sometime soon and will need replaced, but if you won''t/don''t need it, that shouldn''t be an issue for you. These pants also don''t have pockets do with that what you will.

I love these pants and am sorry I didn''t get another pair or two when they were NOT $65. I''ll be putting these in my price-watching app so I can snag another pair!

For pants called "megaheat" I would beg to differ. I wore these in an indoor ice rink expecting them to help keep me warm while working out however they were quite the opposite. The pants fit well and are really comfortable but the heat thing is not true, unless perhaps you are working up an extreme sweat which I was not so I can''t vouch for that.

Buy New Balance Women''s Megaheat Everyday Pant Now

NRS Men''s Endurance Splash Jacket

NRS Men''s Endurance Splash Jacket - Orange MThe shirt is exactly what I wanted. The only thing I would suggest to potential buyers is to consider purchasing the next size up from what the sizing chart recommends. I went one size up and it came out just the way I expected. If I had purchased the one according to my measurements it would have been too small. Of course, if you want a tight "t-shirt" fit go for it. But I wear a t-shirt under it and want air for circulation and mobility. I do not plan to do white water rafting or intentional roll overs but rather birding, photography and casual paddling.

Windy but warm (for winter) day of paddling with the new splash jacket and it performed as expected. Fit well over other layers, and kept me dry. Price was right and the quality appears excellent. I will see if it holds up after more use, but based on what I know now, I would recommend it.

Buy NRS Men''s Endurance Splash Jacket Now

Fits well, keeps the splashes out. This isn''t a replacement for a dry or semi-dry top but it works for cooler weather when the dry suit would be overkill.

Read Best Reviews of NRS Men''s Endurance Splash Jacket Here

This gear was perfect for my recent trip. I used it on an Alaska adventure where I backpacked and packrafted a virgin river area in Lake Clark NP. It proved light, relatively waterproof and extremely durable, often wearing it with a pack on and pushing through extremely thick willows. With its price tag, it cannot be beat!

Want NRS Men''s Endurance Splash Jacket Discount?

Championship Productions Pro Hitter''s Workout DVD

Championship Productions Pro Hitter''s Workout DVDIt is pretty good when he starts coaching along with his son. Having A-Rod involved is just a marketing gimmic.

WOW. For $40 you get almost two full hours of invaluable hitting instruction from KEVIN LONG, the Yankee''s hitting coach, one of the best hitting coaches in the MLB right now. Kevin Long breaks hitting down to its simplest form and makes this video a must watch for EVERY LEVEL of baseball. You get to watch a pro level player A-Rod and Kevin''s son ( a high school player) perform basic T drills and soft toss drills that anyone else can do at their home.

Kevin breaks down the swing in simple terms and shows dozens of examples how to execute a consistent balanced powerful hitting stance. Just like a pro golfer would practice his/her golf swing for hours on end. The batting tee they are using is called a TANNER TEE ($65) and I went out and bought one once I saw the video. The rubber funnel shaped tip is so forgiving if you happen to hit under the ball that the base of the tee does not even move. There is no comparison between this tee and all the other hard rubber tube-style batting tees that are out there.

This video is well shot at every angle and has clear video. I only wish it showed how Kevin was throwing underhand to the batters during the short toss.

The addition of Alex Rodriguez to this video is NO GIMMICK like one of the reviewers said. I was really impressed how professional he carries himself in this video. He displays no superstar''s ego and his answers and thoughts are genuine and put out there to help other players. A-Rod provides a lot of valuable information on his own. I really like the sit down session between the Kevin and Alex when they talked hitting strategy. I was impressed how humble and down to earth both Kevin and A-Rod appeared.

The addition of having Kevin''s son go through the same drills compares the level of strength and practice time between the pro player and the high school player. This hitting video is all you need to give any player a solid hitting foundation and training schedule. I own lots of others baseball hitting videos and this one is the BEST.

