Treadmill Review: The Peloton Tread Plus

If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that I am logging a lot of miles on the peloton tread plus these days. I have been staying with my parents while my husband and I get closer to closing on a house which means that I have had access to my Dad’s peloton tread, which is quite the upgrade from my treadmill. Don’t get me wrong – I love my treadmill and am thankful that I have one at all, but the incline on it is broken, and it is not quite as nice as the peloton tread.

I am going to start with a shameless plug – if you would up here because you were looking for a discount code, use my referral code “B8RAS5“ to save $100 on tread or bike accessories when you purchase a new peloton tread or bike.

If you are unfamiliar with the peloton tread plus, let me tell you about some of the technical highlights of the machine –

• Instead of a traditional running built, the peloton tread plus has a shock absorbing slat belt. The slats are made of aluminum, which are coated in rubber.

• Adjustable, rolling control knobs, mounted to the left and right hand rails. Each knob has a “jump” button in the center of it.

• Max speed of 12.5 miles per hour.

• Max incline of 15% grade.

• 67 inch running belt.

• 32 inch tv screen, mounted onto the treadmill with sound bar.

 The day that the treadmill was delivered to my parent’s house I was off from work, so I watched excitedly as it was installed. It is a heavy machine, at over 500 lbs, so it took several people to get it into the house and setup. Once it was in place, we connected it to the wifi and logged in to our peloton account and it was ready to use.

I had taken peloton running classes before both outside and on my treadmill but was excited to take a run on the tread plus. My first reaction? I could not believe how smooth the treadmill felt – it was like running on a cushy track, without the annoying turns. It is one of the louder treadmills that I have run on, but the noise isn’t too distracting.

Now, as I mentioned, my treadmill has a broken incline. So when I have taken peloton classes in the past, I just up the speed when the instructor tells us to up the incline. For my first class I took a 60 minute fun run with Matt Wilpers, from 7/21/19, and let me tell you, it humbled me. I live on an island, in an area that can be broadly described as flat. I typically pick up less than 20 ft of elevation on my local runs, and in 2020 I really just ran by my house for most of the year so I am not accustomed to hills at all. The hills killed me in that class, and I knew that I had some work ahead of me to get stronger with running hills.

The knobs on the left and right handrails control the incline and the speed, which means that you don’t have to reach forward to interact with the touch screen while you are running. The left knob controls the incline, and the right knob controls the pace. While running on the treadmill, you just roll the knob forward towards the tread screen to go faster or increase the incline, or roll it back to decrease the pace. The knobs move really smoothly, so at times I have been known to just give them a good glide when going into a sprint and seeing what I can do.

Each knob has a button in the center of it, and when you click it the value jumps by a full point – so for the incline it would go from flat rode to a 1% grade with a click, and for the speed it would go from 5 to 6 miles per hour with a click. You can also set custom levels, so that when you click these buttons options pop up above your pace and incline values on the tread screen, which you can tap to jump to pre-set paces or inclines.

When the belt is stopped, you can activate “Free Mode” on the treadmill. This mode disengages the treadmill belt from the motor, so you can’t set the belt speed – instead you have to push it yourself. While running you hold onto the bar at the front of the treadmill, and just start running to get the belt moving. I have a love-hate relationship with free mode. It is an AWESOME workout that makes me feel so strong, but it absolutely kills my average pace for a run. I know that it shouldn’t matter to me, but when I am working hard to hit paces during a run, it can be discouraging to see the average speed go down as my butt is getting kicked in free mode.  

The treadmill allows you to pair headphones via Bluetooth, and heart rate monitors via ant+. Personally, I have connected apple airpods and aftershokz headphones for runs, and when I use the noise cancelling mode on my airpods I can’t hear the treadmill belt at all. I don’t like chest strap heart rate monitors (I know they are more accurate, but they make it so hard for me to breathe when I have them secured tight enough that they are reading my heart rate properly), so I use my Garmin to transmit my wrist based heart rate to the treadmill. I have been able to do this with my Garmin 235 and 645, with an easy pairing process.

