Tag Archives: product review

Product Review: empassion cleanser and exfoliant scrub

26 Feb

Ok so this is not my normal kind of post. I generally talk about food or running – but today I am writing about another passion of mine natural products. Ever since my very close friends brother died from cancer back in 2006, and the nurse made it clear that everything we put in and on our bodies counts – I switched to using natural products rather my old ways of paying for the name rather than the ingredient. I figure I eat healthily, have a healthy life – skin care to me is just as important.

It has taken a lot of playing around and trying different products to feel happy with a lot of the natural products out there – some of which did not work for me or I simply didn’t like but I am mostly sorted now.

A company called empassion contacted me and asked whether I would like to try out some of their products. So the first thing I did was check their website to see whether their products were natural – and they were as well as all Australian made products at great prices.

Before I go on please note I wasn’t paid for this review and all opinions are my own.

Products

empassion kindly sent me some pink grapefruit foaming cleanser and some pink grapefruit exfoliant scrub.

empassion natural toiletries

Thoughts

Exfoliant Scrub 

empassion exfoliant scrub

empassion exfoliant scrub

The exfoliant smelled divine – I could have eaten it! The ingredients include jojoba beads, apricot kernel oil, pink grapefruit oil and pomegranate.

The liquid itself is nice and thick and creamy. Having very sensitive skin I found it didn’t irritate and left my skin feeling nice and soft – so a winner for me. I have often found with some skin care ranges that my skin gets blotchy but I had no issues with this one.

The size is a nice small size 125ml – I think it would last a fair while as you don’t need too much. The price at $14.95 is pretty reasonable too. When I think of how much I have paid for products like this for a well known brand name such as say Jurlique – it is a fraction of the price. My only criticism is that I was actually travelling to the UK when I got these and it would have been great to take on the plane in my hand luggage as I like to cleanse etc on a long flight but the size was slightly over the allowed amount.

Foaming Cleanser

empassion foaming cleanser

empassion foaming cleanser

The foaming cleanser again smelled nice and ingredients include jojoba oil, pink grapefruit and pomegranate. It comes in a pump action bottle and it took a few pumps to get a decent consistency and amount out but then when it did come out it lathered well and felt really nice on my face.

Again, having sensitive skin I needed to ensure it didn’t irritate and it was fine – so a tick from me. I didn’t need to use much either.

The price was lower than the scrub at $11.95 so a nice price point for the same amount 125ml. Again i would have liked to have taken this on the plane but couldn’t so that is the only down side for me for this product.

Summary 

Love the product and will definitely be looking to try some of the other products.

Pros

  • Lovely smell and nice on the skin
  • Price point is nice and low – bear in mind there is a flat fee of $10 shipping so bunch your order together rather than buying one by one would be my advice.
  • Australian made – I am all for supporting local business
  • Natural product – no nasties in – awesome!
  • Great for affordable gift ideas
  • Baby, kids, men and women’s ranges which is great

Cons

Small size products. I often like to buy in bulk rather than small sizes – but the handy size they are in do make them compact for overnight stays and holidays – although not suitable for carry on luggage requirements on the plane. The body wash etc do come in larger sizes – 250ml and 1ltr refills.

For more information have a look for yourself at empassion’s  website.

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Product Review: SIS Immune, Hydro & Whey Protein @ScienceInSport

4 Jan

As you may know I made a radical change to my diet in April last year, and now eat a Low Carb High/Healthy Fat diet. It’s going really well but it has been an issue where running has been concerned, as gone are the days of taking my Science In Sport energy gels which I used in my last marathon and training and I have been slowly learning how to run on fat rather than carbs.

So when Science In Sport got in touch to ask me whether I would like to try some of their product my immediate response was ‘umm I follow a low carb high fat diet so I can’t use any of your products’. I was wrong.

