Yeah, it’s interesting how all the influencers went through a phase of using cbd oil rubs and stuff, then presumably when they stopped getting sent them they stopped promoting them as essential to their fitness…
Love my Shokz exactly for the the safety reasons you mentioned. I also uploaded the entire LOTR soundtrack to them, so now every day tasks like supermarket shopping feels like the most important quest ever.
Agree 100% on Shokz, love mine, didn't bother with the Pro.. was worried about a few negative reviews saying they didn't last long.. but needn't have worried as had mine for years.. and still working fine even after my puppy decided to use them as a chew! 🤣
Thanks for sticking with buying these things yourself Ben. I personally have been "influenced" into looking certain products but from looking at some published scientific articles can see they aren't providing the benefit advertised. I am new to your channel but have purchased a running plan which I am really enjoying. The youtube videos are really useful too. Thanks for the non-biased advice and hope the channel continues growing mate
I watched this last night on the TV (can't comment on the samsung app directly) but just want to say thanks for this one. As you say everyone has to make a living and there are many quality information providers who need to pay the bills selling snake oil (well not quite ... they usually have some benefit as you have indicated in this post) . Here is a couple of quid in the pot just in case you want to take the jump into keytones which is a pricey test.
Thank you John. Appreciate your donation there.. very kind. A few people have mentioned keytones.. will look into that possibly for the next. Wishing you all the best with your running!
I love my theragun, I was sceptical until I got one to help with an injury following a recommendation from my physio. Now I use it all the time. Great vt Ben
Hi Ben, those volume warnings used to drive me crazy! Good news, you can bypass the high volume alerts by changing the device type for the paired device on your iPhone. Go to the bluetooth settings and click the 'info'-icon for the paired device. Then change the device type from 'headphone' to 'speaker'. You can now enjoy your Shokz without volume warnings!
Really great video. Appreciate some honest reviews of gear (clothes included) as well as shoe reviews. I’m in the market for a trail running waterproof jacket, I’d love a video reviewing some of these!
Thanks for this Ben and Sarah! I would highly recommend Bob and Brad mini massage gun - I paid £60 for mine and it's brilliant. Looks as small if not smaller than the one featured and £100 cheaper. It's also the quietest one I've ever used!
Nice video Ben! I totally had the exact same experience with sungods customer service. With shokz and a beanie, I manage to pop them inside the "gutter" of the beanie where it folds back on itself and that works for me. It vibrates through a layer of beanie. Doesn't work if the beanie doesn't have a foldy-backy bit though. PS the shoz open run are more waterproof than the pros and I wear them in the shower even 😅
Shokz are the best exercise headphones imo. I can't find any earphones that fit in my ear and hate always pushing them back in every 5 seconds. Also don't understand how people keep track of tiny ass airpods. Bone conducting is the way to go. Love how you can hear your surroundings
Agreed. I often do 2h30 of trail runs, and they help motivate me through it. The only time I wouldn't recommend is if you run next to a busy/noisy road.
Got the Open Run for 3 years now and they are still working as when I got them. Sound quality surely suffers with this kind of technology but that would only matter if you actively listen to music in a quiet place like people with audiophile headphones do but those are meant for exercise. They also fit with sunglasse under biking helmets and after a couple of minutes/hours you just forget about them because they are so comfortable.
If you don't want to pay the premium for Shokz there are many other bone conducting headphones out there on Amazon for a fraction of the price. I bought a set by Hanmer bone conduction for £36 that work just as well
Pleased to see the review of the pure sport balm. You’re right, every influencer under the sun is promoting it! I’m sure it’s one of those with a placebo effect and if gave the same people a replacement they’d claim they could feel the benefit!
Absolutely love my Bob & Brad Mini Q2. So much cheaper than the Therabody stuff and I like how Bob & Brad are licences physicians who put their names behind their products. Great shout about the free app though, gave it a download and it’s really helpful to guide you through a massage routine
Thanks Ben always good to hear what people think about whats best to have in your arsenal, personally having spent nearly 20 years selling sups etc, hardly ever sold joint balms, although 95% of customers were doing gym, boxing etc, if they purchased one they hardly ever re-purchased, the magnesium seems a pretty good decent product, many mag products are poor, although personally if you'd come in my store back in the day we traded, i'd have sold you a product I believe is more suited to your needs
I'm glad you mentioned the dreams with pillar performance. I had the same experience with it, it was like some sort of trip. It reminds me of some other times when I would eat cheese just before bed. I guess there must be something in that theory.
Just magnesium supplements in general I think, used to take ZMA’s and had to stop because I would sleep through my alarms. Didn’t mind the wild dreams however
same here - so vivid - I emailed them to ask if it was common, they wouldn't confirm or deny. I use Holland and Barrett magnesium now, same deep sleep benefits, no really bad dreams (and < half the price!)
Bought my shokz Titanium in 2018 and they are still going strong. Especially good now most of the paths by us are dual use, can hear cyclists coming up behind you. I agree about Goodr glasses not lasting very long, they are also very dark, so I very rarely can wear and see sufficiently here in not so sunny Solihull. Thanks for the honest reviews Ben. The influencer stuff drives me a bit mad, and I just don’t like the feeling of a hidden agenda behind each video to sell a product.
I love my Bob and Brad- particularly for value add opportunities for innuendos I love my shokz- although don't expect high quality sound (as you pointed out) Glasses- "Goodr" make good and way cheaper than ones featured in your film.
