As a blogger who loves trying new things and sharing the best, I get LOTS of awesome things to try. Truth be told, I have become a bit behind in sharing some of my great finds. I am going to do mini-reviews, and previews, here and tell you about opportunities for you to try these awesome things, too!
If you read this blog, you know that we’ve been having a tough winter here in Chicago. I ran the Houston Marathon in January, so I have not been doing as much outdoor training as some of my friends. When I got the opportunity to review an Orange Mud Hydraquiver hydration pack, I knew that Finds’ friend, Kristin, would be the perfect tester. You may remember Kristin from my North Country Trail/Wine Trail Half Marathon double weekend.
Kristin is training for her first Boston Marathon and has been flirting with her first ultra. I asked her to try the hydration pack and she was game. Here’s Kristin:
“I should start this review by saying that when it comes to hydrating while running, I’m a handheld person. Years ago I tried a hydration belt, but I hated the feeling of having something heavy strapped around my waist. Handhelds just seemed easier and less complicated than a belt or a pack. But then I spent all winter running in freezing temperatures needing to constantly shift my handheld from one hand to the other to keep my hands warm. It was annoying. My long runs were getting longer, I needed to carry more water and gels, and I realized that my little handheld was no longer cutting it. Erica and Orange Mud to the rescue!
At first look, I thought, “This thing is never going to work. How am I going to carry a full size water bottle between my shoulders?” The HydraQuiver instructions say to give it at least three chances to see how it works, but I was sold within the first five minutes. It takes a little adjusting to get the straps just right, but once I found the perfect fit (or as Orange Mud calls, “the sweet spot”), it didn’t rub or chafe at all. The water bottle sits high on your back between your shoulders. It felt like I was wearing a teensy weightless backpack rather than a heavy, full water bottle. There was a lot of excess strap on each side, but I just tucked them into the front neoprene pockets. Problem solved. The back has a big zipper pocket that I used to store additional gels, my cell phone and credit card. I also like that you can use it with other water bottles of the same size.
The feature I was most impressed with was how easy it was to get the water bottle in and out of the holster. Blindly putting a water bottle back into a holster between my shoulders while running seemed like it would be an awkward task, but somehow it just works. After multiple test runs on trails and road, I never dropped it or missed the holster on the first try. You can even stop and tie your shoe without the bottle falling out!
Now that I’ve used the HydraQuiver for a few weeks, I wonder how I’ve managed this long without it. I’m definitely a fan and will be using it for all my longer runs and upcoming races. I hope to see more Orange Mud products on the trails!
The HydraQuiver can be purchased at Orange Mud for $84.95. It’s not inexpensive, but it is very well made and should last a long time even for hard core runners! You can keep up with Orange Mud on Facebook or Twitter.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the HydraQuiver for free from Orange Mud as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.
I started following Climb On Products on Twitter right after I joined in 2012. They are a women owned company in Austin, TX that makes one of the few 100% pure ingredient skin care lines available. They use food grade quality base ingredients instead of cosmetic grade. There are no artificial ingredients, artificial colors, no “fragrance” or GMOs in the products.
They offer four lines of skin care products including the new “crossFIXE.” I am no Cross-fitter, but I love a good soak, so they sent me the crossFIXE Muscle Soak. The description: “This base of organic dead sea salts is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Add massive amounts of plant-based anti-inflammatory and plant sterols and you have yourself a powerful relief for tense, tight, sore….anything.” I tried it. I loved the fact that you only need to use a small amount per bath and I could definitely feel a positive impact on my muscles. Also, you can use it as a salve directly on sore muscles. Good stuff!
They also sent me samples of the crossFIXE bar and ClimbOn bar which I am going to share with my Cross-fitter friends! They say it, “soothes, moisturizes, and maintains your skin before and during your training, and recovers your WOD wounded hands.” Another great sample they sent was the ClimbOn SPF30 sunscreen. It is nice to have an all natural alternative. I liked that it was not too minerally and it did not leave a white film like some of the mineral sunscreens I have tried.
Interested in this great brand? Check out their ClimbOn sampler kit or follow them on Twitter or Facebook. Also, check back here as I will be offering a giveaway of a crossFIXE Hands Tube for the giveaway soon!
