One of my absolute FAVE yoga/athletic fashion lines is prAna.

I always know I can count on functionality, quality, sustainability, attention to detail and last but DEFINITELY not least, style from prAna.  (‘Cause to me working out isn’t about looking good as an end result, it’s about feeling and looking great in your body throughout your fitness journey.)

The element of sustainability has been one that has become more important to me over the last couple of years.  prAna is always looking for new ways ensure a level of sustainability into their materials and practices, working to reduce the impact on soils, water supplies and other natural resources. They’ve even got a Director of Sustainability.

Love it – kudos! And other activewear companies are slowly starting to stand up and take notice of the great ideas that yoga wear companies are incorporating.  Yay!

Mahdia Bala Capri

First up are the Mahdia Bala Capris.

These capris are truly heaven for your legs.  They are just so soft, so silky and they look and feel fabulous.  The husband can’t seem to keep his hands off them either, which might or might not be a good thing!

Evolving from prAna’s yoga heritage, the Mahdia Bala Capris are made from sueded microply/spandex and bamboo lycra.  Now this might sound like a mouthful, but trust me when I tell you that the end result is FABULOUS: prAna calls them “luscious” fabric and I couldn’t agree more.  Neither can the husband. Sigh.

I love that the waist is super high and then folds over to reveal the Henna-inspired embellishment on the back for a feminine and stylish touch.

Check it out:

What I love even more about the folding waist is that if you are doing yoga / pilates and didn’t make the smartest choice in tops (loose fitting), you can just unfold the waist and leave it high, hiding any exposed midsection.

Did I mention yet that these cropped pants are really functional as well?

They are great for walking, yoga, Pilates, weight lifting, stretching and they’d make bowling seem really hot too. While they are form fitting, they allow great ease of movement: lunges are a breeze with no readjustment.  I love the slits up the calf, it really assists when you bend your knees – and  looks great too.

I haven’t tried running in them and honestly I don’t think I would, right now I’m fully into running skirts and my Lululemon cropped pants which are my “workhorses” for running; I don’t mind working hard in my Lu’s during nasty weather or sweating all over them.  I wouldn’t do that to my beloved prAna Bala Capris. They stay on all day and evening – I never want to take them off!

Kaley Tunic Top

The Kaley Tunic Top is another amazingly cool top by prAna.  LOVE the double criss-cross strap at the back, it looks fantastic while still being easy to put on and take off.  And check out these CUTE design and color combinations!

In my humble opinion, this particular tunic isn’t overly functional for yoga or Pilates as it easily reveals your midsection and falls over your head if you are bent over. However, if you are not planning on bending over in it and the tunic style flatters your form, it is very comfortable. (Honestly, in a top this cute, who needs to work out? We’re talking fashion here.)

One drawback for me was that while the Kaley Tunic Top does have a comfy internal shelf bra, there is no padding (nor a pocket to place any padding I might want to put in). For me, I always like to have a little padding, just in case my ladies feel a bit “perky” or um, “pointy”.   Even just a pocket that would accommodate a little padding either to enhance the bustline or just to be a bit more discrete in that area would be a great addition.

The Kaley Tunic I’m giving a thumbs way up for style, attention to detail, ease of use and care and quality. Wear it to look fantastic more than to work out in.  Would be even better with at least a thin layer of padding in the bra.

prAna’s Fall Collection is now out: you can check out all the new Fall styles at prAna.com

I was the lucky one that got to do a review on the Alexis sport bra from Moving Comfort.  And comfort is the name of the game – it is soooo comfortable!

First, I have to admit that actually I got this review because out of all of us GGS girls, I am the one with smallest “ladies” and this particular sample is sized for modestly-busted girls.  That’s ME!

I first wore this bra to hang out around the house, just to feel how it would be, and found it very comfortable. I LOVE Alexis for two reasons, right off the bat – first, it hides the pointy part of my ladies, if you get my drift, and secondly the bra gives me shape – yes, SHAPE! For me that is very important, I hate bras that squish flat what I don’t have anyway!