They have an awesome selection of products that are low carb that I can still use and are great to supplement running lifestyle. So a week or so later the following arrived:

My Review Disclaimer

Below are my reviews of the products sent to me –  but before I start please note I haven’t been paid to review these products – all opinions are based on my own experiences – good and bad, and I always say to people – try for yourself – this is just my experience!

GO Hydro tablets 

Go Hydro by Science in Sport

Go Hydro by Science in Sport

The GO Hydro tablets were the tablets I was most excited to try – as being in a hot Aussie summer and being a shocker at keeping myself hydrated I was hoping that they would help me with both of those issues.

The packaging size is small and compact and the tablets look meaty but they aren’t when you drop them into water – they simply fizz away and are less confronting than a giant pill. These little tablets provide fast hydration, are low carb (yay) and are designed to be taken before and during exercise. According to the marketing blurb they have precise levels of sodium and other electrolytes to hydrate you during intense exercise – and only 9 calories per serving – I don’t care about calories but I was concerned they would taste too artificial.

Trying them out

So I figured – what better a time and place to try out the tablets on a hot Queensland day on the trails! So I made my drink up the night before and put it in the fridge – and then had some with my usual pre training drink.

General thoughts

The taste was not at all artificial compared to some of the fizzy tablets I had tried. Berry flavour and went down a treat.

I did find that I felt good on the trails – whether that was solely due to the hydration tablets or the fact that I had actually hydrated I don’t know – but the times I have run with these tablets now I have felt good and not struggled from a dehydration point of view.

Pros

  • Packaging is small and compact, and the tablet fizzes and can be taken quickly if needed on the run.
  • The taste was nice compared to a lot of products out there. Light and not too ‘artificial’
  • Low carb 0.9g per tablet.

Cons

$6.99 for 20 – but I think that’s fairly market rate for such products

Immune tablets

Science in Sport Immunity tablets

Science in Sport Immunity tablets

The next tablets I tried were the Science in Sport Immune tablets. These again came at the right time as I was feeling quite unwell before Christmas with the heat, training and working hard – I was generally quite run down.

The tablets are aimed at helping the body to maintain a normal immune system during and after intense exercise and contain iron and vitamin c as well as sodium.

I popped a tablet a day as per the directions. I don’t normally take many vitamins and I did feel better, and found I was able to get through the day at work a little bit easier.

The taste was a bit more artificial than the GO Hydro tablets but I realise now I was only drinking half the amount  of water – 250ml not 500ml which wouldn’t have helped – but the taste for me was not as nice as the hydration tablets.

Pros

  • As with the GO Hydro tablets the packaging is small and compact, and the tablet fizzes and can be taken quickly if needed on the run.
  • I like the fact that the tablets are a great way to get some vitamin C into me and Iron which I have often lacked and I prefer a drink than a tablet.
  • Low carb 0.5g per tablet.

Cons

  • Again – $6 for 20 – but I think that’s fairly market rate for such products
  • The taste was a little bit ‘artificial’ for me.

Whey Protein by Science in Sport

Science in Sport Whey Protein

Science in Sport Whey Protein

I have a love/hate relationship with whey protein. I realise it is good to have protein post exercise and it is good for lean muscle mass – but I have never been a big protein powder person. A lot of my friends gulp it down and swear by it but I have never really taken it regularly.

The whey protein that Science in Sport sent was strawberry flavour so that was a good start for me! It is low carb 1.8g per serving and has a good amount of protein per serving – 23g.

The great thing about this product is that it is completely gluten free and is suitable for coeliacs too. And, if you are a professional athlete it has been triple tested for banned substances.

I started having it after training sessions to help improve recovery times. I simply added a scoop to water with one or two strawberries to keep it lower carb. Normally I would have necked a nice ice cold glass of milk but when trying to keep carbs down that is a no no on some heavier carb days.

It tasted ok and had a fairly natural taste – but it still felt a little bit artificial but I guess there is only so much you can do when there is a ‘flavour’ added. The consistency if you make the drink according to the recommended recipe on the tin is fairly thick so I added more water to mine to make a bit more runny. It filled me up and gave me a nice snack post exercise.

