Believe me. It's even more impressive in person. Credit: Reebok

If someone had asked me what the first thing that came to my mind was after hearing “Reebok” a few weeks ago, I probably would have said those high-top white aerobics shoes from the 80s. But now what would I say, after spending a full day at Reebok HQ on behalf of FitFluential? Well, I’d say “bad ass,” or “I want to work there.”

Reebok had a group of bloggers flown out to their headquarters in Canton, Mass., for a full day of what Reebok is all about: fitness. We got to learn about its 10-year deal as CrossFit’s official partner (dude, the sport of fitness HAS arrived), meet with its top shoe designers, hear about its latest apparel and footwear (including some top-secret stuff you’ll get to learn more about in the coming months—whee!), see how they make models for their shoes, and so much more. It was seriously quite the fit day.

Trying Reebok CrossFit

A lot of thought and research goes into these Reebok shoes, folks!

While we’ll be reviewing much of the gear from the day soon (preview: we loved this shoe so much from the get-go that it won a Fittie!), today I wanted to share a few photos from the event and talk about the workout that Reebok is all over: CrossFit. In fact, they have a huge “box” (what the CrossFitters call a gym) at Reebok and offer classes multiple times a day for their employees to take.

Oh, and it’s staffed by Austin Malleolo, who is just one of the best CrossFit athletes on the planet, along with other super-talented peeps. Can you imagine? “Hey, co-worker, want to take a break from these TPS reports and go do Fran with a guy who can do it in 2:14?” Um, yes, please.

Oh, my fellow curly haired sisters…my sista girls who fear the sweat that ruins the ‘do. I feel your pain. I have tight curly hair that I like straightening from time to time, but I work out almost every day—which means I either have to keep blow drying and straightening every night or I have to forgo the gym. Just writing that makes my butt twitch. I know it happens though…a lot, actually. The Surgeon General DID say that women have to stop using their hair as an excuse not to exercise. The SG apparently doesn’t have a fro like moi.

A lot of my gal pals with weaves, perms—basically any hair style that is allergic to sweat—complain to me about the dilemma of working out and the hairy consequences. A lot of us gals can’t wash our hair every day unless we don’t mind dry, brittle coifs, so we forgo the runs and push-ups. Because of this stress, I was more than happy to try out actress Nicole Ari Parker’s GymWrap. She was on the right path. Her headband boasts a revolutionary (patent-pending) Edge Control Technology that minimizes the sweat absorption into one’s hair through a unique blend of material that allows heat to escape while letting cool air in. Basically, it promises to wick much like our workout clothes do.

My first reaction: Are you kidding me?! Had this angelic woman actually created a contraption that could end the hair/workout excuses for good?! I was more than happy to test one out.

So one day, I straightened my hair, and then I put on the headband. I felt like a bad arse for sure.

First, I couldn’t get the darn thing to stay on my head. I decided to take a cardio weight class to ensure I’d sweat. I had to stop jump-roping three times to retie the darn thing. One perk of the headband, no matter how tight you tie it, it will not hurt your noggin. After the class, I raced to the locker room to see if it had worked.  

Don’t know if you can tell or not but that’s mad curly rat’s nest on my head. It didn’t work! Oh, the agony! I swear I’m not a sweaty beast. It takes me awhile to even work up a sweat, but even with my wussy sweat glands I was still able to sweat out my hair. You don’t know how sad I was.

At the very most, it keeps the sweat off of your forehead and it’s mad comfortable to wear, but don’t think you can visit the salon and then head straight to the gym. It retails for $24.95 ($29.95 for the Full Triangle version) which isn’t bad if you’re looking for a comfortable sweat band. Can you tell I’m bummed though? I promise on my fit bottom that I WILL find a product that actually keeps my ‘do in tact. Promise!