Buy Championship Productions Pro Hitter''s Workout DVD Now

Kevin Long delivers great material and insight as to what he does with his NY Yankee Hitters everyday. For players who want to learn how to swing it like A-Rod and Cano, I would not pass up this video. Watch it over and over again, until you understand what you need to do as a hitter in the game of baseball.

Kevin''s drills are excellent in getting players to use their whole body and fun enough to keep you busy in the cage for a good hitting session.

My suggestions, buy it and try it. Then become the best hitter in your league.

Coach Eady

Read Best Reviews of Championship Productions Pro Hitter''s Workout DVD Here

Waterfi 100% Waterproof iPod Shuffle Swim Kit (Slate)

Waterfi 100% Waterproof iPod Shuffle Swim Kit with Dual Layer Waterproof/Shockproof Protection
  • The Waterfi Waterproof iPod Shuffle eliminates the need for bulky cases, because the interior circuits and contacts are 100% waterproof down to 190 Feet underwater. 8 All new colors available
  • New Dual Layer Technology protects the Waterfi Waterproof iPod Shuffle in harsh environments and lasts for at least twice as long as other technologies
  • Authentic Apple iPod Shuffle, crafted from solid aluminum. Lightweight, easy to use, clips to goggles or clothing. Best Swimming iPod. Most versatile waterproof Mp3 player. Now it''s waterproof, corrosionproof, and shockproof
  • 15 hrs battery life, 2GB Mem holds over 500 songs, VoiceOver speaks names of songs/artists/playlists. Perfect for swimming, surfing, kiteboarding, paddleboard, or any other watersports
  • The Waterfi Waterproof iPod Shuffle is backed by an industry leading 2-year Waterproof Warranty (fulfilled by Waterfi) and friendly customer service. Waterproof headphones included

I got the waterfi ipod shuffle kit for my birthday, and it has intensely enhanced my swimming experience. I swim laps about 5 times a week for an hour or so, and the product turns the dull exercise into a rejuvenating experience. The ipod can be connected snugly to the back of your goggles and you won''t even know it''s there. The only potential problem comes from the head phones, which are probably the weakest link in waterproof music. I did plenty of research on a variety of headphones, and it seems they just haven''t perfected the technology. The waterfi headphones come with several sizes, so it is easy to fit into your ear. I experience a problem occasionally if there is not enough slack on the wire, which can cause an errant stroke or turn of the head to jostle the ear bud enough to allow a little water to sneak in. Otherwise, excellent product--I thoroughly recommend it.

Buy Waterfi 100% Waterproof iPod Shuffle Swim Kit (Slate) Now

The iPod works great but the headphones started off a bit shaky! I swim 2,500 meters with them doing flip-turns the entire time with almost no problems. It is imperative to read the instructions! All underwater headphones on the market currently have mixed reviews. Use the biggest size ear inserts that will fit comfortably. Take off the plastic ear-wrap-around pieces. Sure you could try to tuck them in your goggles. Although you may think it helps, it doesn''t! Cleaning the ear buds with a q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol before each use helps clean them. I highly recommend the Aqua Sphere Kayenne Goggle goggles which have an additional strap where you can clip the iPod right on the goggles instead of the Velcro that comes with the iPod. A zip tie is also a much better way to permanently bundle up the slack in the wires. If you follow these instructions and swim laps by turning around at the wall you should have absolutely no problem. If you utilize flip-turns to turn around, due to ear pressurization at times it might sound less clear. But, for the most part it works great.

Read Best Reviews of Waterfi 100% Waterproof iPod Shuffle Swim Kit (Slate) Here

EDIT: I wrote Waterfi an email with my headphone problems, and they responded very promptly with troubleshooting tips as well as the promise to replace them if they still didn''t work. Well, the tips worked and now everything is peachy. I''ve amended my review from 3 to 5 stars!

---

The waterproof iPod works great! Its a completely different experience swimming underwater with music in your ears, and it really helps pass the time when swimming laps. However, since this product review is for the bundle, I had to give it only three stars because the ear phones are awful. They came out of the packet broken only playing sound through one ear bud, and from what I''ve read of other reviews, it''s a common problem. It''s a shame that these are the headphones that Waterfi chooses to supply with their otherwise exceptional product. The headphone look cheap, feel cheap, and they come in a package with spelling mistakes on it.

