Throwback to 2011 and my first ever holiday abroad to Egypt with Phillip. With mega hot weather and the inability to swim, sounded like a great idea(not)! Fast Forward to now and swimming is one of my favourite ways to exercise, I swim 4 times a week on a good week with a combination of pool and open water swims.

When it comes to swimming, there are two main bits of kit you need. The first being swimwear for the pool or trisuit/wetsuit open water and the second and probably most important is a good pair of goggles.

When I first started out, I got the cheapest goggles and swimsuit I could find as I wasnt sure how long I'd keep it up. I've tried out and replaced my fair share of swimsuits and goggles over the last few years. I quickly found out that not wearing suitable goggles and swimwear to the pool can very really put you off your swim training and they can make such a difference once you've got it right!

Not too long ago, I received a new swimsuit and goggles from MP - The partnership between Michael Phelps and Aqua Sphere. I received the Kiraly Training Swimsuit and XCEED Goggles to review.
Whilst I was hoping that the items might help me channel my inner Michael Phelps in the pool for training, they can't work miracles but they are great quality items and I would absolutely purchase from the range in the future. Read my reviews of both items below:

Kiraly Training Swimsuit Review
There are several things I look for when looking for a new swimsuit: The fit, the style and the material.

It's important to make sure you get a swimsuit that fits correctly and is comfortable when on. An ill fitting swimsuit can be a pain and can restrict movement in the water if too tight, on the other hand, extra fabric that doesn't sit flat to the body can cause some unnecessary drag too, so you need to find the right fit for you.
There are so many different styles of swimsuits about, what I love about the Michael Phelps training suits is that it's very open at the back of the suit with racing back, thin silicone straps that allow for extra flexibility and movement in the pool. The fit of the swimsuit is great, the straps don't move despite them being so thin and I feel more streamlined in the water!

The swimsuit is made out of Aqua Infinity fabric which is chlorine resistant, fast drying and has UV50+ protection(you bet I'll be taking it on hols for swim training!).  The chlorine resistance is a massive plus, the fabric elasticity remains the same, even after 200+ hours inside chlorinated water. I've had swimsuits in the past which stretch out and degrade in a short amount of use.

One, maybe not quite so important factor for some, was the print and look of the swimsuit. I know all too well the nerve wracking experience it can be walking out to the pool area in your swimsuit(fyi..no-one is actually looking, so don't worry!). I love picking out standout prints that not only look awesome but make me feel awesome and confident too.
The Kiraly print is gorgeous, they do have two other styles on the website which are equally as stunning but this one was definitely my fave! The black panels at the hips I also find helps give the vision of longer torso and legs, which is great!

Overall, I'm really happy with the suit and it's probably the best one I've owned. I love everything about it and I feel amazing in it. I will deffo re-purchase when the time comes! The swimsuit is priced at £35 which is competitively priced with other swimsuits on the market.
XCEED Goggles Review
Probably the most important bit of kit for me, afterall, you cant swim properly if you can't actually see and who wants chlorinated water in your eyes? I've been through so many pairs of goggles before and it's taken a while to find the ones best for me.

There are different styles of goggles available, those more suited to open water swimming that have a larger profile seal around the eye or pool goggles with smaller sockets.

I was a little apprehensive about the XCEED goggles. I've never had goggles with such a small eye socket. I've had goggles in the past with a smaller socket and found my eyelashes rubbed on the lens and were super uncomfortable, so I wasn't holding up hope for these but surprisingly, I've not had any issues.
The goggles have a patented curved lens for expanded field of vision for better sight without moving head position. They've got a compressed Micro-Gasket which provides a leak resistant seal(which safe to say is holding up and I've had no fogging or leaking since using them).

There's two straps to go around the back of the head and the straps are super easy to adjust. They're comfortable on the eyes too which is a bonus when you're in the pool for an hour at a time. I hate when goggles leave your eye sockets feeling super sore with nice red rings ;) - Not with these!
Overall I'm impressed with them. I haven't tried them for open water as I much prefer the higher profile goggles just incase there's a kick to the face. They're very reasonably priced online at around £17.35 from MP on Amazon which is awesome for the quality of the goggles!

