Her Sports + Fitness Magazine

A Few of My Favorite (Travel) Things

I just came back from a wonderful vacation in Italy full of gelato, pasta and (thankfully for my waist line) walking. Because my itinerary included lots of train, ferry and bus travel as well as short stays in quaint hotels located up many flights of stairs, I tried to pack as light as possible. I invested in a few new travel basics before I left, and they proved indispensable on my trip. Here are my road-tested favorites.

Designed to be shoved into the bottom of a backpack and surface wrinkle-free, the Ex Officio Savvy Skirt ($50) is lightweight and cute. It kept me cool while hiking in 90F weather and helped me fit in at restaurants in fashion-savvy Florence. Even better: I washed it in a hotel sink before bed and it was clean, dry and ready-to-wear the next morning.

When the hotel owner of our tiny Florence pensione warned us about the numerous pickpockets in the city, I was glad to be carrying a bag made by Pacsafe ($60), designed to be "theft-proof." With inventive features like a zipper that clips to the base of the shoulder strap and a slash-proof strap and body, I felt very comfortable jostling my way through the crowded streets. Plus, the stylish bag is big enough to hold a camera, notebook and wallet, and has plenty of pockets to keep everything organized.

I'm not usually a shoe person, but I fell madly in love with my pair of Ahnu Dolores ($80) slip-ons during this trip. They were more comfortable to walk in than my running shoes (and helped me look less like a tourist), and they even held up during an all-day mountainous hike. Beyond being extremely comfortable, these versatile shoes are a traveler's dream because they look great with a pair of capris or a sundress—eliminating the need to pack a pair of impractical, dressy shoes.

And my must-have essential for international or adventure trips: Dove Cleansing Cloths. I leave my expensive face wash at home and just take these lightweight cloths. Plus, if you're a carry-on luggage gal like me, you don't have to include them in your TSA-friendly Ziploc-bag full of liquids, buying more space for vitals like sunscreen. Once wet, each cloth provides more than enough soapy, clean-smelling lather to wash your face, and you simply throw it away when done. Buy 5-cloth travel packs at Target for about $1.50.

—Kristin Harrison   

Scrapes under Cover

In the interest of testing products, I crashed into the pavement during a recent run so I could test some Nexcare Abrasion Covers (at least, that’s my story). I had a race coming up, and the throbbing gash on my knee and scrapes on my hands weren’t going to improve my time, so I dipped into a multi-size pack.

The covers claim to be water- and sweat-proof and to last for up to seven days, but after about two days, the patch on my knee had to be replaced. The covers on my hands fared better, though, and really saved me as I punched away on the keyboard at work.

However, the real test was during my 15k, and I must say that these covers were lifesavers for my knee. The Cover was ultra thin and flexed with any movement without losing its grip. And I never had to worry about sweat or dirt getting into my wounds -- in fact, I felt like hadn’t injured my knee at all, from start to sweaty, exhausted finish.

-- Tiffany Wendeln Connors

Oakley for Women

I'm currently in Miami for the unveiling of Oakley's first pair of high performance sports glasses designed for women. Unlike previous women's sunglasses that were downsized from a men's design and released in a line of "feminine" colors, the new Endure was crafted around the size and shape of the female head and features smaller nose pieces and shorter temple lengths. The final product offers a snug fit that doesn't bounce or shift during high-intensity exercise. Oakley athlete Lolo Jones is endorsing Endure, and I chatted with her on the beach this afternoon. The track and field speedster just won gold in the 60 meter hurdles at the World Indoor Championship in Valencia, Spain. (It took her less than 8 seconds to leap over five hurdles that stood 33 inches high.) Although happy to have a little downtime in the sun, Jones is eager to leave Miami and get back on the track to prepare for her next big event: the U.S. Olympic trials this June.

