Gear Review: Ensō Muscle Roller

I have a serious love/hate relationship with my foam roller. Having survived a handful of bouts with dreaded iliotibial band syndrome, I can vouch for the effectiveness of a trusty foam roller in the treatment of inflammation and soreness associated with the condition. Rolling cold muscles before a run has also become part of my standard routine because it makes me feel loose and comfortable on my first step out the door. However, rolling inflamed tendons can be seriously unpleasant - even painful - and it has remained so for me from my first go until today.

This is the primary configuration with which I use the Ensō when rolling my back and hamstrings. 

Enter the Ensō Muscle Roller by EvoFit.  The Ensō is a new take on the traditional foam roller, and it takes the already versatile accessory in an entirely new direction... several new directions, actually. The Ensō differs from the field of other options primarily in that it is both segmented into individual disks and that those disks are adjustable into a number of positions on an aluminum shaft. The disks are plastic at their center and encircled by a high-density foam outer "tire." Each disk mounts snugly onto the aluminum cylindrical tube and is held in place by a spring-loaded ball detent. For those with experience in the garage, think the same kind of mechanism that a ratchet uses to hold a socket. It is pretty ingenious in its design, and I have had no problems whatsoever with the disks moving around on the shaft. They are very secure. Configuring and using the roller is simple: just set the rollers up in the position you desire and go at it. It's incredibly intuitive, and it works.

This is the configuration I use for rolling my ITB (iliotibial band). This setup focuses a great deal of pressure squarely on the tendon, but it also keeps the leg "bumpered" so it doesn't wander off-center."

Using the Ensō is much the same as using any other foam roller, but the ability to target specific areas - or avoid specific bones and tendons - is what makes it a truly incredible piece. That ability in and of itself makes the Ensō worth owning, but there are additional ways to use the Ensō that traditional rollers cannot even touch. Placing two rollers together in the center of the shaft makes it operate in much the same way as a trigger point ball. The roller can also be configured with a single or small number of single disks centered on the shaft allowing users to turn the shaft itself into dual handles (think "rolling pin"). So an Ensō roller can do the work of a standard foam roller, a trigger point ball, and other massage stick-type devices - all three. Pretty ingenious.

For all the really cool features of the Ensō, there are a few drawbacks. First, and probably most importantly, the Ensō is expensive: $89.00. That is likely to cause a lot of potential buyers to gasp, but you are getting a lot of use in one device. Another issue is that there is a bit of a learning curve to the Ensō. You aren't likely to get the most out of the Ensō without putting some time in actually using it and fooling around with the various configurations. This won't be a problem for the hardcore athletes, but the average user may be discouraged without the immediate gratification out of their new $90 purchase. The final issue I encountered with the Ensō was its overall intensity vs. what I became accustomed to with my cheapie roller. It can be super hardcore on the ol' ITB, intentionally or otherwise. As a general rule, expect the Ensō to double the amount of pressure on any given point that is targeted (completely unscientific "gut" measurement, by the way).

So, to recap, the breakdown looks like this:

Pros
Targets muscles
Super intense
Extremely adjustable
Versatile - replaces several pieces of equipment
Portable

Cons
Cost - $90!
Learning curve
Super intense

The Verdict: The Ensō is an effective - if not essential - tool in the gear bin of any serious athlete looking to pare their collection of rolling, muscular therapy, and massage devices down to one hard-working, supremely versatile device.

For more info, check out the EvoFit website. More pics below:

Down the center: If you were packing the Ensō in a travel bag, you can store your socks and some gel in the tube. I'm also fairly certain my Ka-Bar combat knife will fit in there, but don't try to get that through airport security.

Detail of the differences in depth between the individual rollers.

Detail of the aluminum "axle" tube and the adjustment radiuses.

This is the Ensō fully dismantled. The larger disks are on the right. 

The blue foam roller is a cheapie from J-fit (who?) that I picked up from Amazon for a song a few years back. I included it for a size comparison. The J-fit is 6" in diameter and 18" long.

All the Ensō roller components laid out.

The Ensō aluminum center section. Notice the notches for the various disk positions. 

Size comparison vs. 18" J-fit. 

Ensō vs. 18" cheapie foam roller.

Next up on gear reviews: I try out some HumanX gear by Harbinger and get my first double-under. Stay tuned!

New Gear in the New Year!

Sweet! The folks at Harbinger are launching a new line of gear (entitled HumanX) for a broad range of cross training applications, and they have been kind enough to provide me with some samples to review. I am super stoked to put these through the paces and write up my feedback for you guys!

Here is a couple of preview pics. Stay tuned!

Super Simple Shoe Surgery

A few weeks ago while moping slowly blasting downhill on a Land Between the Lakes trail, I found the wrong end of a pointy stick with the top of my foot. The results are below:

Oh, Noes!

Yep, we're going to have to operate. He may never run a trail again!

Being the frugal fellow that I am, I broke out the thread and needle. The results were rather pleasing - that is, they were hardly noticeable. Everybody has war wounds - on their gear and themselves - if they have spent any time on the trail, but hopefully those gear-busting stumbles will all be as easy to remedy as this one.

