Product Reviews

I know Absolute360 having used their infrared supports when I have been injured, so when I saw they had started selling socks I was keen to buy some and see what they were like. The website was easy to use and the socks arrived quickly. They looked good; however, that is not the important thing, what is important is do they perform well?

When I put them on they felt good, it was like my feet were getting a tender hug. During the run my feet felt good. I wasn’t sure that the infrared technology would make a difference; however, I think it does, when I got back from long runs my feet didn’t ache which they do sometimes when wearing other socks. They performed well in the wet (I have been through some deep puddles recently following the storms), it will be interesting to see what they are like in cold wet weather during the winter. I’ll update this review when I know. I don’t suffer from blisters; however, on my first run I got the impression the socks would be good at helping prevent blisters, so I was not surprised when I researched the website entry to read this:

Anti-blister: NanoGLIDE® technology built into the heel and toe box eliminates heat build-up and friction between the sock and the skin. This significantly reduces the chances of blisters and irritations, guaranteeing the comfort and performance that your run demands.

Perhaps I should have read all that sort of stuff before I bought the socks, but I am the impulsive type.

This bit explains why my feet didn’t ache.

Energy return: bioactive minerals are embedded within the yarn used to construct these running socks. This smart textile absorbs and reflects infrared energy back into the body helping maximise thermoregulation, improving overall circulation and delivering more oxygen to your muscles and soft tissues, thus improving performance and decreasing muscle fatigue.

I’m a runner not a reader so I will leave it you to read all the stuff on the Absolute 360 website, I’ll just say:

I love these socks.

Living in Cornwall means that I don’t often encounter icy conditions when I do Get-a-Grip  Traction Aids from Due North are a godsend. To get to the countryside, and great off-road running, there is about ½ mile of pavement and road to negotiate whichever direction I head in. With icy conditions, there is always the risk of slips and falls so I put the Get-a-Grip traction aids on my trainers.  They are very easy to get on, just place the toe over the front of your shoe and pull the heel over the back and that’s it. The small tungsten carbide spikes provide grip in the ice but are not aggressive, so you do not slip when there is no ice or bruise the bottom of your foot. When I get to the fields, I slip them off and either carry them in my hand or pop them in a pack if I’m wearing one. I don’t need them off-road and I don’t want to lose them in deep muddy sections. If I do encounter a tarmac section, I can easily slip them back on again.

I can run with confidence on icy roads and pavements wearing my Get-a-Grips, I have also used them to run along the frozen Mackenzie River, the route used by the Ice Road Truckers. I don’t like the cold so doubt I will run there again.

I also use them on normal shoes when walking to the shops in icy conditions. Delivery drivers use them because they can leave them on when getting back in their vans and driving off to the next delivery. The tungsten carbide spikes are hard wearing and keep their ice gripping edge for a long time. The Get-a-Grip Traction Aids come with two spare spikes – I have never had to use those spares.

These are great on roads and pavements; they are not designed for taking on the ice fields of the arctic or icy conditions in mountains; for those conditions, you need crampons which are not great on roads and pavements.

Odd technical running socks – great looking and great performing.

The story

I discovered Monkey Sox by accident. I was having coffee at the National Running show and started chatting to a mother and her young baby (I am a big softy when it comes to babies). Lianne told me she was an exhibitor and told me the background to the brand. Her husband, James - a doctor, was diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in July 2016. Lianne, a sports clothes designer, and James wanted to create an inspiring way to raise awareness and funds for the MS community. They also want to inspire an active lifestyle and open conversations about MS. Monkey Sox was launched in September 2018 and donates 50% of profits to three MS charities; the rest is ploughed back into the business to develop it further. Lianne gave me a pair of socks to try, I didn’t expect great things although they did look and feel good. There are a lot of people producing socks and a lot of them a not very good.

Wearing the socks

I wore them as casual socks to start with; I liked the intentionally odd sock design. They are designed to mirror how the body reacts and feels different, left to right, for those living with Multiple Sclerosis. I then took them out for a run – they were comfortable and performed well. I took them out for lots more runs. They stood up well to getting constantly muddy and being washed. I then bought two pairs. That says a lot.

The socks

The socks are made in a factory in Braga, Portugal using technical yarns, 96% Polyamide + 4% Elastane, and some nifty design: double cuff, reinforced heels and toe caps, breathable mesh upper and a support rib arch. Which all makes for one great looking and great performing sock.

What else?

They also make and sell casual and kids socks. If you want to give them as a gift but are unsure what design to get they also sell gift vouchers.

I am not a fan of low cut socks, however as the nice people at Hej International (Wigwam distributors for Europe) sent me some pairs to try it seemed rude not to run in them. Initially I thought they had sent me the wrong size because they looked small. That was not the case they were my size and fitted well; feeling soft and comforable. Something to do with an 'integrated zone-liner underfoot to give a great fit'. I took them out for a short run, 8 miles, that is short for me because I didn't expect to like the socks. I was shocked to find I loved them. A few days later I took them out for a 20-mile run - same result I loved them. They kept my feet cool and dry. The little tab at the back stopped them slipping down into my shoe (something I thought might happen). It felt like I ran faster in these socks, however I think that was an illusion. I'm sure the Vanquish NXT will be a favourite with 'racing snakes'. I will now use these socks for summer runs. In the winter I will revert back to a higher sock to give my ankles some protection from the elements and the mud.