Pros

  • Like the fact it has been triple tested for banned substances
  • Low carb 1.8g per serving and a good amount of protein

Cons

  • $50 for 1kg – seems a lot but I realise that is around the market rate and you do get what you pay for.

Summary

There are lots of products out on the market and I always tend to gravitate back to the ones I have heard of. Like I mentioned at the start of my article it was Science In Sport’s products that got me through my last marathon. I figure companies that have good reputations know what they are talking about! These are just my opinions of the products I tried but I suggest you look for yourself.

For more information about any of these products have a look for yourself on Science In Sport’s website.

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OOfos OOriginal thong review @oofos

30 Oct

The craziness in my life is intensifying with one week before I move house 50 minutes away. With a busy job, packing and a toddler it has been somewhat challenging to train but I am not stressing about it as one more week and I will hopefully start to have some normality back in my life!

OOfos contacted me a while ago and asked me whether I would be interested in trying their OOfos OOriginal thongs which were great for post training recover. My first thought was:

“recovery thongs! – whatever next!’

But I had a look at their website and loved the designs and also was intrigued by the technology behind the shoe, so I said yes and I waited for my shoes to arrive, when they did I was not disappointed since they were bright pink!!

oofos-3

The Technology

I hadn’t heard of OOfos before but after I expressed interest in the shoes I had a good look into them. The company believed that there was nothing on the market that help with post training recovery and to absorb shock post workout – so they spent time developing a foam technology with a biomechanically engineered footbed and the OOfos footwear was born.

When I looked at the OOfos OOriginal Thong page – they claim to provide unparalleled impact absorption, comfort and support while reducing fatigue and enhancing recovery. They are meant to be good if you have something like plantar faciitis because of the arch support.

Thoughts on look and feel

The thongs themselves were a great colour – I love pink. They look quite clunky in appearance – unlike normal thongs and I wondered how I would go wearing them outside!

I like the fact that they are machine washable and very durable. I had a little accident whilst wearing them earlier this week (more like my son did and I trod in it!) and they washed really well! So that part works well 🙂 (sorry for those of you that are squeamish!).

oofos thongs

Ignore my yucky looking feet – look at the thongs!

Wearability

I have to say when I first put them on I was amazed and let out a sigh after a training session. They were unbelievable. I literally felt like I was walking on clouds. I initially felt like I was 1o feet tall the first time I wore them but I soon got used to them. They were very comfy but took a few times wearing them to get used to. I liked them too as I normally wear orthotics, so wearing a normal flat thong can often make my feet/legs a bit sore but I didn’t have that with these.

It’s hard to say whether they helped with actual recovery but all I can say is they were very comfortable and I didn’t have achy legs wearing them after a training session. Since first wearing them I wear them all the time when not working or training as they are just super comfortable. I wear them inside and outside and even have matching nail polish!

Summary

I really liked these thongs and I wear them most days. They are really comfortable and now it is coming into summer they are perfect to keep my feet cool. I find they are great because they have arch support and comfy to wear post workout – although I couldn’t tell you if they actually help recovery as I don’t tend to ache too much since I started my low carb high fat journey (that’s another story) but I definitely found them comfortable to wear post training.

Pros

  • Very comfortable – like walking on air – no aching after training
  • They have arch support which was great for me normally wearing orthotics
  • Helpful for people suffering with plantar fasciitis
  • Machine washable

Cons

  • Compared to a normal thong price they are a fair bit more – but you are paying for the technology, the longevity and quality – you get what you pay for
  • Quite different looking to a normal thong – but I got used to them

For more information about the OOfos thongs have a look at http://www.oofos.com.au

Please note this article contains opinions that are genuinely mine and I was not paid to write this. I tend to review products that I have an interest in and do not endorse things that do not align with my general beliefs.

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Product Review: Garmin Forerunner 235

8 Mar

I was never really a watch wearer until I got into running seriously (as seriously I can be anyway!).