I recommend buying the Waterfi iPod shuffle alone, and purchasing the headphones somewhere else.

Want Waterfi 100% Waterproof iPod Shuffle Swim Kit (Slate) Discount?

This product is a must for anyone that swims recreationally, and by swimming I mean kilometres each week not three lengths once a month. Swimming is the perfect exercise but it is terminally boring in a pool. This product allows you to drown the monotony with music of your choice. There is a weakness that you should be aware of however and that is that you can break the earphones by plugging into the ipod when it is wet. It appears to create a short. I have broken two sets of earphones in this way.

Save 24% off

After a phone call to waterfi regarding how to best use the headphones (so that they don''t fall out) I could not be happier with this purchase. My swimming has improved by 50% with music. Use the smallest earbud that will fit your ear, swab a little bit of vaseline inside the ear and twist the earbud until a good seal is created. They will NOT come out and the music will stay clear and not muffled by the water for your entire swim. And I am someone who has always had problems with using earbuds! I love, love, love, my waterfi.

New Balance Women''s Fitness 8-Inch Short

New Balance Women''s Fitness 8-Inch Shortaccurate size, comfy, LOVE the pockets. I bike and run in these, they are thin and breathable without being transparent. Great alterative to spandex/body hugging material. Tough to find active shorts in this length.

These shorts are so cute and comfortable! I purchased them to wear for spinning classes because they are a longer length but w/o padding. I would say they run a little big so if you usually wear a S you probably want to get a XS. I could wear these shorts all day everyday! They are a bargin, you will love them!

Buy New Balance Women''s Fitness 8-Inch Short Now

Very comfortable. Do not ride up. I''m 5 ft. tall and the length works nicely. Very quick dry and cool to run in. Fortunatly, all of my running is paying off and I''m going to have to buy some more a size smaller! :) I highly recommend these New Balance shorts!!

Read Best Reviews of New Balance Women''s Fitness 8-Inch Short Here

Just what I was looking for, useful for both working out and running. Comfortable and very true to size. Would definitely buy again!

Want New Balance Women''s Fitness 8-Inch Short Discount?

Shorts are light and comfortable, even when it''s hot. They wash and dry well. I wanted sport shorts with pockets and these are everything I hoped they''d be. They don''t have a drawstring, so don''t wear them if you''re playing rough team sports!

SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 4 GB MP3 Player (Black)

SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 4 GB MP3 Player
  • Store up to 1000 songs
  • Memory card slot for pre-loaded cards
  • Digital FM tuner with 40 presets
  • Rechargeable battery lasts up to 15 hours
  • Built-in clip for easy carrying

I owned the first generation clip, and the new 8gb clip+ retains everything that was great about the first while adding all around refinements.

Pros:

Overall build quality has improved, but especially with the clip mechanism.

Files on MicroSD integrate seemlessly with the on board memory.

The volume and power buttons have more ergonomic placement on the device.

Sound quality remains great.

Audiobook files can be sped up slightly to save some "reading" time.

The interface is a little smoother and nicer to move through.

The square trackpad makes it easier to navigate without looking at the player. (good for runners)

Cons:

No cap on the MicroSD slot, so that could potentially get dirty.

If you don''t need gimmicks such as touch screens and web browsers, then this player is quite possibly the best on the market for value, size, and quality. The Clip+ is definitely worth the few extra bucks over what the first gen clip is selling for now.

UPDATE: Having used the product for a while the one thing I''m disappointed with is battery life. The meter drains down to 50% at the expected pace, and then goes from 50% to 0 quite fast. I haven''t timed it but i''m sure the battery life (using all default settings) is quite less than the advertised 14-15 hours.

