I have been contacted by NEON Sock to do a test and review for their NEON Ankle Performance Running Socks! They have given me an Amazon discount code to try them out and give them a review.
They would also like my readers to review their product for them. They have given me a discount code for each of you. Please post a comment below of your interest to try them, and I will get in touch with you with the code. This code will get you $5.00 off a 3 – pack!
Let me start by saying that I have been using Native Eyewear Sunglasses since 2012. I have been really pleased with these glasses. I have used the Enduro sunglasses. Most of their eyewear has the capability to swap out lens based on the situation. Each pair usually comes with a low light set of lens as well. As a runner I love the Native sunglasses because of two reasons. First, they have vents in the frames so the lens do not fog up in the various temperature changes. Second, all of their lens are polarized, so while running, you do not loose your field of vision in various light changes.
That being said, this review is more about their customer service. Native Eyewear has a lifetime warranty on their sunglasses. Well in December 2015 I broke my sunglasses. Now my wife also has Native sunglasses, and decided to call them on their lifetime warranty and see if they were willing to repair/replace my sunglasses, thinking we probably wouldn’t have any luck since they were 3.5 years old.
Well to our amazement, they came through. They had us mail in my broken sunglasses, and once they received them, they would contact us with our options. They notified us a few days (yes days, not weeks or months) later. They told us that unfortunately my model was no longer available, but I could go on their website, choose whatever model I would like and they would drop them in the mail to us. They recommended we go to a local store and try them on as well, to make sure I was satisfied. After doing this last weekend, we called them on Tuesday, and I had my new sunglasses yesterday. They just charged us a $30 processing fee. For sunglasses that cost around $150, that is a respectable charge to get a brand new pair of sunglasses. Everyone we dealt with during the process was extremely helpful and positive, which was very refreshing.
Here is our selfie from our run on Saturday trying out the new Native Hardtop Ultras.
If you are looking for great sunglasses for running, with a company that stands behind their customer support, I highly recommend Native Eyewear. Native Eyewear did not give me anything in release to this product review, this is my own experiences and perspective.
Disclosure: I was provided these products from Heel That Pain for the product review; however, all opinions are my own.
Welcome back to another product review for Heel That Pain. Several months back I was approached by Heel That Pain to test a few of their products. Heel That Pain specializes in shoe inserts and cups used to help prevent and reduce conditions such as heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis. You can read the other Heel That Pain product reviews here.
They use a concept know at the Fascia Bar. “The Fascia-Bar technology present in Heel That Pain’s inserts, wraps and splints realigns the plantar fascia ligament to its proper position while providing therapeutic acupressure and cushioning to the heel bone. This combination not only provides rapid relief from pain, but also stimulates the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. In essence, the typical customer experiences progressive recovery with each step they take wearing our patented Fascia-Bar products. Our top orthotic, HTP Heel Seats, has a satisfaction rating of over 90%.”
Because I do not currently have, nor do I want, plantar faciitis, I reached out to several runners in my running group to test the heel seats. Each of these runners currently struggle with plantar faciitis, and are going through treatments of varying levels, so I figured who best to test these than them.
Here is a third and final review of the heel seats with one of my fellow runners.
As someone who has battled plantar faciitis off and on for almost 2 years, I’m pretty cautious about what I put on my feet. You’ll almost never find me barefoot, and both my running and dress shoes have custom orthotics inside most of the time. So when I was asked to try a new insert in my running shoes, I hesitated. But like most folks with plantar fasciitis, I’m willing to try almost anything if there’s a chance it might help.
The first time I stepped off with the inserts in my running shoes, I have to say I thought I had put them in wrong. For the first few minutes, it literally felt like there was a bar in my shoe passing under my plantar fascia. Not painful, but definitely a little uncomfortable. The more I walked on them, though, the less I noticed they were there. In fact, by the end of my first run, I actually noticed the insert more on the foot that DOESN’T have PF than the one that does. The feeling reminded me of when you put sustained pressure on a tense muscle and, over time, the muscle slowly relaxes. In this case, it felt like my plantar fascia was gradually stretching/relaxing during the course of the run, with the result that it was pain-free by the end of the run.