Thanks Ben! Shokz headphones are an absolute winner. I got the Openrun Pro 2 and they have managed to fix the weird vibrations that would happen at loud volumes. Near perfection
@@Xanthous Do you still hear the surroundig environment as good as you do with previous versions like Aeropex? Considering it's not only bone conduction anymore but also the bass speaker directly to your ears
@@LashanR It’s funny you asked that. The 1st time I did a trail run, a one point I thought that someone was behind me because a bass note was so loud, unexpected, and seemed to come from further away. I started laughing at myself. I turned the volume (it gets louder than the last model) down and got used to it quickly. It was a good problem to have. The short answer is yes 🤣
I just orderd the new pro 2 and now was worried i might regret it when i saw it in the thumbnail. But since he is at his 3rd pair they cant be that bad and the newer ones should be better
I had my (After)shokz for about four years now, using them basically every day. Best sports headphones in my experience. Main selling point for me, that isn't mentioned in the video, is that they work for swimming.
I've been through 4 pairs of Shokz, and they rarely last a whole year. The water proofing can't seem to hold up to my level of sweating and I always get a short. They give you a serving pair free with the gaurantee, but when the next one breaks, too bad...
I had a very similar experience with SunGod. They were offered as part of a snow holiday package and I decided to take a punt. Same as yourself, I found a bunch of customisation offers unavailable. I picked a lens tint on pre-odrder that was due to arrive in good time before my holiday, but sure enough, they rolled back their due date and I wasn't able to get it. In fairness to them, their CS team was proactive and were able to get my amended order out in time, but not ideal all the same. The optics themselves are good, particularly the contrast provided by high-vis tint, like your lens, though I did notice some minor distortion on close inspection. I was disappointed with the faff of swapping out the lenses, and, despite my best efforts, the lenses did pick up a small scratch before the end of my trip. I've kept my Oakley shades scratch-free for ten years, in contrast. tl;dr: I tried SunGod goggles, I'll probably go back to Oakley next time
Been using pillar for almost 2 years, i use the pineapple flavour over the berry as im not a fan of the flavour. They do offer a subscription to it in aus which makes it even cheaper
What a coincidence. I got the Bob and Brad D6 Pro massage gun yesterday. It's my first massage gun so I can't really compare it to anything but the build quality feels great. Been using the Openrun Pro for a few months now and really liking that too. The music makes me run a bit funky so I mainly use them on bike rides.
I had a pair of the Openrun Pro but the left side of the headphone has complete no sound output in less than a year of use. I am planning to replace it with the standard Openrun (non-pro) version of it. The weatherproof on those are rated higher, lighter, and cheaper. Probably will lose a bit of sound quality but with open-ear headphones, I don't think that is the main attribute I am looking for.
Cam Wurf (pro cyclist and amateur IM triathlete) SWEARS by Ketones. Love to see Ben try them out. But maybe they would be best suited to him when he's doing marathon and ultra training
The Theragun is brilliant, a bit pricey, but you pay for what you get!! I use it every day after i run and it really helps. The only downside I find is the battery life is slightly limited on the larger models (however they are powerful so I presume it uses battery quickly).
Ben... love ya budd but are you not a social media influencer? you are one of the very few i actually trust though so keep it up budd. tryed the puresport magnesium and made me feel really groggy the next morning, I too suffer with really bad sleep probably down to my ADHD and inability to switch off and then keep waking when do get to sleep and then struggle to drop off again, it is very very frustrating so i might just try your magnesium product. Love my sungod velans, even been known to wear sunglasses in the rain as im weirdo not a huge fan of direct eye contact so they really help. Pulsio massage gun is small and powerful and half the price and great piece of kit.
I'd say there's a difference between a TH-camr and an influencer. An influencer really only makes content to advertise products and there's no real educational benefit to their videos. Even with the sports ones with people like Matt Choi, Jeremy Miller, and Shervin Shares it's just "watch me do this" channels which are very prone to jumping onto fads. There's nothing of any substance to be gained from their videos other than entertainment. Whereas people like Ben or Goran Winblad, for example, make videos that are actually informative just for the sake of being informative. Then when they do post a "watch me do this" style video, there's actually a story and a message behind it. Not just "watch me run half marathon in under x time because I'm amazing" 😂.
Bloody hell, we're only on the first product and it's a muscle balm 😂. That'll do about as much as good as rubbing the neighbours rabbit on my leg to heal it!
Have to share my SunGod experience. Sent back my pair for a different colour and they were so incredibly helpful. When the replacement pair were stolen from my doorstep, they imediately sent out a new pair. Really some of the best CS I've ever experienced. There will be exceptions but good to share both sides and acknowledge where credit is due :)
Good reviews Ben. Love my Shokz headphones. Warning re SunGod sunglasses: Got some couple of years ago. Chose colour combo of lenses and frame. They turned out to be too big so I tried to send them back and were told because I’d “customised” them I couldn’t send them back
I don’t how to feel. Just realised I have used every single product. For pillar, I alternate between magnesium brands but I did have their capsules as well as the Puresport ones. Still have and use everything else. My Sungods are the Sierra ones which look like normal sunglasses but don’t move even when you are doing a hard session. Also, they don’t scratch up easily. My Theragun mini is old generation so it does not have the USB port, I am still traveling with the charger but it works fine so I won’t be upgrading
Shokz just shine during bicycle rides because they allow you to understand from which direction the noise from potential danger comes. Riding is faster, so any time saved on reacting makes difference. For running it can be an overkill in terms of money spent value gained. Personally don't use Shokz for running but always use them for bicycle rides.