Buy SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) Now

If all you are looking for is a great sounding, small, cheap mp3 player with a display and expandability options, then the clip + is your best choice. This is very similar to the old clip with the following major differences:

two minor button placement changes (improvement)

UI is a bit smoother (menus scroll now)

volume normalizing/gain

micro-SD slot for up to 16 added gigs (which is huge)

a little thicker, probably due to SD support

clip is no longer removable (depending on your preference, this is a good or bad thing-guess you could just rip it off and file it down if you wanted to)

As always, it sounds great and blows away the iPod Shuffle in terms of value. So light and small--great for the gym. If you need your mp3 player to play games, surf the internet or serve double purpose as a grocery list, then this isn''t for you, but if you''re on a budget or just need something that plays music and does so well, this is the one.

Read Best Reviews of SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) Here

So recently, because I love my Sansa Clip so much for exercising, and I thought I could use one more, I picked one of these up at Bestbuy. I have used it for about a week so I can''t say anything about the longetivity of the new Clip Plus, but I can tell you about everything else. First I will give you the cons since there is only one and that is also only about preference. I personally LOVED the sleek look of the original sansa clip, but that has been replaced with a sort of glittery finish on the front. That is about it and to add to this, everything else from the outside such as the plastic used has been revamped to feel better in your hands and is just overall better quality. Now on to the most important part, the features. The main thing that sets this apart from the original clip is the addition of a microSD card slot. This can take up to a 32gb microSD card, so if you were to pair one with this, you could potentially get a 36(!)gb memory for this puny little item. That is the next thing I will get into, the size. If you haven''t ever heard about the original sansa clip, basically, Sandisk designed this line of Sansa for portability and mainly for exercise. It feels really good in the hand and the non removable clip on the back can clip on to virtually anything. Next is the display. The menu remains much of the same, but Sansa also added slotRadio compatibility and a nicer flow to menu if you''re into that. Finally we''ll go to the placement of the buttons. On the old sansa clip, there was a button the side for power and hold, but a lot of clip owners including me found that uncomfortable. To cope with this, Sandisk put the power button on the top and put the hold funtion to holding the home button for about 3 seconds. So overall, this is a fantastic MP3 player in any category, but if you are in the market for one for the gym, pass up the Ipod Shuffle for 79$ with no screen and counter-intuitiveness(in my opinion) and get this really nice compact MP3 player for only 50$ for the 4gb, 40$ for the 2gb and 70$ for the 8gb. Thank you and I hope this review helps.

Want SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) Discount?

This is my second Sandisk Sansa. I had an 8gb Fuze, which my wife is now using because she wanted the video capability, and I never used it. This 8gb Clip is just awesome. I love the Sandisk line anyway, and this is an upgrade (imo) from the one I was using, which I also love. This thing is tiny, has expandable memory, FM and several features to fine tune your music delivery, as well as some basic EQ features. Downloading music from Windows media player is as simple as it gets, as well as being able to use MAC OS (although for me, not as easy).

All in all, this little player has just enough features to make it easy for everyone, and also enough to keep most experienced users happy as well. While I have not had a chance to really stretch the battery life, my other one lasted waaay longer than I ever needed it to, and I suspect this one will do just as well. The charging cord (also used to download music) is very short (very very short). At first I was wondering how I would like that. I now actually prefer it to longer cords. Much easier to distinguish from all of the others. :)

Update: Well, sadly, the "clip" on my new player has broken. I''ve only used the actual clip one time, and the little hinge broke (not all the way off, but it can no longer be clipped on). I had no plans to use the clip (I just drop the player in my pocket most of the time), but was a little surprised at this. The battery is great, the player still functions great, but this clip seems a little weak. I''d still recommend the Clip+, but be very careful with clipping it to your clothing. Not sure it can handle it.

12/23/09 Update. I have used this player everyday since owning it. I have never overcharged it, and always use it on the most "power friendly" settings. Sadly, the battery life is far below Sansa standards, and frankly well below the claimed battery life. I should not compare it with my Sansa Fuze 8 gb, but that little player (awesme) will outlast the clip by 4 times over on battery life. I am saddened that I will not be able to use it for my intended purpose (long motorcycle rides), so it will just be my "workout" player. I will use my other player for the motorcycle. Oh well, can''t win them all.