After using the heel seats for a while, my take was that, for an over-the-counter insert (i.e., not one specifically shaped to your foot), this could be a good option for many folks with PF. Don’t let the first few minutes dissuade you — the benefits definitely come with time. For those already using a custom orthotic, I suspect few will get more benefit from the insert than from what they are already using — although at around $25, I could buy a set and 9 replacements of the Heel That Pain inserts for less than my orthotics cost!
I haven’t tried them in anything but running shoes, but dress shoes come next. The ultimate proof will be over a longer period–probably a few months–but I’ve at least been convinced that these are worth a trial run!
David Bundy
Charleston, SC
I would like to thank Heel That Pain for asking me to review their products, and I hope this has helped others in their consideration shoe inserts.
For more information on specifics on my review of the product, you can contact me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com. If you are a product manufacturer and would like for me to review your product here on Doombuggy Runner, you can also email me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com.
Disclosure: I was provided these products from Heel That Pain for the product review; however, all opinions are my own.
Welcome back to another product review for Heel That Pain. Several months back I was approached by Heel That Pain to test a few of their products. Heel That Pain specializes in shoe inserts and cups used to help prevent and reduce conditions such as heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis. You can read the other Heel That Pain product reviews here.
They use a concept know at the Fascia Bar. “The Fascia-Bar technology present in Heel That Pain’s inserts, wraps and splints realigns the plantar fascia ligament to its proper position while providing therapeutic acupressure and cushioning to the heel bone. This combination not only provides rapid relief from pain, but also stimulates the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. In essence, the typical customer experiences progressive recovery with each step they take wearing our patented Fascia-Bar products. Our top orthotic, HTP Heel Seats, has a satisfaction rating of over 90%.”
Because I do not currently have, nor do I want, plantar faciitis, I reached out to several runners in my running group to test the heel seats. Each of these runners currently struggle with plantar faciitis, and are going through treatments of varying levels, so I figured who best to test these than them.
Here is a second review of the heel seats with one of my fellow runners.
I’ve been suffering from plantar fasciitis off and one for about two and a half years now. As anyone knows who has had it, I was able to run through it the majority of the time aside from a few instances when I would have to take a couple of weeks off due to a vicious flare up. I was given the heel cups from my friend and fellow runner David and asked to give them a try and a short write up of how I liked them for his blog. It should be noted: I’m currently coming back from a tear in my foot that has been suffering from the plantar fasciitis so my mileage is down and the intensity is pretty low. I’m probably only averaging about 15 miles a week right now. With all that being said, here is what I have to say about them:
When I first put them on, it was noticeable, but not in a particularly bad way. It felt more like a lump in my shoes. However, I also noticed a slight relief in my heel pain just by standing in them for the first time so I was very optimistic. Upon the first few steps running, I was still aware that they were there but as I got going, they were hardly noticeable at all. The cup fits my heel very well and there is no sliding either. No blisters to speak of during road running and my heel hasn’t felt this good in a long time. I don’t know if it’s the heel cups or the extended lay off I had, but I’ve been very happy with them and plan on using them for the foreseeable future.
I do have two complaints about them though. One, I tried wearing them in my work shoes since I noticed instant relief from just standing in them. However, due to the thin layer of material in dress socks, I could constantly feel the lip of the cup in my arch all the time. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just annoying so I took them out after one day. I don’t have that problem in my running shoes though but that is due to the thicker layer of socks that I have. The other problem that I came across was that I had some issues with them when I went trail running. I noticed on a couple of occasions that when I was running on ground that was not flat (rocky, bumpy, rooty, etc.), I got some blisters from the pad not to mention some general all around discomfort in the heel area. I only tried running twice in the woods with them and both times I felt this discomfort. But I never felt any discomfort or got any blisters while road running.
So in summary, I am very happy with the product. I would recommend them to a friend, but I would not recommend them for trail running.
Brian Donohue
Charleston, SC
I would like to thank Heel That Pain for asking me to review their products, and I hope this has helped others in their consideration shoe inserts.
For more information on specifics on my review of the product, you can contact me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com. If you are a product manufacturer and would like for me to review your product here on Doombuggy Runner, you can also email me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com.
Disclosure: I was provided these products from Heel That Pain for the product review; however, all opinions are my own.
Welcome back to another product review for Heel That Pain. Several months back I was approached by Heel That Pain to test a few of their products. Heel That Pain specializes in shoe inserts and cups used to help prevent and reduce conditions such as heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis. You can read my review of the full length heel seats here.
