Indoor climbing is enjoying a boom鈥攊n the past five years, more than 150 new gyms have opened across the U.S. While pulling plastic is a solid workout, most of these new facilities have more to offer than just a big wall. 鈥淓ven if you鈥檙e not going to climb, any athlete can find ways to move and improve at the climbing gym,鈥� says Justin Andrews, a personal trainer at in San Francisco. With a little creativity, you can use the space for a full-body session. Here are three maneuvers to get you started.

#1. Pegboard Pull-ups

Why: A pegboard is more fun and effective than a pull-up bar for strengthening your back and arms. 鈥淲orking out in a 颅traditional gym, you lift a weight and set it down,鈥� Andrews says. 鈥淎 pegboard makes you slow down and control your body position and movements.鈥�

How: Insert both pegs into the board about a foot above your head and, with one hand on each peg, do a pull-up. Take one arm, remove the peg, and insert it into a higher hole. Now pull up on that arm, remove the opposite peg, and place it in an even higher hole. Continue until fatigued. For an added challenge, skip holes or move laterally instead听of vertically.听

#2. Deadhang Leg Lifts

Why: This works your core but also your forearms, which are impor颅tant for more than just climbing, Andrews notes. Strong forearms and hands benefit mountain bikers, paddlers, and听even ultrarunners. (Try holding a water bottle听for 12 hours.)

How: On an overhung听section of wall, find two good jug holds, ideally about two feet above your head. Reach up and dangle from them, facing the wall. Now pick a hold in front of you about waist high as a target, and slowly raise one leg听until your toe touches it. Lower and repeat with the opposite leg. Pick another target and go again. Repeat five to ten times.听

#3. Slackline Squats

Why: Almost everything you do outdoors鈥攆rom running to biking to climbing鈥攊s improved by sturdy stabilizer muscles. Enter the slackline, a staple of most climbing gyms. 鈥淎nything as unstable as a slackline is going to work your entire body,鈥� Andrews says.

How: Balance one foot听on the line and slowly bend your other leg at the knee. Squat down until your bent knee touches the line, then stand up slowly. Do ten to fifteen reps on each leg.

The post Build Do-It-All Fitness at the Climbing Gym appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Hollywood has a tough time bringing adventure sports to life. From to , the same activities that ratchet up our adrenaline鈥攕urfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, even whitewater paddling鈥攈ave consistently fallen flat on the silver screen, lacking the authenticity to earn praise from core athletes and failing to bring enough stoke to engage casual viewers. A double whammy of suckage.

Amid the myriad action-sport flameouts, rock climbing has quietly enjoyed a period of sustained intrigue and decent treatment among filmmakers. (Our guess: It has something to do with a convenient metaphor of self-reliance, ingenuity, and overcoming adversity.) To rank the best scenes as objectively as possible, we established some criteria. First, we define 鈥渃limbing鈥� in this context as a human being using hands and feet to vertically ascend a wall. This is important because it excludes great cinematic moments like via rope in The Princess Bride, , or any instance of hanging-on-for-dear-life-by-a-finger, 脿 la or .

We then judged the scene based on four categories, each with a maximum value of ten points, so a perfect score would be 40/40.

• Objective: What is the character trying to achieve through climbing, and how does that advance the plot of the film?
• Accuracy: Could this feat actually occur? Is the climber鈥檚 technique true to form?
• Artistry: Is the scene aesthetically appealing? What flourishes and style are the filmmakers bringing to the table?
• Overall Fun Quotient: Putting accuracy, artistry, and purpose aside鈥攄oes it get the stoke meter high?

Here we go.

#10. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

Objective: Jake, an orphan of the Outback, is moved to single-handedly rescue a giant, rare golden eagle ensnared in a poacher鈥檚 trap on top of a towering canyon. 8/10

Accuracy: Ever the independent thinker, Jake finds himself free-soloing a several-thousand-foot sandstone monolith in desert boots while shouldering a knapsack. He鈥檚 no more than eight years old, it appears to be summer, it鈥檚 windy, and he doesn鈥檛 even have a Nalgene. Come on. 1/10

Artistry: The climb itself was apparently so uneventful that, shortly after we see Jake set out, the director slow-fades to the boy pulling over the lip, shrubs barely visible on the ground thousands of feet below. It鈥檚 like we鈥檙e meant to take this world-record ascent for granted. 2/10

Fun Quotient: Surely every one of us has imagined scaling a cliff in this fashion鈥攍ook up, start climbing. And the fact that Jake is thrown off the cliff when the eagle he鈥檚 rescuing thrashes him with its mighty wing鈥攁nd is then saved by said eagle in midair鈥攊s slightly wonderful. 3/10

Total: 14/40

#9. Wonder Woman (2017)