Does your hair keep you from working out? Found anything that helps? Let’s discuss! —Tish

Strike a pose in your favorite gear! Credit: Lululemon

So, yeah, I pretty much wet myself with excitement in this week’s adidas apparel review. I freakin’ loved that stuff! And, in the past, we’ve been known to gush about a lot of pieces from the other big company’s like Nike, Under Armour, Puma, New Balance—the list goes on and on.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to check out Reebok’s headquarters in Canton, Mass., for a blogger’s event. While we’ll be sharing more of that trip with you soon, let’s just say that Reebok has seriously moved up the totem pole on my list of “favorite apparel companies.” But tell us who tops your list. What major company strikes your workout-apparel fancy?

Alright, now spill the beans why! Or who your close second was… —Jenn

I don’t use the word “smitten” lightly, so when I say that I’m smitten with adidas’ new ClimaSpeed line and adizero Rush shoes? Well, believe me. Because the pieces I’m about to give you the deets on are in heavy rotation in my workout apparel drawer. Meaning, I have to do laundry weekly or they’ll be dirty and I can’t wear them. Which—like the best-used cliche used on The Biggest Loser goes—leaves me with a very heavy heart. Okay, now on with the review!

ClimaSpeed Three-Quarter Tight

Can a girl have too many three-quarter length tights for workouts? I think not. And while this one doesn’t have much that’s particularly crazy cool, it’s just a solid and reasonably priced option ($45) that is great for pretty much anything active. Fitted, light and with a fun pop of purple at the waistband, these tights are comfy and don’t get in your way. The best part about them? They have a mesh panel at the back of the knees for breathability.

Is the right sports bra worth the price? Credit: Shock Absorber

Fact: I do not want tube socks for breasts.

Fact: I do a lot of high impact activity—running, jumping, dancing, etc.

Fact: If I do not wear a good sports bra, I’ll be tucking my boobs into my belt before you know it.

Here’s the thing—I’m not particularly big busted, but there’s enough there to require real support. A sports bra that just squishes everything down doesn’t quite cut it, you know? So, when I was offered a chance to try a Shock Absorber sports bra, I jumped. Which only exacerbated my need for a good sports bra.

I received the Shock Absorber Running Bra, and first off, I noticed it had a couple of different places for adjustment. I always consider this a good sign because it means it’s truly designed to fit snugly—if the material is so stretchy that it will accommodate a range of sizes, that doesn’t bode well for your support. The fact that this was adjustable both at the band and in the straps had me feeling optimistic.

I was a little less optimistic when I put it on. It felt good and snug, but there were a few spots that felt like they might rub. But, I’m not one to tiptoe into a review, so this was a trial by fire. Well, by trail, anyway.

A 10-mile trail run came and went, and while many things were sore at the end of it—my ankles, my knees, my quads—my breasts felt fine. And that’s not normally the case after a long and bouncy escapade. Even better, there was absolutely no chafing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. This bra didn’t just do the job. It was total perfection.

The only downside? Well, I’ve had friends tell me that you get what you pay for in a sports bra, but I’ve always thought they were just trying to justify expensive purchases, or that it was only really necessary for bigger breasted women. Now, I’m a convert. At $79, this is not an inexpensive bra. Hell, I’ve paid less for entire outfits. But I can’t argue that it’s worth every penny. And so are my breasts.

Do you spend big money on sports bras? What’s your favorite bra, and why? —Kristen

Just when I start to think that all workout clothes are about the same, a line comes out that makes me wonder: who are all of these people designing cool new apparel for workouts that are both fashionable and functional? It’s seriously no easy feat, but one that keeps being done. Case in point: Macy’s Ideology Activewear line. Endorsed by Dancing With the Stars’ Cheryl Burke, it’s just the right mix of stretch, comfort and sweat-wicking awesomeness.

With a bit of a dance-inspired flare to it (hence Cheryl), the line is great for yoga, Pilates, barre and other workouts where you move and groove. I tried the Ideology Scoop Neck Ruched Tank Top ($34) and was amazed at how soft it was. Not quite like a kitten, but definitely not like most Dri-Fit shirts. And while it was super stretchy, the ruching on it (Macy’s has the ruched look down, man!) was pretty flattering—although you may want to order a size up if you don’t want a super-tight fit and/or you carry extra weight in your middle.