I got the shocks one mini version on sale and they are well worth the money. While they sound isn’t the best it’s decent enough but safety benifit is worth the trade off escoefialy on the trails. My only guilty influencer purchase is a pair of Roma’s cause Nick Bear wears them. Got them on sale good quality but def a luxury item.
First time watching the channel just popped into recommendation and love the test! Using shokz the swim version absolutely love them, not convinced about the overpriced magnesium balm or glasses.
Just another opinion. I live in downtown Chicago and use Shokz Pros and think the sound quality is pretty good. I don't have issues hearing the music in the city. The best pro about these is that your ear canal doesn't accumulate sweat like it does when you wear pods or buds.
The taste of Pillar makes me gag, but I put it in a smoothie after dinner before bed, and the taste is barely there. Throwing a handful of frozen berries in the smoothie definitely helps mask the taste. It definitely gave me a sleepy feeling at first, but I haven't had any noticeably weird dreams.
If there's one rule of thumb I abide by when it comes to purchasing goods, it's avoid anything advertised by multiple TH-camrs. It just screams "we made a cheap product then piled all of our money into marketing to make a quick buck."
The Open Run (not the Pro) and the Sungod are my absolute favorites. I use them on every run i have done since April this year. Totally agree to whatever you mentioned, likes as well as dislikes.
Bob and Brad q2 mini I love it for myself, also spent x2 as much and gifted the theragun handheld to my dad. Theragun is stronger, quieter and has the app. The shokz are so good for running safety. I can wear a beanie with it just tuck the shockz band up high inside the hat instead of low at the neck, optional sweat band or ear warmer band under the beanie for added jiggle proof. Tifosi sunglasses look so much better perform just as good and cost so much less!
Trail run packs please! My Salomon has just about had its day and I don’t want to blow a stack of cash on a clunker. BTW as an older runner I have to avoid drinking too late at night or it’s up for a wee in the wee small hours!
Have a look at the pulsio air massage gun. Fraction if the price as the therabody and for me just as good. They also do a heated head attachment which is a game changer
Theragun mini is just about OK, the real benefit it from the bigger version as it’s easier to hold and apply more pressure as well as deeper massage itself I think it’s 16mm but also the different attachments like the cone and flat end are my absolute favourites and they not available in the box of mini but could be purchased separately but many people sleep on them !
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2s are a big improvement on the original (higher volume, more bass and better on spoken word) - just released and only £10 more...The Bob & Brad Air 2 Mini is a brilliant alternative to the Theragun - £100 cheaper and the same specs - no app, but more tips and a nifty case! Sunwise are another UK sunglass supplier - they're a bit hit and miss, but they do have chromatic (light sensitive) lenses available and some models come with a set of coloured lenses for different light conditions. I got a pair with an RX prescription lens insert so I can have my distance lenses incorporated in my sunglasses - oh, and they're a bit cheaper too...
Pillar is a great product!! I always struggled with muscle twitches after hard training days. But since taking Pillar, those twitches are no longer present🙏 I wouldn't say it helps me with a better sleep, and yes, the flavour is sweet, but so are all the gels😂😜 For the magnesium and recovery, definitely a 5/5!!
The bose tempo sunglasses are a far superior alternative to the shokz. I had the shokz and they served their purpose, but wasn't necessarily something that I enjoyed using. The Bose Tempos are similar technology and sound AMAZING. Also can get prescription lenses if you need them. I do not go on runs without them. You can still hear your surroundings perfectly.
Shokz are just about to release the pro2, which supposedly increases the bass and sound quality. Having only just bought the pros, i wont be finding out any time soon! 😂
Id like to see some genuine unbias reviews of the horrificly expensive running clothing, that influencers are clarried in. The prices are beyond belief. Would be interesting to compare them to some budget alternatives
Are you sure they are the OpenRun Pro? The mini speakers in mine are really loud and at full volume they are not safe as they drown out most things (not the tube admittedly). I wore them in the London Marathon and afterwards wondered if I’d chosen to have them on too load because I didn’t really get to soak up the atmosphere.
I have a pair of shokz but have also bought a pair of Tozo Openreal open headphones at a third of the price and the sound quality of these is so much better and you still are able like the shokz to hear all the ambient sounds around you and you don't get that annoying physical vibration on certain tracks. Shokz latest generation have also adopted this open ear approach but the Tozo ones at a third of the price are a bargain in my opinion.
My shokz might as well be glued to my head at this point! I do alot of running in the rain so I'll be sticking with the open run rather than the pro or pro2, but I am super curious about the sound difference.
Hi Ben.I also struggle with my sleep and getting to sleep quickly.I’ve found listening to Wim Hof’s guided breathing exercises very helpful.He has a 10 minute TH-cam video.Hope this helps.🤛🏻
How does that work with the triple aspect as they usually just state magnesium in the ingredients? I understand they are have slightly different benefits?
Could be worth trying 5-htp for sleep alongside magnesium if you don't take antidepressants. Noticeably better sleep with it especially in the first few days/weeks and my watches tracking seems to support it with my hrv being about 15-20ms higher after taking it with similar sleep setup.
