Author: Louis Ramirez

Sonic Walk Invents Wearable Speakers for Joggers and Cyclists

Tired of looking for the perfect pair of workout headphones? Sonic Walk has introduced a line of wearable mini speakers that let you rock out to your tunes without being tied down by wires or uncomfortable earbuds.

The entry-level 300 Series (Lightning; pictured) weighs 8.5 ounces and is designed for walkers, cyclists, and joggers. The strap fits snugly around your shoulders and features built-in speakers that can pump out your tunes, but also keep you aware of your surroundings (unlike most earbuds which drown out ambient noise). They even feaure a built-in LED band that lights up with the push of a button for night jogging. Volume controls are located on the strap itself as is a rechargeable 10-hour battery and pocket for your smartphone/MP3 player. Continue reading Sonic Walk Invents Wearable Speakers for Joggers and Cyclists

Are the Days of ANT+ Numbered?

You may not realize it, but there’s a small war brewing in the sports and fitness industry. The combatants are ANT+ and the newer Bluetooth Smart technology. Since it’s introduction in 2010, ANT+ (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin) has been the technology of choice for various fitness gadgets ranging from heart rate monitors to foot pods. The technology allows for the collection, automatic transfer, and tracking of sensor data. In other words, it’s the reason the heart rate strap on your chest can communicate with the heart rate monitor on your wrist.

However, Bluetooth Smart, which uses less power than ANT+, is quickly gaining traction and according to a recent report from IMS Research, it will overtake ANT+ as the technology of choice for fitness gear by 2016.

We’ve already started seeing gadgets using the new technology. Among the heavy hitters supporting Bluetooth Smart are Wahoo Fitness, Motorola, and Nike. Smartphones are also expected to side with Bluetooth Smart (the Motororla DROID RAZR and Apple iPhone 4S are among the more popular handsets.) Continue reading Are the Days of ANT+ Numbered?

IHRSA: Life Fitness Debuts New Exercise Bike

Life Fitness wants to give your spinning class a major redesign with its new exercise bike, the LifeCycle GX.

Announced at last week’s IHRSA 2012, the LifeCycle GX offers everything from an ultra-durable frame to a built-in computer designed to record your every move. However, the bike’s most striking feature is its rear flywheel design (there’s no front wheel like you’d find on most of today’s group exercise bikes). This new design, along with the bike’s zinc oxide-coated frame, help protect it from sweat, dirt, and rust. Continue reading IHRSA: Life Fitness Debuts New Exercise Bike

IHRSA: TrekDesk Lets You Walk While You Work

Trying to squeeze a workout in during office hours is no easy task. Fortunately, companies such as TrekDesk are designing products that can help you do both. At last week’s International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, TrekDesk demonstrated its flagship product, the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk, which we covered back in 2010. The TrekDesk Treamill Desk (which doesn’t include a treadmill despite its name) was designed to sit over your treadmill and let you workout while you work, browse the Web, or watch TV. The desk itself can accommodate various setups ranging from a laptop to a dual-monitor workstation. Its main purpose is to prevent a sedentary lifestyle and get people moving. Continue reading IHRSA: TrekDesk Lets You Walk While You Work

Study Shows High-Intensity Exercise Can Alter DNA

We all know that working out can alter your physical appearance, but did you know that it can also alter your DNA?

A recent study published in the March 2012 issue of Cell Metabolism shows that high intensity exercise can change the chemical tagging of your DNA, activating genes responsible for burning lipids and glucose. In the study, researchers examined 14 participants before and after they rode to exhaustion on an exercise bike. The scientists then took thigh-muscle tissue samples of the riders and noticed that when participants worked out at high intensity (80% of their maximum aerobic capacity) there was a diminished presence of chemicals known as methyl groups. The disappearance of these methyl groups allowed other proteins – specifically proteins that support the metabolism of sugar and fat – to show themselves. The appearance of these proteins basically tells your body to go into fat-burning mode. However, when the participants exercised at low-intensity (40% of their maximum aerobic capacity), scientists detected more methyl than when they rode at high capacity. Continue reading Study Shows High-Intensity Exercise Can Alter DNA

Samsung Rugby Smart Packs Both Brains and Brawn

If smartphones could defend themselves, the Rugby Smart would be the Rocky Balboa of Android phones.

The latest invinci-phone to enter the arena, the Rugby Smart bucks Samsung’s signature Galaxy S styling for a rugged exterior, joining the ranks of the Motorola Defy with the ability to withstand dust, humidity, rain, shock, and extreme temperatures. The military spec phone can even be dunked in up to 3 feet of water (for 30 minutes), making it an ideal pick for hikers and beach lovers alike. Continue reading Samsung Rugby Smart Packs Both Brains and Brawn

Top 5 Exercises That Can Damage Your Back

Whatever your fitness goals may be, getting injured isn’t one of them. That’s the message Belltown Spine & Wellness Center, a chiropractic clinic in Seattle, is trying to get across with its list of the top five potentially damaging back exercises.

First up on the clinic’s list is running. Although it’s one of the most affordable ways to get fit (all you need is a good pair of sneakers and a trail), no two runners have the same gait. Even seasoned marathoners may be unknowingly doing more harm than good to their body, which is why Belltown Spine & Wellness Center stresses honing your stride and running in moderation, particularly for beginners.

