Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Rumble Roller Review


I am a foam roller skeptic.  They always remind me of the Mangler.  When you say roller I think this...
Just self induced torture.  And you look like you are doing some kind of lumberjack fetish log porn.  
Ok this lady makes it look hot...

So anyway...

I reached out to the wonderful people at Rumble Roller and they were brave enough to try to change my mind.  So I can stop thinking about foam rollers like this

And become more like this


So my roller arrived and it was kind of scary looking.


Huges spikes!


Big wheel diameter!


As a cool use of paper the band around the roller has exercises on the other side. Smart, good for the environment!  I like it


So initial thoughts... It feels very high quality.  The insert says it has an antimicrobial and antifungal coating.  I hope the thing is coated in lidocaine because it looks brutal.

So I tried some of these exercises 


I will start off by saying this might not be the most beginner friendly roller.  It will give you the DEEP tissue massage.  It's kind of like getting a Lambo for you first car.  It's an awesome car, but you can't handle it yet!  

After a few day of messing with it and getting used to it I found another reason why this is a bad first roller.   After this one most other ones will feel like an old lady with advanced rheumatoid arthritis giving you a run down.  This bad boy feel like Conan the barbarian on steroids giving you a deep deep Swedish smack down. 

Reminds me of that song "Hurts so good".


Ok time to get serious and talk about the results.  Here are body trouble areas (which is really only two areas) and how It did...

Upper back/ T spine:  this was a godsend.  I get back upper back pain from being hunched over patients and computers all day. I could literally feel my spine cracking and popping in that "small Asian chiropractor waking on my back" kind of way.  If this was all this thing could do, sold!  Done deal.  

Quads: At first I tried the "double thigh missionary" position and found it intense to say the least.  I then adjusted and did a "one thigh at a time" method and found that to be much more enjoyable.  Did it after a rough run and I really noticed it afterward.  Kind of like doing ice bath soaks.  Miserable while you are in it but feels awesome afterward.

Inner Thighs:  this scared me at first getting the Mangler that close to my business but it was pretty tolerable.

Hammys: not a problem area, but it felt pretty good.

Calves: same as the Hammys not a problem area but it felt great.

Shins: No! This hurt like crap!  Never again. Ouch!

Buttisimo: like sitting on the most uncomfortable chair or the most comfortable spiked log.  Just felt weird.  Butt effective ( did you see what I did there...)

In conclusion I was once a skeptic when it came to using a finger quotes 
 

But the good people at Rumble Roller have changed my mind.  My concern is I started off with the Super Turbo Version and I don't know how the more traditional rounder gentler foam rollers will feel. 

 I would definitely recommend this to experienced foam rollers if they want to take it to the next level.  

As for novice rollers like myself, I would say try it if you are brave.  If not try a more traditional roller first then graduate to the Rumble Roller. This thing is a Cadillac.  I never thought I would describe a coated foam object as feeling high quality but it does.  

Check out Rumble Roller if you are into 50 shades of thigh pain. It will help for sure.  The pain, the pleasure.



Thanks for reading guys!  If you like the site please leave a comment.  If you love the site please buy something you already want through the amazon links on the sides. Might I suggest a Rumble Roller...

Ok guys, gotta run!





Monday, February 20, 2017

Cadence Insoles

I hate insoles! This is what Superman sees when he looks at my right foot...
That is my personal Frankenfoot.  I had to wear hard plastic orthotics that covered almost my entire lower foot up to my ankle.  Sucks!  Never again.  Screw orthotics!

So I was listening to a podcast of Trail Runner Nation about when you should consider an insole.  I love listening to those guys and generally respect their views so I was curious.  Then they had this guy John Hinds on talking about his company, Cadence.  

He seemed reasonalble and even advocated a semi-rigid more flexible insole.  It sounded too good to be true.  Aren't all after market insoles either stiff as crap orthotic wannabes or cheap Walmart jelly soles?

So I tracked them down and challenged John to see if his insoles could convince the skeptic.  

Here's the box I got...

That is a hand written note from Mr Hind himself! I can feel the love!

The packaging

Not too bad.  Logo is kind of late 80's early 90's.
The actual insoles themselves, I call this color "Traffic Cone Orange"
 The dark side of the insole

The heel is very interesting since it is not a solid plastic cup.  


This gives it a much softer feel especially when just standing in them.

Here is the company's exploded view


So initials thoughts, they need some kind of print on the top to make them not look so generic Walmart.  Something like Remind does but not quite as crazy


I initially tried these guys in my Hoka's to make the super soft squish ride of my dreams. But unfortunately they squeaked. So in addition to looking like clown shoes they sounded like them too.  I felt like I was straight killing chipmunks with every step.