Save 40% off

The title says is all: Clip +. It is really the first generation of the Clip plus a few well thought out design and firmware changes.

The volume control is now on the opposite side, the side with the usb plug rather than the headphone. With right-angle headphone plugs, you needed to swing the headphone plug out of the way to use the volume control on the old Clip.

The on/off switch is now on the top instead of the left side (where the volume control now is). I often needed to turn off my Clip while under a shirt and not looking at it. I actually turned it off only about half the time because of slide switch. Now there''s simply a button on the top. The hold button, which used to be on the on/off switch, is now activated by holding down the menu button. Since I rarely used the hold button I can''t say whether this is an improvement.

The clip on the back is a big design change. The clip, for better or worse, is no longer detachable. Personally, I liked being able to detach it if I was using velcro rather the clip to attach to something, like a bag. That being said the new clip is sleeker. Closer to the back of the body and a bit wider. The clip now has a ridge at the end of the clip as opposed to the circle of the old Clip. It seems to hold on just as well.

The square controls (as opposed to the former round controls) doesn''t make much of a difference. If you are using the controls by feeling rather than seeing, the square may make it a bit easier to know where you are at on the controls.

Otherwise it is the same size and all. My old Clip silicone case fits it OK, but I will get a new case when they come out.

Inside there are some firmware changes. Included now is a menu item for Slot Player chips (a soon-to-be obsolete format if I''ve ever seen one). The menus slide rather than jump, giving it a smoother look (I guess). In the old Clip, when you pressed the center button while a track was playing, it went to a visualization, then a listing of the current track playing. Obviously a redundancy. Now, it show info on the next track to play, instead of the current one. Other changes had already been incorporated in firmware updates for the original Clip.

One new function is the replay gain function. Very useful if you shuffle songs. This allows music to play back at about the same volume without you, the listener, having to actually change the volume. It works by adding a bit of instruction to each music file with information about how loud or soft the track is and then the volume of the player adjusts accordingly. Whether your tracks have replay gain information on them depends on how you got them. Many media players, like Media Monkey, can read the tracks and add this information.

One further note on the replay gain function. It should be set to song if you are on shuffle. Also the pregain is set a bit low. If you find yourself fiddling with the volume, increase the replay gain setting to 6 or 9.

The manual says it has gapless play. I believe you need to rip your tracks as gapless for this to work. Many standard mp3 converters don''t do this, but maybe it is more prevalent for AAC (iTunes).

The best for last: a micro card slot. This allows you to add capacity to the player (currently the limit is 16gb with larger cards on the horizon), well above the 4gb that it comes with. If you have gone lossless (I use FLAC) then you know that extra file space is a big plus. With only FLAC files, the 4gb player holds about nine hours of music (probably five times more with normal MP3 files). This is fine by me but if I''m going on a trip then having the expansion capacity will be a big plus.

Sound quality wise, it sounds about the same to me, compared with the old Clip. Which means it sounds great, amped or not. Some have noted a fuller, warmer, louder sound, but my old ears can''t pick that out.

Why people don''t use these by the droves at the gym is beyond me. I still see very few of these players down at the Y, while I see all manner of big iPods. This little machine is perfect for the gym or any on-the-go activity.

August 2011 update: Nearly two years later and this player is still my favorite. The one I recommend to everyone (great Mother''s Day present as long you include upgraded ear buds, such as the Yuins). Durability isn''t an issue at all. If you want to up your listening experience pair it with the DigiZoid portable sub-woofer (yes, that''s not a typo).

ACU Digital Camouflage Duffle Sport Overnight Gym Bag (Small)

ACU Digital Camouflage Duffle Sport Overnight Gym BagThis bag is simply great. I have a busy life and this Colonel is on the go. I simply throw what I need together and put it in my duffle bag and off I go. It carries a lot of my personal items and it was so impressive I bought my wife one. Thanks Amazon for carrying this item.

Save 50% off