Objective: Amazonian princess Diana sneaks outside the castle wall one evening, determined to retrieve the magic sword and shield that can break the evil spell cast on humanity by Ares, God of War. In reality, this means stopping World War I. 10/10

Accuracy: Diana realizes she can . It鈥檚 ascension by aggravated assault鈥攃reating her own holds via destruction and force. So much for leaving no trace. 2/10

Artistry: It鈥檚 your typical CGI fest here. Probably the only thing that鈥檚 real is actress Gal Gadot鈥檚 face. 2/10

Fun Quotient: Just another night in the life of a nonflying superhero putting her brawn and brains to use in the most entertaining way possible. How many climbers among us wouldn鈥檛 show off if we had this kind of strength? 5/10

Total: 19/40

#8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Objective: Bruce, nearly immobilized by a broken back, must get out of a subterranean prison that he鈥檚 been trapped in for months. But how? Should he make it out of the pit and into the faraway desert above, it鈥檚 a quick jaunt back to Gotham City, which he must save from a fascist dictator armed with a nuclear bomb. 9/10

Accuracy: The crux move to get out of the 200-foot-deep well involves reaching a protruding stone ledge鈥攐nce you鈥檙e there, you鈥檙e apparently home free to the lip of the pit. Instead of executing a simple traverse, Bruce performs a horizontal dyno, leaping headfirst. Though more dramatic, it鈥檚 also an absurd maneuver given the circumstances: He鈥檚 tied into a static rope around his waist and facing a 50-foot whipper. Falling once鈥攁nd he falls several times鈥攚ould almost certainly rebreak his back. To tighten his focus, . 2/10

Artistry: Christopher Nolan thrives on obfuscation and sleight-of-camera trickery, and like all his films, you have to suspend a significant amount of disbelief to allow yourself to be entertained. There鈥檚 a lot we鈥檙e not shown in this training/climbing montage, and instead of simplifying the sequence of events, it muddles them. 3/10

Fun Quotient: A broken Batman, wearing a dirty bathrobe, raises himself from the depths while a small legion of deranged miscreants chants and cheers for him below. 6/10

Total: 20/40

#7. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-cloa9MnnII

Objective: The only way to stop a terrorist from making off with the nuclear launch codes is to strap on a pair of electric suction cups鈥攇ecko gloves, basically鈥攁nd scale a glass skyscraper in Dubai. 6/10

Accuracy: Well, no. I mean, it鈥檚 Mission Impossible. That said, the notion of scaling the outside of a skyscraper is very real . 3/10

Artistry: I don鈥檛 know when you last watched this scene, but watch it again. It鈥檚 painstakingly patient and omniscient at the start, effectively putting us inside Mr. Cruise鈥檚 frame of mind. When we step out on the wall with him, we鈥檙e allowed only a passing glance at the beautifully manicured ground far below. The focus is, as it should be, on the task at hand. 7/10

Fun Quotient: You can鈥檛 watch a Tom Cruise movie without being reminded that he does just about all of his own stunts. It鈥檚 a fun breach of the fourth wall that we all look forward to witnessing in the theater, as if the actor is endangering himself for our sadistic pleasure. Plus, have you ever seen something like this in a movie before? 10/10

Total: 26/40

#6. K2 (1991)

Objective: It鈥檚 the deadliest mountain on earth, but not threatening enough to stave off four billionaire-backed weekend warriors determined to make the summit. Existential clarity and spiritual redemption ensue. 6/10

Accuracy: Our brightly colored climbers ascend cracks, turn ice screws, clip carabiners, check knots, stomp crampons, and, of course, drive ice axes. They also yell at each other a lot, underscoring the simple fact that communication is key. 9/10

Artistry: It鈥檚 a killer mixed-climbing montage set to an absolutely bitchin鈥� guitar solo. It鈥檚 also spearheaded by a grimacing, grumbling Michael Biehn, who was coming off a quintet of perfect action films in The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, and Navy Seals. 7/10

Fun Quotient: Scenes like this makes K2 a niche cult sleeper of the 1990s. Crack a beer and watch it with your climbing buddies on a rest day. 5/10

Total: 27/40

#5. Vertical Limit (2000)

Objective: A casual multipitch simulclimb goes horribly awry for a family of three when two climbers above them zipper out of the wall and close-line the family patriarch with their rope, ripping father, son, and daughter off the wall. Now all three dangle from a single cam that is sliding downward under their collective weight. Can it hold all three of them? Or must there be a sacrifice? 8/10

Accuracy: I鈥檝e sucked it up and rewatched this gnarly sequence several times. The climbers call out belays, fix anchors, place cams, load grigris, and one even blows chalk off his fingertips (saucy!). But it鈥檚 tough to follow the sequence, which makes scoping technical flaws difficult. In terms of lapses in judgment, you shouldn鈥檛 be following so closely behind another climbing party, and it鈥檚 pretty awful for a father to berate his son into a mercy killing, but that鈥檚 not something most of us have to deal with. 7/10

