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…Merchandise Evaluation: AMEVIE Sunglasses…

For those of you that REALLY know me, you know that I have two accessories that I am ALWAYS wearing… headbands and sunglasses. When I had the opportunity to try these glasses out I was BEYOND excited.

AMEVIE is a company that created products that are focused on being a brand that focuses on sun-care and lifestyle brand that cares. After a full year of research and development, they recently launched their FIRST product line, a collection of sustainable bamboo sunglasses.

The brand was born from the owner/creators own need and desire to develop safe products that protect the entire family from the harmful UV rays. The bamboo sunglasses are water-proof and sweat-proof as well as they are perfect for travelling as they come with a foldable case. And as for protection, they sourced the best lenses available, UV blocking and polarized.

Overall Comments:

I am IN LOVE with this brand and product. I am a HUGE stickler for actually trying out products. I wore these glasses to social events, athletic events, and even during some of my own outdoors workouts. I got complimented on the overall style and sleekness of the design. While I was working out in them, they DID NOT slip off of my ears or nose easily.  Once I was drenched in sweat… they of course slipped. BUT leading up to that point I had NO issues at all.  They are light weight and very comfortable to wear. The folding case that comes with it is an added bonus!

I seriously had friends trying to steal these glasses away from me… so that tells you the overall quality and design is favorable.

Quality for Price: 

Looking at the AMEVIE glasses I was shocked at first at the original price of these glasses.  BUT, I would have to say I am a firm believer in “you pay for the quality of the product you want”.   It is clear that the higher price of these glasses makes them a higher quality accessory.  They performed well in various settings for me.  If you are someone who enjoys wearing glasses, these would be a good addition to your wardrobe.

Ranking Scale: (on a scale from 1-5)

Price: 3.5

Overall Quality: 4.5

Quality for Price: 4.5

Overall Ranking: 4.16

Closing Remarks: 

I honestly enjoy these glasses. Like I said I tried them out before writing this review because I wanted to make sure they would withstand “normal” abuse and not break after wearing them over a weekend. Again, they were very stylish and comfortable. Shipping was quick and painless.  Not to mention you get the folding case, sunglasses carrying bag, and lens wiping cloth ALL INCLUDED with your purchase. I hope to be able to get more of these glasses to add them to my accessory collection!

Please feel free to check out AMEVIE’s social media pages:

Facebook CLICK HERE 

Instagram CLICK HERE

**NOTE: Please make sure to note my product review disclaimer that can be found HERE***

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…Merchandise Evaluation: prAna Jeans & Sweater…

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prAna is a clothing company.  They thrive on creating versatile, stylish, and sustainable clothing and accessories that you can wear during every activity, every adventure, every day.

prAna was started in a garage in Carlsbad, California back in 1992. At that time yoga and climbing gear left a lot to be desired, so Beaver and Pam Theodosakis decided to create their own stylish and sustainably made clothes. They sewed the first pieces themselves, labeled them with tags made from homemade recycled paper, and shipped their orders in fruit boxes from local grocery stores.

Today, prAna is still based in Carlsbad. We’re a lot bigger than we used to be, but we continue to follow our core belief that companies like ours should give much more than they take from the world. Our commitment to sustainability, community, and doing right still inspires and pushes us to find innovative ways to do good things in a good way.

I was lucky enough to get to try out a full outfit from prAna and this is what I got and my overall thoughts:

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Overall Comments:

I was VERY skeptical about getting these items and trying them on.  I am a woman, this has a very unique shape and build.  Because of that, it is very hard for me to find clothing (especially jeans) that fit correctly and COMFORTABLY.

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This is the sweater Stacia Sweater.  I deiced to get a size medium (I am 5’10 tall, I have long arms and a long torso. I typically get sweaters larger so they will be long enough for my torso and my arms).  This sweater is SOFT and comfortable. The color… is by far one of my favorite shades of blue/green.  And, this sweater is cozy yet helps to keep your body heat contained.  What that means is, I am a cold natured person. I am typically cold no matter where I go.  I was quite warm during the whole time that I had this sweater on. The length of this sweater was GREAT!

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The next item that I would like to talk about are the jeans:

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These are the Kara Jean and I got these in a size 10. I typically get jeans that are a size bigger because I have a round bottom and thick quads (in other words ladies… I have a bit butt and thick thighs! No shame in those gainz! LoL). I was very interested to see how these jeans would fit (especially since I did not get to try them on before I got them).

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I was SHOCKED at how well they fit me.  I slide the jeans on and was able to button them with ease (also meaning that my training has paid off and I have not grown to need a bigger pants size 😛 ).  There is a slight stretch in the jeans, so in the areas that the jeans were more fitting, they were not uncomfortably tight.  They actually fit just right. Like I said… I was SHOCKED at how well these fit.  And the quality of the material is great! It is not a thick jean material.  It is a thinner/stretchy material but has a great color and I love the folded pant legs at the bottom.