Where can you find MP range?
If you're interested in finding out more about the MP range, which offers goggles, swimwear and training aids, you can find it on their website HERE.

You can also find their social media links below:
TWITTER | FACEBOOK(UK) | FACEBOOK(US) | INSTAGRAM(US) |  INSTAGRAM(UK) | YOUTUBE

Question: What do you look for in a swimsuit or goggles for swimming?

Disclosure: I received a Quadlock Out Front Mount and Action Cam Adaptor for free in return for an honest review on my blog. I am not being paid to talk about or advertise their products. All opinions of the product are my own. See my policy page HERE for more detail.

---

I only purchased my bike back in September of last year, so I'm almost coming up on a year.. but I still feel like a complete newbie cyclist! Despite that though, I just LOVE cycling!

When I'm not fretting about cars, traffic, or not unclipping at a junction or roundabout in time.. I love the freedom that cycling gives me, the thrill of downhills, the struggle on the uphills and most of all the adventure and new route discoveries.

Just like running, I very rarely, if ever, go out without my phone. I get easily bored of doing the same routes, so I like to explore.. however, with exploration usually comes with getting lost and I'm hopeless with navigating myself back.. so my phone has come in handy several times. Adventure also comes with hidden treasures and beautiful scenery that I love to capture in a photo.

My phone is quite large, I have a Google Pixel XL.. so there's no chance there's going to be a jersey pocket big enough to fit it securely, I don't want the bulk of wearing some sort of belt that will get in the way.. and it barely fits in my saddle bag.

So, what is my option? The Quadlock Out Front Bike Mount.

Who are Quadlock?
Incase you didn't read my last review, here's a short summary of who Quadlock is and what they do..

Quadlock was developed by an Australian designer called Chris Peters. He had moved to Sydney ad found that having access to google maps very handy for navigating the new area and as cycling was his main form of transportation, he designed a smartphone mount for the bike so that he would be able to see his phone and maps whilst cycling.

The Quadlock system is called so due the four tabs which are integral to the system itself. It allows you to securely and conveniently attach your smartphone to your bike, car, arm, belt or tripod.

How does the Quadlock work?
The Quadlock has a dual stage locking mechanism that locks your phone in place to the mount. The mounting system has four tabs which slot into an adapter and twist, click and lock into place(as shown below). When the phone has been locked into the mount, it is completely secure and there is no fear of it falling off your bike.
A phone cannot be accidentally released from the mount but can be removed from the mount very conveniently when needed by pressing down the lever on the mount and twisting the phone off.

Pros and Cons:
If you've already read my Quadlock Sportsband Review, you'll see that a couple of these points are very similar, if you haven't read the post, then I'm basically just giving you a rundown of the pros and cons of the Out Front mount.

Pros:
Security of Mount - I can't fault the security of the mount, my phone is going NOWHERE on this baby which totally puts me at ease! It doesn't even really wobble and is totally sturdy on bumps in the road.
Very Easy to use and Install!- Installation was easy peasy, it's one simple screw to put it in place on the handle bars and probably took me all of a minute. In terms of usage, thats pretty easy too, a quarter turn to slot the adapter onto the mount then twist and it clicks and locks in place. Then you push the lever and twist off to release. Doesn't get much easier, right?
Universal with lots of devices - Unlike the Sports Armband, the Out Front mount does not have the option to buy a case bundle - that is only with with the Stem Bike mount. So unless you already own a quadlock case, you'd have to go with the Universal Adaptor Option(which is what I use).

You stick the Universal Adaptor on to a case of your choice(a smooth, non-textured, non-poruous surface like polycarbonate, you can see more details on the link HERE). The adaptor has 3M VHB Adhesive and is VERY strong(so be sure you know where you're placing it before you actually do it as you can't get it back off!).