Random question, but should I get ASICS novablast or Mach 6, they’re both 75£ in my size and my other shoes are adidas Boston 12, ASICS metaspeed sky and Hoka mafate speed which all work well. I do my long runs at 5:50 a km and run 10k at most.
I absolutely love my Sungods for all the reasons you mentioned, I was lucky enough to be gifted them but now I know what they are like, I would definitely pay the price for them. :)
I’d be really interested in a review of ketone IQ for performance. Mentally it works imo but can’t tell if there’s any physical advantages (I sure feel a bit “plasticized” after taking a shot)
Thanks. For me running needs to remain the cheap sport par excellence, so I get all my gear at a fraction of these prices and can't complain. Arnica balm 2€, massage gun 25€, sports earphones 15€.
Hi Ben. Would love to see a review of your compression boots as I am thinking about potentially looking at getting some in the future. I’m training for the Valencia marathon and my legs are feeling heavy and need help with recovery so would be good to know if they are worth it. Cheers mate 🏃🏻♂️💨
Very good video! I had the same problem with sleeping till I started consuming magnesium, in particular Magnesio Moderno from EthicSport, for it works just like pillar for you, but I think is cheaper 😅. Good luck and keep up with the good work your doing!
Ordered sunglasses from Kyloe in the Wild - they seem to be a smaller business based in Scotland - and they're great! Buy one get one free, great customer service, and the glasses look great with no bounce whatsoever 😊
I think the quality of Aftershockz was better than Shokz. I also don’t like the magnetic charger. Shokz had a universal charger. If you misplace your charger w Shokz, you’re screwed unlike w AS. I had to replace my Shokz, they do have a great warranty, but even the second pair sounds like a speaker blew so I mostly still use my AS. Nonetheless, when they die, I will buy another pair.
At the end of the day, the point of an influencer is to influence consumers to buy their sponsors products. They will would sell you bottled air if they could
For android users, Samsung buds fe and Samsung buds 2 pro are two of the best for running, cheap, stay locked in your ears, have anc and no wind noise, touch sensitivity is god like and good battery life. I run 42k with them all the times
ANC is quite the opposite of bone conduction headphones. Personally I had to stop using AirPods as I didn’t even hear a tractor coming up behind me as the ANC was so good. With open ears it’s much safer with traffic around
@@johanna4593 not sure how good is your hearing but i wear earplugs almost 24/7 for almost 20 years now so even with anc and music at middle volume, i can still hear clearly scooters coming up behind me. if that's your concern then you can turn off ANC, still can hear tons of traffic noise.
My general rule of thumb is if it’s advertised by an “influencer” then I go out of my way to avoid it.
Yes if “Johnny runs” is trying to sell me his special proprietary blend of anti chafe nipple cream for a 100 quid its a hard no.
@jamesdoncaster1641you know they're spending more on advertising than their competitors, and you can get better value elsewhere
That rule of thumb will be hard to apply for running shoes
Or just use common sense, it’s pretty easy to tell a shill from a genuine user if the product
Yeah, it’s interesting how all the influencers went through a phase of using cbd oil rubs and stuff, then presumably when they stopped getting sent them they stopped promoting them as essential to their fitness…
I’m always surprised when we see Ben’s hair
So am I.. 🤣 I only ever really see it myself when I have a shower!
I literally don't recognise him lol
Love my Shokz exactly for the the safety reasons you mentioned. I also uploaded the entire LOTR soundtrack to them, so now every day tasks like supermarket shopping feels like the most important quest ever.
Haha.. that’s amazing! 🛒🙌
I love that you’ve made a mundane task so exciting
Agree 100% on Shokz, love mine, didn't bother with the Pro.. was worried about a few negative reviews saying they didn't last long.. but needn't have worried as had mine for years.. and still working fine even after my puppy decided to use them as a chew! 🤣
Thanks for sticking with buying these things yourself Ben. I personally have been "influenced" into looking certain products but from looking at some published scientific articles can see they aren't providing the benefit advertised.
I am new to your channel but have purchased a running plan which I am really enjoying. The youtube videos are really useful too.
Thanks for the non-biased advice and hope the channel continues growing mate
EDIT: can you post any published articles regarding the benefits of the first product?
I watched this last night on the TV (can't comment on the samsung app directly) but just want to say thanks for this one. As you say everyone has to make a living and there are many quality information providers who need to pay the bills selling snake oil (well not quite ... they usually have some benefit as you have indicated in this post) . Here is a couple of quid in the pot just in case you want to take the jump into keytones which is a pricey test.
Thank you John. Appreciate your donation there.. very kind. A few people have mentioned keytones.. will look into that possibly for the next. Wishing you all the best with your running!
I love my theragun, I was sceptical until I got one to help with an injury following a recommendation from my physio. Now I use it all the time. Great vt Ben
This is why we can trust what comes out of your mouth. Appreciate it a special thanks to you, man.
Hi Ben, those volume warnings used to drive me crazy! Good news, you can bypass the high volume alerts by changing the device type for the paired device on your iPhone. Go to the bluetooth settings and click the 'info'-icon for the paired device. Then change the device type from 'headphone' to 'speaker'. You can now enjoy your Shokz without volume warnings!
Thanks for that! Started having the same issue since I switched to an iPhone haha
Really great video. Appreciate some honest reviews of gear (clothes included) as well as shoe reviews.