However, Ideology is no one- trick pony. The line has plenty of tanks and shorts well suited to other fitness pursuits like walking, running and weight-lifting. Which brings me to the second piece the company sent me: the Seamless Solid Sports Bra ($12.99). When I first got it, it looked like it was sized for a teen, not a broad-chested lady like myself, so I was super skeptical. But again, the stretch. Still super soft, once I put it on it was surprisingly comfortable, breathable (I didn’t feel like a stuffed sausage) and yet it support my boobies super well during any high-impact activity I tested it with (jump roping, running, burpees).

While on the whole, nothing in the line is particularly remarkable from a cuteness perspective, the fabric alone is cool enough that it’s worth checking out the next time you’re at Macy’s. Especially if there’s a sale…

Do you like soft and stretchy apparel when it comes to workouts? Or do you like something with a bit more structure? Tell us, and we’ll select two lucky readers to win a piece from the Ideology Activewear line! We have a size small ruched tank (as seen above) up for grabs, along with a medium T-shirt. Be sure to tell us which one you prefer, and we’ll select a U.S. reader to win in about a week! —Jenn

Why are all of the FBGs discussing green fitness stuff this week? Because it’s Fit Bottomed Earth Week, silly!

Bamboo…it’s not just for pandas! In fact, bamboo is a highly renewable source of material that’s totally eco-friendly. Read on for three unique bamboo products that you can use in your workouts—and fit life!

Filled with bamboo and charcoal, it's a natural way to get the stink out of stinky!

1. Moso Natural Moso Bag. Sick of your gym bag smelling like the guys’ locker room but don’t want to cover it up with perfume or other unnatural scents? To the rescue is the Moso Natural Moso Bag, an air-purifying bag that absorbs and filters out not only odors, but also harmful pollutants, allergens and bacteria and dehumidifies to prevent mildew, mold and moisture. Made from 100 percent bamboo charcoal, Moso Bags are a fragrance-free, non-toxic and eco-friendly air purifier that the company says will work to remove impurities in the air for up to two years. Two years!

The bamboo-filled bags are available in three colors and two sizes. The small Moso Bag ($9.95) is ideal for smaller areas covering approximately 90 square feet (bathroom, car—an extra roomy gym bag!) while the large Moso Bag ($22.95) is ideal for larger living spaces covering about 250 square feet. I’ve used a little one both in my bathroom and in my gym bag, and the little bag, which has zero smell, works!

This is not me. But I dig that she has muscles.

All of the workouts I’ve been doing lately are either super intense (i.e. sweaty) or pretty casual. I might do a little yoga here or there, but most of the time it’s just stretching in front of the TV with my PJs on (hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). This means that I rarely have the need to wear anything super pretty. For tanks, I just need something basic to keep the girls strapped in, and my bottoms are either basic running shorts or capris. Nothing fancy. And then KiraGrace came along. And got me feeling all Goddess-y.

I tried a few pieces from the new yoga brand’s The Goddess Collection—”a line of technical yoga gear designed to celebrate women’s beauty, strength and grace”—and well, it’s pretty. And fancy. With ruffles and ruching. And bright purple. And, well, I love it. It’s my dressed-up workout wear for events like this or when I do a full yoga DVD at home. Or, you know, when I want to walk around singing “I feel pretty, oh so pretty!” in my head. Which is a lot.

KiraGrace Goddess Yoga Halter

See? The back is sooo cute!

The KiraGrace Goddess Yoga Halter is super flattering and comfortable. Unlike other yoga halters, there’s not a lot of boob showing, there’s a decent built-in shelf bra (not sure you could be much larger than a C cup though), it’s nice and stretchy while still having shape, and it’s made of moisture-wicking fabric. While it’s far too frilly for me to wear to my gym, I certainly love wearing it and could easily go from workout to dinner. Even mildly fancy dinner. And the back? Oh my God, I love the back design. (Almost as much as I love fruit.)

