Our 2025 Gear Review Guide is now available for download (PDF)! Based on all the products we have wear-tested from Q4 2024 to Q3-Q4 2025.
Category: Gear Reviews – Running, Cycling, Travel, Outdoors, Wearables, Money & More
Unlock Peak Performance With The New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 Training Shoe
The New Balance Minimus TR BOA® v2 emerges as a standout contender in the competitive world of minimalist trainers, blending advanced technology with signature barefoot-inspired ground feel, stability, and relentless gym-ready performance. Whether hitting heavy lifts, chasing HIIT agility, or craving quick lock-down, this detailed review reveals everything athletes and discerning buyers need to know…
Feelgrounds Derby Barefoot Dress Shoes – Classic Style with Natural Freedom
The Feelgrounds Derby is the brand’s barefoot / minimalist take on a dress shoe. It aims to combine formal styling with the freedom and ergonomics of barefoot footwear. Your barefoot lace-up shoe for formal occasions and everyday wear — blending classic style with natural freedom all year round. Main Features Visual Styling The Feelgrounds Derby…
GOREWEAR CONCURVE Windbreaker: Lightweight, Windproof, and Built for Runners
When you’re out on a windy trail or exposed road, a good windbreaker can make the difference between a smooth session and a miserable grind. The GOREWEAR CONCURVE Windbreaker is designed to protect runners and outdoor athletes from the chill, while remaining light, breathable, and easy to stow away. Key Features at a Glance Design…
Premium Recovery With The New Balance Fresh Foam RCVRY Slide
For athletes, runners, and fitness enthusiasts, the recovery (“rest & relaxation”) phase is just as important as the training itself. Enter the New Balance Fresh Foam RCVRY Slide, a slide designed not for performance, but for post-workout comfort. It promises plush cushioning, foot massage textures, and lightweight design. But does it deliver in real life?…
Mammut Runbold IV Pant: The Ultimate Balance of Comfort, Durability, and Performance
When it comes to hiking and outdoor adventure, your choice of pants can make or break the experience. The Mammut Runbold IV Pants are designed to deliver that sweet spot between all-day comfort, rugged durability, and lightweight performance. Whether you’re trekking up alpine trails, rucking with a weighted pack, or exploring new cities on foot,…
Mammut Taiss Light ML Jackets: The Mid-Layer That Does It All
Why We Love the Taiss Light ML For Travel & Outdoor Ventures TL;DR A medium-strength, 4-way-stretch fleece with a high nylon content for durability, a smooth outer face for friction-free layering, and just-right warmth-to-weight for year-round mountain use and travel. Pick Hooded if you want an under-helmet hood and extra storm insurance; pick Non-Hooded if…
The FeelGrounds Dress Collection is LIVE!
They’re here: FeelGounds Derby & Loafer. Discover the new FeelGrounds Dress Collection – elegance without compromise. From the office to dinner dates, enjoy barefoot comfort all the way. The Derby & Loafer combine refined design with the healthy comfort of barefoot shoes.
The GoRuck Basic Rucker – Ready When You Are
GoRuck took all the lessons they’ve learned since 2008 about building rucks and pared them down to the essentials to create the Basic Rucker® – and at a super affordable price of $145. Built from 420D Ripstop Robic to be both strong and lightweight, this ruck was made to live by the door, or in…
Company Profile – Altra Running
Last Updated: September 15, 2025 Golden Harper (All-American runner & running store manager), Jeremy Howlett (runner, businessperson), and Brian Beckstead (Ultramarathoner & running store manager) started Altra Running in 2009. Golden had been lobbying the big shoe companies for years to make more natural footwear that didn’t cause people to heel strike and yet nothing…
Company Profile – Xero Shoes
Last Updated: September 14, 2025 Xero Shoes co-Founders Steven Sashen and Lena Phoenix are husband and wife and life-long entrepreneurs. Steven is the visionary and marketer for Xero Shoes. He is a Master’s All-American sprinter (one of the fastest men over the age of 50 in the US) and former All-American gymnast. He was also…
Company Profile – Peluva
Last Updated: September 13, 2025 Peluva Mission Design an attractive, comfortable, and functional shoe from the ground up. The “Barefoot 2.0” project proceeds with uncompromising standards: The Peluva Team Mark Sisson, often hailed as the father of the Primal/Paleo lifestyle, is a true pioneer in health and fitness. A bestselling author and founder of one…
Company Profile: LEMs Shoes