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Price & Quality: Over the years I have learned to embrace and accept the term “you get what you pay for”.  The Stacia Sweater is about $89.00 and the Kara Jeans are about $89.00.  Yes this seems like a steep price to pay for a sweater and jeans… BUT once you get these items you will realize exactly what you are paying for. You are paying for a quality product that will be able to keep up with you and your busy/active lifestyle.  You are paying for organic and recycled material that is used to create some of the pieces of clothing that prAna offers. You are paying for the bluesign® systems tat was created to ensure that the fabrics that are uses meet the highest environmental and human safety standards. You are also paying for Fair Trade which are standards that were created to ensure that garment workers have safe working conditions, a voice in the workplace, higher earnings, and that women are treated equally. Although these rights may seem basic, they are simply not guaranteed in many of the countries where clothing is produced. You are also paying for traceability  which is prAna might not know the exact plant that grew the organic cotton, but then can make a close guess.  They can trace their fabrics life from the farm where the bowl of fiber was grown, through processing and production, all the way to end product. prAna finds it very important to make sure that what they sell their customers is in fact what they claim it to be.

So, if you are looking for a cutting edge company to support, prAna offers various products that are organic and environmentally friendly.  They take pride in providing the best quality products for their clients, giving back to the community and their workers, and being able to use natural resources to create their products.

HERE IS A COUPON CODE for 15% off your own prAna purchase: PFS16LIFE

Code is valid until 10/31/2016

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…What To Do W/ What It Do: Gear Check…

GEAR IS A VITAL COMPONENT TO TRAINING FOR ANY EVENT.

If you know that you need to use gear for a event, you want to make sure to trouble shoot it and also figure out what will work best for YOU! There are so many options out there.  I am simply sharing my opinion and view point on products that I have personally used over the years.

You will want to use it as much as possible so you can see if you have any issues with the gear that you will use during your event.

DO NOT BE THAT PERSON who has gear that is too large, too heavy, or just not functional for the event.  Simplicity is key during any event and you want to make sure that your gear is function, easy to access, and can withstand the tortures that your event will throw at you. Some events are team events, so you can use your team as a resource to help you just in case something does happen.  BUT if you are doing an individual event, you want to do your best to be ready and to make sure that your gear is ready to complete the event with you.

Bag Reviews:

Tactical Back Pack:

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Detailed Description:

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  • Capacity:30L
  • Constructed with waterproof 600D Nylon material, the backpack is wearable and durable.
  • 1.5 Inch Waist Belt, 1 Inch Sternum Strap, padded and adjustable shoulder straps help relieve pressure on shoulders while carrying heavy loads.
  • Two large compartments with small pouches inside and two front pockets.  

Product Overview:

  • Great bag for the cost for those who are just starting.
  • It has a lot of pockets for storage and easy organization for placing things where they can be easily be found.
  • Waist and chest straps are very helpful and easy to use and manipulate.
  • MUST MAKE MODIFICATION (shown and mentioned in the above video) to ensure the bag will perform with minimal flaws.
  • The shoulder straps do lose “cushion” after a while and become uncomfortable (and at times painful) when used for long periods of time.
  • This bag is NOT waterproof (in comparison to water not seeping into the bag).  If it is raining lightly you are OK but a downpour did cause water to leak into the bag.  Also being submerged in water the bag did retain quite a bit of water.

GORUCK Bag:

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Detailed Description:

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Product Overview:

  • All products on the GORUCK website are made in the U.S.A.
  • The “GR0” (which I talk about in the above video is now called the “GR1” and you can get it in the 21 L size
  • All products on the GORUCK website come with a SCARS lifetime Guarantee
  • There are various sizes to accommodate any persons bag size preference.
  • If you get an item and do not like it, you can send it back and get your money back (as long as it has not been used).
  • Bags have a lot of padding on the shoulder straps and provide comfort when bags have additional weight in them.
  • Bags have several internal pockets for storing/organizing items you may need during your event.
  • MOLLE provides the opportunity for you to attach other add ons/carabiners/webbing
  • All bags have 2″x3″ velcro section on the bag so you can attach a patch (which can be earned via completing events OR you can purchase novelty patches).

Questions? Comments? Concerns? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THEM!

E-Mail me at: [email protected]

In a later video I will go over some suggestions for your Packing list (things to carry in your bag during endurance events).

Please note that all products discussed in this video were purchased by me.  I have used them for an extended period of time to create my OWN opinion and views about how well they can perform.  I have participated in over 40 events over the past two years.  I am just sharing my own personal suggestions, opinions, and views about these products. 

 

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