Honesty statement: I became a Wigwam Ambassador in 2019 and a member of #teamwigwam. They give me free socks and publicity, however, I do not let this affect my opinions, if I thought the socks were rubbish I would say so. I have been a fan of Wigwam socks and have been using them long before I became an ambassador.

Wigwam socks are no longer available from the European site.

I’m not impressed by celebrity endorsements or fancy technology so when I was given a pair of these insoles at the Bloggers Forum during the Running Awards and told they were endorsed by Usain Bolt and used D30 smart technology to reduce shock and protect joints I thought “yeah, yeah – heard it all before”. 

I took them home and went for a run replacing the insoles in my Scott Kinabalu trail shoes with the ENERTOR® ones. There wasn’t much difference in thickness. I am happy with the Scott shoes when running off-road, however on the road they lack cushioning.  I started off on the trail and the insoles felt good, so I then chose a road route including a long downhill section to give them a good test. I am now a fan. The insoles felt firm, yet they provided excellent shock absorption without feeling spongey.

When I got home, happy that the insoles worked, I did a bit of research. The D30 technology is used in helmets, gloves and other protective gear used around the world by soldiers, professional athletes, industrial workers and motorcyclists. What impressed me a lot more than the endorsement by Usain Bolt was the fact that D30 is used in Dr Martens. If you have ever worn those you will know how they provide day-long comfort.

I also had a look at the reviews on the company website (73). I didn’t read them all, but I did read quite a lot, almost all were very complimentary with a few rather lacklustre. One complained that at £24.99 they were expensive. I don’t think they are because they work well. Another mentioned that they were heavy. I popped mine on my kitchen scales - just under 50g the pair compared to just over 25g for the ones that came with the shoe. I’m happy with an extra 25 grams to get good cushioning and shock absorption.

I cannot comment on how durable they are, yet! The company claim they last 7 times longer than traditional insoles. We will see.

Overall opinion – these work and do what it says on the packaging.

Point Blank - natural energy drink

I first tried Point Blank during the Shine Walk, a marathon walk through London to raise money for Cancer Research UK. I was given it by Miranda Markham of Action PR, one of the people I was walking with. Point Blank is a client of the agency. Walking a marathon is tougher than running one, it takes a long time. Walking one at night after you have completed a full Tough Mudder that day is even tougher and I was feeling a bit tired at mile 20. The Point Blank perked me up and I finished feeling strong and awake.

A week or so later Miranda kindly sent me a case of Point Blank to try. I was intrigued by the blurb on the bottle. 'Natural energy, no sugar, no fat, 1 calorie'. When I looked at the nutritional information there were more zeros than a list of the UKs Eurovision scores. The product doesn't contain any energy; the energy comes from your body as the result of the caffeine in Point Blank - 65mg per 100ml. I won't go into the science behind the effects of caffeine - there is plenty of published research.

The product works for me, although the weight is a problem. I will only use it in races where I can leave it in a drop bag or have a second who can hand it to me when needed. I imagine it would be great for sports where the weight isn't an issue, cycling, kayaking and perhaps hiking. I am keeping a few bottles in my car for when I feel tired driving, although if I am very tired I will stop for a sleep. Better to arrive late in the morning than in the morgue. You need to experiment to find out how caffeine works best for you.

I like the taste (much better than those awful gels), but sought out the opinion of an expert, Emma Sabin of Sabins Coffee. Her opinion "Good coffee, but not great coffee". Sabins is a small batch roaster, Emma sources coffee from small producers and her husband lovingly roasts them to perfection. Currently (November 2017) they have a great coffee from Myanmar, but only have two sacks of it. Obviously Point Blank need to source coffee where there will be a regular supply (not just two sacks) so a "Good" from Emma is probably as good as they can get.

As you would expect it is available from world domination seeker Amazon, but you can also buy it direct from the Point Blank website.

 Aquapure Traveller from Pure Hydration

The great thing about this water filter is that as it is totally mechanical with no chemicals the water is available straight away - just squeeze the bottle and drink. The filter removes all the nasty stuff, including heavy metals, leaving just pure water. I have used these filters for quite a few years on long runs when I know I'll find a water source and on wild camping trips and have never suffered any stomach upsets. I normally try and find water that is relatively clean as this prolongs the life of the filter, but on occasions I've had to get water from puddles full of sheep's droppings or very unpleasant looking cattle troughs. I'm still here to tell the tale.

My only criticism is that the flow through the filter can be variable. Some I have bought just require a gentle squeeze of the bottle while others have required quite a strong squeeze. The filters are fail safe; when they stop working you cannot get any water through them. Buy from Amazon.

Runderwear

Before I tried Runderwear briefs I used to just wear normal pants, except on desert races when I used X-Bionic moisture management underwear. Now having tried a pair of Runderwear briefs I have bought more. They are very comfortable to wear and do not chafe due to the 360-degree seamless construction and flatlock edging. The technical fabric wicks moisture away and micro-perforations assist airflow. They work so well that I now use them in desert races (they are lighter than x-bionic). Previously, when running in cold weather, my bum would be cold once I got home and showered. This doesn't happen when wearing Runderwear. I know some people don't wear any underwear beneath lycra tights, or similar items, which can be embarrassing if you need medical attention which requires removing the tights. Give Runderwear a try to save embarrassment. Available from good independent sports shops. Or direct from the company.