For my old Garmin, the 235, I was able to toggle to the heart rate screen and then hold the “up” button, which opens the heart rate options. From there I just select the “broadcast heart rate” option, and the watch pairs with the tread.

For my new Garmin, the 645, I can turn on the heart rate broadcasting the same way I described above, but I also had the option to make the watch broadcast it automatically when I start any activity. I was constantly forgetting to turn off the broadcast after a workout, so this was a much better option for me.

The peloton app is integrated into the treadmill, and the splash screen of the tread offers suggestions of classes to take based off your class history – i.e. which instructors you like and the typical length of class that you take. You also have access to the “collections” of classes that peloton has curated and the full on demand library, which is searchable. Once you select a class, a screen pops up that lets you know if you have headphones or a heart rate monitor paired, and you just click “start” to begin running. In addition to classes that are lead by peloton instructors, there are scenic classes that run you through various locations, and a “just run” mode, which just lets you know your stats as you run through the miles.

I noticed on some of my longer runs on the treadmill that I was feeling a lot of static electricity build up – I could even feel the hairs on my arms raise at times! I looked into it, and treadmills have to be plugged into grounded (three prong) outlets, because the action of the belt generates a lot of static electricity, which is discharged through the grounding prong of the outlet. I checked that my receptacle was grounded properly, and after confirming that it was, I looked into what I could do to decrease the buildup of static. The treadmill is in our living room, so it lives on a carpet – so I ordered a rubber mat to place under the tread, and it has helped so much with the issue. So if you are planning to install your treadmill into a room with carpet, I recommend ordering a mat to go under it.

The treadmill draws a lot of amperage when it is running on higher speeds – on some of the first runs that I did I learned this the hard way, when the power cut out mid run because I tripped a breaker. If you have never had a treadmill turn off while you are sprinting, let me tell you it is a terrifying experience. Now that it is winter and we do not have the air conditioners running in the house I haven’t had this problem lately, but it is something to consider. Make sure that the circuit that you are putting the treadmill onto isn’t shared with other devices that draw a lot of current, like air conditioners and refrigerators.

My wishlist for the future of the treadmill? I would really love if they added some sort of streaming integration. I love the classes, but sometimes when you need to get a long run in for marathon training, it would be nice to have the option to watch a movie instead of taking a class. I would also love if they added a pause button for on demand classes and the “just run” mode. I understand that for live classes it would impact the leaderboard if users were able to pause the class, but it would be great if there was an option to opt out of the leaderboard in exchange for the ability to pause. When you are using the peloton app (on a cell phone or tablet) to take a class, you can pause the class, since you can’t feed speed stats into the mobile app, where as the treadmill automatically records them for you.

My wish list for tread classes? I am dying for an all treadmill marathon training series! The peloton app has an outdoor marathon training series of classes, which I really enjoyed taking the first leg of over the summer. But with the likelihood of races being cancelled in 2021, I would love to see an all treadmill series, with long classes for long run days. I also love the pop punk running classes that Chase Tucker hosts and want more of those!

Overall, the Peloton tread plus is honestly my favorite treadmill I have ever run on. The one downside? The price tag. A peloton tread will run you $4,295, plus a monthly app membership fee to access classes. I am currently trying to convince my husband that we totally need one for our new house, but it is an uphill battle for sure. I am starting to save up, so hopefully I can get a Tread plus of my own in the future.

If this post helped you to make a decision about purchasing a peloton, use my referral code “B8RAS5“ to save $100 on tread or bike accessories when you purchase a new peloton tread or bike.

If you have any Peloton Tread plus or peloton questions in general, drop them in the comments below!

Gear Round Up: Mid-Weight Winter Soft Turtle Gloves

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves to  review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

As the seasons move from fall to winter in New York, the first accessory that I add to my running attire is a pair of gloves – Yes, I have totally been that runner that has a pair of shorts and a t-shirt on, with a pair of gloves covering up my hands.

