HYLETE Reviews #2 - Cross Training Performance Jacket 1.0

HYLETE is a Hybrid Training apparel company that specializes in functional, durable and stylish clothing to meet all of your training, fitness or recreational needs.

They are also customer driven, working with their design team and customer feedback to evolve their brand.  The products are backed by a 2 year "Guaranteed to survive your most rigorous training" promise.  This guarantee, coupled with an amazing product and unbeatable customer service, shows HYLETE dedication to not only their brand but to those that wear it.

CROSS TRAINING PERFORMANCE JACKET 1.0

The Cross Training Performance Jacket (CTPC) is designed to be as active as the athletes who wear it.  It is the pinnacle of what HYLETE believes are all the best possible features in a piece of training gear for a variety of climates and activities.

It was developed specifically for the outdoor training regimen of it's athletes.  Which works out perfectly for me.  Our spring/summer's in Alberta are about three months long with the remainder being divided into fall and an incredibly long winter.  Hiding inside is not an option so being comfortable and still able to train how I want is appealing.

The jacket is a full zip to provide lots of flexibility and ventilation when you need it.  There are "power panels" underneath the arms, on the back and down the sides to help with temperature regulation as well as moisture management.  Low profile external pockets that are located up and out of the way to prevent obstruction or snagging.  A very neat, and intuitive, feature is the ribbed cuffs and collar.  Keeps out the chill but moves with you so you stay comfortable.
Like everything that HYLETE makes it is designed to stay strong with you so it is made out of a very comfortable, fleece faced fabric that is resistant to wear.

Sizing is similar to most of their gear and is what I would call "True to Size".  There is a handy sizing chart located on the website.

HYLETE has placed their logo in a "gun show" enhancing location on the right bicep as well as tagged on the cuff and on the inside storage pocket with their mantra.  It keeps the jacket subtle but shows your HYLETE Nation pride!!

My personal preference is the stealth on black, gunmetal on black or, if I'm coaching, the blue on black.  The jacket is versatile and functional with all the style you could ask for in a training jacket that can move with you from the gym and out to the world.

The Stealth on Black is on my list for my next order.....

WARMACHINE20
(at the checkout)

 www.hylete.com

Apex Predator of the Fitness World

You…are the Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Confidant, Bon Vivant, friend, buddy, crush, and/or training partner.  This is who you are…not what you are.  You are the first time figure competitor training for her first show, you are the weekend hockey player honing your edge, you are the matriarch of your household catching their breath…you are me.  Or at least, like me.  We all have our reasons for finding the time for our fitness.  They are as varied as the people working out next to us. 

The reasons don’t matter as much as the fact that we are there.  We, us, you, have made the decision to place your fitness at the top of your agenda.

This decision has determined the outcome that you wish to achieve.  You are driven to succeed and lay waste to any obstacles in your path.  It’s not easy.  Often, it isn’t pretty.  You are doing it though.  Next stop is a different you.

You are changing.  Making choices that impact you in a myriad of ways, from what you’re going to train to how you’re going to train it.  These decisions are impacted and driven by your interests, environment, accessibility and level of risk (real or imagined).  These choices challenge and change you physically and mentally.  In short, you’re evolving.

This evolution used to be relegated to fitness centers or gyms spaced sporadically through your city like sweatband confetti.  However, as fitness has evolved so too has the gym.  Fitness is becoming a pandemic.  People are constantly finding new and innovative ways to better themselves and creating the equipment or resources to do so.

It’s pervasive, omnipresent, unique and adaptive.  Its step class on Mondays and spinning on Tuesdays.  It’s that 5km you just signed up for or the 10km you’re being dragged to.  It’s yoga today and Crossfit tomorrow.

I am where you are, where you want to be, where you were.  I am continually trying to make myself better and that will only begin as I evolve.  You, too, are evolving.  You, who makes the effort to book your training appointments or the healthier choice in the grocery store, are the deciding factor.  The apex predator of your fitness world.

You are the vehicle for your own success.  You determine if you will get knocked down or if you’ll kick the door in.  You decide where and when.  You just need to decide.

You need to find your pillars to greatness.  Here are three.  1. You need to be accountable.  2. You need to set reasonable goals. 3. You need to find your equilibrium.

1. Accountability – you are your own boss.  Set your meetings and keep them.  Met your expectations? Give yourself a raise.  Not meeting your expectations.  Re-evaluate how you are accountable or to whom.

