XTreme XTraining's Top Spring Fitness Finds

Some new gear to help you get your game on this spring!

Warmer weather is finally here so if you are a weekend warrior, here are a few new items you might want to add to your fitness arsenal. Now is the time for an upgrade so that you can get the most from your workout.
Here are a few of my favorite fitness finds for spring training this year:

Gripad Cancer Awareness Edition

Gripads
Whether you use a weight machine or free weights, grip is everything. I've been using fingerless cycling gloves for years but finally got fed up with the lack of control I had on the lat bar.

Gripads alleviate that by providing a firm but flexibly padded bar grip. Slide in just three fingers with your thumb and pinky free. Excellent grip with just the right amount of cushioning from Gripad.com

Enduracool Towel & Eco Vessel
These two cool characters will help you chill out in a hurry:

Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel is made with special polymers which cools the towel down from 95-59 degrees in one snap. Reusable and easy to pack in your gym bag it also has a UPF of 45. Check it out at MissionAthleteCare.com

Eco Vessel is a stainless steel triple insulated water bottle which keeps water cold for up to an amazing 36 hours. Good idea since drinking ice cold water increases your metabolism by up to 30%. With two removable inner straws, it allows you to drink comfortably without tilting. Great non-slip powder finish and cool colors. Eco Vessel donates a portion of each sale to Water for People. Visit Ecovessel.com/waterforpeople

Enso Muscle Roller & Zim's Max Freeze
In the pain relief zone, I'm really liking the Enso Muscle Roller right now. After just one use I got almost immediate relief in my glutes and quads. You'll spend more days on the road and less recovering with the Enso Muscle Roller. 

Zim's Max Freeze Spray gets to those hard to reach spots often missed by creams and lotions. It has a quick vanishing scent so no one need know you're hurting! Made with arnica, tea tree and aloe, it's incredible for tense muscles and sore joints. Visit Zim's Online . 

Fits Sock Co. - Merino Wool Done Right
These ultra comfy, breathable wool blend socks are made right here in the USA. Fits have a Dynamic Toe Cup, Heel Lock and Full Contact Cuff for a custom fit (they also come in 5 sizes).

Just the right amount of cushioning and absorption, these socks stay put during running, walking or hiking. Very soft with no chaffing! Check them out at FitsSock.com



Time to Refuel

The Athlete's Cookbook by Corey Irwin and Brett Stewart (Ulysses Press) offers deliciously healthy menus such as: Mussels Marinara for increased glycogen. Walnut-Parmesan Chicken for maximum protien and Peanut Butter Crunch Bars for healthy fats.
This book also offers a meal timing schedule and lots of recipes with a twist on flavor and ingredients such as Red Beans and Black Rice. This substitutes the usual brown rice with a Chinese black rice which is very rich in antioxidants. Another favorite of mine is the Hot Quinoa Cereal which is a powerhouse of nutrition and protein. Available at Amazon.com & other top book sellers.

Pro Bar Selections - My favorites from this line of delicious energy wonders are the Meal and Fuel Bars. Made with natural ingredients and sweeteners (organic date paste is used a lot), the Fuel Bar offers a full serving of fruit per bar. Their Meal Bar is just that, made with real whole foods and raw ingredients like grains, fruits, seeds and fiber. These offer 10 grams of protein while their Core Bar has a whopping 20 grams. Absolutely delicious and very easy to digest on the road. See more varieties at ProBar.com 

Corazonas Snack Bars - These are SO good and made with heart healthy oatmeal giving each at least 15 grams of whole grains, 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per bar. Oatmeal has been found to lower cholesterol so these are a no-brainer to include as par of a heart healthy diet. Corazonas means "hearts" in Spanish so these are appropriately named! My favorite flavors? The Banana Walnut for sure. See more delicious varieties at Corazonas.com

FitTea offers a pretty painless 14 Day Detox in loose tea form. One teaspoon steeped in hot water per day and you're good. Contains organic green tea, Oolong Wu Yi, organic Rooibos, ginger and pomegranate.
Can be enjoyed hot or cold and taken every morning before a workout. It's really delicious and needs no sweetening as it has honey powder and Stevia added to the mix. See more at FitTea.com

Heat & Sun Awareness: Chill Your Workout

Heat & Sun Busters: Enduracool Towel, Sunblocks & Hydration Day Pack.

