GearFlogger

Adidas Progressor S Goggles

Along with a helmet, eye protection is mandatory on the slopes, both to keep junk out of your eyes and to allow visibility whether it's sunny or socked in. Adidas is a relatively new entrant into the ski goggle category, but they wasted no time in putting out a competitive product with the Progressor S goggle.

The S is for spherical, as in the top-to-bottom curvature of the lens; there's also a C version with a cylindrical profile, i.e. flat top-to-bottom. Both have their places: cylindrical goggles are less expensive and lower profile, and spherical are higher in both volume in price. Generally spherical lenses offer less distortion and glare as well.

The Progressor has a shiny lens in a variety of hues; we tested red, and it provided excellent clarity and contract across a wide range of conditions from extremely flat light to direct sun, a.k.a. a typical day at Alyeska Ski Resort in Alaska. The Progressor S definitely fills up your helmet, which is nice to prevent the dreaded gorby gap and also to keep your face warm.

The higher volume has another benefit, which is that combined with the excellent ventilation on the Progressor we didn't experience any fogging problems. We weren't skinning uphill with a pack, but we can usually tell even in strict downhill conditions whether a goggle is going to be a problem fogger or not, and we don't expect that issue in the Progressor. Overall Adidas has done a fine job of producing a great goggle.

$110.00 on Amazon

Adidas adiPower Weightlifting Shoes

It's hard to overstate the benefits of getting truly stronger. By truly we mean not just for a month, but gaining consistently measurable strength for years. Once you cross the line from recreational sports into the competitive realm, you realize strength training is no longer optional. Hopefully at that point you've read Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength and Practical Programming for Strength Training, and you're putting in the time under the bar.

Once you're under that bar, you realize a couple of things. First: holy s**t is it heavy. Second: there has got to be gear to make the pain go away. Well, the gear is here, but as for the pain it's like Greg LeMond said, "It never gets easier, you just go faster." Or in this case lift heavier. As Rippetoe says, the way to make a 225 squat easier is to squat 315. Or something like that, you get the idea.

The beauty of barbell training is that there are really only two pieces of gear you need: a good pair of weightlifting-specific shoes and a belt. The reason for the belt is probably not what you think, so read this and stay tuned for our upcoming review of the best belt in existence. The need for special shoes should be obvious: you just can't have a big bouncy midsole like you're used to. You need some seriously hard stuff under your heel, and the Adidas adiPower gives it to you.

The adiPower is not cheap, but you really only need to buy them once in a very long while. The adiPower features a leather upper and a polymer heel with a 24mm to 4mm heel to toe drop, perfect for the big compound lifts like squat and deadlift - you are squatting and deadlifting, right? There's an instep strap to really lock your foot in, and for the intended application you want to be as locked in as possible. OK, you're fully informed so get off that elliptical and start training.

Best of all, at the moment they're on sale for $150, but if you use the code CYBER2017 you'll get them down to $105, and if you first sign up for their email newsletter they'll send you a code for another 15% off that you can stack. Sweet deal!

$150.00 (or less! on sale from $200) at Adidas

Adidas Clima Ride TR trail shoe

Adidas knows footwear, and they are smokin' the midnight oil to bring you some of the absolutely lightest doghouses out there. The Adidas Clima Ride TR trail shoe weighs in 20oz per pair for a size ten.

The mesh upper on the TR combines with the light weight to make it feel more like a pair of socks, but it will take the punishment of trail running or fast hiking. The cushioning is minimal but sufficient for normal feet, and the sole is grippy enough to let you get up and go when the going gets loose, muddy, sandy or otherwise low-traction.

Adidas is making a serious effort at the outdoor market, and you shouldn't hesitate to try the Clima Ride TR if you're looking for some uberlight, hyperbreathable courage for your feet. 

$94.95 at Paragon