Then I tried them in my Newtons...

And that's when the magic started.  From now on the only complaint I can even try to make is that the extra weight of the insole can be felt in the hand while holding the shoe.  But on the run and just walking around there is no extra weight felt.  I even wore these all day while helping my brother in law move his second story condo... Lots of stairs.

The magical blue foam is awesome.  Not too soft, not too firm, it was just right. The arch support and firm orthotic portion was felt but not intrusive. Kind of like a coach who just kind of nudges you and head nods and makes facial expressions.  Verses the yelling, screaming, shoving coach that is what I feel most hard orthotics are.

The best was to describe the feeling of running in Cadence insoles would be running if the world was turned into that soft rubber flooring that some gym floors are made of.  

Or to describe it with pictures


Shoe edition... before


After...


Ok all joking aside.

These really have just blown me away.   Soft and supportive at the same time.  And so freaking comfortable.  I don't know if my opinion of insoles has changed but I will say that I wish all my shoes had these in them right now.  Definitely worth the upgrade.  

I've pounded these guys up and down stairs while holding sofas and boxes.  Hit the asphalt and even some of the horrible concrete with these guys in my Newtons and the difference in the ride was noticeable and appreciated. Like I said it was like someone was running ahead of me laying out the rubber mat carpet for me.  

So in summary:

Kind of boring graphics
Heavier than stock insoles
Soft and cushioned
Flexible support
Open heel cup
Will totally pimp your run!

Really enjoyed these and I'm looking forward to watching these guys grow.  In the time since I got these and have taken them out for their test runs they have added another model to their line up. 

I want to see some more eye catching graphics and different colors.  

But really great product!

If you like the site please leave a comment in the comments section.  If you love the site pleas click one of the amazon links to make your next purchase.  It supports the site.  

Thanks for reading but...

Gotta run!

Addendum...

So John from Cadence emailed me back and said to try some baby powder in the shoes before you put down the insoles to reduce the squeak.  And like oil on a door hinge... It works!  Also I put them in my Hoka Challenger ATR's and they worked fine with no squeaking.  They have returned to my Newtons were they will remain till the Newtons die.  I think the soles might outlast the shoes...


Stance Trailhead OTC Socks

So I have an old pair of stance socks that I got from Ross a long time ago.  I really just got them becaus I love their logo.  It's Gungnir! Which is the old Norse symbol for Odin's spear.  I'm a badass Viking runner so of course I had to get some. These are on old pair of their basketball ones that I got because I like the pattern.
Then I saw another pair recently and added them to my hosiery stable...
Again I got them at Ross on the cheap but decided that I really needed to try one of their real socks so enter the Trailhead OTC (over the calf)
Stance sent me these because of a defect in another pair I had.  Good on them for making it right and it wasn't even a direct purchase from them.  
So the box came in the mail...

With Odin's Gungnir 
Which is also on the back of the sock's reflective detail

 
So I will be completely honest there is no way before that I would have bought these socks.  36 dollars for a pair of fragging  socks?  Do they do something else? Run for me?  But after using them I am totally impressed and something occurred to me.  I've spent $30-$50 bucks on a pair of calf sleeves.  These are basically calf sleeves that have socks built in, so $36 is not too bad in that sense.  

Ok the important stuff.   These socks are super ugly but I chose them because I wanted the "bold" print.  They are in that category of so ugly they become cool looking again.  So I'll forgive that since it's my fault, I chose this.

Quality of workmanship... These things look like they are thin sheer panty hose but they actually feel really strong.  I have popped and put a finger through many pair of calf sleeves and compression socks.  These don't have that fragile feeling.  They are thin but durable feeling.  

The most important factor...

Comfort.  It's kind of like the line from Pulp Fiction about the 5 dollar milk shake.  I don't know about 36 dollars for socks but these are some really comfortable socks.  Of course like I said earlier I pay more than that for calf sleeves and these have the socks built in.
They have been really comfortable.  Light and cushioned feeling at the same time.  Like a nice wool blend.  These are not wool but they feel woolish.  

Like all tech clothing items wash on cold and air dry on a line or hanger.  Don't put them in the hot dryer or you will kill them.

So in summary.  A magic blend of feels like thick cushion, breaths like thin material, thin and light feeling while still being durable.  Frodo's magic Mithril socks!  These will be my designated trail socks till they blow out and I will wear them on my next trail race coming up later this year.

Thanks for reading this.  If you like the site please post a comment. If you love the site please use one of the Amazon links on the sides to make your next purchase of whatever you need so the site gets some referral love. 

Alright gotta run...