KiraGrace Goddess Yoga Capri Legging

That's some goddess ruching right there, people.

And let’s talk about the KiraGrace Goddess Yoga Capri Legging, shall we? This technical yoga capri, has a low-rise waistband, fun yet subtle body contouring details, and a fit that’s a little bit compression up in the thigh and the leg yet a roomier fit for the calves (my large, strong calves appreciated this!). With flat-lock seaming to avoid chafing and help with moisture-wicking, I’ve found that these are high-tech enough to endure the sweatiest of workouts—even if it’s outside of the yoga studio. Oh, and like the halter, they have ruching around the calves. So, so, so fun.

So…price. Yeah, it’s not cheap to feel like a goddess. The yoga halter goes for $68 and the capris are $78, which is obviously out of many of our workout-clothes budgets (hellooo, Target). But, if you have the extra dough to spend or have a gift-worthy occasion coming up, it’s worth the cost. Because, really, can you put a price on feeling like a goddess?

Do you have any pieces that make you feel oh-so-pretty? Tell us about their goddess-promoting abilities! —Jenn

Spring may just be around the corner, but if you’ve been running in the great outdoors, you probably haven’t been able to bust out the shorts and tanks just yet (and if you have, I curse you and your tropical-weather living conditions!). So what’s a girl to do when a tank or t-shirt just isn’t enough but a long-sleeved shirt is too much and a jacket just seems cumbersome? Said girl needs arm warmers!

Besides being a throwback to the 80s leg-warmers movement (which is kind of awesome), arm warmers are removable light-weight sleeves that you can easily adjust up or down your arm to warm up or cool down your extremities as needed. Brilliant! While I’ve seen more and more runners wearing arm warmers these days, they’ve also good for hiking, biking or really anything you’re doing where you want the flexibility of wearing more or less clothing at any given time.

We were recently sent a pair of Wildskins arm warmers to test. Unlike a lot of arm warmers that are black or plain solid colors, the Wildskins arm warmers are as you might expect—wild! I tried a pair with the Hibiscus pattern, which were bright pink with big flowers all over them (my husband and his friend commented that it looked like my arms were tatted up with flowers whenever I wore them, which made me feel a bite more bad-ass). Made of stretch nylon spandex, they have a very snug fit (almost like a compression product) and have a thumb hole so that they really cover your full arm—from shoulder to knuckles. They also have a pocket to stash a key, credit card or ID, which I loved.

While the Wildskins arm warmers aren’t quite toasty enough to keep you warm during cold weather, they do help keep the goosebumps away during cooler weather for sure. I wish they blocked the wind a bit more, but with all of the fun patterns (the polka dot ones made me squeal!), they certainly allow you to fun-up your usual spring running look. At just under $20, they’re not a huge investment—although probably not something you’ll use every day, so a bit of a luxury item. We dig them though!

Do you wear arm warmers? Have a brand you love? Tell us all about ‘em! —Jenn

Or you could do the opposite and JUST wear underwear to work out! Credit: Josh Pesavento (broma)

There’s no such thing as TMI on FBG, right? (And if you disagree, I recommend you click on this instead. It’s about the most G-rated thing we have.) I mean, we’ve discussed butt-chafing, pit stains, peeing standing up, and even the beauty of the BM. So, asking about going commando during workouts is pretty par for the course.

Here’s how I see it (I’m sure a lot of you will disagree): it depends. Yoga or running tights/capris? Commando. Running shorts on the trail? Commando. Running shorts at the gym? Underwear. Running shorts in a group ex class where you might have to do crunches? Just-out-of-the-wash underwear, preferably in a dark color. Workout of any kind at home? Eh, depends on the day and the risk of chafing. In my workout experience, as long as its comfortable, there’s no need for this and you’re in no danger of pulling a Britney-Spears-getting-out-of-a-car-circa-2007, you’re good to go sans undies if you so desire. What about you though?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us if you wear underwear when working out. 

Now, this should make for some interesting comments. Share your workout-underwear truth below! —Jenn