Being a person that likes to see improvement, and is motivated by stats in training at times – I found that running with a watch gave me a plethora of statistics back on things such as my training time, splits (time per km/lap/mile), distance as well as lots of other things.

I’ve had my Garmin Forerunner 235 for 5 weeks now and I have to say I love it. My first running gadget was the Nike Plus years ago when they first came out, then I moved onto the Garmin 405cx, then onto the TomTom Cardio and I have done almost a full circle and come back to Garmin again.

Garmin Forerunner 235

I loved the TomTom but found I wanted more data and information on my runs so I decided to look back at the Garmin. I spent ages chatting to the guys at RunStopShop asking them about different products and what they would recommend for what I needed. I loved the look of the Fenix but at almost double the price of the Forerunner 235 – I think my husband would have had something to say! So it was between the Forerunner 235 and the 630 – and I settled on the 235 with built in heart rate monitor as I loved that about the TomTom I had previously been using.

So my RunStopShop package arrived and I immediately charged the watch and started playing around with it. Below are my opinions and experiences with the watch – I haven’t been paid for this review I am just trying to help others who might be on the market for a watch make their mind up!

Look and Feel

My first impressions of the watch when it arrived was the watch face seemed fairly big but I liked that it was circular rather than rectangular. I realise now in order to be able to see all the data as you are running  you need to have a fairly reasonable size screen. The thing I really love about it is that it is really light. My first Garmin was so heavy it actually hurt my wrist after a while and I have very weak wrists – so this is a definite plus for me.

The overall design is nice, simple and subtle. You can get other colours such as a bright blue strap but I decided to go with a simple black so it blends in no matter what I am wearing. If you change your mind then you can buy replacement straps in a range of colours.

Ease of Use

I love the fact that the GPS so far works brilliantly and quickly, and also the fact that again with this watch as with my last one I don’t have to wear a heart rate monitor strap – it seems fairly accurate too which is always a good thing!

In order to run you literally press the top right button a couple of times and you are off, and to pause or end it is simple too. You can also lock the watch face but I have found I don’t need to – but with my previous Garmin I had all sorts of issues such as people knocking me in a race and stuffing up my timing – but this is all good.

To access settings too it is really straight forward and you can sync from Garmin Connect and download workouts and training. There are four simple training options to –  Run Indoors, Run Outdoors, Bike Outdoors, and ‘Other’. I generally have only had to use the Run Outdoors at the moment so haven’t tested any of the others.

The watch also will give you VO2 Max stats after training as well as elevation, time, average pace and a whole host of other stats. During running you can easily flick between pages on the watch to get stats such as average per pace, current pace, time, heart rate.

Smart features 

There are lots of options for training including intervals, straight running, selecting by finish time. You can check your history, stats as well as set it up so you get bluetooth notifications on your run with calendar entries, emails and text messages.

I actually switched mine off as I don’t need to know I have an email when running a long run – but I know people that do!! However I do like the fact that the watch tells me the weather forecast – it has come in very handy when running or planning to run.

Activity Tracker 

The watch also has an activity tracker which I was not too bothered about but again I know people that love those features. Whilst wearing the watch you can check how many steps you have done, how much sleep you have had if you want to wear the watch whilst sleeping, what your heart rate is (there is an option to switch it off as it does wear down the battery quicker if you use it with heart rate all the time).

With the activity tracker I went for a few runs with my son and realised that whilst running with a stroller the activity tracker doesn’t pic up those steps. Not a big deal when running with a GPS watch but it annoyed me as I wanted to see my steps reflected from my run – you’ll find this with all activity monitors so it isn’t just this watch.

Battery

The battery lasts for ages and there isn’t the need to constantly be charging it – days if you don’t have the heart rate monitor constantly going and about 11 hours if you have the heart rate monitor on which is pretty good.

Very happy with the battery life as my previous Garmin years ago in one of my marathons had almost worn out after 4 hours!