I also loved the color  – the sample is plum – and the sports bra patterns also come in the combinations of black / lava and white / lava or cornflower.

As I mentioned, the fit is snug but not squished. Which is great – I have run in the bra several times now, and so far, no chafing.  In terms of function, that is the most important feature for me.

Also, the sports bra fabric did its job on the technical end and I was comfortable during my runs, my chest didn’t feel soaked.

I have also worn it on my bike workouts and it is very comfortable there as well.

Here’s the info from the Moving Comfort website:

Never feel smooshed again. This thin-strapped number is known for its brilliant, built-in shape that’s ready for any physical challenge. We created this bra with seam-free padded cups that have stabilizer fabric for support and a dose of modesty.

Sizes:
S (32AB-34A)
M (34AB-36A)
L (36AB-38A)
XL (38AB-40A)

Body: 82% polyester / 18% spandex
Mesh: 92% polyester / 8% spandex
Lining: Powermesh 82% nylon / 18% spandex

Of course, my review is based on my (smaller) size, so I can’t speak for larger busted women, but personally I wish I had this bra when I did my half marathon!

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Gives some shape to the bust
• Nice colors
• Great price

Cons:

• None for my size

And we are giving one away, enter here!

Reviews on Girlgetstrong.com reflect the personal opinion of the writer, whether it is good, bad or ugly. This product was supplied to GGS by the company for review purposes.  No compensation was accepted by GGS  for this review.

On Friday I met some girlfriends at a local Starbucks that just happens to be next door to a running store, so of course I just had to pop in and check out what’s in stock for winter.  As soon as I walked in, I noticed a really pretty light blue long sleeved running shirt.

Because our winters can be long and dreary, the cheerfulness of the color immediately appealed to me.  A quick glance at the tag told me it was made by SUGOI, whom I’ve always found to be a reliable and high quality manufacturer. I tried it on and the rest, as they say, was history.  I loved it!  It was heavier fabric than I expected, and the inside was really soft.  After I got home, I looked the shirt up on the SUGOI website.  Here’s what they say about it:

The SUGOI MidZero Zip has been updated in both its look and technical functions. The same sleek look, wired for any music player, the fitted long sleeve layer is an essential for Fall and Winter. Available in a variety of colors, the MidZero Zip is a SUGOI classic.

• SUGOI flat seam
• 10″ front zip with guard
• Invisible back zip pocket

I took it out for a test run the very next day.  It was a cool crisp afternoon on Saturday and the temperature hovered around 33 degrees (1 degree celcius).  Although it was sunny, there was still a lot of frost and even small patches of ice. I ran a nice easy 8.5 mile run.

I found the shirt really comfortable; it regulated my body temperature well and kept me warm even when the wind gusted.  On the other hand, it did a great job of wicking away the sweat too.  This running shirt is definitely slightly heavier and warmer than what I normally buy (light-as-air sweat-wicking fabrics) and it easily replaced my usual Under Armor plus a thin jacket which I usually layer as winter wear.  If it were any warmer outside, I would have been fine with a regular lighter-weight running shirt on its own. As it was, I kept it zipped up.

On to the details: I really like that the back is long, it didn’t ride up (even when my arms were up, as in the photo) and it didn’t chafe anywhere (yay!). The fit is slim without being tight, which I love.  There is an almost invisible zippered pocket in case you need to stash a key or something else small.

The sleeves are long enough but the one thing I would have loved would be an extra inch on them and a thumb-hole, because although I brought and wore my gloves, halfway through my run I heated up enough to take them off. A short while later, my hands were chilled again from running into the wind and I would have preferred just a bit more sleeve to cover part of my hands rather than having to take gloves off and on.  But that’s really a minor detail, and I can’t think of a single other thing that could be improved. It’s a great shirt.

I found the shirt online on the SUGOI website for $85 (USD), and that’s about what I paid for it in the running store (about $95 CDN).  By far the biggest drawback about this shirt is the cost, but from experience I know I will get a lot of wear out of it.

