Vancouver-based design studio Mitmunk’s product description for their Vostok leggings is way better than anything I could come up with: 

The original artwork features a print with scratched, rusty armour plates, buckles, studs, nails, and mesh panels, giving an athletic, streamlined look that flatters the body. Circuit board motifs are printed near the waist and hip. The muted colour palette shows off the shading and details: light and dark greys, blue-grey, cool dark browns, pale yellow highlights.

This legging’s design was named for the first manned spacecraft, designed by Soviet engineer Oleg Ivanovsky. Apparently, Ivanovsky also worked on the Sputnik satellites, including the rocket that launched Laika the dog into space. I would guess if Sigourney Weaver had to choose a pair of leggings to take with her on the Nostromo, this would be the pair.

I didn’t go to space, but Mitmunk did send me their Vostok leggings to review for training Brazilian jiu jitsu. When they arrived, I wasn’t sure how the fabric would handle the intensity of rolling, but I couldn’t be happier with them. In addition to being extremely comfortable and supportive, they look cool.

“At first I thought the leggings would stretch out or become heavy once they became saturated with sweat, but they were incredibly resilient. They wicked the sweat away from my skin and retained elasticity roll after roll.”

Although my leggings are designed for regular wear, they turned out to be perfect for BJJ. And when I spoke to Mitmunk co-owner Heather Joan Tam, she mentioned the company is expanding their line to include items specifically designed for athletics.

Features

• Polyester/Spandex blend fabric
• Outer fabric has a slight sheen
• Interior has a brushed finish to ensure it feels soft against the skin
• Hand-printed, sublimated graphics
• Flattering fit
• Flatlock stitching

Performance

At first I thought the leggings would stretch out and sag or become heavy once they became saturated with sweat, but they were incredibly resilient. They wicked the sweat away from my skin and retained elasticity roll after roll.

“Brazilian jiu jitsu spats and athletic bottoms are often designed with thick, tight waistbands that cut into the waists of those of us who aren’t shaped like an hour glass. Mitmunk says ‘no’ to muffin top.”

A lot of spats designed for BJJ are constructed with slippery fabric, which can make it easy for opponents to slip out of submissions. The Vostok leggings provide the perfect level of friction to maintain contact. And to top it all off, the waistband is light and comfortable. Brazilian jiu jitsu spats and athletic bottoms are often designed with thick, tight waistbands that cut into the waists of those of us who aren’t shaped like an hour glass. Mitmunk says “no” to muffin top.

Downsides

Though these leggings are awesome, I do have a couple of issues with them. Since I’m on the short side, the design of the leggings does not line up correctly with my anatomy. The knees are below my actual knees, so I have to pull them up at the thighs and create folds to make them line up.

“A lot of spats designed for BJJ are constructed with slippery fabric, which can make it easy for opponents to slip out of submissions or positions. The Vostok leggings provide the perfect level of friction to maintain contact.”

I also have to keep in mind the fabric is slightly transparent when stretched. I always wear nude-colored underwear to ensure color doesn’t peek through the fabric design. Because of the design, the slight transparency is not as noticeable as it is when I wear black spats. I wouldn’t have noticed it at all if I hadn’t tested the feature with colored underwear, just to be sure. As I said, this issue is easily solved by wearing nude underwear.

Sizing

According to the Mitmunk website, the company has been working to make their sizing closer to standard sizing. The pair I reviewed was size medium and fit me perfectly. Normally I would take size small or size four in lululemon tights, so you may want to contact the company if you are ordering this item to be sure the sizing is right for you. For measurements and more photos, visit my blog.

RELATED: Make an Impact With These Eco-Friendly Fitness Clothes

Follow Mitmunk on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr and visit their new website to see all of their unique and amazing designs for leggings, tops, dresses, shorts, and even underwear. The best part for Americans is that the prices on the website are in Canadian dollars, so you’ll get even better deals. Shipping to the Canada and the United States appears to be about $14.00.

The Mitmunk Vostok leggings are available for $66.00 at Mitmunk.com.

The post Mitmunk Vostok Leggings (Product Review) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Eagle Rock WERKSHOP was founded and developed by Chriztina Marie. Chriztina, who worked in the apparel industry for over twelve years, began the company through Kickstarter. It did not take long for the company to reach its goal and become a full-access online store and wholesaler.

About Werkshop Leggings

As of this writing, Werkshop has seventeen design concepts, all of which are unique and eye-catching. They are all cropped length. The leggings I wanted, the Brown Sugar Leggings, were in short supply and I was one of the few to be able to get them in my size. I tested these leggings doing Olympic lifting, overhead squats, kettlebell work, bodyweight and gymnastics exercises, and running.

“As I completed my overhead squats, I was surprised by how these leggings kept my knees from tracking inward, which I have to constantly be aware of.”

WERKSHOP leggings are not your average leggings, which are usually thin and more concerned about visuals than the performance side of things. These leggings are more like compression pants. I own a pair of 2XU compressions, and the WERKSHOP leggings are almost as good (keyword being almost). The compression aspects of these leggings give a sense of muscle control. As I completed my overhead squats, I was surprised by how these leggings kept my knees from tracking inward, which I have to constantly be aware of.