I’m in the market for a trail running waterproof jacket, I’d love a video reviewing some of these!
Thanks for this Ben and Sarah! I would highly recommend Bob and Brad mini massage gun - I paid £60 for mine and it's brilliant. Looks as small if not smaller than the one featured and £100 cheaper. It's also the quietest one I've ever used!
Completely agree with this comment!
I have one too and it’s great 😊
Good to know.. thank you for the info!! Great price for the spec at £60 for sure. 🙌 Good bargain hunting!
Agreed, and seems to hold charge for a long time too. Also mine came with a wider selection of interchangeable heads.
Nice video Ben! I totally had the exact same experience with sungods customer service. With shokz and a beanie, I manage to pop them inside the "gutter" of the beanie where it folds back on itself and that works for me. It vibrates through a layer of beanie. Doesn't work if the beanie doesn't have a foldy-backy bit though. PS the shoz open run are more waterproof than the pros and I wear them in the shower even 😅
10:53 “booob and braaad, the two most famous, physical therapists, on the interneeet”
I need to get back to Specsavers, I read that as boob and bread. 🤣
In their opinion! 😁
Shokz are the best exercise headphones imo. I can't find any earphones that fit in my ear and hate always pushing them back in every 5 seconds. Also don't understand how people keep track of tiny ass airpods. Bone conducting is the way to go. Love how you can hear your surroundings
yeah the shokz are excellent. earbuds fall out of my ears on runs, and over-ear headphones get so sweaty. the shokz are so stable and easy.
Shokz are a game changer for someone who sweats like a pig and feels the ear buds getting slimy.
Agreed. I often do 2h30 of trail runs, and they help motivate me through it. The only time I wouldn't recommend is if you run next to a busy/noisy road.
Got the Open Run for 3 years now and they are still working as when I got them. Sound quality surely suffers with this kind of technology but that would only matter if you actively listen to music in a quiet place like people with audiophile headphones do but those are meant for exercise.
They also fit with sunglasse under biking helmets and after a couple of minutes/hours you just forget about them because they are so comfortable.
If you don't want to pay the premium for Shokz there are many other bone conducting headphones out there on Amazon for a fraction of the price. I bought a set by Hanmer bone conduction for £36 that work just as well
Pleased to see the review of the pure sport balm. You’re right, every influencer under the sun is promoting it! I’m sure it’s one of those with a placebo effect and if gave the same people a replacement they’d claim they could feel the benefit!
The Bob & Brad mini-massage gun is my go-to. £60, it's brilliant
Great video, the honesty makes a huge difference. Thanks Ben
Fantastic video Ben such a great insight to all the products you have bought to make this for us 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Ive found a way to work the beanie around the shoks in the winter. Its mostly the connection at the back.
Absolutely love my Bob & Brad Mini Q2. So much cheaper than the Therabody stuff and I like how Bob & Brad are licences physicians who put their names behind their products. Great shout about the free app though, gave it a download and it’s really helpful to guide you through a massage routine
Thanks Ben always good to hear what people think about whats best to have in your arsenal, personally having spent nearly 20 years selling sups etc, hardly ever sold joint balms, although 95% of customers were doing gym, boxing etc, if they purchased one they hardly ever re-purchased, the magnesium seems a pretty good decent product, many mag products are poor, although personally if you'd come in my store back in the day we traded, i'd have sold you a product I believe is more suited to your needs
I'm glad you mentioned the dreams with pillar performance. I had the same experience with it, it was like some sort of trip. It reminds me of some other times when I would eat cheese just before bed.
I guess there must be something in that theory.
Just magnesium supplements in general I think, used to take ZMA’s and had to stop because I would sleep through my alarms. Didn’t mind the wild dreams however
same here - so vivid - I emailed them to ask if it was common, they wouldn't confirm or deny. I use Holland and Barrett magnesium now, same deep sleep benefits, no really bad dreams (and < half the price!)
Got me with ‘Bunsen burner, but for them it’s a nice little earner’ 😂😂 15:50
Bought my shokz Titanium in 2018 and they are still going strong. Especially good now most of the paths by us are dual use, can hear cyclists coming up behind you. I agree about Goodr glasses not lasting very long, they are also very dark, so I very rarely can wear and see sufficiently here in not so sunny Solihull. Thanks for the honest reviews Ben. The influencer stuff drives me a bit mad, and I just don’t like the feeling of a hidden agenda behind each video to sell a product.
I love my Bob and Brad- particularly for value add opportunities for innuendos
I love my shokz- although don't expect high quality sound (as you pointed out)
Glasses- "Goodr" make good and way cheaper than ones featured in your film.
Thanks Ben! Shokz headphones are an absolute winner. I got the Openrun Pro 2 and they have managed to fix the weird vibrations that would happen at loud volumes. Near perfection
I just got my Pro 2's and they sound amazing. Much louder, no vibrations, and a solid usb-c charging port 👍🏾
@@Xanthous Do you still hear the surroundig environment as good as you do with previous versions like Aeropex? Considering it's not only bone conduction anymore but also the bass speaker directly to your ears
@@LashanR It’s funny you asked that. The 1st time I did a trail run, a one point I thought that someone was behind me because a bass note was so loud, unexpected, and seemed to come from further away. I started laughing at myself. I turned the volume (it gets louder than the last model) down and got used to it quickly. It was a good problem to have. The short answer is yes 🤣
I just orderd the new pro 2 and now was worried i might regret it when i saw it in the thumbnail. But since he is at his 3rd pair they cant be that bad and the newer ones should be better
Yes saw they came out just a few days ago.. otherwise would have bought them for this video! Great to hear you're enjoying the headphones!