With the case or adaptor, you then have the ability to use it with their whole range of mounts too!

Ability to attach action camera - Whilst this may not be of use to some, I know ALOT of cyclists that now have a camera attached to their bikes or helmets in the case of an accident and I have my GoPro attached every time I go out for a ride. There's a section below dedicated to the Action Cam mount below!

Cons:
It's not waterproof - As I've mentioned with the sports armband - your phone isn't really protected if you're cycling in the rain, unless of course your phone is waterproof/water resistant. There is a cover for some compatible phones, but for those like me, it's a no go in the rain.. I need to figure out a solution!
Cost - Cost is always a major factor when reviewing a piece of kit and whether or not I think it's worth the money. The Out Front mount is £29.95, if you dont already own an adaptor, it would be another £11.95 putting the whole thing at over £40 which can be alittle steep for some.
However, with that being said, I can't really say it's a con as it does a damn good job of keeping my phone safe and secure and where I can see it at all times. I have absolutely no worries about the security of the phone on the bike so I think that sort of pays for itself and I definitely think it's worth the investment.

They do have a Stem Mount available too as an option which my partner has. However, for me, I personally wanted my phone alittle further forward for better viewing. The stem mount sits closer to you so you have to look down more than you would with the Out Front mount, but it's totally personal preference and would save you £7.

Stem Mount on my partners bike

Action Cam Adaptor
So, I'm adding this extra section as I also have the action camera adapter that fits onto the bottom of the Out Front mount. The Stem mount does not have the ability to do this, so if you wanted to use an action cam to film your rides/commutes, you would need extra space somewhere on your bike to mount it.
However, the Out Front mount has holes on the bottom of the mount to allow you to attach the action cam adaptor underneath, saving some space. The adaptor was super easy to install with just two screws and then you're ready to go.

The only downside I have to say about the mount.. and it's probably actually got nothing to do with Quadlock.. is that the wires for my gears/brakes sit in the same position as where my GoPro sits, which means I have to re-arrange the wires slightly and have no choice but to have them partly in view for my footage, which is not really too much of a big deal.

The action cam mount is sold separately for £7.95 - so this is obviously optional and you may prefer to have another mount attached.

Overall Impressions
Overall, I'm incredibly happy with both the mount and action cam adapter that I have.  I am worry free in the knowledge that Quadlock is taking care of my smartphone for me on a ride and I have the convenience of grabbing it quickly if I want to take a quick snap without the need of fumbling about getting it out of storage! If you need a better solution for your smartphone mounting needs, I'd recommend Quadlock 100%, without hesitation.

If you're an adventure seeker, the convenience of being able to have a map right there in front of you is amazing! It's also an option if you use a virtual trainer like Zwift, you could easily mount your phone onto your bike and be ready to go!

I love my quadlock so much that we actually bought the same mounts for my partner too who is equally as impressed as I am.

Where to find Quadlock?
If you're interested in finding out more about quadlock or seeing some more pictures of their products, I've left all the places you can find them below!

Question: Do you take your phone out with you when you're cycling? If so, where do you store it?

Disclosure: I received a Quadlock Sports Armband for free in return for an honest review on my blog. I am not being paid to talk about or advertise their products. All opinions of the product are my own. See my policy page HERE for more detail.

---

I never go out running without my phone, for a number of different reasons. First off, for emergencies, if I get stuck somewhere or I need to contact someone immediately, I'll have it there. I also take a lot of pictures out on my runs, I like to have a picture training diary of sorts(If you follow me on IG, you already know this!), plus you never know what you'll see out running, so having my phone with me means I'm not likely to miss any photo op. Lastly, it's my music source if I feel so inclined.

Carrying my phone for a run has always been a big issue for me. I've always gone for a bigger phone which isn't very practical for exercising with and it doesn't leave you with a lot of choices for cases to carry them when running. I've tried a lot of different belts and armbands since I started running and never had one thats comfortable. They either don't fit my phone, they are super uncomfortable or they bounce around and are really annoying to run with.