Artistry: While bolstered by less-than-magnificent special effects, the drama here plays out on the faces of the family members and with the inevitable slide of the last remaining cam. It鈥檚 brutal but effective. 6/10

Fun Quotient: Horror can be fun. 7/10

Total: 28/40

#4. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_PRxN-KNqLs

Objective: Long before Alex Honnold free-soloed El Capitan, Yosemite Valley was the playground of Captain James Tiberius Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. It鈥檚 not clear why Kirk (William Shatner) is climbing El Cap until he drops a not-very-subtle nod to George Mallory, informing Spock (Leonard Nimoy, floating next to Kirk in jet boots) that he鈥檚 tempting fate 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 there.鈥� Good enough for us. 9/10

Accuracy: Shatner is rocking real climbing shoes and Hammer pants, and he鈥檚 doubled by California climbing legend Bob Gaines, who showcases some legit hand and body stemming and generally does justice to the specifics of Yosemite crack-climbing techniques. However, Shatner doesn鈥檛 quite have the disposition of a man clinging to life on the side of a giant granite slab. 7/10

Artistry: Nothing fancy here, but they do appear to actually be in Yosemite Valley, which is a step in the right direction. When Shatner slips and plummets hundreds of feet toward the treetops below, we get a moment of pure 1980s special effects wizardry. 5/10

Fun Quotient: The scene is kind of pointless鈥攊t鈥檚 not part of the plot, a subplot, or a key to understanding anything about Kirk as a character. But it does provide a novel venue for the flirtatious bickering between Spock and Kirk that every Star Trek fan loves. 8/10

Total: 30/40

#3. Point Break (2015)

Objective: At a pivotal juncture, frenemies Johnny Utah and Bodhi (mononym) strap on their sticky shoes and perform a climbing feat for the ages: a mano-a-mano chase up a juggy, slippery-wet wall alongside听a 3,200-foot-high waterfall. Why, you ask? Well, Johnny wants to talk to Bodhi, and Bodhi is trying to avoid talking to Johnny. (There's also a subplot about completing the “8 Ozaki Ordeals,” of which soloing the waterfall is one, but it's stupid.) 1/10

Accuracy: It鈥檚 basically a highball competition鈥攏o time for ropes or gear. It鈥檚 a prolonged sequence of realish climbing, advised and executed by 听and shot on location in Angel Falls, Venezuela. 10/10

Artistry: The filmmakers were dedicated to showcasing the technical elements of certain adventure sports, from wingsuiting to rock climbing, and finding absurd ways to weave these activities into the plot. But once we鈥檙e on the wall, it鈥檚 a climbing feast: close-ups of one-finger-pocketing and micro-crimping, and aerial cinematography of dudes in Evolv rock shoes throwing heel hooks and dynoing. 10/10

Fun Quotient: If you like American Ninja Warrior鈥攁nd we all do鈥攖hen you can appreciate the attempt to bring a fantastic feat like this to movie theaters. The shots are beautiful, and the overall spectacle entertains climbers and nonclimbers alike. 10/10

Total: 31/40

#2. Cliffhanger (1993)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XYgwBmV62gw

Objective: Emotionally damaged rescue ranger Sylvester Stallone is trying to leave his mountaineer life behind. But alas, when his ex-girlfriend pleads with him to assist in the rescue of five climbers stranded in a snowstorm, the begrudging hero answers the call. The mission goes haywire when Sly finds himself entangled in a nefarious high-stakes robbery plot to recover three large cash-filled cases strewn across the snowy slopes. 8/10

Accuracy: There鈥檚 so much climbing in this movie that it鈥檚 hard to focus on just one moment, and each depiction of the craft is a bizarre mix of techy realism and pure fantasy. For instance, in the opening scene we get Sly free-soloing his way to top of a chossy spire. His busting of a sweet heel hook from a dead hang might distract you from the fact that he鈥檚 carrying a rack of nuts and pitons, as if he were trad climbing. He brought all the gear to set a rope鈥ut then forgot the rope.听7/10

Artistry: The climbing magic present throughout this film is at times so strange and surreal that it has bewildered climbers across the internets for decades. Exhibit A: There are entire webpages, forum threads, and YouTube videos dedicated to unraveling the mystery behind Sly鈥檚 notorious 鈥渂olt gun,鈥� a handheld pistol that injects eight-inch steel rods directly into solid granite. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 so great about Cliffhanger: The parallel reality it portrays is both familiar enough and odd enough to make us wonder what鈥檚 possible in our world. If that鈥檚 not art, I don鈥檛 know what is. 10/10