Already the owner of a silver Olympic medal and numerous international titles, including a gold at this year's X-Games, snowboarding superstar Gretchen Bleiler has also made an appearance here to give the press a preview of her new Oakley snow apparel collection, which will arrive in ski shops this fall. With numerous technical features, including water resistant fabrics and pockets for iPods and goggles, the line is designed for high performance, but it's also appealingly hipster, with a subtle lion logo and details like diagonal zippers and leather tab snaps. As Bleiler proclaimed, "It's super cute."

—Kristin Harrison

The Green Machine

Saving the earth is in. Products from soap to cars are getting a green makeover, and the athletic gear industry has joined the bandwagon, promoting numerous "eco" goods, from t-shirts to running shoes. But I have to wonder, are these products really better for the environment or simply marketing schemes after a different kind of green?
    Recently, I spoke to a PR rep for an athletic apparel company who kept proclaiming products "environmentally-friendly." When I asked what that meant, she said a few of the product's production facilities recycled paper or were trying to reduce water usage. While I applaud steps toward reducing waste and conserving natural resources, this answer just didn't seem to live up to the hype. My face must have given me away because the rep conceded the company was still working on "getting the message right." I silently wondered if they should work on getting the product right.
    It's hard to sort fact from fiction in this era of green marketing. "Recyclable," "sustainable," "green," "eco," and "natural" can be as tricky to decipher as the good-for-you claims on a food package. But there are resources that can help. Consumer Report's  GreenerChoices.org offers purchasing guidance as does National Geographic's The Green Guide, complete with a section on women's apparel. Some tips: Look for products made of 100 percent organic cotton and wool as well as hemp, bamboo and soy, or that are made from recycled fibers or clothing.
    But the good news is there are companies practicing what they preach. Patagonia has been running environmentally-focused programs for years, from donating 1 percent of their sales to preservation efforts since 1985 to recycling old clothes into new products. Recently, they launched a wildlife initiative called Freedom to Roam. And new companies are joining them. Nau launched their athletic apparel line dedicated to sustainability in 2007 and gives 5 percent of every sale to an environmental or social change nonprofit—chosen by the buyer (you). And some other big companies are making steps in the right direction. Nike began using organic cotton in some of its apparel in 1998—it plans to use at least 5 percent organic cotton in all of its cotton clothing by 2010.

—Kristin Harrison

   

Gear to Love

The winter convening of the gear gods, the Outdoor Retailer  trade show in Salt Lake City is a massive display of everything cool, hip, innovative or, occasionally, just plain odd in the athletic gear world, created by companies big and small ranging from The North Face to Carve Design. It’s a sneak peak at gear—apparel, shoes, bags, etc.—to be released six to nine months from now. For those of us in the magazine business, who work months in advance, we attend to decide which products we want to get our hands on for reviews and photo shoots. After 48 hours and more meetings than I can remember, I admit to lusting after a few items. Look for these goodies in stores in the next few months.
    I'd wear these pants every day if I could: Brooks Energy Flare pants ($58; available online now), that are unbelievably soft and surprisingly stylish, with a slightly flared leg and flattering seam design at the waist. Forget spandex tights. These are so comfortable, but also made of wicking, technical fabric, I wear them running on cold mornings, to yoga class and even to sleep in. I haven’t been this enamored with a pair of athletic pants in years.
     I wish I had the design sense of the staff at SIGG, which makes some of the prettiest (really) metal water bottles on the market. My fav for everyday use: this mod, slim, light blue "Metro" thermos, which is perfect for bringing coffee to the office ($30; holds 13 ounces of liquid). I also use a larger bottle with sport cap when I'm biking ($20-$25; 25 ounces).
    prAna, in my opinion, won the prize for coolest booth at OR, with hemp ropes hanging from above like the beaded curtain that filled the doorways of my grandmother’s house in the ‘70s. The ropes completely enclosed the two-story Zen space. But what I coveted: the new travel bags made of hemp and recycled polyester, like the Whipsaw Messenger ($90) with a laptop sleeve, strap to attach a yoga mat or jacket and a padded cell phone pocket. Alas, this beauty isn't for sale until fall 2008.

—Kristin Harrison