That is until I had the opportunity to try out the Quadlock Sports Armband. I've been using it the last couple of months, so I've had lots of time to try it out in different conditions to give a full rundown of it.

Who are Quadlock?
I suppose the best place to start would be to give a bit of background on the company. Quadlock was developed in Australia by a designer called Chris Peters. The Quadlock system is called so due the four tabs which are integral to the system itself. It allows you to securely and conveniently attach your smartphone to your bike, car or arm.

Chris had recently moved to Sydney and found having access to google maps very handy for getting around the area and as cycling was his main form of transportation, he thought it would be a great idea to be able to see his phone and maps whilst riding.
The Quadlock kickstarter project was launched in Dec 2011 and smashed the funding goal within two weeks! Since releasing the original bike mount, they have since released a car mount, belt clip, tripod adaptor and the sports armband that I'm reviewing.

How does the Quadlock work?
The Quadlock has a dual stage locking mechanism that locks your phone in place to the mount. As briefly mentioned before, the mounting system has four tabs which slot into an adapter and click and lock into place(as shown below). When the phone has been locked into the mount, it is completely secure. I have never once worried about my phone falling off the mount on the armband, even when I rigorously move my arms about.
A phone cannot be accidentally released from the mount but can be removed from the mount very conveniently when needed by pressing down the lever on the mount and twisting the phone off.

Pros and Cons:
As always, there are pros and cons for anything that you use and I've made a list of the ones I've found during the few months I've been using the Armband mount.

Pros:
Security of Mount - This has to be the top one for me. As I mentioned above, I've never once had to worry about my phone falling off the mount mid run. It's totally secure and the dual stage locking mechanism is fab.
Very Easy to use - I can't begin to describe how easy it is to put the phone on the mount and to take it off very quickly when needed. It literally takes seconds!

Universal with lots of devices - For some devices, the Quadlock has the option to come with a pre-build case for your phone(seems to be iPhone mainly and some Samsung models) for extra security.

However, they also have the option of a Universal Adaptor so that you can stick it on to a case of your choice(a smooth, non-textured, non-poruous surface like Polycarbonate, see the note on this page for details: https://www.quadlockcase.co.uk/products/running-kit-universal-fit)

I must admit, I was a little worried about a stick on adaptor, but it is a 3M VHB Adhesive and is VERY strong, there's no way that baby was coming off once I'd stuck it down!

Comfortable & doesn't move -  I've had this with armbands and belts in the past and was worried that with a bigger phone, the weight would make it flop around on my arm.. the first run I used it, it was a little weird, but not long into the run, I really didn't notice it was there and I don't pay attention to it anymore!
It's made of a nylon lycra so it's comfortable on the arm and doesn't slip down or turn around on the arm which is a thumbs up from me!

Cons:
It's not waterproof - at least not the version I use. For some particular phone models, there is a waterproof casing to go over the phone, but for the phones not supported, there's no way to have a waterproof solution. I know some phones are not already water resistant/waterproof, but if it isn't like mine, then you can't use it in the rain. Maybe I can get some sort of 'plug' for the headphone jack at the top of the phone though.. I just haven't looked into it.

I did get some chaffing - This might only be me.. my partner bought his Quadlock running armband and hasn't had this issue at all and I suspect it's my saggy arm skin causing the issue - but since it's gotten a lot hotter recently, I've had a little bit of chafing on the top of the armband(when skin to quadlock, over a t-shirt is no issue!) - it doesn't cause a problem when it's not hot though! I've been using a chafe stick which seems to stop it from happening.
Cost - For a phone mount, £41.90 for the armband and £11.95 for the Universal Adaptor(Or up to £49 for the case+sportsband bundle) is pretty expensive some would say, especially when there are cheaper sports armbands on the market. There is a 10% discount when you sign up for their newsletter however.