Last year I had the chance to test out a pair of turtle gloves referred to as “the Flippers,” which are both wind and water resistant, which became my go-to gloves when I was running or just existing in general. This year, turtle gloves brought a different pair of gloves to the BibRave team, the mid-weight winter soft model. I excitedly volunteered to test out another model, and was so excited when they arrived in the mail.

It may seem strange to be excited for a pair of mittens, but my hands are always cold. When I opened up the package with my mittens, turtle gloves had also sent me a drawstring backpack, some stickers, and a bottle koozie. The gloves were bright orange, and had the BibRave logo printed on them, so they match all my other BibRave gear! I tried them on, and was pleasantly surprised with how soft the inside of the gloves were. The gloves are made of Polartec® Power Stretch Pro® material, which wicks sweat, dries quickly, and is very breathable – and of course since they are turtle gloves, they have the added breathability when you flip them from being mittens to exposing your fingers.

The “flip” feature is what sets turtle gloves above other brands for me. As someone who always wears too much at the beginning of a run, this is the perfect design. It lets me start my run with a pair of mittens, and then “open” them to expose my fingers when I warm up, and roll them down further as needed. Plus, since they are tubes when flipped open, I can slide them right onto my running belt if my hands are just too warm.

On one of my runs recently, there was snow lingering on the streets from a recent storm, and I lost my footing as a rounded a corner. After trying to regain my balance and failing, I took a tumble, and bared the brunt of my fall between my hands, my hip, and my knee. My hands stung, but luckily I had been wearing my turtle gloves at the time – I looked at my palms which were red and stung, but there were no cuts or damage to my skin. My hip and knee both wound up with bruising and scrapes that kept me from running for a few days. But after saving my hands, my gloves were a little dirty from the fall, but undamaged. This experience gave turtle gloves even more points in my books.

 I found that my new turtle gloves, the mid-weight winter soft model, are much warmer than my flippers. They are great on days that you are dealing with frosty temps outside during a run, but I have also used mine on chilly mornings when I get in my car, and when I am working on a computer with cold hands. 

I love that turtle gloves went the extra mile to get us the perfect BibRave orange color, and were even able to print our logo onto the gloves! If you are searching for a glove that will keep your hands warm on the coldest of run, some turtle glove midweight winter soft mittens are just what you need.

If you decide to pick up a pair, the coupon code “TURTLEBIBRAVE” will save you 15% on your own pair! Click HERE to check out all of the color choices they have available for these awesome gloves.

Gear Roundup: The Buff Pack Run Cap

The shorts that I managed to comfortably fit this hat into the pocket of.

Disclaimer: I received an Buff Pack Run Cap to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

You may have noticed from my photos that I pretty much always have either a hat or sunglasses on when I’m running – heck, sometimes both – regardless of the season. I am for sure a person that prefers the sun to be kept out of my face, since I burn after about two seconds of sun shine. When Dad and I head out for long runs (where he bikes along with me), he even brings along sunscreen so I can re-apply mid run. I am serious about my sun protection!

Most of running hats that I have acquired over the years are from various races, and are more focused on the race itself over their functionality as a running hat, so I was eager to get my hands on a Buff Pack Run Cap when they came to the BibRave Pro program, especially because I loved the headband that I got from them last fall.

When I got my package in the mail containing my hat, I was shocked at how light the hat was! It is a normal size hat but felt like I was practically holding nothing (something I texted at least 5 people about upon discovering, because I just thought it was so cool!). Plus, the design I got has fun, bright colors, which is always a plus in my book. The hat is adjustable, and there is a bungee with a part that holds the size setting.

 Of course, I had to coordinate an equally bright outfit to match my hat and set everything out for my run the next day. I had to adjust the hat a little bit to get the sizing right, but then I was good to go for the rest of the run. It was so light that I honestly forgot it was on my head at times, and I did not have to adjust it as I ran, like I have to with many of my other hats. It was a humid day, and the hat even helped with keeping sweat from dripping into my eyes – it is made from moisture wicking materials which is a nice feature.