Fun Quotient: Director Renny Harlin, purveyor of on-camera helicopter crashes, might have had the most fun of any action filmmaker who worked in the 1990s. Anything that doesn鈥檛 fit neatly into his vision鈥攑lot, nuance, character development, physics鈥攇ets subverted or scrapped for the greater cause of awe and entertainment. Why let reality get in the way of a great romp? 11/10

Total: 36/40

#1. Mission Impossible II (2000)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6yx4nyKDCNc

Objective: Fade in鈥攚e鈥檙e traveling through red-rock chimneys in southeastern Utah. The camera settles on a lone man in a black tank top. He has long black hair, no rope, and is clinging to a 3,000-foot chimney. Exhausted, he hauls himself onto a tiny ledge and tucks both knees beneath an overhang for a well-deserved two-handed rest. Leaning back, he gazes up, surveying the crag above. What would compel a man such as this? We soon learn: vacation. Always a worthy objective. 10/10

Accuracy: A near-fateful foot slip, an insane horizontal dyno, a full-body spin into an unprecedented back-to-the-wall two-hand dead hang, all while free-soloing鈥攖his scene has it all. The feasibility of this nutso feat has been given new life by the existence of Alex Honnold. (Bonus: Cruise鈥檚 .) 9/10

Artistry: Near the end of this scene, you can practically hear the studio shouting over director John Woo鈥檚 shoulder: 鈥溾�� It reminds us all of a time in our lives we鈥檇 rather forget. 10/10

Fun Quotient: Capped off by an encounter with a pair of rocket-propelled, carbon-fiber, self-detonating Oakley sunglasses preprogrammed with听his next mission (should he choose to accept it), the five-minute opening sequence for this film is flawless. 10/10

Total: 39/40

The post A Definitive Ranking of Climbing Scenes in Movies appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This one is for the gram counters. If you鈥檙e going out for more than a couple of nights and logging major miles on the trail each day, you鈥檒l notice the weight of your gear starts to creep from your back and shoulders to your frontal lobe. It鈥檚 inescapable.

So I听embarked on an听experiment to see how many ounces I听could shave off each item in an essential backpacking kit: pack, tent, bag, pad, boots, pants, insulating layer, and headlamp. The list I听came up with is an exciting鈥攁nd expensive鈥攃heat code for any serious backpacker venturing out during听the warmer months.听

In the end, I got the full setup to听165.5. ounces, or about 10.3 pounds. The caveat: the items below cost a total of $1,800. Lightweight gear ain't cheap, but it is worth it.听Here's what I found.听

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 4400 Porter Pack ($375)

Weight: 37.6 ounces

Even though it鈥檚 got a 70-liter volume, you could wear to your next yoga class and not even feel it鈥攊t鈥檚 that light. The body is Hyperlite鈥檚 proprietary waterproof Dyneema fiber鈥攂asically a thin-but-super-strong plastic鈥攚hich was originally designed for packrafting, but makes for a great trail pack, if the rest of your stuff is light, too.

Honorable Mention: Gregory Paragon 58L Pack ($230)

奥别颈驳丑迟:听63 ounces

More of a traditional pack鈥攚ith frame, ventilation, and other familiar features鈥� is engineered for long hikes.听This is the better option for most of us: sure, you gain a few ounces over the Hyperlite, but you also gain way more structure, support, and comfort, for $145 less.听

MSR Carbon Reflex 2 Ultralight Tent ($500)

Weight: 29 ounces

Two doors, two vestibules, a rain fly, a footprint, and enough headspace to sit up straight make this my . It uses sturdy carbon-fiber poles and its vestibules close with velcro instead of zippers to save weight.听

North Face Hyper Cat Sleeping Bag ($250)

Weight: 30 ounces听(for a size regular)

A single center zipper is about the only observable feature on , which was designed to be as simple as possible. It鈥檚 a 20-degree, three-season cocoon that packs down to听about nine liters.

Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad ($160)

Weight: 16 ounces (20 inches by 72 inches)

The best thing about , besides the fact that it rolls up into the size of a yogurt container, is its quilted top, which you鈥檒l gain a deep appreciation for sometime around night four听on the trail.听

Merrell Moab FST ($140)

Weight:听30 ounces (for a size 12 men's)

This is : waterproof mesh lining that breathes, air-cushioned heel, aggressive lugs, and some flexibility in the sole. Plus, the Noire听model looks like something Batman would wear.

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket ($320)

Weight:听7 ounces (for men's size large)

It鈥檚 hard to comprehend how something this feathery-light could be so warm. is the insulation layer I听reach for when the sun goes down after a long day of hiking. And it packs down into the size of a tennis ball.