Despite this, Quadlock is top quality, the materials are soft against the skin and it doesn't look like it will fall apart any time soon, so whilst it might be an expensive up front cost, you probably wont have to replace it as often as cheaper options. The pros for this mount far outweigh the price for me, I like being able to take my phone off my arm within seconds to capture a shot and I hardly notice it's there, for me, I'd buy one again in a heartbeat if I needed to replace it.

Plus - Once you've gotten the case/universal adaptor, you can use it with lots of different mounts, especially, like if you use your phone as a sat nav in your car for e.g. or maybe on your bike.

Overall Impressions
I'm so happy with the armband! It's solved all my issues for carrying my phone on my run. No more annoying bouncing or slipping of armbands or running belts. I love the accessibility of my phone on a run and how secure it is. I've already mentioned that my partner also bought his own Quadlock mount and loves his too!

If you've not been able to find the perfect mounting product for your smartphone yet or want something that gives you secure, yet effortless accessibility to your phone out on you run, then I highly recommend you try out Quadlock and their range of mounts!

Where to find Quadlock?
If you're interested in finding out more about quadlock or seeing some more pictures of their products, I've left all the places you can find them below!


If you're not a runner, or don't have a need for a sports armband for your phone, but maybe want the same sort of option for your bike, then I'll have a review up for the Quadlock Out Front bike mount in a few days, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

You can get 10% off your order by using the following link: http://quadlock.refr.cc/3B6T6GM *Please note this is a referral link and I will earn 5% of your order at no extra cost to you to use on the quadlock website.

Question: Do you take your phone out with you when you run? What do you currently use to hold your phone?

Disclosure: I received two Buff Headwear pieces for free in return for an honest review on my blog. I am not being paid to talk about or advertise their products. All opinions of the product are my own. See my policy page HERE for more detail.

---

No matter the season we're training in, runners(and cyclists) heads are always exposed to the different elements, whether it be sunshine, rain, wind or snow! There are many different ways to protect our head from the elements.. Some may not protect it at all, whilst some may prefer to wear a hat, a beanie.. or maybe even a Buff?

There are many benefits of protecting your head from the elements, such as climate control, sweat wicking in the heat and the added visor on a cap to protect your eyes in the sunshine.

In the winter, a hat, beanie, headscarf or buff will keep your head and ears warm. In the summer months, a cap or buff can help with sweat wicking and sun protection of the eyes, face and ears.
I was familiar with Buff Headwear having seen them countless of times worn by runners but never actually owned one until I was contacted to try some of their pieces. If you're not familiar with Buff, they're multifunctional headwear that has become popular with millions of outdoor enthusiasts due to its versatility, it can be worn lots of different ways, from a scarf, bandana, headband, hair, facemask or wristband. Pretty cool, huh?

Along with their original buff product, they also have headbands, caps and visors available and come in a variety of different colours and prints available. I got sent a headband and cap to try out which was perfect timing for the summer months. I'd also had my hair cut prior to being sent the products and had really been struggling to keep the hair out of my face so wondered if this would solve my issues.

I got the Akira Pink Headband and and a UV Cap Buff and have worn them on countless runs since I've received them. I love the colourways too, very summery!
I was a little apprehensive about the headband, as I've never found a headband that doesn't slip from my head at some point but I was pleasantly surprised about this, no movement in the headband whatsoever. Its made of a stretchy Coolmax fabric that absorbs forehead perspiration and has brilliant breathability and humidity control, it also offers up to 98% UV protection.

The material is really light and it still allows for you to keep the top of your head uncovered so you don't get overheated.
I wore it for the Wings For Life race last month and it worked brilliantly in the heat. The sweat wicking capabilities definitely helped with keeping me cooler.
The cap I received was also great, and it's reversible so two caps in one, win! It has the same capabilities as the headband, with the added protection of the bill for added sun protection, which is great when I forgot my sunglasses! It's one size with an elasticated drawstring fit - I had no problems with keeping it on, even when it was particularly windy.