So, have you every had any gear busters? Post up your stories and pics.

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Stuff I'm Super Excited About (Part 2)

Altra is on a roll! In just a couple years, Altra went from a few drawings and ideas (I distinctly remember the drafts of the Adam being posted on Runner's World barefoot/minimalist running forum asking for feedback) to a name synonymous with zero-drop, anatomically-shaped footwear. They even sponsored the Naked Foot 5k series and Crossfit Games last year. In short, the brand has exploded, and the future is looking even brighter - both literally and figuratively (see below).

Perhaps Altra's most distinctive key feature is the toe box - a foot-shaped, super wide shape that allows for maximal toe splay. Even now, there is maybe one other shoe company on the market that offers a full-coverage, non-toe shoe that features this kind of free movement (VIVOBAREFOOT). I find that kind of confusing in light of Altra's remarkable growth and success recently, but flat, zero-drop footbeds definitely caught on. Maybe the spacious, anatomical toe box will be the next big shift in shoe design (New Balance and others are already creeping that way).

Here are a few shots that I scavenged off the web of the new wares: the Altra One (racing flat), and the Altra 3-Sum (Triathlon-targeted racer). I would definitely love to get my hands on a pair for testing, so hopefully I can make that happen and bring the review to you! Enjoy the pics.

Altra One.

Loving the day-glow coloration. Altra began with a very subdued lineup, but you can see that they have left that behind.

The 3-Sum. Looks like a minimalist triathlete's dream!

More on the SKORA Phase and Core

I was directed toward some more great pics of the SKORA Phase and Core. These shoes really have me stoked. I hope they live up to the hype I have built up inside my brain. The big question for me is the toe box: Will it be wide enough? Let's hope so. Enjoy.

Men's Phase model.

Women's Phase model.

Women's Core colorways. 

Men's Core colorways.

Stuff I'm SUPER Excited About in 2013! (Part 1)

Things are great for lovers of minimalist shoes right now. Really great, and they are only getting better! Here is the first in a series of posts that will display just a few bits of news that I have scavenged from across the web that really get my blood pumping.

I dig Skora's slogan.

The rowdy upstart company that goes by the name of Skora burst onto the scene in 2012 with two models of minimalist shoes targeted at zero-drop-demanding athletes and triathletes. The Form and Base, their flagship laced and tri-friendly velcro-strapped offerrings respectively, garnered a strong following with runners ranging from track junkies to the ultra crowd. I was lucky enough to get to review Skora's Base and write about here. Although the shoe was less than perfect (still haven't found one that is), it was an impressive first offering for the new company. (Click to read that review.) I have grown fonder or my Skoras since modifying the strap to allow me to snug them up a bit more, too. They see regular service in my shoe rotation - mostly during barefoot-unfriendly conditions. If they produced such a solid shoe in their first try, I can only imagine how great their follow-ups are going to be.

There are two new Skora models set for release in February:
The Phase is a lighter shoe with an upper made from synthetic mesh.

The Core is features a combination of goatskin and mesh upper.

Both new models feature a new outsole design fashioned from Injection Blown Rubber (IBR) which purportedly provides greater flexibility and comfort without sacrificing weight. Both models also feature asymmetrical lacing, which I totally dig. Skora is not resting on the apparent success of their first line of shoes and is pushing the limits of innovation and design. I am eager to see if these two new models fit my foot a bit better. If so, I'm definitely on board. Perhaps most importantly, price gets the axe on the Phase and Core: $110 and $155 respectively.

*See more about the Core and Phase at Minimalistrunningshoes.org, or head to Kyle Kranz's blog, Running on the White Line. Click either link to take you to the preview. While you'r at Kyle's blog, go ahead and check it out. He is an ultra runner who also works with/for Skora as a social media coordinator (I believe that is the official title). His blog is worth exploring, and I am certain he is more than willing to answer any and all questions you may have if you post up on there.

I forsee great things from Skora in the near future.

Deal Alert! Altra Shoes up to 50% off.

Altra Adams - my go-to shoe for when the pavement is too hot or cold. They are as close as it gets to minimal perfection, in my humble opinion.

Altra Adam, Instinct, Eve, and Intuition models are on ridiculous sale (50% off!!!) at Left Lane Sports!

I reviewed the Adam (women's version is the Eve) here a few months back.

Click on my referral link to sign up (if you haven't already). It costs nothing, and their daily deal emails are full of great stuff for runners, hikers, bikers, triathletes, surfers, climbers, campers, skateboarders, and generally outdoorsy types. Act fast, though; the deal is only good until July 3rd!

Referral Link!

Feel free to post any questions about the Adams below in the comments.

These are a few of my favorite things... A "Year-End Gear" List

Well, here we are. Another year is in the rearview mirror, and the next year holds infinite potential for all kinds of running mayhem, barefoot or otherwise. Since it's that time of year, I figured it would be fun to put together a list of running-specific items that made my year - at least the last few months of it - a relatively enjoyable and successful one running wise. I selected mostly winter-specific gear for obvious reasons. Wearing this stuff, all or part at any give time in the cold months, is how I survive Winter without a treadmill (HATE treadmills!). I love checking out these lists when other people put them together, so hopefully you'll find mine just as worthwhile and enjoyable. Maybe you will see something here that gives you an idea for how to spend all that Christmas cash Grandma sent you.