 There was one day I headed out to run, and the wind picked up so much while I was out that I started to worry that my hat was going to blow off my head – so I decided to try the “pack” part of the Buff pack run cap, and folded it up and tucked it into the tiny zipper pocket on my running shorts, and was pleased to find it was easy to fold got very tiny. Plus, when I pulled it out of my pocket at the end of the run, the hat happily popped back into its intended shape.

 Also, remember how I mentioned my commitment to sun protection at the beginning of the post? Well this hat is made from UPF materials, for extra protection from the suns rays.

 This hat has been the one that I grab every time I need a hat for my runs since I got it, and I keep considering ordering a second one so I have more color choices!

 If you decide you want to try one out for yourself, visit https://buffusa.com/bibrave and sign up for emails to receive 15% off of your purchase.

Packing for the dopey challenge

You’ve spent the last 6 months training, and now the Walt Disney World marathon weekend is only two weeks away – I’m sure you are thinking the same thing as me, where did the time go?!

In this post I am going to share 10 packing tips for the dopey challenge, and at the end of this post I will link to my favorite RunDisney packing list, created by Joyful Miles.

1. Pack the essentials in your carry on

When I head to Disney for races, I always carry on my running shoes and race day outfits instead of checking them. Most of the gear in my luggage I could replace upon arrival, but when I am taking on a challenge like Dopey, I don’t want to get stuck in new gear on race day.

Other essentials that I bring in my carry on are a few gels and body glide. Most of the time these can be found at the expo, but I prefer to bring a few along just in case.

2. Prepare for any weather

Florida weather in January is unpredictable at best. The last time I ran the dopey challenge in 2017 the forecast for Orlando looked warm when I left New York on Tuesday, but by Saturday the forecast for the marathon had shifted to a real feel of 28 degrees. I was very glad that I had brought along the cold weather gear I had been using in New York, just in case.

I was travelling with a group of 6 other marathon runners, and they were not quite as prepared – we wound up spending hours on Saturday trying to find cold weather gear in Florida, which was not the easiest task.

I always save the heat sheets that are handed out at the end of races, and bring those along as well for race morning. Just make sure to discard them before crossing the start line, or it could impact your timing chip!

3. Bring throw away layers

Odds are it will be a little chilly on race mornings, since for RunDisney events the start times are long before the sun comes up. I tend to go through my closet and do a little clean out before Marathon weekend, since I know that Disney will collect and donate all of the clothing that is discarded at the start line.

If I can’t find clothing that I already own and am willing to part with, I will head to a local thrift store to pick up some extra layers. You will be happy to have them on race morning!

4. Organize your suitcases – pack your outfits for each day in a different container

I will be sharing a room with three other people during marathon weekend, so I know I won’t have a ton of space to unpack. To make my life a little easier, I pack each of my race outfits in their own bag, so I can double check that I have all the gear I need before leaving home. 

Then the night before the race I lay all of the gear out, and don’t have to rummage through my luggage looking for a missing sock.

I have used gallon Ziplock bags in a pinch, but I prefer these packing cubes from amazon. 

5. Pack drawstring backpacks for race mornings

Disney provides clear bags that runners must use to check their bags, but they’re not quite durable enough to carry around in my experience. I always wind up receiving free drawstring bags throughout the year, sometimes at expos or when I make a purchase, so I use these bags to make race morning kits. I pack my breakfast, my gels, my body glide, a bottle of water, and anything else I may need the night before the race, so my brain isn’t required to function on race morning, and I can still have everything I need. The backpack is more comfortable to carry around than the gear check bag, and when it is time to check my stuff, I just dump it from the drawstring and into the clear bag.

Plus, after the race it is much easier to pop the drinks and food they give you into the drawstring, rather than trying to balance it all as you head onto the bus.

6. Pack pre-race and recovery fuel that you know works for you!

For me, this means having the supplies for PB&J or a kind breakfast bar before the race, and Skratch recovery powder that I can mix after the race.

