Keeping Things Warm: Manzella Running Gloves Review

 

Manzella running gloves

One thing you can’t ignore when winter running approaches is a good pair of gloves, such as Manzella running gloves, which come in a variety of options.  Pictured above are the Manzella Heavyweight Gore-Tex runner glove which can give you the protection you want in the most extreme winter running conditions.

For winter comfort and the best fabric in wind, snow and cold, look no further than Gore-Tex. It’s wind resistant and waterproof. You can sweat all you want and your hands will never get cold. And Gore-Tex has been around long enough that it has been well-tested and come through with flying colors in all uses from boots to jackets to gloves.

In addition to the Gore-Tex, the Manzella heavyweights have 40-gram Thinsulate to insulate against the cold. The gloves are still breathable and totally functional. One note, however, these can get rather warm, so they are best for the more extreme temperatures.

Manzella has two other gloves for men–the Powerstretch Glove and the Manzella Vapor gloves. The Powerstretch glove is made of Polartec fleece which is completely breathable and very soft. It is the most-used fleece in all types of clothing from gloves to pullovers and jackets. These gloves also have dots on the palms to grip slippery objects such as door knobs or car door handles, or even slippery iPods (I have experience with this one).

The Vapor gloves are stretchy but have a snug fit so that you will have warm hands whether running or engaging in other outdoor activities. The palm is covered with a special coating known as Control Trax so you can grip objects securely, again something that is nice to help keep your iPod from crashing to the ground (trust me on this one!).

Never underestimate how the little things can help the most. Something as seemingly insignificant as wearing gloves or a hat will make a big difference in staying comfy your cold weather runs.

CW-X Compression Shorts Review

Editor’s Note: This is a guest review of CW-X compression shorts. But I too use these shorts in training and love them. The support they provide is fabulous, and I feel that I recover quicker when I run with them. The difference between these shorts and cheap compression shorts (such as Under Armor) are like night and day. You really do get what you pay for with these. Now, on to the guest review!

cw-x ventilator compression shorts

CW-X Compression Shorts Review

I am far from a full time runner. I started running as a way to lose weight after being a fat kid all my life, and it did wonders. I ran my first 5K recently and I’ll probably do another soon, but most of my running is confined to the streets and trails near home when it’s nice outside and the gym treadmill when it’s not.

Running every day is hard. I don’t think there’s a morning where my hamstrings aren’t sore. If I AM blessed with such a day, then my quads are worn out and hurting instead! That’s why I decided to try compression shorts by CW-X. It’s funny because you associate this kind of high-end gear with marathon runners, not gym rats and weekend warriors like me. I have to say, though, that these shorts are definitely not just for the elite.

Support

I usually put in about an hour on the treadmill. I like to push myself, varying speeds and inclines to keep the workout fresh. My problem is that the last 20 minutes or so, regardless of how much occasionally slow down to rest, my legs are killing me and pushing out that last bit is a struggle. This is where the CW-X Compression shorts really came through for me. The shorts I tried are reinforced to add needed support to hamstrings and quads and the difference was shocking. I was considerably less sore and was easily able to finish my run.

Wicking

I tried the CW-X Compression shorts outside on a humid Maryland summer day and was impressed. My normal running shorts get soaked in the front and back, clinging like a nasty sponge and making continuing incredibly uncomfortable. The CW-X shorts breathed surprisingly well for something made to cling to the skin. They kept me cool and wicked sweat away from me. (Editor’s note: The CW-X Ventilator shorts have very effective venting in them as well. I never feel overheated in them).

Recovery

The morning after a run is the worst. Sore, stiff legs, limping, the whole thing. The CW-X compression shorts made a huge difference here. I guess the support and air flow kept my muscles from working so hard and stiffening up, I’m not sure. All I can say is I didn’t roll out of bed with a groan or limp to breakfast.

I usually list cons at the end of a review like this, but I really can’t think of any. I guess you could say that, at around $75, the price is a little steep. But I’ve always been a believer in “you get what you pay for.” I’m sure compression shorts could be had for a lower price, but after my experience with the CW-X shorts, I don’t feel the need to try.
Long distance runners know what’s comfortable and what works, and those of us who aren’t marathoners can learn something from them. Sure, me wearing top-of-the line compression shorts is like slapping a fresh coat paint and new rims on my 2002 Accord, but if it works, I say go for it!

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