I find sometimes I get obsessive over how low I can get my resting heart rate – nerdy I know!

Screen Shot 2016-03-08 at 3.56.25 pm

Price

The price is actually quite reasonable for an intermediate watch – Currently $469 at RunStopShop (8 Mar 16).

I think compared to the higher level models and I think unless you are a serious athlete, a triathlete, or numbers nerd you don’t potentially need all the extra functions. You can pay  by instalments with RunStopShop which is a great idea.

Live Tracking 

One of the things I loved about this watch when I was researching and what persuaded me to go back to Garmin was that most of their watches now come with ‘Live Tracking’ which means you can set your watch up so that others can see where you are. This would have been handy last year when running my marathon as I did a 36k run one day and my husband was a bit nervous whether I would be ok as I had all sorts of foot issues so we had to scramble around to find an app and I had to run with my giant phone on my arm.

So now he can access Garmin Connect and I can give him access through his phone to see where I am at all times.

Pros and Cons 

Pro’s

  • Nice and light
  • Nice design and not too intrusive
  • Reasonably priced for a middle of the range running watch
  • Battery life
  • Smart features
  • Live Tracking – good for safety

Cons

  • Activity monitor doesn’t pick up steps when running with a stroller – but that applies to all watches with activity monitors (as far as I know!)
  • Not too many colour variations if you like lots of colour in your watch – didn’t bother me though as I chose black with a hint of red.

So in summary. This is a great middle of the range running watch with lots of great functions and statistics available if you want data in relation to your running.

 

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Product Review: Stay Lean Tea – Win some for yourself!

9 Feb

I have always been willing to keep an open mind when it comes to alternative lifestyles and I remember living back in the UK with my friend Carol we both bought the Jane Scrivner book – Detox Yourself after we had consumed way to much wine and pizza over a month or so hanging out together and decided we needed to get fit and healthy. As a result we both lost a fair amount of weight and got rid of all the nasties from our bodies.

Other than that I haven’t really been a detox chick and I am always reading lots about different crazy diets but never doing them. So when  middle when Stay Lean Tea contacted me I was very unsure about how a tea was going to detox me and make me stay lean. They asked me whether I would be interested in trying their 14 day tea tox. I wasn’t sure but eventually decided – sure why not!

The claims

Stay Lean Tea says it will:

> Give the metabolism a huge boost

> Burn fat & excess calories while at rest

> Suppress appetite over a sustained period of time

> Remove toxins from the digestive tract

> Enhance nutrient absorption

> Reduce bloating and water retention

> Increase energy levels and boost the immune system

The Plan 

Basically you are meant to be eating a healthy diet for Stay Lean Tea to work and you are given 14 lean burner tea bags and 7 lean cleanse tea bags. You drink a cup of tea with the lean burner tea bags every day in the morning and one of the lean cleanse tea bags in the afternoon every other day.

Stay Lean Tea

Stay Lean Tea

I gave it a spin for 14 days. Here’s what happened….

One of the definite good things that came out of trying the tea out was that it got me into a routine in the morning of having a drink. I am normally racing around sorting things out and by 11am realise I haven’t even had a drink so this was an excellent way to make myself drink.

Taste

The taste was not so bad. I was expecting a bitter tasting tea that I would gag on but it was like drinking camomile or something like that – The lean burner tea not that flavoursome so that was easy enough to deal with. The lean cleanse tea had more of a bitter flavour but it was not really too noticeable that you wouldn’t be able to drink it.

The emergence of ‘hyper bunny’

One thing I had forgotten about with tea is that it has caffeine in it and I don’t normally have much caffeine at all. I noticed after having my first cup of tea I was literally hyper and very alert so my energy levels were very high and I felt remarkably good. The downside for me though was I found I got a headache.

Bloating reduction 

I have to say I did feel lighter and less ‘bloated’ which was great. That could have been simply drinking more fluid but I definitely felt better stomach wise. The tea bags have ingredients in them such as goji berries and the packaging says that they contain an antioxidant rich blend of herbal ingredients that help clean the digestive tract and speed up the detoxification process – so maybe that’s what was happening thus reducing my bloating.