Also making the list are yoga and pilates. Both exercises are designed to improve flexibility and condition your body, but both are also potentially damaging to your back. (The New York Times also did a controversial piece on the negative side effects of yoga.) The clinic’s advice, always perform yoga and pilates exercises with the help of an instructor. Continue reading Top 5 Exercises That Can Damage Your Back

Beverly Hills Studio Offers Simulated Ski Sessions

This winter’s mild weather has made for a slow ski season in many parts of the United States, but fortunately there’s a new destination winter sports aficionados can head to — Beverly Hills, CA. That’s right, the sun-drenched city know for its million-dollar celebrity mansions and fad diets is now home to SkyTechSport Ski and Fit, an indoor studio for ski and snowboard fans.

The club currently offers two ski simulators: the President Lux, an 18-foot-long ski simulator that’s paired with a 10-foot screen, and the larger Olymp simulator (pictured above), a 24-foot-long machine that’s paired with a panoramic display and 3D capability. (The facility is already looking to expand its offerings with a smaller 10-foot Leader Pro model to come later this year.) Continue reading Beverly Hills Studio Offers Simulated Ski Sessions

Sony Gives Pocket Cams Rugged Abilities with Bloggie Sport

Cisco may think the pocket camcorder is dead, but that isn’t stopping Sony from updating its Bloggie line of dedicated video shooters. The company’s latest model, the Bloggie Sport, is a ruggedized shooter that’s shock proof, dirt resistant, and waterproof down to 16 feet.

It features a 2.7″ touchscreen (which is still functional when the Bloggie is submerged 16 feet under) and can capture 1080p video as well as 5-megapixel stills, all of which is stored on the Bloggie’s 4GB of onboard memory. For those with clumsy hands, the camcorder can also survive drops of up to 5 feet. A hidden flip-out USB arm lets you connect directly to a computer or you can bypass your PC and connect directly to an HDTV using the Bloggie’s built-in HDMI port.

Can’t wait to upload your videos? Sony also offers the more advanced Bloggie Live HD which has a 3″ touchscreen, 8GB of storage, 12-megapixel still capability, and built-in Wi-Fi, which lets you stream straight to Qik Video. However, the Live model loses all the ruggedness of the Bloggie Sport. Both the Live and Sport are currently available for $249 and $179 respectively.

Sony Bloggie Sport Official Product Page
Sony Bloggie Live Official Product Page

Hands On: Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headset

The Jabra Sport is the first Bluetooth headset to unshackle runners from the constraints of their wired headphones. But can Jabra – a company who’s known for making Bluetooth headsets for the home and office – make a smooth transition into the sports world? In a word; yes. The Jabra Sport is comfortable, reliable, and as rugged as any other pair of sports headphones we’ve seen. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid first attempt at a wireless headset for runners.

The $99 headphones are light and sit comfortably over the top of each ear. The buds themselves rest by your ear canal opening (not inside it), meaning they don’t provide any noise isolation. As a runner, that’s a good thing, since you should always be aware of your surroundings when running outdoors.  But for use at the gym, that means you’ll have to crank the volume up high to cancel out any noise from the treadmill or your fellow gym goers. Continue reading Hands On: Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headset

ViewRanger App Gives Your Smartphone Off-Road Mapping Capabilities

Today’s smartphones pack built-in GPS capabilities that have all but demolished the need for a standalone GPS unit. But what if there was an app for outdoors enthusiasts that turned your smartphone into the digital equivalent of Bear Grylls? That’s essentially what you can expect from ViewRanger, a powerful outdoor GPS app that’s been available internationally, but is just now launching in the U.S.

The $5 app lets trailblazers plan, plot, navigate, record, and analyze their outdoor adventures straight from their GPS-enabled smartphone. It uses Open Source Web maps to provide detailed information on any popular location or alternatively, users can make in-app trail guide purchases on the fly. The trail guides (which cost between 70 cents to $1) are then pinned on the map providing trail descriptions, directions, and pictures straight out of publishers’ guidebooks. Video after the jump

CES 2012: Gobandit HD Helmet Cam Goes Wireless

Thrill seekers have a new toy for their arsenal. After teasing us with a preview, Gobandit has lifted the veil off its new HD helmet cam, the Gobandit LIVE. The camera lets you shoot and share your videos on the fly by adding built-in Wi-Fi, so the minute you’re within range of a hotspot, the camera can beam your videos out to Facebook or YouTube. Alternatively, you can zap videos direct to your iPhone for instant review or editing.

The waterproof camera can sense your surroundings and record your position, speed, and acceleration using its 170-degree wide-angle lens and GPS. Or  to add an extra level of adrenaline to your videos, connect it with any external ANT+ devices to record your heart rate throughout the action.

The camera is equipped with a gyroscopic sensor and captures 1080p video at 30fps. It weighs 0.31 lbs. and can be mounted on a helmet, bike, or car. If you don’t care for the built-in Wi-Fi, Gobandit will also offer the Gobandit Race, which packs the same features as the LIVE model, excluding the wireless. Both cameras will be available this March with pricing at $429 and $329, respectively.

Gobandit Official Product Page