I am very delinquent on this review! I love Artizone and Caitlin who manages their PR also works with Zema’s Madhouse Foods. They have a new line of ancient whole grain gluten-free baking mixes and recipes for delicious, nutrient-packed baked goods. Zemas gluten-free mixes are the only products free of the top eight food allergens, and are made in an allergen-free facility. Ingredients are non-GMO and made without refined sweeteners.
All Zemas products are made with its superseed trio (chia, hemp and flax meal) with omega-3’s, fiber, and protein. Zemas mixes are derived from ancient grains, such as amaranth, quinoa flakes and millet. These grains provide a natural source of nutrients and are easy to digest.
I received the Gluten-free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix and the Cocoa Teff Pancake and Waffle Mix. I made them for me and the husband with chia-seed and water as egg substitute in one, and apple sauce in the other, as we did not have any eggs. We really enjoyed them – especially the cocoa ones! The husband is not a “health nut” like me, and they passed his taste test, too!
Zema’s Madhouse Foods mixes are available at Artizone, Abe’s Market, Whole Foods, specialty stores and online. You can also keep up with them on Facebook and Twitter! I also have a box of the Black Bean Brownie Bites mix that I will giveaway on my Facebook page soon!
I saw Nakd Bars on Kaila’s blog and was curious. They were offering a sampler pack deal so I bought it and then wrote Natural Balance Foods an email. They wrote back and said that they would send me “a few extra samples” with my sampler. They sent me TWO BOXES- one of the raw fruit and nut bars and one of the crunch (protein) bars. Then the US team sent me two MORE boxes with an awesome note telling me that they hoped I had a great run at the Houston Marathon. [I did, thanks!]
Natural Balance Foods is a young British company “devoted to increasing world happiness with yummy healthy snacks, humor and helpfulness.” They have been making healthy whole food alternatives to processed foods in 2006.
Nakd Bars contain 100% natural ingredients with no added sugars, syrups or “other stuff that shouldn’t be there.” The bars are wheat, dairy and gluten free and are a perfect size for a snack or pre-workout. They have two kinds: raw fruit and nut bars and crunch (protein) bars. The flavors are fruit and nut bar: Rhubarb & Custard, Caffe Mocha, Cocoa Orange, Cashew Cookie, Pecan Pie, Berry Delight, Cocoa Mint, Ginger Bread and Cocoa Delight. The crunch bars come in: Apple Crunch, Strawberry Crunch, Banana Crunch and Cocoa Crunch.
My faves are the Cocoa Orange, the Ginger Bread and the Pecan Pie. My favorite thing about these bars is that they are fresh, and the tastes are very natural and vibrant. I also like the Cocoa Crunch and Apple Crunch. Some of my testers weighed in, too. They said:
- “Berry Delight is delicious. Like a fruity Lara Bar. 4 ingredients, 135 calories, a good hold over post run until dinner.”
- “Cashew Cookie tastes exactly like Lara Bar’s Cashew Cookie. I’m sensing one is a copy cat… no idea who came first, but I like both! ;)”
- “Apple Crunch was really awesome. Amazingly filling given the profile, although I like a little more protein in my bars. The Rhubarb Custard one, on the other hand, is one that only a Brit could love. Might as well make a Marmite bar.” (LOL!) [I must admit, I did not try this one!]
- “I had Strawberry Crunch first and loved it. I had a Berry one and that was really good, too. And a Cocoa Delight – loved it. Overall, these are really tasty and have a very natural taste that’s true to the flavor of the name of the bar. Sounds weird, but sometimes bars don’t quite live up to the name, you know?” [I do!]
Stay up to date by following Natural Balance Foods on Facebook and Twitter. Or for some great advice on healthy living, and tips from their team of nutrition experts, check out their Community Section.
Please note that the giveaway has ended and the winners have been notified! Because the folks at Natural Balance Foods were so generous to me, I will send sent four lucky winner 8 bars each! (4 raw fruit and nut and 4 crunch).
Please note: I was not compensated for these reviews. All products were provided to me at no charge in exchange for reviews. All opinions are my own or those of other testers.
PS. Don’t miss my Atayne 100% Recycled Polyester Running Shirt Giveaway!