Now that the heat is officially on, it's time to prepare your strategy on how to keep cool while working out this summer. There are a few things I keep with me for running, hiking or bicycling that help me to be free from overheating and suffering sunburn. I LOVE a golden tan but I know too much unprotected exposure can ruin your skin. Check out my Heat & Sun Awareness Project on Pinterest for the best sunblocks, clothing and accessories to beat the blistering days to come. So before you head out, here are a few sun & heat survival items to pack for the road.

Running, Walking or Short Hikes

The Dart Lumbar Pack by Mountainsmith

If you are going for a 45 minute run or hike, you can get away with a minimal amount of water, 16ozs at least and pack a water filtration system in your car for refills. This is easy to do at state and national parks and resorts with a clean water supply (fountains). Otherwise, just take a small water bottle with you in lumbar pack like this Mountainsmith Dart TLS Lumbar Pack. It even has a zippered pocket for energy gels and lip / skin sunblock. I use Mission Athletecare's Ultra Hydrating Lip Protector with an SPF of 20. Moisturizing and paraben free, it offers both UVA/UVB protection. The Dart comes with its own little water bottle or you can pop in a Purificup in the holder and filter water on the fly if you know there are going to be clean water sources on your trek.

Day Hikes or Backpacking

CamelBak Antidote 100 oz Reservoir is easy to clean.

Front country hikes that are going to require walks or runs for over 60 minutes should have you taking more water or at least a water filtration system with a refillable bladder. I like the CamelBak Antidote as it fits in most any day-pack or you can get their Mule for minimum bulk & weight.  This is a 100 oz reservoir hydration system and has a very large fill port which allows for easy, thorough cleaning. 

My Rudy Project Hydration II Day Pack accommodates this reservoir with even more room for snacks, sunblock, extra socks and a light jacket. Look for fabrics with built in SPF which can help you stay cooler and burn-free.  I have quite a few new pieces at my Heat & Sun Awareness Project

Bicycle Commutes
Packing for a short ride from point A to point B should not be a problem in the summertime. You may need a little extra water but you can top off before you leave by drinking a extra water and then fill up again when you arrive at your destination. If it's under 4 miles or a short commute, a 24 oz bottle of chilled ice water should be fine. I take a thermal Polar Bottle and fill it 1/3 of the way with ice. It's stays incredibly chilly for the whole ride even on very hot days of 85-90 degrees.

This Detours D2R Trunk Bag accommodates extra water for your ride.

Bicycle Touring
What's good about the Detours D2R Trunk Bag is that you can also use it for longer distance commutes or touring.  The water bottle holder in the rear of the bag allows you to double your amount of water if you also have a bottle cage on your bike. The D2R expands to hold a First Aid Kit, sunblock and extra sun protective clothing.  Add a set of panniers for extra storage and you are really ready for a day on the road.

The Wrap 
The summer heat can be brutal and heat exhaustion and stoke can sneak up on you in short order. Check out the new cooling technology built into clothing, towels and now arm sleeves which also block the sun. If you are running or cycling, wet them, snap them and pull them on. As your blood flows past them at your pulse points, you will immediately feel refreshed thanks to the temperature lowering polymers built into the fabric. You also might want to check the conditions before and while you are out.  Kestrel has come out with a Heat Stress Tracker which measures heat index, wet bulb readings and other important parameters to tell you when heat exhaustion is imminent. A weather meter with this sort of capability allows you to check the weather in your immediate area and alerts you to take the proper precautions to guard against heat stroke.

EnduraCool Cooling Arm Sleeves by Mission