Overall, I rate the shirt a 9/10.

Pros:

• Long enough that it doesn’t ride up
• Love the blue color – cheery for a  dull winter day
• Did a great job of regulating my body temperature even though it is a bit heavier than what I’m used to
• Very comfortable, no chafing
• Has all the details a runner needs: zipper front, zippered pocket, etc.

Cons:

• Being really picky here, but I would love the sleeves to cover my hand and have thumb holes.
• The cost

A few weeks back we were asked if we would do a review for Yoga Hyde ‘s yoga pants and yoga tops.  Seeing as we’re always eager to try out new fitness fashions, we quickly agreed and then the other GGS girls and I fought over had to decide who would do the review…

…Don’t believe them when they tell you I cheated at rock, paper, scissors because you know I’d never do that, right? 

When the yoga tank and pants arrived I was so excited that they’re such cute, cheerful colors!

The material is softer than any other fitness clothes that I have.  And I have fitness-wear in my closet from Zellers to Lululemon and most everything in between.  The fabrics are made from jersey – and composed of 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex so it keeps its shape. Perhaps it’s because the cotton is organic that it is so soft?  Not sure, but I LOVE it!

I should mention that I’m a black bottomed girl: I only have black pants/capris/shorts. I have never even tried on a pair of pants in a different color.  I know, boring right? But black is, well, black. It hides everything, it goes with everything.

So I was a bit apprehensive about trying pants in another color. But what the heck, here we go!

…So the light blue pants were not very flattening on my 145lbs 38 year old frame after two kids BUT 10 years ago, yes I do think I could get away with them.  Moreover I was very impressed with the color selection of all of their clothing wear, so I think I’d choose a darker color, because I do really like the pants.  The pants are also seamless at the sides and wow, is that ever comfortable in the different yoga positions.

The navy blue tank top is very cute and oh-so-comfortable.  I love it and did not want to take it off after my yoga workout, so I didn’t.

There is a built-in bra in the tank top but if you are going to be more active than yoga, grab your sports bra for underneath.  For yoga, the amount of support is perfect.  I do wish the top was a bit longer because when I lifted my arms up for some positions my belly did become exposed. Again, ten years ago that wouldn’t have been a problem, lol.

Overall, the Yoga Hyde tank and pants are comfy keepers and I would definitely love to try different styles and colors.

Pros:

• I love all the different colors that are available for both pants and top
• Organic cotton
• Very soft material and very comfortable
• Seamless on the outside of the pants
• Washed very well, keeping their shape
• The price is reasonable

Cons:

• I would have preferred black or navy pants to cover my secrets
• Top could be a little longer

Yipeee… we get to give some away too!  Yoga Hyde is giving a pair of Yoga Pants on our site – to enter, click here!

Review disclaimer: GGS received a free sample of this product to use and keep but we did not receive any other compensation for this review. My opinions are honest and I’m gonna tell you if they’re good, bad or ugly!

We’ve had several questions recently asking about the best gear to run in, and I thought I’d share with you what my current faves are.

These 5 pieces look great and go the distance too. They’ve gone many miles with me and they’re tried, tested and terrific.

1. I likie my Nike…Fit

Scratch that. I love, LOVE my Nike Dry Fit shirt.

I’m sorry I didn’t take a picture of this outfit on me, but I’ve already run in them today and I had to [hold my nose] pull them out of the wash for this photo. There’s no way on earth I’m putting those wet’n'sweaty friends back on my bod until they’ve been Ivory’d to within an inch of their fabric lives.

Back to the shirt. It’s fitted, which makes me look thinner (yay!). Other features I like about my shirt: there’s NO CHAFING, it’s super-comfy, and like any athletic fabric worth its weight in salt: it breathes well and wisks away sweat just as it should.

Also, I like that the long sleeves have thumb-holes which means that for our local fall weather the extra little bit of coverage on my hands is just what I need on my run without having to pack along my winter gloves.