Columbia Titan Peak Convertible Pants ($90)

Weight:听15 ounces (for men's size large)

Columbia is the , and this is the company鈥檚 latest design. It鈥檚 streamlined, with quick-zip pockets and reinforced zippers on the legs. Plus, it鈥檚 stretchy and waterproof, with UPF 50 sun protection.

鈥婸etzl e+Lite Emergency Headlamp ($30)

Weight: 0.9 oz

The latest upgrade to the e+Lite is with a piece of retractable dental floss for a head strap. It鈥檚 marketed as an emergency supply, but why not just swap it in for your heavier headlamp? It's not going to light up your entire campsite, but it's great for focused activities like cooking and reading.

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The were maybe too closely associated听with Tom Cruise鈥檚 toothy, underwear-clad uber-bro from , so an update was in order. The which was听released in 2008 and is听not actually so new anymore,听is slicker aesthetically and more ergonomic than the original. Plus, the听lens polarization is somehow, to my eye, more seamless than any other pair of shades I’ve worn. The highest compliment I can pay might be to say that I don’t notice when I’m wearing the New Wayfarers. That is, until I catch a reflection of my mug in a car window and think, “Tom who?”

As an 国产吃瓜黑料 editor, I’ve been trained to think that听durability and performance reign supreme over style, but there’s no sacrificing with these glasses. I’ve had the same pair since 2013. The tortoiseshell veneer is peeling and chipping off the temple tips, one of the hinges is sticky, and the lenses are scratched to hell鈥攐ne of them is even cracked from a time I dropped the glasses on a rock during a backpacking trip. But somehow I haven鈥檛 noticed the wear and tear enough to feel compelled to buy a new pair. They’ve survived pool water so chlorinated it acid-washed听my boxers from black to purple,听salt water plunges in the Pacific, constant tosses and rough landings, a thousand thumb-inside-of-shirt lens scrubbings, and hours spent smashed听in my pocket next to my car keys.

I don’t do a good job of taking care of my sunglasses, and I probably never will. I don’t schlep around a leather case or use one of those听microfiber cloths that always come with a new pair of shades. These aren’t baby bunny rabbits. They’re a tool. Some people enjoy thinking about their possessions and relish opportunities to contemplate shopping for new ones. I don’t. My favorite part about these glasses: I never have to think about them.

The post Why I Love the Ray-Ban New Wayfarer Sunglasses appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Summer is right around the corner, which means you should be hunting walls outdoors. Until then, here's a list of the best new gear to crank in the gym, from some of our favorite brands.

Five Ten Wall Master Shoes ($85)

The pioneer of sticky rubber gives us the , with a hard edge for locking onto credit-card-thin footholds, a burly upper that protects when jamming into cracks, and a comfortable, neutral fit.

Edelrid Ohm Assisted Braking Device ($130)

Ever take a whipper and yank your belayer four feet off the ground? solves that problem. It replaces the first quickdraw and cams down on the rope should you fall, distributing the weight for your partner below.

Trango Concealed Carry Chalk Bag ($17)

Because typical cinch closures tend to leak, Trango added a stowable fabric hood to . It kept things tidy even when stored upside down for several days.

Adidas Outdoor Agravic Shirt ($79)

The coolest part of this ? It鈥檚 nearly seamless, which fends off chafing and other discomfort while you鈥檙e contorting yourself on the wall.听

Petzl GriGri+ Belay Device ($150)

Handy for beginners, Petzl鈥檚 has an anti-panic function that automatically brakes if the belayer yanks too hard on the release, stopping the climber鈥檚 descent.

Black Diamond Gym Rope ($80)

This 35-meter (115 feet) weighs just five pounds, and at 9.9 millimeters thick, it鈥檚 burly enough to withstand years of scrapes on textured gym walls.

Mammut Seon Transporter Pack ($140)

A climbing bag-cum-commuter pack? Believe it. This moisture颅-shedding, has a compartment with a padded laptop sleeve for business and a ventilated shoe pocket for performance.听

Mountain Hardwear AP Scrambler Pants ($85)

The name of the game is versatility. is sturdy enough to hold up against scuffs on coarse, chalky gym walls, yet slick enough to wear to the bar after a workout.

Petzl Corax Harness ($60)

The best all-around harness we鈥檝e tested, weaves the customary adjustable leg loops, buckles, and waist belt into a soft-mesh body sling with breathable padding at all the pressure points.

The post The Best Indoor Climbing Gear of 2017 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Make any time sweatin鈥� time.听

Lululemon 颅Reversible (Un)mat ($48)

Thin, durable, and sticky, was made for commuters and travelers who want to get yogic without lugging around a foam bazooka.

Brazyn Morph Collapsible Roller ($68)

A full-size foam roller that folds down to the size of a textbook鈥攊mpossible? Nope. And at a scant 1.6 pounds, can still support 350 pounds when expanded into its circular shape.