They use a concept know at the Fascia Bar. “The Fascia-Bar technology present in Heel That Pain’s inserts, wraps and splints realigns the plantar fascia ligament to its proper position while providing therapeutic acupressure and cushioning to the heel bone. This combination not only provides rapid relief from pain, but also stimulates the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. In essence, the typical customer experiences progressive recovery with each step they take wearing our patented Fascia-Bar products. Our top orthotic, HTP Heel Seats, has a satisfaction rating of over 90%.”
Because I do not currently have, nor do I want, plantar faciitis, I reached out to several runners in my running group to test the heel seats. Each of these runners currently struggle with plantar faciitis, and are going through treatments of varying levels, so I figured who best to test these than them.
First of all, I am an academic physician who practices evidence-based medicine. The lowest form of evidence is the “testimonial”. I routinely reject them out of hand. So…it is hard to do this, but….
This is my testimonial about the HTP Heel Seats.
Since training for and completing my first marathon in April of 2013 at the age of 57, I battled plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis almost continuously. I would go intermittently for weeks and weeks without running, only cycling and swimming for my “cardio”. I bought pairs of new shoes, used stretching, rolled my foot over frozen bottles of water, tried supportive socks, slept for weeks with a boot at night (to my wife’s chagrin), had massages, and ingested more ibuprofen than I would like to admit. Within days of trying to begin running again, I would find myself waking in the morning and subsequently limping out of the bedroom gritting my teeth and holding onto the dresser to steady myself.
Then I was introduced to these simple blue shoe inserts, the HTP Heel Seats. Honest to Goodness, within a couple of days of continuous wear, my feet no longer hurt. I have been running now for weeks without pain, and building up towards another half marathon. (I think one full was enough). I am not sure I entirely understand it, but they have worked like I never would have expected.
Yep. This is a testimonial. The lowest form of evidence. But it is the best evidence I can personally provide. Try them out “ASAP!”
Mike Southgate
Charleston, South Carolina
I would like to thank Heel That Pain for asking me to review their products, and I hope this has helped others in their consideration shoe inserts.
For more information on specifics on my review of the product, you can contact me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com. If you are a product manufacturer and would like for me to review your product here on Doombuggy Runner, you can also email me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com.
Disclosure: I was provided these products from Heel That Pain for the product review; however, all opinions are my own.
Several months back I was approached by Heel That Pain to test a few of their products. Heel That Pain specializes in shoe inserts and cups (seats) used to help prevent and reduce conditions such as heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis.
They use a concept know as the Fascia-Bar. “The Fascia-Bar technology present in Heel That Pain’s inserts, wraps and splints realigns the plantar fascia ligament to its proper position while providing therapeutic acupressure and cushioning to the heel bone. This combination not only provides rapid relief from pain, but also stimulates the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. In essence, the typical customer experiences progressive recovery with each step they take wearing our patented Fascia-Bar products. Our top orthotic, HTP Heel Seats, has a satisfaction rating of over 90%.”
Heel That Pain sent me one set of inserts and three sets of heel seats. I used the inserts personally for this product review. I had three other running partners review the heel seats. Their reviews will come out soon to follow. All three of these running partners currently suffer with plantar fasciitis, so they were perfectly chosen candidates for their reviews.
As for background, I have been running for about 5 years, logged over 4,000 miles, 3 marathons, 20 half marathons, 2 Walt Disney World Goofy Challenges, and a sprinkling of 5k & 10k events. I do not suffer from any heel pain or plantar fasciitis; however, I do have the occasional foot pain. I currently use custom inserts for my running shoes, and have so for about the last 4 years. These are to help with my high arches and to prevent my foot rolling and crashing on landing.
Here is a view of the insoles from varying angles when I received them.
I was able to give these inserts a thorough review. I put in about 175 miles with the insoles (25-35 miles per week). This included runs that ranged from 3 miles to 13 miles. During this trial period, I also ran back to back half marathons in one weekend. Based on this alone you should be able to gather how much I have enjoyed this product. When I first started using the inserts, I did experience a little rubbing on the arches; however, that soon went away (and was expected) once my feet got use to the change. Beyond this, I have not experienced any other issues with the product. I am happy to report that the foot pain has gone away.
