Stories by Cory

Gear Patrol •

The Best Men’s Workout Clothes

I’m going to date myself, but when I first started working out, cotton was considered a performance fabric. It soaked up sweat like a sponge. Sopping wet shirts drenched in sweat were worn as a badge of honor. The wetter your workout clothes, the better the workout. The sweatiest guy in the gym was unofficially crowned the hardest working. Since then, a lot has changed with workout apparel. Fabric technology has evolved. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and synthetic blends have d
GearJunkie •

Best Boutique Running Brands for Style and Performance

If you want to stand out at your next running event — without sacrificing comfort or performance — these are the most stylish, trendy boutique brands you should shop. Line up at any road or trail race, and odds are you’ll find the same clothing brands on all the runners. Any sense of style or unique flair seems lost in the masses. If you’re tired of the same boring, mass-produced, formulaic apparel options for runners, there’s an alternative to the big-name brands: boutique running brands. Bo
Gear Patrol •

The Best Pre-Workout

When it comes to fitness, there’s no such thing as an athlete who doesn’t want an extra edge. The thought process usually goes something like this, “If I could just train a little longer, harder, or more often I’ll be able to…” Sound familiar? Enter Pre-Workout. Pre-Workout is a supplement commonly used by bodybuilders and strength-based athletes to improve athletic performance and strength by increasing energy, focus, and muscle metabolism. It contains a broad range of ingredients with the
TripSavvy •

The 12 Best Patagonia Jackets of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Patagonia’s purple, orange, and black logo depicting the Fitzroy Massif in Patagonia is synonymous with excellent craftsmanship and rigorous dedication to conserving the planet through environmental and political activism. Long before the first Patagonia jacket was even imagined by Yvon Chouinard, founder
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The Best Vegan Protein Powders Available

In the words of the immortal Kermit the Frog, “It’s not easy being green.” While I’m not sure all vegans and vegetarians would agree with this sentiment, when it comes to consuming adequate amounts of protein with all nine essential amino acids, their meat-eating counterparts certainly do have it easier. However, with a basic understanding of nutrition science and proper planning, protein intake for vegans and vegetarians is quite simple. Protein is the building block of human physiology. Witho
TripSavvy •

The Best Trail Running Gear of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Nothing beats a good run through the woods. The smell of pine trees. Majestic mountain views. Flowing freshwater streams. It’s as much therapy as it is exercise. Whether you run short or long, East Coast or West Coast, a pleasant day out on the trails starts with the right trail running gear. “The right t
Footwear News •

The 13 Best CrossFit Shoes, According to Experts

CrossFit is one the most fun and engaging forms of exercises you can do. Each workout is done in a supportive social setting and offers new and different challenges that combine calisthenics, weightlifting, running and gymnastics packed into one short, high-intensity routine. The group environment creates a fun and friendly competitive community to help get you through the toughest workouts of the day. And if you’re ready to try out a class, we’re here to help you find the best Crossfit shoes to
Footwear News •

The 10 Best Asics Running Shoes of 2021, Tested by Experts

Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Asics was largely considered one of the undisputed leading running brands. The team at Asics was on a roll innovating and introducing award-winning running shoes one after another. I still very clearly remember every runner during that time seeking out running shoes with Asics Gel technology. However, starting in the 2000s, the tide started to change for Asics. Brands like Nike, Brooks and Hoka stepped in the limelight, leaving Asics — who still relied on the formula
Footwear News •

The 10 Best Adidas Running Shoes, According to Footwear Experts

Three angled stripes — so simple, yet so iconic in the world of sports. This is the Adidas logo, a logo seen on the feet of Olympic champions, world record holders and some of the best athletes the world has ever seen. Adidas’ role in the sport of running began well before Nike was even a thought. As the second largest sports shoe company in the world today (Nike is first), adidas makes some of the best sneakers you can buy. How it all started is an interesting story. Most sibling rivalries in
Footwear News •

The 11 Best Nike Running Shoes of 2021, According to Experts

To say Nike shoes have shaped the sport of running would be a gross understatement. The two are as intertwined as peanut butter and jelly. Watch any race, and you’re most certainly going to find the notorious “Swoosh” logo littered on the feet of professional and amateur runners alike. Nike’s strong presence in today’s running market is a direct result of its origin in the sport. It was a relationship between University of Oregon’s track coach Bill Bowerman and one of his athletes that kindled
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The Best Percussion Massage Guns of 2021