Metolius Portable Power Grips Holds ($23)

come with slings that can be tied around any sturdy horizontal surface, so you can crank out pull-ups just about anywhere.

RYU Quick Pack Lux 1.1 ($185)

This has a burly drop front that folds outward for easy, locker-like access. Mesh pockets inside are tailored for water bottles, and the wax-treated body sheds precipitation.

Crossrope Starter Set Jump Rope ($69)

A classic tool updated for fitness buffs. comes with two cables鈥攐ne is thinner, for agility workouts, and the other (shown) is beefier, for conditioning. Together they weigh two pounds.

Smartwool PhD听Ultra Light Short-Sleeve Shirt ($70)

With a breathable mesh panel on the back that wicks moisture, this stays cool during sweaty workouts.听

Hanah One听Go-Pack Gels ($49 for 12)

Stash a couple of these in your bag and you don鈥檛 have to worry about a post-workout smoothie. Honey harvested in India lends just enough sweetness.听

Saxx Kinetic Run Shorts ($75)

Male runners, rejoice: Saxx鈥檚 patented Ballpark Pouch鈥攚hich is exactly what it sounds like鈥攊s sewn into a breathable liner to prevent chafing and add support. These are technically designed for running, but we wore them everywhere.

The post The Best Go-Anywhere Gym Gear of 2017 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

On March 17, Adidas in Delaware against shoemaker Asics over rights to the technology that powers Asics's听fitness trackers. Adidas, which owns the training platform Runtastic, claims that RunKeeper, the fitness app maker founded in 2008 that , infringes on ten of its intellectual property patents. The German sports apparel company is demanding that Asics cease and desist providing RunKeeper and also wants听undisclosed damages.

There's more at stake in this case than you might expect from two apparel titans grappling over electronic wristbands. As more people begin tracking their physical activity, many companies see a promising opportunity not just to sell monitoring devices, but also to collect heaps of data about their users'听personal routines and tendencies. Sales of wearables were up 43 percent between September 2015 and September 2016, according to market researcher NPD Group. Revenue from fitness trackers, tabulated at more than $2 billion in 2014, is projected to grow to $5.3 billion by 2019, . The lines determining which companies will dominate the market are still being drawn, says NPD Group sports industry analyst Matt Powell. “I don鈥檛 think we know yet who's going to be the winner here.”听Legal battles, like the one between Adidas and Asics, could provide key insights into what shape the industry will take.

Reading Adidas's听legal complaint against Asics, it appears that the principles guiding the company's claims could be used to target the entire field of wearable, GPS-based activity trackers. The company positions itself as the leading pioneer in the field of fitness tracking and data-driven exercise planning: “[A]didas was the first in the industry to comprehensively bring data analytics to athletes,”听the complaint reads. If that rationale holds up in court, it could have huge implications for who controls the data we provide when we opt to quantify ourselves.

“Personal data is a valuable asset that these companies are largely permitted to use,”听says Andrew Hilts, executive director of the Canadian nonprofit personal data advocacy organization, , which on how fitness tracker data is used. “I'm sure companies are using it in a large variety of ways, like improving their product and marketing. But we don't know what companies are doing beyond that.”听There's currently no overarching federal law regulating how companies use data they receive from their users.

Adidas made its foray into the wearable fitness tracker industry , a personal training platform that included a small portable device that verbally coached users during their runs. In 2015, the company boosted its investment in wearables, . By then Runtastic operated more than 20 fitness and health apps, with 140 million downloads on them, and had developed a wearable activity monitor. The patents Adidas is asserting听in its latest lawsuit appear to lay blanket claim to the basic systems governing all wearable GPS devices and health platforms we associate with fitness tracking. For example, , titled “Methods and computer program products for providing information about a user during a physical activity,”听covers:

“…among other things, a method of providing information about a first user engaged in a physical activity that includes receiving a user鈥檚 location from a portable fitness device; receiving performance data from the portable fitness device while the user is engaged in physical activity; determining the users' location with respect to a route path, visually displaying on a remote system the first users'听location and performance data.”

In casting such a wide net, it seems like this patent might encompass just about every fitness tracker on the market. Other patents Adidas holds levy similar claims related to the use of fitness trackers. One covers the method behind “”听Another covers the method of “”听And there鈥檚 an additional one that covers the method behind ““

Adidas accuses Asics of “knowingly and intentionally”听infringing these patents by providing RunKeeper, and even claims听that the company “induced users” to infringe on the patents as well. After multiple requests to Adidas seeking comment, a spokeswoman emailed 国产吃瓜黑料 to say that “innovation is at the heart of who we are at Adidas. We'll continue to vigorously protect our innovations.” But she declined to answer any questions about the lawsuit against Asics or Adidas's听patent enforcement strategy.

