Must have Gadgets for Endurance Athletes

21. Dec, 2009 0 Comments

Even after the holiday’s Triathlete’s will love these gadgets. The beginning of the year most athletes are preparing for the upcoming season and will be looking at getting some cool stuff. This is my list of things I could not do without.

Garmin Forerunner 310Xt

When this watch came out this year, all the Triathletes jumped for joy. Anyone who has had a Garmin watch, you know it is one of the best training tools around. People love them to the point where they do not want to upgrade, unless there is a huge feature set. Most endurance athletes will probably drool over this watch. The watch is truly a great gift. It is a tad expensive but it is the ultimate training tool. Check out this in depth Review for some great insight on this watch.

The Stick Original Body Stick

This is the most popular model for the average male / female. The center rod of the Stick is surrounded by 15 working spindles which roll independently over the muscle. The handles provide maximum comfort in the grip. 24″ long to address most muscle groups with ease. One of the best gadgets any athlete can have. The work out the kinks after a long run or ride this certainly will do the trick.

Body Glide Endurance Pack

This BodyGlide® endurance 2-pack contains essentials for athletes who play hard. The anti-chafe balm penetrates the skin and creates an invisible, comfortable barrier against friction and moisture without clogging pores or trapping perspiration. It even feels dry to the touch. Use the WarmFX® balm for temporary pain relief of joints and muscles after your event or workout. I used this for the first time this year and now love it. No more chaffing.

The Profile Aerodrink system is probably one of the best gadgets I’ve purchased over the past year. The ability to drink while in aero position is obviously a big deal when racing, but I found it great during training and on the indoor trainer. The amazon description : Injection molded U.S.D.A. approved bottle fits perfectly on Profile Airstryke and Century aerobars. The ultimate “sip-and-refill-on-the-go” hydration system. Easy-fill/no-spill mesh insert. Adapter required for use with other aerobars.

It’s under $20 and well worth the money.

Bento Box is a nylon box that sits on the top tube behind the stem. It attaches with 4 velcro straps, 2 around the stem and 2 around the top tube. The box is open at the top and has a mesh cover which attaches with a velcro strip. The mesh cover is adjustable and can conform to different shapes. The box is reinforced on four sides with thin plastic inserts.Features: Can be used with the cover open and tucked in or with the cover attached to the velcro It is easily opened and closed with one hand Comes in two sizes. The large (shown above) is 31/4″ X 1 1/4″ X 5″. It holds 10 Power Gels or 6 energy bars. The small is 31/4″ X 1 1/4″ X 3″. It holds 6 Gu packets or 2 Clif Bars. Capacity is 12 cubic inches for the small size and 20 cubic inches for the large size Size: Small Large Color: Black

The Fuel Belt is essential for any long endurance race. I’ve tried them all from camel bak systems to hand held hydration bottles and this is the best system you can have. Features: Size: Small = 27-29 inch waist. Total capacity: 21 fluid ounces + 6 gel ounces. Measure your waist to ensure you order the right size. Length of the belt matches the smaller end of the size. When the bottles are full, the belt expands due to the added weight.

GU took its original groundbreaking gel and added new performance-boosting ingredients to create Roctane Energy Gel. It starts with the ingredients youve come to expect carbs for energy, electrolytes for replenishment, and caffeine to tap more power and diminish pain. What are new are higher levels of citrates and amino acids to slow muscle breakdown during training, reduce fatigue, and speed post-event recovery. If you are training or racing in multi-hour events or competing in multiple heats during a day, then Roctane is for you.

Stylish enough for the weekend warrior yet technical enough for serious athletes, the Timex Ironman Triathlon heart rate monitor (model T5F001) can be worn by both men and women. It features a chest strap heart rate monitor, large 3-line display for easy viewing of your workout data, and a full range of sport timing features. This watch features a silver face, durable black resin strap, and large buttons for easy access to timing functions.

For integrating heart rate monitoring into your training, this watch enables you to track your avareage heart rate and pre-set target heart rate zones with data for time spent within that zone and alarms. It also offers up to four linked interval timers, each with its own target zone, and a recovery timer that measures your heart rate after a timed recovery during or after your workout.

Tying your shoes is a thing of the past with our unique loop system and high-impact lightweight plastic cordlock. No more tying, retying, double knots or frazzled dirty laces to mess with. Just slip on your shoe and Yankz. You’re ready for action. For triathletes looking for a quicker transition then you need to purchase some type of lace like this. There are many different variations out there but do yourself a favor and get some. They are easy to put together and once they are fitted correctly then you no longer have to worry about tying your shoes. When you are out there on the course, you don’t have to worry about your shoe laces coming untied and wasting valuable time. Believe me, these are a must purchase for any athlete.

21″ x 9″ x 13″ Triathlon specific backpack Tool sleeves Retractable helmet holder Key clip Internal mesh pocket for valuables Fleece lined phone, sunglasses, and goggle pockets Articulated shoulder straps with sternum strap Molded EVA back panel Adjustable hip belt

You might not need to purchase a fancy bag for your races, but if you do get a back that does a lot for you. Triathletes have lots of gadgets so a bag by speedo might be a good choice.

I’ve seen all sorts of bags, buckets, backpacks and more at races. This is certainly not a need.

These are just 10 items I think are cool and important in your bag of tricks. Of course, this is just my opinion, let me know in your comments what I’ve missed.