LEARN MORE: Compression Socks Improve Recovery in Marathon Runners

WERKSHOP leggings wear like a second skin. Once you start to exercise, you don’t even realize you have them on. I live in Nevada so it gets so hot here and sweating is inevitable. WERKSHOP leggings stayed dry and wicked extremely well for this weather. They were also breathable and they had a bit of a cooling effect. Running in these leggings are so extremely comfortable in that they do not ride up like some running pants do, so say good-bye to the wedgie! Also, no chafing occurred after running for a long distance.

What Is Unique About Eagle Rock WERKSHOP?

• Fabric – WERKSHOP uses Italian fabric that is a durable and very technical fabric. This fabric uses four-way stretch, which allows for a better fit and stretching during movement.
• Zero Camel Toe – Ladies, we all know what this is. WERKSHOP uses a diamond gusset to prevent this particular issue.
• Flatlock Seams – These prevents the seams from ripping. It also provides for excess seam allowance and prevents chafing.
• Water Resistance – Enjoy stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking? You can wear these leggings for those sports and the moisture wicks away.
• UPF – Offers UV protection of UPF 50, which is the maximum allowable

Sizing

As with any company, please check the size chart. And don’t just guess, but actually invest in a measuring tape for the best results.

WERKSHOP’s sizes range from small to extra large. The sizing guide is a bit confusing to find on the website, but when you click on a pair of leggings you like, that page will show you a sizing chart. WERKSHOP leggings run small, so I recommend that if you are in between sizes, you go up one size for the best fit.

Since this business is still fairly new, you can e-mail Chriztina or the WERKSHOP team to help you with sizing. Worst-case scenario, you can always return your item within fourteen days for a refund.

Cons

My biggest issue with these leggings was the waist. Every body is different, so for some people this may not be a problem. But while I was doing overhead squats, the waistband began to twist and lower, which meant I had to constantly pull up my pants. This could have been a sizing issue on my part, but the waist was the one area that began to sag first. Even while running, the waistband began to lower down and I had to pick up my leggings in order for them to fit correctly.

Second, WERKSHOP may have a lot of prints, but many times they are sold out. As of this writing, eleven of their leggings were completely out of stock. In most cases, you will have to wait weeks to months to purchase the leggings you want. Even though this is an issue, these leggings are so durable and technical that I think they are worth the wait.

And once you order them, they will arrive quickly. I was surprised at how fast my items shipped. From the time I ordered to the day I received my leggings it took a total of three business days. They also ship worldwide.

Lastly, leggings are never really on sale with this company. The only time you can buy an item at reduced cost is when there is a sample sale (which is rare). During sample sales, the leggings are stitched the same, but there may be some small imperfections on the print. If you are fortunate enough to discover a sample sale and your size is available, it will usually drop the cost down to $65.00, but you also cannot return the item purchased.

Caring for This Product

These leggings are fairy low maintenance. I always recommend you hand wash all of your technical fabric and exercise clothing. With WERKSHOP you can machine wash your leggings in warm water and air-dry them, which can make laundry time easier.

Conclusion

Even though WERKSHOP leggings are a bit on the pricey side, they are worth every penny. The fact that these leggings are a hybrid of regular leggings and compression pants is a unique quality. I was impressed with these leggings and how well they performed during the toughest of workouts. Oh, and WERKSHOP sews all of their products in the United States, which is a major bonus in my book.

Eagle Rock WERKSHOP leggings are available for $88.00 at Werkshop.com.

The post Eagle Rock WERKSHOP Brown Sugar Leggings (Product Review) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Jaco Clothing has become popular among martial arts practitioners, with sponsored athletes including Rashad Evans, Braulio Estima, and Anthony Johnson. They are the official clothing line of the Blackzilians fight team in California.

Their products are designed to suit every type of athlete, including CrossFit, MMA, boot camp training, TRX, skipping, and yoga athletes. In addition to hybrid athletic gear, Jaco Clothing offers hoodies, caps, bags, t-shirts, and even BJJ gis. One of my favorite Jaco products is my pair of women’s training tights.

Features

• Comfortable elastic waistband
• Grey contrast flat-lock stitching
• 87% nylon and 13% spandex
• Screen-printed logos

Quality and Style

Jaco’s training gear is all aesthetically pleasing, and the women’s training tights are no exception. Instead of making a simple pair of black tights, they took the extra step of including eye-catching grey, flat-lock contrast stitching, creating panels at the sides and behind the knees.

If you’re into yoga, these tights would look awesome with the Jaco women’s performance training top I reviewed for Breaking Muscle last year. I don’t do yoga, but I still sleep in that top regularly. It’s extremely soft, stretchy, and comfortable. I wish Jaco made pajamas.