It鈥檚 not the first time Adidas has asserted these patents against a competitor in this way. In 2014, the company . In its bid to carve out its own spot in the wearable tracker space, Under Armour had acquired MapMyFitness and Endomondo听in 2013听for a whopping $560 million. Shortly thereafter, Under Armour released UA Record, its proprietary network of fitness tracking, sharing, and analysis. Adidas responded with litigation, and was successful: after Under Armour agreed to pay Adidas an undisclosed fee to license its ten patents鈥攖he same patents Adidas is currently leveraging in its claims against Asics.

Other companies vying for a foothold in the rapidly expanding fitness tracking market are engaged in patent battles as well. Fitbit and Jawbone have been on wearables for the past two years. In May 2015, Jawbone, which makes the UP Move app, filed three lawsuits against Fitbit over wearable activity trackers that deliver fitness metrics to users, and claimed that Fitbit poached Jawbone employees with key knowledge of the company's fitness tracking tech and also stole trade secrets. Fitbit fired back with its own lawsuit in the fall of that year, alleging that听Jawbone infringed on several of its patents, some pertaining to wearable heart rate monitors and body sensors, and others that lay claim to general functionalities associated with fitness trackers. They have titles like “”听and “”听Fitbit also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission in an effort to stop Jawbone from importing and selling wearable fitness trackers in the U.S. Jawbone responded with allegations of its own, which an . On March 24, a California state judge to have the case thrown out, indicating that the case may go to trial.

This type of legal battle is not unique to wearables. In the past decade or so, asserting intellectual property patents in court has become a popular tactic among some companies as a means to protect their information technology assets and stall their competitors. So-called “business method”听patents are often broadly conceived and written to encompass entire approaches to product design that, to the average person, might seem like standard business practices or public-domain technology. Companies have wielded these types of patents in questionable ways. One lawsuit that provide WiFi to customers. In another, a company from Reno, Nevada, with zero employees 听(Companies that routinely assert their patent portfolios but don鈥檛 use them to make products are commonly referred to as patent trolls.)

As the market for wearables continues to expand, the stakes for the companies that have a foothold in it grow higher. Fitness tracker data is already being utilized in a few ways: to , as , and as evidence of users'听whereabouts in law enforcement investigations. So it's worth knowing how companies are positioning themselves to receive and use that data. “I don鈥檛 think customers are thinking about these types of cases when they just want to track their steps,” Hilts says. “There鈥檚 a whole world of things that can be done with it.”

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German company Feuerhand has been carrying a torch for bespoke hurricane lanterns. The ($33) is a galvanized-steel throwback feat of weatherproof engineering that听burns for 20 hours on a third of a liter of oil.

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San Francisco鈥檚 funkiest clothing designer, BetaBrand, joined forces with outdoor stalwart Timberland to bring us the ($150). These Back-to-the-Future-2-esque boots marry water-resistant leather and deep lugs with out-there sci-fi style.

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If you ask climber Chris Sharma how he trains, you鈥檒l get a one-word answer: by听climbing. At a time when most pro athletes consider cross-training essential, Sharma鈥檚 single-minded approach remains an anomaly, especially considering that he鈥檚 held his own among climbing鈥檚 elite for nearly two decades.

鈥淢y method has always been throwing myself at these walls and these lines over and over again,鈥� Sharma says. 鈥淚鈥檓 beating myself up and pushing my limits. You might call that training or you might call that climbing.鈥�

It鈥檚 a strategy that has worked for Sharma in no small part because he鈥檚 naturally gifted, and he鈥檚 been fortunate enough to have sponsors supporting his all-climb-all-the-time lifestyle; it is not uncommon for Sharma to work a single project for years, without interruption. But he鈥檚 now 35听years听old and accumulating responsibilities: he and his wife had their first child this summer, and he recently opened a gym in Barcelona, down the street from his home. It鈥檚 hard to imagine Sharma having time to continue his patented brand of patient, laser-focused, balls-out wall crawling. Something has to give听and he knows it.

For six weeks this summer, Sharma submitted to training in a gym (his gym) with climber and old friend Paxti Usobiaga. It was actually the first training program he鈥檚听tried in his 24 years of climbing, and Sharma, who is as impulsive as he is determined when it comes to his vocation, has come away with mixed feelings about the whole idea of scheduled aerobic exercise. He knows it鈥檚 probably good for him, but it runs counter to the philosophy that has guided him for his entire adult life.

鈥淚鈥檓 probably one of the most difficult students that Patxi could ever have,鈥� Sharma says. 鈥淚 have my own way of doing things, and that鈥檚 worked, so it鈥檚 going to be hard for me to change my ways.鈥�

We recently talked to Sharma about how his perspective on climbing has evolved, why he doesn鈥檛 like gyms, and whether he鈥檚 going to adhere to a fitness plan going forward. (It鈥檚 unlikely.)

