Product Reviews
TRAINING LIKE A KID AGAIN
By Tom Barry
This is the season when friends and family are jealous of our lifestyle, and who can blame them? As endurance athletes, the summertime is like being transported back to childhood, running through vibrant forests in the morning, passing the days swimming in cool mountain lakes, and cycling under a setting sun at dusk. This is our reward for the countless times when we woke up in the dark for an early morning swim in the pool or the hours spent grinding away on the trainer all winter. But unlike those pure childhood moments, other things are probably on your mind right now, including a rigorous race and training schedule. For those adult concerns, we’ve compiled a few products to help you maximize your performance on course, while still allowing you to enjoy some of the childhood revelry that summer has to offer.
MIO ALPHA HEARTRATE MONITOR
$199;
alphaheartrate.com
MIO SAYS: The Alpha from Mio provides the user with accurate, continuous heart rate monitoring without the discomfort of a chest strap. Using an electo-optical cell to monitor the volume of blood beneath the skin and provide up-to-the-second updates, the Alpha syncs with a wide range of GPS and fitness apps currently on the market for total data tracking during workouts. It comes in a sleek, narrow design with an idiot-proof two-button system to toggle between clock, heart rate, and exercise timer screens. A tri-color LED gives instant feedback within user-designated heart rate zones.
REVIEWERS SAY: Testers were impressed with the look of the Alpha and appreciated the clean, stylish design that wasn’t too bulky, even for those with smaller wrists. Both Ben and Kaili reported that the heart rate function was “surprisingly accurate and consistent, and way more comfortable than wearing a chest strap.” The watch did seem somewhat susceptible to changes in temperature, however. On the bike, Kaili noted that the Alpha was consistent during climbs but was less reliable during descents when the skin surface cooled off in the breeze. Under more constant conditions, however, Ben reported great performance on long runs but was somewhat annoyed by the audible heart rate feedback that is automatically activated with the work out timer. He would have preferred an LED indicator only or a silencing function while in workout mode but was still impressed with the watch’s accuracy.
THE GIST: Sleek and stylish, the Alpha heart rate monitor performs well at its core function without the discomfort of a chest strap. Ideal for sustained training rides and runs, you may want to turn your headphones up while running in order to drown out the HR zone alerts.
TIGER TAIL KNOTTY TIGER
$20;
tigertailusa.com
TIGER TAIL SAYS: At just three inches in diameter, the Knotty Tiger is made to fit in the palm of your hand and is small enough to toss into a sports bag for post-race relief. Working on the same premise as other self-massaging products, the Knotty Tiger is specifically designed for trigger point massage and knot-busting, and features three different curvatures for pressure variation. The hard, smooth surface glides efficiently over clothing but can also be used on bare skin or with massage oils for slightly more decadent relief.
REVIEWERS SAY: Affordable and much more effective than the tennis ball strategy for working through small knots, Kaili appreciated the Knotty Tiger’s palm-sized dimensions and its portability. The larger, more rounded side of the Tiger was effective at working over whole muscle areas, while the more steeply curved end was good at targeting and relieving specific pressure points. The variations in curvature did come at a cost, however, making the Knotty Tiger near impossible to place on the floor and roll over for more complete coverage, as one might a tennis ball. “The same spots that are hard to reach with sunscreen are hard to reach with the Tiger,” said Becca, “but overall, I was surprised that a simple plastic ball could be so effective.”
THE GIST: While seemingly simple in its design, the Knotty Tiger’s minimal size and weight pack a punch in the right hands. Travel-friendly dimensions make it a good partner to help with post-race muscle recovery and relaxation.
76 USA TRIATHLON SUMMER 2013
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