I had my (After)shokz for about four years now, using them basically every day. Best sports headphones in my experience. Main selling point for me, that isn't mentioned in the video, is that they work for swimming.
Instead of Puresport i use a balm with 90% Arnica, very good and did not cost so much
Enjoyed the concept and the honesty! Thanks Ben
Always appreciate the honest reviews 👍
I've been through 4 pairs of Shokz, and they rarely last a whole year. The water proofing can't seem to hold up to my level of sweating and I always get a short. They give you a serving pair free with the gaurantee, but when the next one breaks, too bad...
I had a very similar experience with SunGod. They were offered as part of a snow holiday package and I decided to take a punt. Same as yourself, I found a bunch of customisation offers unavailable. I picked a lens tint on pre-odrder that was due to arrive in good time before my holiday, but sure enough, they rolled back their due date and I wasn't able to get it. In fairness to them, their CS team was proactive and were able to get my amended order out in time, but not ideal all the same. The optics themselves are good, particularly the contrast provided by high-vis tint, like your lens, though I did notice some minor distortion on close inspection. I was disappointed with the faff of swapping out the lenses, and, despite my best efforts, the lenses did pick up a small scratch before the end of my trip. I've kept my Oakley shades scratch-free for ten years, in contrast.
tl;dr: I tried SunGod goggles, I'll probably go back to Oakley next time
Oakley is hard to beat. I’ve tried others but always end up back. The lens are just better.
Giving a new respect to the effort into sprinting. Those puma shoes look sleek!
Been using pillar for almost 2 years, i use the pineapple flavour over the berry as im not a fan of the flavour. They do offer a subscription to it in aus which makes it even cheaper
I love my pillar I’m a big fan of the pineapple flavour
Nice Mini, interesting colour. Is it the petrol or the electric? Any chance to review it as the ideal city runner's car?
It's a Cooper.. the colour just makes me smile! It's been great so far..
What a coincidence. I got the Bob and Brad D6 Pro massage gun yesterday. It's my first massage gun so I can't really compare it to anything but the build quality feels great.
Been using the Openrun Pro for a few months now and really liking that too. The music makes me run a bit funky so I mainly use them on bike rides.
I had a pair of the Openrun Pro but the left side of the headphone has complete no sound output in less than a year of use. I am planning to replace it with the standard Openrun (non-pro) version of it. The weatherproof on those are rated higher, lighter, and cheaper. Probably will lose a bit of sound quality but with open-ear headphones, I don't think that is the main attribute I am looking for.
They have a good warranty, mine only ever last about 18 months but they will replace them
Can’t believe you didn’t spend over £100 on a few shots of ketones Ben 😂
Cam Wurf (pro cyclist and amateur IM triathlete) SWEARS by Ketones. Love to see Ben try them out. But maybe they would be best suited to him when he's doing marathon and ultra training
@@rych7852oh I know that some do but the price is exorbitant!
If I happen to be watching and the person mentions ketones…. I switch off as sick of people pushing them on us and the price is nuts.
The Theragun is brilliant, a bit pricey, but you pay for what you get!! I use it every day after i run and it really helps. The only downside I find is the battery life is slightly limited on the larger models (however they are powerful so I presume it uses battery quickly).
Ben... love ya budd but are you not a social media influencer? you are one of the very few i actually trust though so keep it up budd. tryed the puresport magnesium and made me feel really groggy the next morning, I too suffer with really bad sleep probably down to my ADHD and inability to switch off and then keep waking when do get to sleep and then struggle to drop off again, it is very very frustrating so i might just try your magnesium product. Love my sungod velans, even been known to wear sunglasses in the rain as im weirdo not a huge fan of direct eye contact so they really help. Pulsio massage gun is small and powerful and half the price and great piece of kit.
I'd say there's a difference between a TH-camr and an influencer. An influencer really only makes content to advertise products and there's no real educational benefit to their videos. Even with the sports ones with people like Matt Choi, Jeremy Miller, and Shervin Shares it's just "watch me do this" channels which are very prone to jumping onto fads. There's nothing of any substance to be gained from their videos other than entertainment. Whereas people like Ben or Goran Winblad, for example, make videos that are actually informative just for the sake of being informative. Then when they do post a "watch me do this" style video, there's actually a story and a message behind it. Not just "watch me run half marathon in under x time because I'm amazing" 😂.
Pillar triple magnesium is so nice! I was pleasantly surprised and it gives me a nice heavy eyed feeling and does help me fall asleep for sure.
Bloody hell, we're only on the first product and it's a muscle balm 😂. That'll do about as much as good as rubbing the neighbours rabbit on my leg to heal it!
Omius headband. Especially after the Olympics.
I use pillar every night and it definitely helps me sleep better! It's much cheaper in Australia at only $35 AUD. Would recommend
Have to share my SunGod experience. Sent back my pair for a different colour and they were so incredibly helpful. When the replacement pair were stolen from my doorstep, they imediately sent out a new pair. Really some of the best CS I've ever experienced. There will be exceptions but good to share both sides and acknowledge where credit is due :)
They were certainly very friendly and nice when I dealt with them. Great to hear your positive experience Jamie!