Here is a before and after depiction of how the insoles adjust your foot with the aid of the Fascia-Bar.
HTP Full Length Heel Seats:
Stimulate your body’s natural ability to heal itself via acupressure and cushioning support
Add a layer of padding to areas of the foot that have become worn down and stressed
Realign the plantar fascia ligament back to its healthy position
Offer multi-directional support with 360 degree motion control
Improve your outlook on life, because you’re not in pain anymore
Are machine washable and built to last
As for the product pricing, it is quite reasonable compared to my inserts I have used in the past. Typically I pay about $50 for the Currex Inserts. The Heel That Pain Full Length Heel Seats (inserts) will cost you $34.95 a pair. Also, there is a discount if you sign up for the product renewal program. If you sign up for the renewal, you will get a new set of inserts every 90 days for just $24.95. Now typically I can go about a year in a pair of inserts, so I will continue to monitor these and see when they begin to break down. I think 90 days may be a little too soon for replacements, but we shall see as the trial proceeds.
This is an excellent product which I feel confident I will continue to use. The initial products were provided to me by Heel That Pain at no cost. However, when it is time to replace the product, I feel confident that I will be purchasing them for continued use. This product really works. It is amazing how something so small as the Fascia-Bar could make sure a difference. I am usually harsh on product reviews, but found nothing with this product to deter me from future use.
Be sure to check our their website for further information on getting your pair today!
This is part one of several Heel That Pain product reviews. Stay tuned for further reviews from others in my running group, as they have plantar fasciitis and will be reviewing the heel pads.
I would like to thank Heel That Pain for asking me to review their products, and I hope this has helped others in their consideration shoe inserts.
For more information on specifics on my review of the product, you can contact me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com. If you are a product manufacturer and would like for me to review your product here on Doombuggy Runner, you can also email me at doombuggyrunner@gmail.com.
Looking for that perfect gift for the runner in your life? I decided to put together my top 10 list of items that I as a runner would like for Christmas. I have even provided links to where you can purchase the item if it appeals to you.
1. KT Tape ($15)
KT tape assists with numerous runner soreness and injuries. KT Tape’s website has instructional videos on how to properly use the tape.
Disclosure: I was provided this product from Airia for the product review; however, all opinions are my own.
I was recently contacted by Airia, the designers of the Airia One running shoes to do a product review for them. Their strong claim is that their special shoes will help you run faster (up to 7% speed improvement in tests). They are designed by a Swedish company, which has over 170 years in the design and making of shoes. The Airia One shoes retail for $190.00 US.
While at the Disneyland Half Marathon Expo in August (2014), I picked up a pair of Yurbuds from their booth. I have been using Yurbuds since 2010, but decided on a new pair that had the phone controls built in.
The set I got came with two sizes of Yurbud earpieces, a 4′ cable with audio controls, a clip to attach to clothing, and a carrying bag.
The audio controls are the reason for the upgrade, and a reason I wrote this review. Since September, I have found multiple different uses for the controls. There is a volume up and down, which is a no brainer. However, in between those, in the center, is a button with three (3) functions. Press it once to answer a call/hang up, or pause/play your music. Press it twice and it will skip to the next song. Press it three times, and it will go to the previous song.
The earpieces are really amazing. They have grooves in them, so when you put them in your ears and turn them, they lock in. This is great for runners.
When you put them in your ears, make sure that your left is positioned to 3:00 and the right is positioned at 9:00, then twist down to 6:00 to lock them in.
The only problem I have had with these is the sound controller. At times I will press the volume up/down, or to change songs, and it does nothing. It isn’t always, but it does occasionally have this fault. Now I typically run with the cord under my shirt between my shirt and chest, so it could be sweat related, but I have not yet been able to make this determination.
All in all, I love Yurbuds, and all their products. This is my second pair and I have enjoyed both pairs.
DISCLAIMER: This product was NOT provided by the vendor. I purchased these with my own funds, and all of my opinions are my own.
Amazon is having a pretty good deal on GU Energy Lab Gels, 24 count boxes. If you have Amazon Prime, it is an even better deal. It is currently $25.59 or $1.07 per packet. Here is a link to get in on this bargain. They have many different flavors also. GU is the only brand I use, so I will be getting at least one box!
Here is a QR Code to the sale as well.
“….let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.