Energy

I didn’t notice a massive increase in energy levels apart from the initial rush when drinking the tea due to the caffeine but I didn’t feel tired either which I have been struggling with lately so that was a plus – possibly a coincidence – who knows.

Results

Regardless of what I thought of the tea and whether I felt it works, whilst I lost a small amount of weight I was quite surprised by the before and after photo that I took. Whilst the loss is subtle there clearly after 14 days is a difference. I hadn’t been doing anything different, training as usual and eating as normal but I was quite happy to see there was an improvement in my lumps and bumps! Some of the photos on Stay Lean Tea’s website are pretty impressive (probably not from 14 days) – I was happy to see a little bit of change 🙂

Stay Lean Tea

The results after 14 days were subtle but all the bloating had gone and I lost a small amount of weight.

Try some for yourself

The Stay Lean Tea 14 Day Detox Program costs AUD$45 and can be shipped world wide from their website.

Stay Lean Tea gave me a second 14 day detox to give away in a competition worth $45. I’m running the competition via my Facebook page and on my Instagram page, and it is open to anyone world wide since SLT ship world wide. Closing date is 14 February 2016 – how romantic! and the  winner will be announced on 15th February.

 

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Product Review: 2XU Elite Compression Shorts

12 Nov

RunStopShop sent me a pair of 2XU Elite Compression Shorts to try out and the plan was to wear them whilst I was overseas on holiday. I did try them once in Macau but wanted to try them a few more times before reviewing them, and on arriving into the UK it was way too cold to run in them – and then Singapore had a problem with fires in Indonesia so it wasn’t safe to breathe all the air in outside…. so to cut a long story short I am only just writing up this review!

When I was asked whether I would like to try the shorts out to be honest I wasn’t sure as they looked shorter than I would normally run in. I am not blessed with tiny thighs so the thought of tiny shorts and my legs wobbling about didn’t appeal. I was assured by the team that they were great shorts so decided to give them ago. What you read below is my own account of how I experienced them and this is not an advertorial!

2XU Elite Compression shorts

Shorts design and comfort

When the shorts arrived I took them out of the packet and freaked out as there did not look like there would be enough fabric to cover my thighs and butt and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to review them as they looked quite short – but when I tried them on they actually were not as short as I had anticipated and felt quite comfortable.  I was still a bit worried my legs might rub but figured I’d give them a go on the treadmill at the hotel I was staying in in Macau on a boiling hot day in a gym with no air conditioning!

The shorts have a drawstring which I liked as I have worn a fair few pairs of shorts which either end up with a muffin top or pulling them up all the time so I figured you have more control with drawstring.

They also come with UPF50+ sun protection which living here in Queensland is a real plus so I figured they would come in really handy for running outside, and the compression feature seemed to be comprehensive on the information on the box so I was intriegued to see how I went when trying them out. I also liked when I tried them on how they actually held everything in – i love that about compression pants 😀

20151112_0913552Any good to run in?

So i put the shorts on and went for a run on the treadmill at my hotel in Macau and have since run in them a few times back here in Queensland and I have to say they are comfortable and I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that the short is a bit shorter than I would normally go but I didn’t experience any rubbing or chafing at all. I ran for an average of 30-60 minutes each time I have tried the shorts out so far and found them to be great. I haven’t worn 2xu shorts before so all in all I was happy and that I’ve found some shorts that are good in the warmer weather as I have lots of longer pants.

Size matters!

I think size really counts on the short though as when I got back from holidays whilst I hadn’t put any weight on I was not as toned as I was and the shorts felt a bit more snug the first couple of times I wore them – so really be conscious of the size you are ordering as they may not be as comfortable if you get a slightly too small size or alternatively a size that is too big as the compression element won’t work.

There is a sizing chart on the back of the packet and on the website to help you ensure you get the right size.