Good reviews Ben. Love my Shokz headphones.
Warning re SunGod sunglasses: Got some couple of years ago. Chose colour combo of lenses and frame. They turned out to be too big so I tried to send them back and were told because I’d “customised” them I couldn’t send them back
I don’t how to feel. Just realised I have used every single product. For pillar, I alternate between magnesium brands but I did have their capsules as well as the Puresport ones. Still have and use everything else. My Sungods are the Sierra ones which look like normal sunglasses but don’t move even when you are doing a hard session. Also, they don’t scratch up easily.
My Theragun mini is old generation so it does not have the USB port, I am still traveling with the charger but it works fine so I won’t be upgrading
Shokz just shine during bicycle rides because they allow you to understand from which direction the noise from potential danger comes. Riding is faster, so any time saved on reacting makes difference. For running it can be an overkill in terms of money spent value gained. Personally don't use Shokz for running but always use them for bicycle rides.
I got the shocks one mini version on sale and they are well worth the money. While they sound isn’t the best it’s decent enough but safety benifit is worth the trade off escoefialy on the trails. My only guilty influencer purchase is a pair of Roma’s cause Nick Bear wears them. Got them on sale good quality but def a luxury item.
First time watching the channel just popped into recommendation and love the test! Using shokz the swim version absolutely love them, not convinced about the overpriced magnesium balm or glasses.
Stock up on Pillar at Melbourne Marra. 45 pounds sounds outrageous. Here in Aus it’s $40 a bag which is more like 25-30 pounds
Just another opinion. I live in downtown Chicago and use Shokz Pros and think the sound quality is pretty good. I don't have issues hearing the music in the city. The best pro about these is that your ear canal doesn't accumulate sweat like it does when you wear pods or buds.
The taste of Pillar makes me gag, but I put it in a smoothie after dinner before bed, and the taste is barely there. Throwing a handful of frozen berries in the smoothie definitely helps mask the taste. It definitely gave me a sleepy feeling at first, but I haven't had any noticeably weird dreams.
If there's one rule of thumb I abide by when it comes to purchasing goods, it's avoid anything advertised by multiple TH-camrs. It just screams "we made a cheap product then piled all of our money into marketing to make a quick buck."
The Open Run (not the Pro) and the Sungod are my absolute favorites. I use them on every run i have done since April this year. Totally agree to whatever you mentioned, likes as well as dislikes.
Bob and Brad q2 mini I love it for myself, also spent x2 as much and gifted the theragun handheld to my dad. Theragun is stronger, quieter and has the app. The shokz are so good for running safety. I can wear a beanie with it just tuck the shockz band up high inside the hat instead of low at the neck, optional sweat band or ear warmer band under the beanie for added jiggle proof. Tifosi sunglasses look so much better perform just as good and cost so much less!
They say that wearing orange glasses on a grey winter day makes you feel great...I have tried this ❤️❤️
Trail run packs please! My Salomon has just about had its day and I don’t want to blow a stack of cash on a clunker. BTW as an older runner I have to avoid drinking too late at night or it’s up for a wee in the wee small hours!
Have a look at the pulsio air massage gun. Fraction if the price as the therabody and for me just as good. They also do a heated head attachment which is a game changer
Theragun mini is just about OK, the real benefit it from the bigger version as it’s easier to hold and apply more pressure as well as deeper massage itself I think it’s 16mm but also the different attachments like the cone and flat end are my absolute favourites and they not available in the box of mini but could be purchased separately but many people sleep on them !
I see Im not the only one who collects magnets from the trips around the world 😂
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2s are a big improvement on the original (higher volume, more bass and better on spoken word) - just released and only £10 more...The Bob & Brad Air 2 Mini is a brilliant alternative to the Theragun - £100 cheaper and the same specs - no app, but more tips and a nifty case! Sunwise are another UK sunglass supplier - they're a bit hit and miss, but they do have chromatic (light sensitive) lenses available and some models come with a set of coloured lenses for different light conditions. I got a pair with an RX prescription lens insert so I can have my distance lenses incorporated in my sunglasses - oh, and they're a bit cheaper too...
Hi Ben! Which earphones do you use for rainy days? How does the AirPod Pro 2 hold up? Thanks!
I have a Pulsio AIR massage gun which is small and has severed me well over the last few years. Worth a look as the price is really good on them too.
What about the Ben Parkes running hats?
Joking :D, they are the best. 5/5, highly recommend!
Pillar is a great product!! I always struggled with muscle twitches after hard training days. But since taking Pillar, those twitches are no longer present🙏
I wouldn't say it helps me with a better sleep, and yes, the flavour is sweet, but so are all the gels😂😜
For the magnesium and recovery, definitely a 5/5!!
Respect to you for spending so much money for these videos. I wanna get one of those Rest Day sweaters but it’s still too hot here in Texas 😂
The bose tempo sunglasses are a far superior alternative to the shokz. I had the shokz and they served their purpose, but wasn't necessarily something that I enjoyed using. The Bose Tempos are similar technology and sound AMAZING. Also can get prescription lenses if you need them. I do not go on runs without them. You can still hear your surroundings perfectly.
