With the official start of summer around the corner, DuJour teamed up with Claudia Lebenthal, editor and founder of STYLE OF SPORT, to bring you the latest and greatest in high-end fitness gear. Lebenthal’s in the business of getting in shape in style and below, she shares her picks for this year’s sport essentials.
THE BIKE
The hybrid bike is the ideal set of wheels for both commuting and fitness rides, and for cyclists looking for a high-performance alternative to regular road bikes, the Sirrus series from Specialized offers great options. These bikes offer the features of a racing bike in the comfort of the upright position. Sirrus Pro Carbon, $3,000, specialized.com
THE RUNNING SHOE
One of the most talked-about running shoes of the season is the New Balance Fresh Foam 980, offering the cushioning of a traditional running shoe with the flatter heel drop popular in minimal running shoe styles. Created from a single piece of foam, the lightweight shoe provides a more natural underfoot feel. Breathable air mesh and no-sew overlays add extra comfort to one the plushest rides around. New Balance Fresh Foam 980, $110, newbalance.com
THE SUNGLASSES
Designed primarily for road biking, these mod looking frames are lightweight, durable and super stylish for any sport. The lens tints are optimized with enhanced contrast to spot irregularities, holes and gravel on the road. Anti-fog and repellent treatments help keep dirt, grime and water off the lenses, while rubber inserts and an adjustable nose piece keep frames in place. The flexible frame makes for easy lens change as well. POC Do Blade Larsson sunglasses, $250, pocsports.com
THE TUNES
This 4GB cordless one-piece waterproof MP3 player from Sony is made for the water and provides the perfect accompaniment to those boring lap swims. A three-minute quick charge gives up to 60 minutes of battery life for musical inspiration throughout your workout. It’s available in five fun color combos. Sony Waterproof Walkman Sports MP3 Player, $99, store.sony.com
THE GYM BAG
From Yohji Yamamoto’s collection for Adidas, Y-3, this red backpack (there’s also a messenger bag version with an optional waist strap for wear while cycling) is the the perfectly stylish carryall to tote to your workout. With a spacious main compartment and multiple zip pockets and buttoning mesh pocket, there’s lots of room to stash and organize all your gear. Y-3 backpack, $360, farfetch.com
THE SWIMSUIT: MEN
Gone are the days of the tiny racing suit for men. As seen at the Olympic competition, more coverage equals faster swim times. Featuring an above-the-knee cut and compressive fit, the Alliance Splice Jammer swimsuit offers the perfect balance of support and freedom of motion. Durable, sleek and eco-friendly, this “green” suit is constructed with Xtra Life Lycra and recycled nylon, which provides a long-lasting fit and resists chlorine 5-10x longer than ordinary spandex. It has UPF 50+ and is available in an array of great color combos, too. TYR Men’s Alliance Splice Jammer swimsuit, $50, tyr.com
SWIMSUIT: WOMEN
For those women wanting the option of a two-piece swimsuit while training in the pool, performance meets fashion with this workout bikini by TYR. Featuring a medium neckline, sleek and flexible criss-cross straps and adjustable drawcord waist, the two piece is the perfect training suits for athletes who prefer minimal coverage but without sacrificing freedom of movement. TYR Women’s Camo Star workout bikini, $55, tyr.com
THE WARM-UP GEAR
Jumping rope is one of the most efficient exercises and this Aero Speed Jump Rope is the choice of top boxers, Olympic and CrossFit athletes everywhere. Dubbed the “Cadillac of Jump Ropes,” this 9’6″ rope is ultra-fast and perfectly balanced with a patented swivel system that virtually eliminates friction. Aero Speed jump rope, from $40, buddyleejumpropes.com
THE BALL CHAIR
We have never seen a Physio Ball quite so chic as this Italian model from TechnoGym. Featuring a zip-off matte black honeycomb cover and carrying case, the ball doubles as a chair that engages and works the core muscles while sitting as well. The ball comes with a training guide of exercises accessed through your smart phone. Technogym Wellness Ball, price upon request, technogym.com
THE WATCH
Suunto’s new Ambit2 collection of GPS-integrated multifunction watches provides the key training data you need for all your sports activities from running to cycling to swimming and more. The Ambit2 S tracks such basics as pace, distance, speed, elapsed and split times, but also monitors a host of other customizable data with a sport by sport setting. Switch functions from running to biking, and the watch becomes your bike computer. Switch again to swimming and the watch becomes an interval timer and lap counter. For the outdoor adventurer, routes, navigation and a compass are just a few of the functions available. Available with optional heart rate monitor as well. Suunto Ambit2 Collection, from $350, suunto.com
THE SOCKS
These bright basketball socks from Nike are available in such a vibrant and wide array of colors, you’ll want to go out and play everyday. There are three levels of cushioning for enhanced shock absorption on the court and a dynamic arch bridge offers a supportive, compression fit. Nike Hyperlite Fanatical Crew Basketball socks, $18, store.nike.com
THE SHIRT
The newest way to keep your cool while training comes from Adidas and their new Climachill line. This innovative technology features a meshlike ventilating fabric with strategically placed metal dots on the inner neck to conduct heat away from the skin. Adidas Climachill, $18, adidas.com
THE DRINK
New from Juice Press is an all-natural energy shot drink created in conjunction with SoulCycle master Instructor Stacey Griffith. Stacey’s classes are arguably the most in-demand at the popular cycling studio, selling out in minutes each week. Her Rocket Fuel is made with a blend of pear juice, guayusa concentrate, lemon juice, ginger juice, maca extract. Guayusa is a native amazonian tree leaf that contains the caffeine equivalent of a cup of coffee, with twice the amount of antioxidants as green tea. Juice Press SG Rocket Fuel, $6, juicepress.com
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