You know the feeling: the all-too-familiar post-workout aching muscle hobble. The kind of uncomfortable feeling that could leave you sidelined with soreness for days. Yet, day after day, we all bear the sometimes-debilitating pain like a badge of honor. It’s considered a sign your hard work and sweat paid off and that toned body you desire is just a few more workouts away. This painful, yet oddly rewarding, feeling in your muscles is something called delayed onset muscle syndrome, or DOMS, an
GearJunkie •

Scarpa Surprises With 'Ribelle Run' Record-Setting Trail Shoe: Review

Scarpa may not be at the top of the list for many when it comes to trail/mountain running shoes, but with the release of the Ribelle Run, it absolutely should be. I’ve always been a huge Scarpa fan. For over a decade, they’ve made some of the best mountaineering, skiing, climbing, and hiking shoes. But in terms of tried-and-true trail running shoes, the brand just hasn’t had the same popularity. Fellow European brands like Salomon and La Sportiva have largely taken the limelight. But that’s al
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The Best Adjustable Kettlebells of 2021

One the most rudimentary yet versatile pieces of fitness equipment is the kettlebell. With origins dating back to 18th-century Russia, the heavy ring-and-ball combo can be employed in a plethora of ways beyond to increase strength, power, endurance, coordination and flexibility. “The kettlebell is the most effective tool I’ve ever come across,” attests , elite kettlebell coach and founder of the . “It teaches all the different qualities we want to improve upon in terms of developing well-rounde
GearJunkie •

The 65 Special Running Workout: A Test of Speed and Endurance

As a runner, it’s important to test your fitness. While races serve as the best way to measure your fitness and the effectiveness of your training, a fun and less stressful way can be a staple test of fitness workout like the 65 Special. Every running coach I’ve worked with has had one iconic test of fitness workout. One that’s so hard, just completing it as prescribed is a rite of passage. Typically, these workouts followed a long period of hard training without races and were repeated year a
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The Best Rock Climbing Shoes of 2021

In a sport where gravity is your foe and friction is your friend, no single piece of gear aids you more than a pair of quality rock climbing shoes. As your feet represent 50 percent of your contact with the cliff or wall and bear the majority of your weight, finding the right pair for your ability level and type of climbing can mean the difference between getting to that next hold and falling off. However, zeroing in on your perfect pair is no easy task. REI alone sells . Nuances such as a st
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The 11 Best Camping Air Mattresses of 2021

Ah, the great outdoors — the fresh smell of pine trees, majestic mountain views, flowing rivers and meandering dirt paths through lush forests. Endless adventure awaits at every turn. Once darkness rolls in though, a fitful toss-and-turn kinda night can really kill the vibe. If you love camping, but dread camp sleeping, having the proper high-quality camp mattress can make a world of difference. Camping mattresses fall into three categories: foam pads, air-inflate pads and self-inflate pads. Fo
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The 10 Best Camping Cots of 2021

Tossing and turning in your tent? Get off the ground and upgrade your camp bedding, figuratively and literally, with a quality camping cot. A camping cot supports you more like an actual bed, which can make a huge difference in sleep quality. It’s also a heck of a lot easier to get in and out of than something close to the ground – a welcome feature for older or stiff-muscled campers. Cots also help to regulate body temperature. In chilly weather, a cot keeps you off the cold ground. In the
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The Best Ab Machines of 2021

Remember the famous ? The classic mid-nineties VHS workout tape featured three spandex-wearing fitness pros on the grass, sculpting their six-packs in just eight minutes a day. Believe it or not, the concept was highly successful, to the tune of $20 million in less than two years. While you’ll still need a healthy diet to reveal a ripped midsection and toned obliques, don’t dismiss what eight minutes of hard work done regularly can do for your core. If consistent, you’ll notice a tighter, stron
GearJunkie •

Burrito-Style Hiking Pack: Patagonia Altvia Backpack Review

Patagonia quietly released a new line of four eco-friendly day and light overnight hiking packs. We hit the trails in the largest-capacity pack, the Altvia 36L, to put this lightweight pack through the wringer. If you did a quick browse of Patagonia’s technical pack selection before spring 2021, you’d be hard-pressed to find any technical hiking-specific pack over 30L. A search would have yielded only four packs over 30L capacity: the Cragsmith 32L and 45L and Ascensionist 35L and 55L, all pack
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