Last Updated: September 12, 2025 LEMs Shoes Redefining Footwear for Natural Movement I first met Andrew for dinner in Cleveland, OH, July 2013 to talk shoes. I happened to be there competing at the National Senior Games representing California. Andrew launched their first model, Primal One, a few years before (September 2011) and I had…
Soar x Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Trail Shoe Review
Authors: Dr. Mark Cucuzzella (NRC) & Nick (Wear Tested Gear Review) This article was originally published on Natural Running Center. Dr. Mark reviewed the SOAR x Altra Mont Blanc Carbon while Nick reviewed the SOAR x Altra trail running apparel. The Altra Mont Blanc Carbon is a standout trail running shoe that blends innovative design with practical functionality,…
Stay Hydrated Smarter: New 2025 Study Shows Liquid I.V. Outperforms Water
A 2025 clinical study reveals that Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier and Sugar-Free formula significantly outperform plain water in boosting hydration, reducing urine loss, and improving fluid retention. Perfect for athletes, travelers, and anyone on the go. Introduction Hydration is more than just drinking water. In May 2025, researchers from the University of Memphis published a…
Fast Walking for Longer Life
New Study Reveals Just 15 Minutes a Day Can Lower Mortality Risk Walking has long been celebrated for its health benefits, but a groundbreaking study from the Southern Community Cohort Study sheds light on just how powerful fast walking can be. The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2025), followed nearly 80,000…
The Minimal Shoe Advantage: Build Stronger, Healthier Feet for Life
Authors: Dr. Mark Cucuzzella (NRC) & Nick (Wear Tested Gear Review) The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs. This article was originally published on Natural Running Center. In a world obsessed with high-tech “super shoes” packed with carbon plates and thick foam,…
Riding Into Comfort: My Day with the GOREWEAR Cycling Kit
There’s something about a fresh kit that makes you want to ride farther and faster. I recently set out on a mixed road and gravel adventure, fully kitted in GOREWEAR’s SWIFTRIDE Optical Bib Shorts, C5 Jersey, Everyday WINDSTOPPER® Vest, and C5 WINDSTOPPER® Gloves. Here’s how the gear performed, mile after mile. The Start: Early Morning…
Conquer Every Summit: SOAR x Altra Trail Running Gear Review
The SOAR X Altra collection sets a new benchmark in premium, high-performance trail running apparel. Designed for elite athletes and serious enthusiasts, these products blend British craftsmanship, American trail innovation, and cutting-edge materials—all wrapped in a vibrant “Prism” colorway that’s both functional and attention-grabbing. We hit the trails with this exclusive collaboration between SOAR Running…
Antigravity A1: The World’s First 8K 360° Drone is Here — Redefining How We Fly
If you thought drones had already reached peak innovation, think again. The new Antigravity A1 — the first drone ever to capture in 8K 360° — is about to change the way we see the sky, explore the world, and tell our stories. Born from a collaboration between Insta360 and pioneering third-party developers, the A1…
The Ultimate Urban Travel Kit for Digital Nomads
Mammut Seon Transporter 15 with Tree Wood FL T-Shirt and Alvra Summer Shirt Are you searching for the perfect travel gear that seamlessly blends work, play, and exploration in the city? Look no further. In this review, we share a real-world experience using the Mammut Seon Transporter 15 backpack, the Mammut Women’s Tree Wood FL T-Shirt, and…
The Only Urban Bike Helmet Guide You Need in 2025
When I started riding my e-bike a lot more, I quickly realized my old road helmet wasn’t cutting it. It felt bulky, out of place, and frankly, not designed for the speeds or risks that come with zipping through city streets at 20+ mph. I wanted something safer but also sleeker. That’s when I went…
Altra and SOAR Set a New Benchmark in Trail Racing Performance
SOAR, pioneers in high-performance apparel, and Altra, a trailblazer in footwear, have joined forces to set a new benchmark in trail racing. Uniting SOAR’s precision-built apparel with Altra’s trail-tested footwear, the collection delivers a complete racing system engineered for speed, protection, comfort and control. A Complete Trail Racing System for Peak Performance The Altra x…
Transitioning to Minimalist Shoes – The Altra Tiered Approach
We’ve just published Version 2.0 of our Transitioning to Minimalist Shoes special report (with accompanying downloadable PDF). Now that the Altra Running Experience (Flow 2 and Wild 2) shoe collection is widely available, we’ve made it a safer tiered approach to transitioning. We recently reviewed both the Altra Experience Flow 2 and Altra Experience Wild…