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Review of Elite Sports Men's Plain Gray Crossfit Shorts and Gym Bag
For our much-anticipated collaboration with Elite Sports, I've been invited to review a couple of their products. Part one will be a review of their men's Crossfit shorts, and part two will be a review of their versatile gym bags. Please follow along as I give my honest opinion of both of these gym essentials.
Elite Sports Men's Plain Sublimation Gray Crossfit Shorts
Movement. That's the first word I think of when I'm about to go to a Crossfit class. Crossfit prescribes several different ranges of motion in a workout, and for this reason, your attire is of utmost importance. You want to wear something that can move with your body, so the looseness, tightness, and stretchiness of your outfit are very important. The men's Crossfit shorts from Elite Sports are made up of 90% polyester and 10% spandex so they are definitely breathable for an intense workout, but they're also going to stretch with your body no matter what angles your workout pushes you through.
My only negative piece of feedback on this product is about the pockets. Don't get me wrong, pockets are a great thing to have, even at the gym. However, the zippers have a hard material covering the handle and I could imagine swiping my hand or arm across them in the middle of a Crossfit workout. I think if they had a minimal cloth-like material rather than the plastic cover, it would minimize the chance for a scratch or scrape in the midst of my gym session. I could see a shoelace-like material, or a suede ribbon being sufficient. On this note, although pockets are great to have, if these shorts are meant for intense Crossfit or martial arts workout sessions, perhaps the pockets aren't needed at all.
I can definitely appreciate the stretchy waistband along with the fabric waist tie. If you're in the industry of gym attire and gear, you have to think about the people you're selling to. Everybody's shape is different and their waistband design takes people of all sizes into account. If you need it to stretch to fit, it will; if you need it to tie to fit, you've got it. These shorts are true to size, so pick what you normally would when purchasing a pair of shorts. Just keep in mind the waistband and waist tie allows for a little flexibility in that area. As if the shorts aren't comfortable on their own in terms of material and sizing, you can adjust them to be even better for YOU.
For the quality and functionality of the shorts, I think the $23.99 (USD) price is definitely worth it. They are not simply your everyday pair of basketball shorts. Although they could function as basketball shorts, they are much more than that because of their material and durability.
Elite Sports Gym Bags
In my personal opinion, the type of gym bag you use is completely up to your needs for your workout. For example, I like to run basketball drills as my cardio workout so I need to be able to carry a water bottle, basketball shoes, a basketball, and a ball pump (just in case). This Elite Sports gym bag more than fills those needs.
This bag has a symmetrical design with zipper pouches on both long sides of the bag, and an endcap zipper cavity on both short ends. On one side, it has an insulated zipper pouch which I assume is for a water bottle. I have a 32oz. Hydro Flask and it BARELY fits. Since it's a Hydro Flask, I probably don't need the insulation, so if you have a thinner water bottle that isn't already insulated or other items that need to be kept cold, that would be the place for them.
For somebody who uses the gym as a major part of their routine, this bag would be perfect. There's a top zipper pouch that would be great for a rolled-up towel. There's a pouch on one short end of the bag that would be great for a change of clothes. There's another open-air pouch on the other short end of the bag for a pair of gym shoes. This gym bag is for the ultimate gym-goer. On the other hand, for somebody who goes to the gym to use the treadmill and only carries a wallet, phone, keys, and water bottle, this bag is not an ideal fit.
One of the best features of this bag is that it functions as a duffle bag OR a backpack. If your bag is lighter one day, you can use the duffle bag strap, and if it's overstuffed the next, you can use the backpack straps. This gym bag really has it all.
For the size and versatility of the Elite Sports gym bag, the $59.99 (USD) price is right. It accommodates a wide range of lifestyles and has a clean design to boot.
Fashion is important, too.
As a designer, I will always say that "form follows function." Both of these items definitely follow suit with that notion. They are designed for the activities they are meant for, but they still have a modern aesthetic that connects with gym-goers of all ages. The materials totally match up with the purpose of the product, but at the same time, there are plenty of color options to suit your fancy. If you like these kinds of athletic products, you can also check out their other website Born Tough. They sell products that are a little more fashionable for your trip to the gym.