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Gear for a Day on the Water

FitSugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

You can squeeze the last little bit out of Summer by spending a day on the water. Nothing beats exercising in liquid. Here's some gear that I think may come in handy. Check it out.

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Burn It Up in the Sun and Surf

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I'm sure many of you are psyched that the weather is so warm so you can enjoy exercising outdoors, especially in the water. Just how many calories do Summer activities burn? Click the "Start" button to find out. All the calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.

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Water Sport Must Haves

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

While it is true that I like to work out in a pool, playing in open water – any lake, pond, or ocean will do – is one of my favorite summertime adventures. Check out my ideas of must haves for your time on the water.

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Sporty Swimsuits

FitSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:11:57 -0700

Hot days will soon be upon us and that means hanging out and playing in the water. If you like being active in water, you definitely don't want to let it all hang out or fall out. Check out these swimsuits that'll keep you covered while you play in the waves.

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Get in Gear: Sealine Dry Bags

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:15:00 -0700

If you are going to be near water, either backpacking, camping, swimming, going to the beach, boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, or kayaking, you've got to protect all your stuff from getting wet. You know - the stuff that absolutely can't get wet like your camera, cell phone, wallet, and dry undies.

Check out this very practical dry bag (it means it's waterproof) made by Sealine. They make many different kinds of bags, but these Dry Seal Roll-Top Closure bags are great because they're made with transparent vinyl. So if you are looking for something in your bag, you can see right through the plastic to make sure it's still in there.

The bottom is made out of heavy-duty vinyl to protect against abrasion. All you do is place your things in the bag, roll down the top a few times (to keep the water out), and then you easily secure it closed with the D-ring closure.

These see-thru dry bags come in 4 sizes: 18 oz ($23.95), 14 oz ($19.95), 10 oz (16.95), and 6.5 oz ($13.95). They also make other kinds of bags that are much larger, so check out the Sealine website if bigger is what you need. If you are planning to be on or near water, dry bags are a total necessity.

Ride the Wake: Wakeboarding

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Wakeboarding is like snowboarding on water. If you have experience with surfing, water skiing, snowboarding, or skateboarding, you'll have to try wakeboarding. It's one of those sports that you can really get into if you like to work on cool tricks. Why is it called "wakeboarding?" The wake is the wave that the motorboat's engine kicks up behind the boat as the boat moves forward. It's a little rockier than still lake water, and that's what makes it fun to ride.

Basically it's a lot like water skiing, where a rider gets towed behind a motorboat, but instead of facing forward, the rider is sideways. This is a little bit obvious because of its name, but another major difference is you ride on a board not a pair of skis. This makes doing flips and spins easier since both your feet are attached to the board (instead of being separated on 2 skis). People don't really do tricks on water skis unless they're using trick skis that are shorter and have no fins.

All you need is a big open lake, a motorboat, a life jacket, a tow line (the rope you hold onto), a wakeboard, a driver, and someone else in the boat to watch the rider. This person's job is very important - they let the driver know if the rider has let go of the tow line, and point out where they are floating in the water (sometimes it's tough to see the bobbing person).

You don't have to have any water skiing experience in order to wakeboard, just like you don't have to ski before you snowboard. I definitely recommend taking a lesson so you can learn some basic skills, like getting up since this can be the hardest part. Like with everything, practice is the key.

You've got to check out this video of a woman using a trampoline to practice her wakeboard tricks, so

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Get Your Butt in Gear: Sunblocker Rashguard by Title Nine

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

If you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun and the water this summer season, I highly recommend investing in a sunblocking rashguard. While the O'Neil UV Protection Rashguard does the trick, the Sunblocker Rashguard ($45) by Title Nine does the job with a little more fashion sense.

Title Nine commissioned two surfers, both women, to design this guard, and they definitely gave the rashguard a feminine touch. The sleeves though short, completely cover the shoulders but allow for freedom of arm motion. You can paddle out without feeling restricted. The neck is also a little higher, like a mock turtleneck, providing just a little more sun protection. The guard provides both UVA and UVB protection.

Buy it directly from Title Nine. It comes in pink Punch (pictured above) or light blue Water.

Get in Gear: Croakie

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

If you're like me, the summer weather draws you outside every chance you can get. When the powerful sun is blazing, you realize the importance of wearing sunscreen to protect your skin, and sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Sunglasses can be really expensive, but they're totally worth it, especially if the lenses are polarized (I love the crystal clear vision). Since they are so small and lightweight, they can get easily lost, and then what good would they be for your eyes?

Keep track of your sunglasses with a Croakie. It's a strap that attaches to the ends of your glasses, so when you're not wearing them, you can just let them hang from your neck. The strap is made of neoprene so it's soft, flexible, comfortable, and dries quickly if it gets wet.

A Croakie is a necessity if you are always misplacing your sunglasses. It's also great if you do fast-paced outdoor sports like biking, or water sports like water skiing and kayaking (what a crime it would be if your expensive sunglasses fell off your face and into the water!). Check out the 4 different styles:

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Get in Gear: Nike Water Cat

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Ok, they have all-terrain vehicles for the road. What about all-terrain vehicles for your feet?

Nike will be introducing (not quite yet) a radical new shoe design made for land and water. Well not quite radical, KEEN has been making shoes like this for years (and they are a much more environmentally conscious company than Nike - but enough of the rant).

They're lightweight, and the sole is rubberized so you'll have good traction when hiking through wet trails.

Nike Water Cats can also be used for water sports like kayaking or white water rafting (which you're all into, I know) to protect your feet from sharp rocks and nibbling critters.

They're flexible so they can easily be packed into a backpack for your next outing. Hopefully, they'll hit stores by the time the warm weather arrives.

Coconut Water: Nature's Sports Drink

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:30:00 -0700

If you find the unnatural color of many sports drinks unappealing, you might be interested in trying coconut water. They don't call it "nature's sports drink" for nothing. A cup of coconut water contains about 600 milligrams of potassium (that's more than a banana), as well as some calcium, magnesium, sodium, and sugar.

The liquid found inside young green coconuts is thin, almost clear, and can have a slight almond flavor. Coconut water should not be confused with coconut milk. Coconut water contains no saturated fat and has only 45 calories per cup to coconut milk's 552.

The coolest thing about coconut water is that it has the same electrolyte balance as blood. Dubbed the "fluid of life," it was used as a substitute for intravenous plasma during World War II.

You can cut the top off a young coconut with a meat cleaver and drink the juice. Or you can find bottled coconut water, but it just might be mixed with sweetener. Drink up!

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