Mizuno WP Jacket

I got a wicked deal on this jacket last year around Christmas when Runningwarehouse.com (best running supply shop on the web BY FAR!) had their big clearout sale. I wanted a Brooks Utopia Softshell at the time, but it would have been way more money, the wrong color, and they sold out of my size before I could pull the trigger anyhow. Turns out I stumbled into the right decision anyway (the Utopia would have been too warm for mild Tennessee climes, methinks).

The Mizuno WP ("WP" stands for windproof) is probably the best looking running jacket on the market thanks to its minimal ornamentation and sleek taper at the midsection. The stretchy, perfectly-thin fabric makes it very versatile for layering, and its ventilation allows it to be used up in the 50s comfortably when the wind picks up.

Two complaints about the WP jacket: 1) The zipper is on the wrong side for dudes. This is admittedly a minor issue , but seriously, Japan? 2) The thumb holes - a major selling point for me because I don't like gloves unless they are an absolute necessity - are WAY too small for my thumbs. It's like they made them the appropriate size for a prepubescent girl. Again: seriously, Japan? Sidenote: since I purchased my jacket last year, Mizuno has changed the design to something significantly more vented. No word on if they put the zipper back on the correct side, though.

Regardless, I still love this jacket. It kicks the crap out of everything sold at the big-box retailers, and I got it for half of what anything comparable would have cost. Runningwarehouse rocks.

Reebok Run Gloves

I was inexplicably unable to locate these gloves on the internet. I purchased them at Dick's Sporting Goods last year, and they are still sold today (just saw them on an end cap last week). They were $20, and I found them to be much better in every way than the Nike offerings at the same price point: fuzzy little doodads. With comfy poly construction, terry cloth forefingers for wipeage (ew, right?) and grippy silicone webbing on the palms, they are comparable to the Under Armor gloves priced at $35.


Brooks Infinity Half-Zip

While I can't - or won't - say anything about their shoes, I don't think any running company produces running clothing that can rival the quality of Brooks. While, like other running-specific clothing producers, their wares can be quite pricey, Brooks has delivered a homerun on every piece of kit I have ever purchased from them. Of course, I buy on sale... clearance preferably, so take that as you will.

The Infinity Half-Zip is one of the most used items in my closet between October and April and for good reason. The thing is super comfy-soft, attractive, stretchy, and has held up beautifully while taking quite a beating. Brooks nails the perfect sleeve length and ideal thumb-hole cut, to boot! (In your face, Japan.) It's my cold-weather workhorse uniform.


Brooks Sherpa Short

Definitely the most versatile running short I have ever worn, the Sherpa is a winner. These are my go-to shorts for nearly any physical activity where I have to be seen by other humans: the cut is long enough to not be "that guy" in public. Brooks sure does make a great pair of shorts.

Mizuno Tights

I got these for half price when our local running store went out of business (*sadface*), and it has turned out to be a wise investment. Running tights are a step toward seriousness for guy runners; we just don't wear tights for anything, you know. You have to literally care a lot about your run and virtually nothing about what people may think of you. These tights fit well, have held up beautifully for over a year now, and have all the features a non-thermal tight is supposed to: drawstring, back zipper gel pocket, zip cuffs at the ankle...... and that's about it. I like 'em.


C9 sport socks

It blows my mind how much people pay for running-specific socks, especially when, in my opinion, the less sock, the better. All I look for in a sock is chafing protection in certain shoes. Otherwise, I would just rather run sockless - or barefoot altogether for that matter. Target's C9 socks are synthetic (an absolute must), provide mild compression to make sure they stay in place, and are pretty darn cheap for what they are.


Merrell Versa Band

It's a neckwarmer! No, it's a headband! No, it's a balaclava! No, it's all of the above and more including a do-rag, head wrap, and mask. This is the only piece of un-purchased gear on my humble list. I got in my swag bag for running the Merrell Naked Foot 5k in Nashville, and I absolutely adore it. There are probably over a hundred different companies that make and/or sell items similar to this, but this is the only one I have tried or owned and it's fantastic. No runner should be without one of these.


Garmin FR 305 

"Yes I love technology, but not as much as you, you see.... but I still love technology. Always and forever." If you are a runner without a GPS watch, you fall into one of the following categories:
1. You are a "free runner" who hates having your spiritual connection with nature interrupted by having to fiddle with invasive techno-nonsense.
2. You think it's too expensive.
3. You are not very experienced in the world of running and don't know what this thing could possibly offer you.

If you fall into #2 or #3, you really should look into the Garmin 305. It's not the newest or the flashiest bit of innovative compudrama, but it's solid, proven technology that's getting less expensive every day. I got my 305 last year for Christmas and have worn it on well over 100 runs so far. It's awesome! I can't possibly explicate the myriad features this sucker has to offer here, but I can link you to someone who has:

So there it is, folks. My very Gear of the Year list, even if some of it is more than a year old. Happy New Year, and happy running!