I also make sure to pack a foam roller, for post-race recovery needs.

7. Pack a Hub charger for all of your electronics that use a USB to charge

For me, having all of my cords in one place makes it less likely that I will forget one, and wind up with a dead Garmin all weekend. I use this one from amazon.

My husband always packs a power strip, which can be helpful as well when you’re sharing a room with limited power sources.

8. Bring more than one pair of sneakers

Remember when I said weather in Florida is unpredictable? Just in case it rains during one of the shorter races, always pack a back-up pair of shoes, that way you know you will be comfortable for the marathon! I usually pack three pairs, but I have been called an over-packer.

9. Pack extra race fuel

If I told you I had never dropped my fuel during a race, I would be lying. So, I always make sure I am prepared with a few extra gels. I will even give a few to my family and friends that are spectating the race, just in case I need an extra!

10. Odds and Ends: The little things that will count on race morning

• Hand warmers

• Throwaway ponchos

• Chapstick

• Sunscreen stick

• Hair brush (for post-race)

• Extra hair ties 

• Baby wipes (for a quick refresh after the race)

If you are looking for an all-encompassing “Packing list,” I would recommend this one from Joyful Miles. They have everything you could need on it, and even offer a downloadable PDF. It is my go-to when I am making sure I have everything that I need packed.

You can find their list HERE!

If you are heading on a race-cation soon, what are your must-have items?

Gear Roundup: BUFF® Tech Fleece Headband

Disclaimer: I received a BUFF® Tech Fleece Headband to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

As the temperature drops and we head into winter, I add layers to my running outfits. I move from shorts to leggings, from t-shirts to long sleeve shirts, and then start adding a vest or a jacket to my ensemble as the winter gets colder.

But before I even increase the length of my pants or transition to long sleeves, I pull out my two mandatory pieces of winter gear – a headband that covers my ear and a pair of gloves. My current favorite running gloves, which I have mentioned in blog posts before, are a pair of brooks gloves that have a mitten option that pops out of a pocket (they are an older model, but closest to the “nightlife” glove that they currently sell). 

As for headbands, I have a little more of a collection. My go to has been a newbalance one that I bought with the NYC marathon logo on it in 2017, and then I have two other ones that float around. Point is, I am a fan of headbands that can keep my ears cozy when I run. 

When BibRave opened up an opportunity to test a Buff tech fleece headband, I signed up to give one a try. My headband arrived in the mail about a week later, and I was excited to try it out! The first things that I noticed about the headband were that the material was much thinner than other headbands I have, and the inside was so soft! The headband is supposed to be wind resistant, and since I was set to volunteer at a race that was going to be cold and windy I thought it would be perfect to try out the next morning.

The Buff website lists the product details for this headband, and it includes that the headband is made of stretchy polyester elastane with a soft brushed fleece inside. It is also moisture wicking, quick drying, and breathable – I have had issues with other headbands winding up soaked through with sweat in cold weather, so this was another feature I was looking forward to testing. 

The first day I wore the headband, it stayed in place and kept me warm as I ran around performing various volunteer duties. It was so windy that day that the finish line chute had to be assembled last minute so that it wouldn’t blow away, and despite all that windiness my ears stayed warm – which I took as a “check” in wind resistant column. 

About a week passed before it was cold enough on a morning run to warrant a headband, but was soon as the temps dropped into the 40s, I put my new headband on as I headed out the door.

The headband was so comfortable, that I almost forgot I was wearing it! With other headbands I sometimes have the issue that I sweat through it, and then I am very aware of how cold the air is as the white headband sits on my ears. But with my new buff tech fleece headband I never had that issue. I am looking forward to more miles with my headband as the winter continues to get colder. I am confident it will keep my ears warm and keep me comfortable for many miles.

If you’re interested in trying out your own Buff Tech fleece headband, head to www.buffusa.com/bibrave and sign up for their emails for a 15% off coupon code! Let me know what you think of your new headband too – because I am guessing you’ll love it as much as I do once you feel the softness of the fleece.