After all warm hands and warm head = happy runner.

Speaking of my head…

2. My Nike hat’s gone and did it

Please remove your own hat for a moment of silence for my black Nike hat.  It “just did it” with me from the beginning of my running career five years ago and I guess I couldn’t expect a lifespan much longer than that.  It survived many, many washes, rains, winds, snow and even the shame of my puppy curling up and peeing in it.

But the way it went….well, it was a shock, that’s all. You just never expect a tragic hat accident to happen to you.

Last week the above-mentioned local sea breeze gusted strong enough to rip my hat from my pony-tailed head (while it was simultaneously ripping a chunk off the roof of the fire station as I was running past) and it tossed the poor thing directly in front of a barreling semi.  My hat, that is. Not the fire station.

I never did see my hat again after it hit the grill so it may be on the east coast by now. I just hope it went peacefully.

I’m gonna miss that hat.

I’ll remember it fondly in my heart but I’ve already replaced it on my head with my back-up Running Room hat, which is a little lower and has a built in sweat band.  Honestly, it just doesn’t have the same hard-core personality as my dear departed one had but my running rolls on nevertheless.

3. My Black and Pink Running Room Capris (shown above w/ my pants)

I’m going to pick my high-waisted Running Room capris as my current fave to cover my butt because it’s starting to get too darned cold to wear a skirt or shorts.  When I first tried these capris on, I was really dubious about the high waist [think Jessica Simpson's unfortunate jeans].

But now I’m sold.  Pros on the high waist: a high waist means the pants don’t ever slip down, and my top never scrunches up. Heck, who wants to bare the very tummy skin roll I’m trying to work off?

These capris are super-comfy, fit well at the knee and don’t chafe anywhere.  And who cares if I look like Jessica Simpson [um, honored] because topped with my long Nike Fit running shirt, no one has a clue what my waist looks like. It’s my own our little secret. We’re all girlfriends here, right?

Oh and Jessica, it was the pants that were unfortunate, not the curves, girl. You rock your curves!

3. Supergirl wears Sugoi

Sugoi in Japanese means “incredible”.  And guess what, this jacket IS incredible.

In the rain, this jacket keeps my core dry.  This jacket is like my superhero cape.  It rocks magic.

If you try to touch my magic jacket, I’m gonna slap your hand silly. Keep your fit little fingers off it. Better yet, go get your own.

This jacket is why, when my hubby suggests I get my butt moving outside to go for my run before it rains, I tell him I don’t really care if it rains so hard we need a boat. I can run anytime, thanks to my secret Sugoi superhero hanging in my closet.

Of course it’s fitted, comfy, reflective, pocketed and just generally groovy.

It also does NOT leak through the seams (take that to the other un-named, cheap and leaky jacket cowering in my closet).

Mind you NOTHING keeps a runner dry forever but I’m happy for a good two hours of torrential downpour.

5. Happy feet thumb their noses at Mr. Giggle

So my brother-in-law took one look at my happy little Asics socks a while back and laughed his head off.

Between heaving gasps of breath and high-pitched giggling out his nose (not so attractive, my friend), I think he made some sort of snarky blonde joke that I just didn’t get.

Ahem.

Seriously, if you’ve never seen athletic socks like these, I’ll let you in on a little secret that I’m not going to bother to enlighten Sir-Giggle-A-Lot with:

No, I didn’t write the L and R on myself.

Yes, they do come that way.

These socks are like my secret weapon. They have strategic arch support (if you look closely below the smiles you can see the different texture) and extra cushioning and I like them, blonde or not. Jessica, put a word in for me here, ‘kay?

As for Sir Giggles, I’m going to kick his ass with my socks if he insults them again and then I’m gonna take them off and cover his beer can with ‘em.

Take that, Sir Giggles, from us blondes.

That sums up my fave five fitness fashions, drop me a comment and tell me about yours.

Happy feet to you!