2. Goals – they are your map…your muse.  They give you something to reach for and something to celebrate when you achieve it.

3. Equilibrium – it’s your balance, your ability to work towards your fitness, health, nutrition, rest and all of the details that make up your life.

It starts simply…it’s started already.

HYLETE Reviews #1 - Cross Training Short 1.0

HYLETE is a Hybrid Training apparel company that specializes in functional, durable and stylish clothing to meet all of your training, fitness or recreational needs.

They are also customer driven, working with their design team and customer feedback to evolve their brand.  The products are backed by a 2 year "Guaranteed to survive your most rigorous training" promise.  This guarantee, coupled with an amazing product and unbeatable customer service, shows HYLETE dedication to not only their brand but to those that wear it.

HYLETE CROSS TRAINING SHORT 1.0

The Cross Training short 1.0 (or CTS for short) relies on the tried and true board short style with a variety of technical and material improvements to make it an elite training piece.
Out of the package they look incredible.  Many times companies are more driven by their logo placement/advertisement than by making a short that complements the athlete or individual.  The HYLETE logo is discreetly placed on the left bottom hem with another logo on the velcro pocket cover.  There is also a really cool repeating logo pattern on the inside edge of the short's waistband.

The shorts material and technical advantage over other companies starts before you even get them.  HYLETE offers sizing options for the waist (nothing new there) but also offers sizing options for the leg length (or inseam).  This gives athletes a lot of options depending on fit preference, competition needs or if you are picking up shorts to fit a variety of niches.  HYLETE also has created a proprietary waistband that is thick enough to stand up but also stretches up to 4 inches horizontally to adapt to fit during training and meet the requirements of those of us that fit between sizes.  The shorts are completely comfortable and secure when done up and have a drawstring to complete the look, fit and function.  The fly is held together with velcro but has a mesh breathable net to avoid any unwanted wardrobe malfunctions.
The short material is extremely adaptable, breathes well, dries quickly and is extremely durable.  It is also soft with no feeling of "canvas" that is often found in "durable" training shorts.  The material can go from a walk to the hardest training day to the pool.  Adapting and overcoming.

The shorts have a slight split in the lower hem to give some extra space on those deep squats or kettle bell swings and has a stretchy butt that flexes while you move.  (this particular technical aspect was noted by my wife who likes that the short retains a nice "fit" throughout movement and while at rest without being overly tight or loose...i.e. it looks nice on your butt throughout)

There are two pockets that are set up in a slight "gunslinger style" to accommodate movement by fitting high on the waist, out of the way but supportive of whatever you need to carry.

They also come in a variety of colors that are seen on the left leg logo and the drawstring.  Discreet but striking.

As a PE teacher and fitness performance coach, I am in shorts every single day regardless of weather.  It is so prevalent that when I wear pants it sets my students off or is an indictment of how poor our weather has gotten outside (-20 is when the pants come out).  As a result, when I pick out shorts they need to be a cut above the rest and they need to go from class to gym to training to pool and repeat.
The HYLETE CTS 1.0's do this without a second thought.  I am working at replacing all of my existing training shorts (Underarmour, Nike, Adidas, etc) with the HYLETE brand of CT shorts.  Nothing compares and they don't look like the flimsy training shorts you're used to.

Incredible shorts designed by an incredible company run by incredible people.

Check them out at: www.hylete.com

Save yourself 25% off of your purchase when you use the code: WARMACHINE25

HYLETE

As a result of the amazing relationship with HYLETE, they have made me a member of their TRAIN Team.  This is a group of trainers, coaches and instructors that HYLETE has partnered with.

They have provided me with a discount code to benefit my readers, athletes, clients, etc.

This code is: WARMACHINE25

This code will save you 25% on all of your purchases at any time.

Gear and Supplement Reviews

As the blog and my investment (time and energy) has grown I have found that I am fielding more questions about not only the training programs but also the gear and nutritional supplements that I use along with it.  So, with that in mind, I present "Evolution".

Evolution

As fitness has continued to evolve there has been a massive shift in multiple facets of the “life style”.  Everything from the experiences available, the inclusion of individuals from all walks of life, the explosion of various equipment options and also the gear/clothing that is available to athletes.  All of these things coalesce into giving individuals the best opportunity for success.  Success being measured as a benchmark, or finish line, that is as varied as the people working towards them.  That each and every person has to work to their potential and beyond is just another part of the equation.