Gear Roundup: Orange Mud Transition Wrap 2.0

Disclaimer: I received an  Orange Mud Transition Wrap 2.0  to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

As I trained for my first triathlon last summer, more than once I found myself in a public area and in need of an outfit change. I know, I know – they make plenty of clothing for triathletes that you can wear from swim to bike to run, but as a newbie to the sport, my wardrobe was more limited. I owned heavy padded bike shorts, that were no good for running and a bathing suit that needed to be changed out of after a swim, which lead to me searching for a public restroom or climbing into my car and trying to be discrete as I swapped outfits.

As the seasons changed to fall and my swims moved inside, I was trekking to the public pool armed with ratty old pool towels, that were hand-me-downs from my mother in law. They got the job done, but were a bit more bare bones with each use.

I had heard other triathletes talk about using a transition towel, and even seen a few put them to use. So when the BibRave team presented an opportunity to work with Orange mud and their new transition wrap 2.0, I applied to be a tester.

When I received my Orange Mud Transition wrap 2.0 from the folks at Orange Mud, it was all neatly packaged up in its bag. I got a purple one, and happily plopped it into my gym bag so it could come along for my next swim. I was surprised at how much softer it was than a standard towel

Now, the orange mud transition wrap 2.0 is more than just a standard pool towel. It is billed as a towel with three uses

1. It has a zipper on one end that enables you to hook it onto your car seat, so that when you are sweaty after a workout you can protect your car seat

2. It has an integrated adjustable belt so that you can wear it around your body while you change under it

3. Of course, it has the standard feature every towel comes with – it can dry you off when you are wet

The next time I headed to the pool, I tried out the belt feature that the towel has. To give myself a little added privacy in the locker room I clipped the towel around me. I found that it worked better for me when I clipped it around my shoulders instead of around my waist, since it has to wrap around itself for me to securely clip it to my waist – which would work if I was just changing my pants, but made getting a one piece bathing suit on more complicated than it needed to be.

But it checked the box of having a private place to change – so it was onto the next, and most basic test: How would it perform as a towel?

I got my laps in, and wrapped the towel around my body once I finished my swim. Once again, I was surprised at how soft the towel was. It felt smooth on my skin, rather than abrasive as old pool towels sometimes seem. I headed to the locker room and used the towel to dry off before changing. It did the job faster than a normal towel, and didn’t feel sopping wet as I tucked it back into my gym bag. When I got home I hung it out to dry, even though it seemed to have mostly dried off already.

There was only one thing left to check – how was it on a car seat? I headed for a run with mt friend Mike, and he offered to drive us to a local path. I packed my towel in my running bag, figuring I could save his seat from my sweat on the ride home.

After the run the towel easily zipped up and attached to the seat’s head rest. Mike pointed out that I we had taken his car to hot yoga in the past, and that I had already gotten his seat all sweaty once – but hey, thanks to orange mud I can now be a more considerate friend, and leave my stink behind a little less often!

All in all, this towel has quickly become my new favorite. It has already become a staple in my gym bag, and I am sure next summer it will come along for many open water swims and bike rides. If you are in the market for a towel that does more than just dries you off – the Orange Mud transition wrap 2.0 is just what you are looking for.

Gear roundup: AfterShokz Xtrainerz

Disclaimer: I received a pair of AfterShokz Xtrainerz to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

As a newly minted BibRave pro, I was excited to see what kind of products I would get to test out - I already knew the community was great, and full of supportive runners, but I was looking forward to testing out some new products!

Shortly after joining, it was announced that there would be an opportunity to test a new product that AfterShokz was releasing, targeted at swimmers and triathletes. Since I had just finished my first triathlon over the summer, and needed some motivation to get back in the pool, I signed up, hoping to be selected. 

Just after being told to take two weeks off from running, I got an email that boosted my mood a little- I was selected to review the new AfterShokz product, called Xtrainerz (pronounced “cross trainers”), which are water proof headphones! I would get so much use out of them, as I planned to focus on swimming while I couldn’t run. Plus, I had heard so many good things about AfterShokz (Kasey runs with their headphones) but had never tried them myself, so I was excited to get my first pair!