OUTSIDE: Why haven鈥檛 you trained before?
SHARMA: I鈥檝e always been able to maintain a pretty steady level of fitness by just climbing. I don鈥檛 do dieting. I live a balanced life, so I can maintain that high level consistently.

Is it true that you don鈥檛 own any exercise equipment?
I don鈥檛. I actually just got my first fingerboard. A听portable one.

What made you decide to do a training program now?听
The summer is hot here in Barcelona and not good for climbing outside. With a newborn, it鈥檚 a recipe for getting out of shape. But I have this amazing climbing space ten minutes from our home and it鈥檚 a perfect opportunity to experiment with a different approach.

As our life changes, we go through these different phases, and I had moments where I was 100 percent focused on climbing every day at the rock. And at those moments it鈥檚 been enough to just go at it super听hard. But these days,听I鈥檝e got a family, I鈥檓 running a business, and I have obligations. So when I do go rock climbing, I have to make it count, so it makes sense to prepare beforehand.

What is it about training in a gym that doesn't interest听you?
I鈥檝e always compared it to Spanish class in high school. I got a D-, but by living in Spain I learned to speak Spanish fluently. Different approaches work for different people. The important thing is to be inspired. If there鈥檚 motivation, then the discipline comes naturally because you鈥檙e not forcing yourself to do something you don鈥檛 want to do.

What was it听like having a trainer?
A big part of it was just yielding to someone else. For me, climbing has always been a personal thing鈥攊t鈥檚 about following my own path, finding my own line, doing my own thing. When I鈥檓 told to do something, my knee-jerk reaction has been to do the opposite. I鈥檝e been climbing at the highest level for 20 years now, so whatever I鈥檓 doing has worked pretty well. So it鈥檚 a challenge now to let go of my own way.

Why Patxi?
He鈥檚 a friend of mine, and we competed against each other for the Junior World Championship when I was 14听years听old. But we took very different paths. I鈥檝e been more of a lifestyle climber, and he鈥檚 gone this strict,听regimented training direction and brought himself to a high level. He won the World Championship in 2009 and he鈥檚 retired from pro climbing, and he鈥檚 training people.

In the Epic TV video, Paxti says it鈥檚 good for you to have someone around, pushing you physically. Do you think that鈥檚 true?
I鈥檓 a low-key, mellow guy. But at the same time, there鈥檚 a pretty strong fire burning inside, and there鈥檚 a competitive side to me as well. When you have someone pushing you鈥攍ike with Adam Ondra on La Dura Dura鈥攖hat friendly competition is really motivating.听

Having someone like Patxi around鈥攊t鈥檚 been interesting. With training I always have my own way of doing things and it鈥檚 a challenge for me to blindly follow someone. But I鈥檝e learned things I can incorporate into my climbing.听

What kinds of things?
Circuits. He鈥檇 have me doing calisthenics, then campusing, then sit-ups, then pull-ups, then more campusing. You get to the point of total physical exhaustion, and for me there was definitely a lot of suffering. But every time I did that I felt good about it, felt healthy, and was proud of myself. I felt like I was making a really good base to strengthen my whole body.

Then we did some four-by-fours where you pick four boulder problems and do them each four times. It was a way to analyze in a controlled environment. That scientific approach is new for me. In the past, I鈥檝e just been winging it. So why not structure it and see what can happen?听

I鈥檝e started thinking of myself as an athlete instead of a climber. Climbing has been more of an art than a sport for me. But now, accepting that I鈥檓 an athlete has allowed me to explore what being a high-level athlete means.

What changed your mind?
With La Dura Dura, I was working on that route for two years, and I plateaued. It made me think about how I鈥檇 just been following my heart in climbing. But then I thought, “Let鈥檚 see what I鈥檓 capable of if I really put the pedal to the metal.”听So I started resting and eating well, which I don鈥檛 normally do. I lost some of that free-flowing spontaneous creativity, and it made me think that at different times you need to do different things. It鈥檚 good to have both鈥攂eing able to have fun, but then being able to take it super听serious.

Now that your training with Patxi is done, are you going to incorporate training into your daily life?听
I鈥檓 a spontaneous person,听so I don鈥檛 know if I can stick to a straight schedule. But I鈥檒l take the experience to heart and try to apply some of these exercises to supplement the moments when I don鈥檛 have enough time to dedicate to quality rock climbing.

I feel like it鈥檚 been a great summer and I鈥檓 in great shape for the fall. Maybe if I learn some new tricks, I can push it even further鈥攎aybe do a 5.15D. I feel fitter than ever and I still love climbing, so why not try it?

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