Dave Roberts Reviews the Paramo Quito Jacket in glorious orange, with an update of how well the jacket is performing FIVE YEARS later. Having run all winter in a black Paramo Adventure Light Smock, in the dark may I add, I had to get hold of one that made me a bit more visible. While …
Paramo Quito Jacket Review – A Five Year Update! Read More »
Over the past few months we’ve been out testing the True Mountain stretch windshell jacket. A stretchy, breathable windproof suitable for active outdoor sports. Sticking to their usual mantra of British made, this windproof is made in Lancashire. The windproof is a staple piece of kit these days, and if you’re asking yourself “what’s a …
Now that the storms finally seem to have left us, I decided to put on my trail run shoes and head out towards the foot of Mynydd Mawr in Snowdonia. This was to be the starting point for my very first trail run, and add to that my very first night trail run! So maybe …
If you’re lucky enough to live within ‘running’ distance of your place of work, then run-commuting has to be one of the easiest ways to get your weekly mileage in. Here’s our Mud and Routes guide to getting the most from your run commute. 1 – Know your Route. You’ll need to have both a …
With the dark evenings now in control, running in the dark is almost a given. Donning the heavy Led Lenser H14 for the first time in months wasn’t comfortable on the ears, and so we came up with this dual solution. Not only does it reduce pressure on the ears, it helps keep the head …
The Beast’s Tip Of The Week – Banish Headtorch Chafage Read More »
We all suffer a sport/activity injury every once in a while, be it a bump, bruise or sprain, and when it happens we often resort to compression as a solution. And why not? It offers reduced pain, reduced swelling and reduced recovery time. Add to this a period of cold therapy; say the application of …
If you read our review on the Nathan Lock Laces, you’ll have realised that we weren’t overly impressed by the price for what was essentially a bit of cord and a toggle. So we decided to see how easy it would be to create out own pair from spare bits we had around the Mud …
Beast’s Tip of the Week – Bargain Elasticated Laces Read More »
If you’ve read our article here –Keeping Clean Without a Shower – then here’s a review of the Muc Off Dry Shower. Muc Off may well be known to you those of you who get your bikes muddy on trails as one of the best bike cleaning kit around. Now, they’ve also got something that’ll …
Not something you want to be reading over the weekend sports supplement, but neither is it something you want sprung on you on your long Sunday Run. Bleeding nipples, while it sounds like a trendy cocktail (probably with grenadine somewhere in the recipe) is a real problem once you start running beyond a certain distance. …
If you’re running any sort of long distance, the last thing you need is for your kit to get in the way or cause discomfort. These 2-in-1 X-Run Ultra shorts from Gore are designed for ultra-running, so they should be ideally suited to the shorter runs of around 25km I was planning on over the summer. These Gore …
I’m always finding that the laces on my Merrel Sonic Gloves don’t stay tied, especially in the wet, and was getting rather fed up of having to stop and get them sorted two or three times on a run. It’s not that I can’t tie my laces properly either! It never happens on hill walks …
SIS REGO is a recovery drink for use after intensive exercise such as a particularly tough run, or if you’re doing a particularly challenging walk over a number of days. What it’s good for? We’ve used it on heavy training days, perhaps when doing both a hill walk and a run, or just after a …
Many of you will probably have gone for a run and, if you’ve got a smartphone, there’s a good chance that you’ve made use of a running app or two. While they’re a great aid for training, if you want to know how hard you’re working out you’ll need a Heart Rate Monitor. You could …
Polar WearLink BlueTooth Heart Rate Monitor Review Read More »
I’ve sworn by my Garmin GPS watches for many years now, and while I’ve dabbled with mobile apps, they don’t come close to the experience you get with a watch built for that purpose. So when I got my hand on the Sony SmartWatch 2 (or should that be the other way around?), I though …
Deathmatch – Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS Watch v Sony SmartWatch 2 Read More »
It’s that time of the year where you’re searching for last year’s night running gear, and end up having to shell out yet again for some flashing red lights. We went for some Mercury flashing armbands this time round, for a change. These armbands provide visibility as they are constructed from reflective material as well …
There are many brands out there that sell kit at the lower end of the market, and while we’ve been impressed with the More Mile socks it didn’t necessarily mean we expected their running tops to be top notch. However, the reviews given on-line to the kit (e.g. on Amazon) did promise something special for …
More Mile Alaska Long Sleeved Thermal Running Top Read More »
If you’re someone who likes to run with a cap, then running in the dark requires that you choose between your cap or a head torch (do people really run with a torch in hand?) When these appeared on Amazon advertised as being for runners as well as just about any other activity going , we …
Unless you’ve been living in a cave on Knoydart subsiding on fulmar eggs and whatever flotsam finds its way across the sea, you will have heard about the recent interest barefoot running. You may be curious and wondering what it’s all about, or you may already be running in minimal shoes, advertised as barefoot, but …
It’s easy to get disheartened as you continually run along pavements and roads, cars whirring past and impromptu hurdling sessions when unstoppable runner meets immoveable dog. Parks are better, but can be busy and far too manicured if you’re hankering for some wilderness. The only option is to get muddy and start trail running. If …
From Tarmac to Mud – First Steps in Trail Running Read More »
As most running shorts lack pockets, and being in possession of the huge Xperia phone, I needed something to carry all this in without being a fully blown waistpack (I’ve already got two of those!) Even if some shorts have pockets, thhey may not be secure, and a zipped pouch provides piece of mind if …
Titan Runner’s Waist Pack by Ultimate Performance Review Read More »
You’ve got running shoes that are looking a bit sorry for themselves and perhaps clear the room by stink alone? Well don’t despair as you can give your shoes a once over that means they’re good for another few months at least. You’ll need: One pair of particularly sorry footwear – Ours is a pair …
Beast’s Tip Of The Week – Sprucing Those Running Shoes Read More »
A quick Google on this will find figures that range from about 500 km upwards to 1000 km, and others that replace them when they fall apart or start developing holes. You quickly suspect the lower end of the range is heavily influenced by the shoe manufacturers and the upper end by die-hard skinflints who …
We were impressed with the Led Lenser H7 when it was first out so when it finally gave in on me a few weeks ago (which was promptly replaced by the company) I nearly went for a like for like replacement. Of course, when I found out that there was now a newer version that …
We admit, we’re a bit keen on the old Under Armour kit, especially with the running shorts that have served for many thousands of kilometres over the years. However, each bit of kit has a shelf life, and two out of three of my pairs of shorts had lost their inners. That’s fine in winter …