Before I go into my experience with the Xtrainerz, let me get into product specs a little -

The Xtrainerz are waterproof in up to six feet of salt or fresh water, and even went through a 72 hour salt spray test with no corrosion - As a former test engineer, who used to perform this kind of testing on a regular basis, I can tell you salt spray testing is no joke! I have seen products come out of salt spray testing in totally unsafe conditions, so it is no small feat that these little headphones were impervious to the corrosion it can cause. The headphones have 4GB of MP3 storage, ready and waiting to be filled with your favorite tunes, podcasts, or audio books. The controls on the headphones can turn power on and off, set the music to shuffle, repeat, or play in order, and navigate between folders, so you can selectively listen to whatever you’re feeling on a given day. They also have an option to toggle between “swim” mode and “normal” mode

When my package finally arrived in the mail, it had AfterShokz branding on the outside, and I excitedly opened them up. They were nicely packaged, and even had some BibRave orange tissue paper in the box. After opening them up I popped them on, excited to try out bone conduction technology for the first time. To my surprise, they had a charge, and were even loaded with a few sample songs. 

I mostly stream my music, so I had to track down some MP3s to load onto the headphones built in storage. There isn’t a Bluetooth connection for the Xtrainerz, so streaming isn’t an option. Bluetooth can’t travel through water, so it makes sense that the headphones would just rely on their built in storage. 

After going through my iTunes library, I was able to convert some of my songs to MP3s, which are compatible with the headphones. I placed the headphones into their USB dock, and connected to my computer. No software was necessary to load up the music to my headphones, as they acted like a usb drive when I connected. So I was able to just drag and drop the music onto the headphones, and they were ready to go. I tried them out a little as I hung out at home, and was excited for my next swim. 

When I got to the pool a few days later, I turned up the volume as I stepped onto the pool deck, since there was a lot of ambient noise. I jumped into the pool, and started my first lap. The sound seemed a little garbled at first, and I wondered if I should go back to the lockers and grab the ear plugs that came with the headphones. But a moment later my ears had adjusted to the water, and I realized the issue was my ears, not the headphones, as the music was playing loud and clear - I even had to turn the volume down a little, as it was quieter under water than it had been on the pool deck. 

It was almost a surreal experience to have water while swimming, as I’m used to silence as I count my laps to pass the time. I was able to settle into a groove as a swam along to the music, the laps slipping away. Much more entertaining than doing mental math as I swim, which I have resorted to in the past.

The next time I swam with them, I decided to try the ear plugs that the came with. I had never swam with ear plugs in before, but as someone who often has to play the “shake your head at odd angles” game after swimming, I figured it was something worth trying. 

My first thought: why did I not try this sooner!? The ear plugs made me so much more comfortable, and made me feel like I was the only one in the pool as I listened to my music. After only a few swims, I’m already spoiled by these headphones. 

Tonight, I’m loading up an audio book (Harry Potter of course - what can I say, I’m predictable) and I’m looking forward to listening to it on my next swim. When I connect my headphones to the computer, the files look like they’re on any USB drive, and by putting the audiobook in its own folder, I can select just the book and not wind up listening to music between chapters. 

The only downside to these headphones? They don’t have any bluetooth connection, so I can’t stream to them using my cell phone, when I want to use them while I’m not swimming. Since most of the music I listen to I stream, it took me a few days to track down MP3s to load up the headphones. 

All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed my new AfterShokz Xtrainerz. They’ve been my first experience with bone conduction technology, and have surpassed all of my expectations. I love that they have storage built in, so I can go phone free, and that the buttons on the headset give me control over what I’m listening to. 

If you want to get your hands on a pair of Xtrainerz? If you visit www.bibrave.aftershokz.com you can save $50 on the endurance bundle of your choice when you use the coupon code BRBUNDLE.