Shokz are just about to release the pro2, which supposedly increases the bass and sound quality. Having only just bought the pros, i wont be finding out any time soon! 😂
Id like to see some genuine unbias reviews of the horrificly expensive running clothing, that influencers are clarried in. The prices are beyond belief. Would be interesting to compare them to some budget alternatives
Ben is like the rich guy pretending to be nice to the help. That said I like the videos 😂
Are you sure they are the OpenRun Pro? The mini speakers in mine are really loud and at full volume they are not safe as they drown out most things (not the tube admittedly). I wore them in the London Marathon and afterwards wondered if I’d chosen to have them on too load because I didn’t really get to soak up the atmosphere.
When I took a sleep recovery supplement, I noticed I had weird dreams as well!
Love my Open Run Shokz. I use them for every run. Best running headphones I have ever had and feel fine for music. 👍
I have a pair of shokz but have also bought a pair of Tozo Openreal open headphones at a third of the price and the sound quality of these is so much better and you still are able like the shokz to hear all the ambient sounds around you and you don't get that annoying physical vibration on certain tracks. Shokz latest generation have also adopted this open ear approach but the Tozo ones at a third of the price are a bargain in my opinion.
My shokz might as well be glued to my head at this point! I do alot of running in the rain so I'll be sticking with the open run rather than the pro or pro2, but I am super curious about the sound difference.
Hi Ben.I also struggle with my sleep and getting to sleep quickly.I’ve found listening to Wim Hof’s guided breathing exercises very helpful.He has a 10 minute TH-cam video.Hope this helps.🤛🏻
How does that work with the triple aspect as they usually just state magnesium in the ingredients? I understand they are have slightly different benefits?
Could be worth trying 5-htp for sleep alongside magnesium if you don't take antidepressants. Noticeably better sleep with it especially in the first few days/weeks and my watches tracking seems to support it with my hrv being about 15-20ms higher after taking it with similar sleep setup.
Random question, but should I get ASICS novablast or Mach 6, they’re both 75£ in my size and my other shoes are adidas Boston 12, ASICS metaspeed sky and Hoka mafate speed which all work well. I do my long runs at 5:50 a km and run 10k at most.
I have the Bob and Brad massage gun - took it on holiday for a month or so and it was a lifesaver. Great battery and really powerful!
I absolutely love my Sungods for all the reasons you mentioned, I was lucky enough to be gifted them but now I know what they are like, I would definitely pay the price for them. :)
Will you run Berlin and/or Valencia this year? I’m scheduled for both. Would be awesome to see a now long time inspiration of mine. 😊
I’d be really interested in a review of ketone IQ for performance. Mentally it works imo but can’t tell if there’s any physical advantages (I sure feel a bit “plasticized” after taking a shot)
Jbl soundgear sense also are great, open sound and decent pricing
I've made use of relaxation audio to help get to sleep. Some are free, others with a cost but it's worth a try to see if that helps you nod off.
Thanks. For me running needs to remain the cheap sport par excellence, so I get all my gear at a fraction of these prices and can't complain. Arnica balm 2€, massage gun 25€, sports earphones 15€.
Hi Ben. Would love to see a review of your compression boots as I am thinking about potentially looking at getting some in the future. I’m training for the Valencia marathon and my legs are feeling heavy and need help with recovery so would be good to know if they are worth it. Cheers mate 🏃🏻♂️💨
Hi Ben, Sarah and Kiki, I'd be interested in a video on your Normatec and alternatives ✌🏻
Very good video! I had the same problem with sleeping till I started consuming magnesium, in particular Magnesio Moderno from EthicSport, for it works just like pillar for you, but I think is cheaper 😅. Good luck and keep up with the good work your doing!
Ordered sunglasses from Kyloe in the Wild - they seem to be a smaller business based in Scotland - and they're great! Buy one get one free, great customer service, and the glasses look great with no bounce whatsoever 😊
Dont get the pro shokz, just get the normal run shokz, the exact same and the normal one is cheaper
Can you review maurtens bicarb system would love to know your thoughts on it for marathon use. Thanks
The sunglasses look good, has anyone ever found any good prescription running sunglasses?
Sungod do prescription glasses and I love my pair
Tfosi makes a better version of what goodr offers with the hydrophobic nose pieces for about $40-$50
Ah I was just wondering yesterday what was up with you! Any races planned for the rest of the year? You and Sara both doing ok? Happy running :)
I think the quality of Aftershockz was better than Shokz. I also don’t like the magnetic charger. Shokz had a universal charger. If you misplace your charger w Shokz, you’re screwed unlike w AS. I had to replace my Shokz, they do have a great warranty, but even the second pair sounds like a speaker blew so I mostly still use my AS. Nonetheless, when they die, I will buy another pair.
At the end of the day, the point of an influencer is to influence consumers to buy their sponsors products. They will would sell you bottled air if they could
Is no one going to mention the size of that cup, my goodness
For android users, Samsung buds fe and Samsung buds 2 pro are two of the best for running, cheap, stay locked in your ears, have anc and no wind noise, touch sensitivity is god like and good battery life. I run 42k with them all the times
ANC is quite the opposite of bone conduction headphones. Personally I had to stop using AirPods as I didn’t even hear a tractor coming up behind me as the ANC was so good. With open ears it’s much safer with traffic around
@@johanna4593 not sure how good is your hearing but i wear earplugs almost 24/7 for almost 20 years now so even with anc and music at middle volume, i can still hear clearly scooters coming up behind me. if that's your concern then you can turn off ANC, still can hear tons of traffic noise.