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Every month our staff tries out lots of triathlon and triathlon-adjacent things. Yes, we test new gear, but we also have old favorites and secret things we’re loving right now. That’s why each month we share our favorite tri-related things.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar
$800, garmin.com
Sure, it’s easy to say you love a smartwatch that costs as much as a used bike or a laptop, but there’s a reason I love the Fenix 7 Pro Solar that has nothing to do with extravagant price. It’s the light. Yes, that’s right, there’s a tiny little LED light buried in the top of the watch crown, so small and slim you wouldn’t be able to notice it if you didn’t know it was there. But that tiny little light has become so necessary, so indispensable to my daily life, that even if the rest of the Fenix 7 Pro was trash, I’d probably still wear it. And as the Triathlete Gear Guru, I’m a little ashamed to write that out.
Since the Fenix 7 Pro is available in a size that’s physically the smallest of the LED-equipped Garmins (including the Enduro 2 and bigger/pricier models of the the Fenix 7X), those of us with scrawny wrists won’t be forced to lug around a hubcap on our arms just to see in front of them like a bionic futureperson. With about as much light as a smartphone flashlight, it won’t act as a headlamp, but you can easily set up transition in the dark, give yourself an extra taste of safety while running, or even check on a flock of chickens at night (I’ve done all three). And yes, I’ve mentioned how awesome this feature is in pretty much every review I’ve written about the three aforementioned smartwatches, but I will keep doing it until Garmin (or another brand) wises up and finally makes a watch with this function for under $800.
-Chris Foster, Editor-In-Chief
“Smells Like an Ironman” Soy Candle
$20, etsy.com
I know exactly the face you’re making after reading the name of this product, because I made that face, too. When I opened the gift bag and saw that a friend had given me a candle labeled “Smells Like an Ironman,” my first response was not “thank you,” as it should have been – instead, it was, “you’ve smelled me after an Ironman, right? It’s not good.”
As it turns out, the candle actually smells like lavender, which is the exact opposite of my post-Ironman odor. But every time I see it on my desk, I chuckle, and that is the true gift of this gag. Bonus: I learned it came from an Etsy store, and I love supporting small maker businesses and creative entrepreneurs. With the holiday season approaching faster than most of us would like to admit (and with triathletes being harder to shop for than most of us would like to admit) I’ll just go ahead and leave the link for that store right here so you can get your shopping done.
-Susan Lacke, Senior Editor
LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Powder
$45 per 30-pack; drinklmnt.com
Achilles had his heel. I have my vastus medialis. When I cramp, the culprit is this critical layer of my quadricep. With little warning, it will contract into a debilitating knot midway up my femur, bringing my bike or run to an excruciating standstill. For years, I searched for an electrolyte solution that staved off cramps, didn’t cause gastrointestinal distress, and still tasted appealing after 10 hours of racing.LMNT’s single-serve powders check all of these boxes.
Each packet contains an XL dose of electrolytes–1,000mg sodium, 200m potassium, and 60mg magnesium–which has kept my vastus medialis from cramping through perspiration-heavy races in Boulder, Chattanooga, Kona, and Nice. And I’m not choking them down six or seven servings. The absence of sugar is easy on the gut, and subtle taste is easy on the tongue. The eight flavors are so much more tolerable than other drink powders I’ve tried, in fact, that I’ll often quaff a Watermelon or Grapefruit between workouts.
-Jon Dorn, Senior VP of Outside Strategy & Studios
Nathan Navigator Hybrid Vest
$125, nathansports.com
After a long, sweaty summer of marathon prep in hot and humid temps, I’m reveling in the crisper fall weather of late. But as the seasons change, my training wardrobe does, too, and I’ve been loving my Navigator Hybrid Vest to keep me comfy on chillier days.While I typically migrate towards running vests with a fitted silhouette, this version decidedly less snug (adjustable drawcords at the hem keep it from being too loose). Still, it does its job to block wind and provides an added layer of light insulation, thanks to a thin panel of faux down at the front. It feels weightless, and with the sides and back made of a stretchy, breathable material, it seamlessly moves with me as I run. Bonus? The silvery “grey mist” shade pairs well with just about anything, so this vest is quickly becoming a fixture in my everyday athleisure looks, as well.
-Sarah Wassner Flynn, Contributor