In future posts I am going to go into all of these items to give you a high energy, yet unbiased approach to the experiences, inclusion, equipment and gear available in an ever evolving life style.

I have been lucky enough to meet with a group of passionate people that are willing to share and discuss not only their part in fitness and being active, but also their brands and their drive.

I hope that you find the information to be valuable to you and I look forward to any questions, or insight, that you may have.

M

It's in my Nature.

There is a fable about a Scorpion and a Frog.  

It goes like this:

A Scorpion and a Frog meet on the bank of a stream and the

Scorpion asks the Frog to carry him across on its back.
 
The Frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?"
The Scorpion says, "Because if I do, I will die too."

The Frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,

the Scorpion stings the Frog.
The Frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp "Why?"

Replies the Scorpion: "It’s my nature..."

This fable has followed me around for years.  It has been a ladder, an anchor and everything in between.  This is not to be confused with “fate”.  However, fate is influenced by our nature.  A dog may never bite you, but that does not mean it is not in it’s nature.

We all have a nature. Hero, Villain, Victor, Defeated, Aggressive, Passive…we all have a nature.  That nature though is not positive or negative, it’s both.

“There are two dogs fighting in everyone, one good and one evil.  The one who wins is the one you feed the most.”

I have a capacity for light and a capacity for darkness.  We all do.  It impacts and alters our experiences and the relationships that we forge with others.  A tongue in cheek quote that I found for this piece was “I’m trying to find someone whose demons play well with mine.”

In work, our nature motivates our team or strikes out on our own.  At home, our nature encourages our children and fiercely protects our family.  In sport, our nature bonds us to our teammates and drives us to greater heights.  In life, it determines who are the sheep, the sheepdogs and the wolves.

Our nature evolves as we evolve.  There is not only light and dark, the spectrum is not that simple.  I have been told that I “have a capacity that others do not”, I hope that’s true.  I plan to challenge my nature and my capacity, to fully realize what I am capable of.

I challenge you to do the same.

M

HYLETE

 

Recently, I have had the enormous good fortune of being introduced to an innovative and dedicated cross-training apparel company called HYLETE (Hi-LETE).

I first heard of HYLETE when doing research into Cross-Fit for a youth fitness competition that I put together the last two years.  Their name continued to pop up for events and when athletes described their ideal combination of fit, material, feel and technology.

I researched the company and found that their creed and vision was very similar to the one that I used with my athletes and with the foundation that I was building with them.  I contacted HYLETE about possibly being a part of the event with either technology discussions or event sponsorship.  After a little while I got an energetic reply from Jon who discussed, in detail, my program and event as well as HYLETE and their vision.  We found common ground and HYLETE became a part of the THERMOPYLAE 3K event this fall and the following spring.  His enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of his peers at HYLETE is infectious and is proof of their cutting edge apparel and unmatched customer service.  I have also been in contact with Abbe who has been incredible with some of the HYLETE event details.

Through our talks I also became involved with HYLETE on their Train Team.

I ordered my first shipment to Canada and was impressed with the expediency of the delivery as well as the quality of the gear (which I will go into greater detail with in a Review Post).

If you are new to Cross-Training, Crossfit or Performance apparel you are confronted with basically three options when it comes to functional training clothing: Nike, Adidas, Reebok.  What's missing is a genuine attention to detail (what athletes want) and customer service by athletes for athletes.  Don't get me wrong.  I own plenty of apparel from the big three, but I am always feeling like I am reacting to changes in their brand or purchasing something that is close to what I want...not necessarily what I need.  HYLETE has shown through social media, their online store and within their customer service that they listen to their customers/athletes and respond accordingly.  This takes the shape as changes in their materials, cuts and options on their clothing.  Where else can you modify your shorts length to suit your body type or comfort level before you even order them?

All in all, HYLETE has shown that they are at the forefront of innovation and client needs.  The best materials, technology, comfort and cost for your money.

A brand that is for athletes...by athletes!!

Below I have included both their creed and vision (both directly off their site):

HYLETE'S creed:
train to push yourself both physically and mentally;
compete so as to improve yourself, as well as those around you;
and live to be healthy in mind, body, and soul.

train. compete. live.

HYLETE'S vision:

continuously create innovative, performance cross-training apparel that captures the spirit of the cross-training hybrid athlete.