Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Your Life on Your Wrist

If you’re a runner, cyclist, hiker or skier, you (hopefully) know how important it is to carry emergency contact and medical information. It’s also a good idea to carry some money in case you bank far from home or just if you want to get a mid-ride ice cream. The problem is, where do you [...]

Barefoot Running, Demystified

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST In the last two years they’ve exploded onto the fitness scene. You’ve probably noticed them around town, at your local 10k, and running lightly on the treadmill at your gym. Who are “they”? They’re “barefoot” runners. This rapidly growing segment of running is pushing the boundaries on decades of accepted running  [...]

Look Out Nike Plus

We love a good mechanical watch, but when it comes to workouts, our obsession with analog craftsmanship takes a backseat to functionality. The Beat Workout Watch ($TBD) checks all the boxes of the ultimate exercise companion. Pairing a shoe based sensor with a chest strap heart rate monitor and a 16GB portable music player isn’t [...]

Does everything for you but run

If you do any amount of running year-round, unless you live in milder climates or you choose to don your Gore-Tex lined Yeti running costume, the winter pushes you indoors and onto a treadmill to perform Hamster 2.0. ProForm aims to make this part of your fitness routine a more enjoyable experience with their Trailrunner [...]

Foot Loose

So-called minimalist running has quickly developed a following among endorphin-addicts around the world for several reasons. Practically speaking, training with less padding has been shown to increase foot strength and muscle tone. The feeling of running nearly barefoot is also a major draw. To capitalize on this movement, Somnio has created the Nada to serve [...]

Kicks to Beat Down or Just Wear Around

Casual runners not already betrothed to brands like Saucony, Asics, or Brooks, should take a long hard look at the Nike Air Max Tailwind+ 2, especially for those who lack inward motion in their gait (known as underpronation). Built with dual, low pressure Air-sole units in the heel and forefoot of the shoe, the Tailwind [...]

Super Simple, Insanely Important

Being responsible, safe, and planning for contingencies aren’t always traits that we men are known for. Sometimes we just like to do, as though spontaneity were written into our genes. When it comes to running, I’m guilty of jetting out the door without taking the time to stretch or hydrate or, sometimes, even check the [...]

Gear Up For Cold-Ass Runs

Recently, a friend (somehow) convinced me to train for and run a half marathon in April. What was I thinking? I’m a proponent of all things fitness but I’ve never considered myself an avid runner much less someone to run any marathon, half or full. But this is Gear Patrol after all, and anyone who [...]

Pure Running Science

When it comes to running shoes, many runners latch onto a particular brand. While Dusty happens to be a Brooks man, I, on the other hand, live by ASICS. As a cost-conscious individual, I usually get my new pair of Gel Kayano’s at the end of the season on closeout. So, when the opportunity came [...]

Thoughts from a 6 Time Marathoner

By Gear Patrol Reader Michael A. Salter: Men who run marathons typically fall into one of two groups: (1) very boring and serious or (2) prone to excess in life. This article is geared to those who want to get their friends to sign up for marathons and to clock decent race times. And, of [...]

CamelBak Elixir electrolyte tablets turns your water into a refreshing drink infused with electrolytes, vitamins and minerals your body needs during exercise. Essentially you’re turning your once water-carrying CamelBak into a portable sports drink fountain. Each self- dissolving effervescent tablet (12 per container) instantly turns 24 ounces of water into a 10 calorie, sugar-free drink [...]

How do you know when your vacation’s going to be interesting? Well, a good start is when they say it takes the first two days to become acclimated to the height of, oh, 13,000 feet above sea level. Then when you’re on to four days and three nights exploring the 28 mile Inca Trail running/hiking [...]