Again, it is a lightweight material, I didn't feel as though I was getting overheated wearing it. It can also be folded up into a ball to store in a pocket if you want to take it off.
Both of the items are fantastic for the summer months(my partner liked the cap and bought his own). I'm definitely going to be taking both of the items on holiday with me too, the cap can be used down at the pool as it's light enough fabric and if it takes a dip in the water, it will dry really quickly!

The Buff Headband retails at £14.26  and the cap at £28 both of which I initially found quite expensive for what they are but I've worn both of them pretty much every single run much and you can tell they're really great quality, they not something you're likely to have to replace often, if at all!

I'm definitely going to look into purchasing the original buff since it's so versatile, it would be perfect for the summer and winter months!

Question: Do you wear any hats or headwear when you run? Do you own any Buff products?

Disclosure: I received two pieces of clothing from Get The Label for free in return for an honest review on my blog. I am not being paid to talk about or advertise their products. All opinions of the product are my own. See my policy page HERE for more detail.

---

It's no secret that I love myself some new fitness clothing & fitness gadgets, I'm pretty sure I own more fitness wear that I do actual clothes, most of the money I save up tends to go on something fitness related and when it comes to the Christmas and birthdays, I typically always ask for something fitness related too.

It's sort of addicting I must admit and I get a surge of motivation when I get new fitness kit, I always want to go and try it out, so it's win win!

Get The Label approached me a couple of weeks back to ask if I'd like to pick out some pieces from their website.. how could I turn that down?!

Get The Label(a subsidiary of JD Sports) is a website that sells fashion and sportswear at up to a 75% discount! I'd never visited the site before but I have seen a couple of people talk about it before. I am a big fan of JD Sports for fitness kit too.

There are lots of brands available such as Adidas, Lacoste, Diesel, Sketchers, Penguin and many more. There's some brands I've never personally heard of before too. There's a wide variety of different types of clothing and footwear to have a look at.

I had a hard time actually picking out what I wanted with so much choice available! I ended up picking out a pair of cropped tights and a tank/t-shirt combo.

Here's my choices:
Adidas Supernova 3/4 Running Tights - Currently £21.99 - RRP £51.99
Adidas Run Layer T-Shirt - Currently £13.59 -  RRP29.99

For the price that they're at, Im pretty impressed, it's hard to find good, affordable fitness kit that doesn't cost the earth. There are so many other good deals available!

So What did I think of the items I chose?
I loved the print of the leggings, perfect colour for Spring and Summer and I loved the idea of a dual layer for the top and the colours were almost a perfect match.
The tank is the perfect length for me, I like tank tops that are a little longer in the body and it has a dipped hem at the back hem on the tank too, allowing for a little extra coverage of the booty if thats your thing! The over top is really light weight with an open back which is a nice detail.
Wearing both allows for some extra layer and coverage if it's a little chilly.. and then it's a good transition piece into the summer when it gets really(who am I kidding ;)) hot as I can just wear the tank on it's own.

As for the 3/4 tights, I didn't love them quite as much as the top. The colours and the print are amazing and the fit was great with a drawstring waist(if you're someone like me who struggles with finding tights and shorts that don't slip down!). There is a lovely little mesh panel on the back for a bit of extra detail.

Whilst I did love the above details, there were a couple of downsides for me with these tights. The inside of the tights is white, so when the fabric is stretched, the white from the inside kinda washed out the print(I think you can only tell up close as photos don't show this issue). They also go a little see-through on the butt area when wearing dark underwear so a lighter coloured pair of undies is needed, works well and doesn't show through. It may be that because I have chunky thighs and a bigger butt, these two slight issue might not happen for others!
Despite the two issues I mentioned above, they're both otherwise good items and I've worn them countless of times when running. Get The Label will definitely be a website I keep in mind when I'm looking for some great sportswear deals! They actually have the Pure Boost X trainers I'm wearing in this picture for an great discounted price!

If you'd like to see what Get The Label has to offer, you can find their website HERE. There's also a link to their sportswear for Women HERE and Men HERE.

Question: Have you heard of Get The Label? How often do you find yourself buying fitness gear?