Summary

So all in all these are my thoughts on the shorts:

Pro’s

  • They didn’t ride up my legs for me which is a major plus point. I have had a number a shorts that did just that and made it really uncomfortable to run in
  • Compression pants – I’m a big fan of these and think they are a real asset to these shorts
  • Drawstring which means you don’t end up with a muffin top and they are not low rising either!
  • There is an inside key pocket to store your key or car fob when running which is good

Cons

  • If you don’t like shorts that are well and truly above the knee then these are not for you
  • They can make you look even curvier if you are an hourglass like me, I felt a little bit self conscious to begin with but am embracing my curves!
  • They are not the cheapest shorts so if you are on a budget these are not for you

You can buy the shorts on RunStopShop‘s site and if you sign up to their newsletter you can get $10 off your order 🙂 (this was correct at the time of writing the post 12 Nov 15)

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Product Review: Running Bare Sports Bra – finding a good sports bra @runstopshop

20 Sep

I don’t know about you (if you are female and reading this) but finding a decent sports bra has always been a tough one. It has either ended up being too small and cutting into me, or too loose and chafing my skin. I had one sports bra that when I was running it completely broke and there I was in the middle of a run thinking ‘ok what do i do now?!?’ – to cut a long story short I walked home and chucked the bra in the bin!

When running it is crucial to run in a decent sports bra. An article from the Daily Mail Australia writes that “Going without the correct support can cause sagging breasts, breast pain and upper back and shoulder problems”.

My friends at RunStopShop have been amazing this year and they asked me if there was anything I would like to try out and I jumped at the chance to try a new running bra – so as a result I got a Running Bare ‘Zip Me Up, Push me up‘ Crop in post as well as some 2XU shorts which I have yet to review. Below is my experience with the bra:

RB Top RB top

Features

  • Yes the bra has features! It has removable cups for those people that don’t need them!
  • Moisture wicking fabric
  • Easy to get on and off with the zip design

Overall look and feel  

I haven’t tried any Running Bare clothes before as they always looked a bit too jazzy pattern wise for me (I’m pretty boring most of the time but getting better!) but the crop I chose is just beautiful  in colour, look and feel – very happy. It’s a moroon colour with a kind of marl effect and has a zip up the middle. I was a teensy bit worried about the zip and it busting open when running but there is a hook inside to clip into before zipping up. It’s a little bit tricky to hook into place but having run in the bra 3+ times I’m getting used to it!

Comfort

The first time I ran in the crop top I had to fiddle around comfort wise to get the to where I needed it to be but now I am used to it. it is very comfortable and you hardly realise it is there. I like the extra padding too! I need all I can get!  I was worried that it might not hold everything in place enough but it did and I find it really comfortable.

This crop comes in sizes ranging from 8-16. I think if you were any larger than a 16 that it wouldn’t necessarily be the right bra as if you are fairly ample up top you might need something a bit more structured.

Price

The price is not on the cheaper end but is comparable to most technical bras on the market. For me and it is a personal preference I would pay more for a running bra as I have gone cheap too many times now and paid the price in the form of chafing, blisters after races and general discomfort as the fabric was not right.

Summary

I’ll definitely get another one of these crop tops and I was pleasantly surprised at my first experience of a Running Bare top. It’s not for everyone – if you are on the larger size up top I am not convinced it would be the most comfortable although with the removeable cups that might help.

Pros

  • Love the colour and fabric
  • Very comfortable
  • Removable cups for those that need it
  • Easy to put on and off with the zip
  • I had no chafing!
  • Great quality

Cons

  • Hook takes a bit of getting used to and is a little bit fiddly the first couple of times running (or maybe that’s just me lol)
  • Price is higher than the cheaper end product – you do get what you pay for…
  • Not really suitable for ladies with a lot up top I would say – but try without the cups perhaps?

Please note that I was not paid for writing this review and the opinions above are entirely my own and based on my experience with the product.

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