The fabric is strong and hasn’t pilled or pulled and the thick, flat seams have remained intact. After more than two years of frequent use, there are no loose threads and even the screen-printed logos at the waistline and back of the knee haven’t cracked or peeled.

Recommended washing instructions are to wash cold and tumble dry low, which I have always done. I find it’s better to dry them in the dryer than hang dry because they do collect lint during the wash and the dryer seems to minimize it.

Fit and Comfort

The Jaco women’s training tights are one of the most comfortable pair of tights I own. I’ve tried a lot of grappling tights designed specifically for jiu jitsu and to date, I haven’t found one pair with such a flattering or comfortable waistband.

I remember how hard it was to find a BJJ gi that actually fit when I began purchasing them online. It seems to be that way for me now with grappling tights. I don’t understand why companies are choosing to incorporate waistbands that are so tight they cut into the stomach.

Initially, I thought I just had the wrong body type for grappling tights, but it turns out some of my male teammates are finding the waistbands uncomfortably tight in some cases as well.

The waistband on the Jaco tights is perfect. It stays in place without causing discomfort or muffin top.

The waistband does incorporate a thin elastic, but the elastic isn’t a murderous organ crusher. The waist tapers above the hips and is higher than usual for women’s tights, which works out well for BJJ when your shirt rides up during rolling.

The fit is a bit looser than brands like lululemon or Under Armour, so you can see small folds in the fabric in some places like the knees, but they still cling to the skin comfortably.

The tights I wear most for BJJ are these Jaco tights, lululemon, or Under Armour. I often use these tights for taking photos when I’m reviewing rashguards because the fit is flattering and they don’t have a design that will draw attention away from the rashguard.

Customer Service

I bought these tights from a sporting goods store on eBay, and if I remember correctly, shipping to Canada took about a week from the United States. If you purchase from the Jaco online store, shipping to the United States starts at $6.68 via FedEx.

International shipping to Canada starts at $39.75, also via FedEx, which is why I bought my tights on eBay. That’s obviously way too expensive to ship a pair of tights, and I have had several negative experiences with FedEx.

When I tested the check-out process for this review, it appeared that the Jaco store accepts credit card payment only. PayPal is not an option, so keep that in mind.

You can follow Jaco Clothing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you browse through their Facebook status updates, you will see that Jaco is offering a new women’s line designed by UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste. The sports bra, bottoms, and shorts are available to purchase for $99.00 in a bundle, so take advantage while you can! A review of the line is coming soon to Breaking Muscle.

Jaco women’s training tights are available for $49.99 at JacoClothing.com.

The post Jaco Women’s Training Tights (Product Review) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Jaco Clothing’s Women’s Performance Training Top is a very soft and stylish rashguard. Indeed, the product description states, “This Loose Compression Rashguard’s ultra-breathable Bamboo/Spandex blend provides a cashmere-like feel and comfortable formed fit that protects the skin during grappling and rolling.”

Features

• Body: 95% rayon from bamboo, 5% spandex construction
• Panel: 87% polyester, 13% spandex
• 4-way stretch and ergonomic cut ensures an athletic contoured fit that forms to the body without limiting movement
• Strategically placed mesh panel designed to regulate body temperature
• Contrast princess paneling for an athletic feminine shape
• Flat-lock stitching for long-lasting durability

Note that the body is constructed with 95% rayon from bamboo, not bamboo. When I purchased the top, I thought bamboo was a unique, environmentally-friendly fabric component and that was the reason it was so soft, but since then I’ve discovered something much different. In his February 3, 2010 article, Bamboo-zled: FTC Says Retailers Fibbed About Bamboo Product Claims, Mitch Lipka shared:

“Using the term bamboo may appeal to many eco-conscious consumers,” James Kohm, the FTC’s Enforcement Division director told WalletPop. “These consumers, however, may be concerned about products made from bamboo that involve significant chemical processing, such as rayon. We want to make sure that consumers are not misled.”

Rayon is made from plants and trees, bamboo included, but it must go through a chemically-intensive process that results in a considerable amount of pollution – a fact that runs contrary to the environmentally-friendly claims of bamboo clothing.

Clothing made using bamboo fibers is not of the same silky smooth consistency as those made with rayon, the FTC said. Once bamboo or any other tree is turned into rayon, it is misleading to claim it is anything other than rayon because of the chemical bath used to convert the material from a natural product into rayon. It can be called “rayon made from bamboo,” which isn’t misleading as long as you understand there’s nothing environmentally friendly about rayon.

A CBC News article Bamboo Textiles No More ‘Natural’ Than Rayon reported similar findings:

“The Ottawa-based Canadian Apparel Federation agrees the description of bamboo as a natural fibre was somewhat misleading and has worked closely with the bureau on educating manufacturers and retailers about the new labelling requirements.

“Cottons or wools have been cleaned and carded, but they haven’t been transformed,” the federation’s executive director, Bob Kirke, said in an interview. “Man-made fibres are different – things like polyester. Labels don’t say petroleum; they say polyester, because there’s a specific way of labelling them. You don’t say oak or beech, or birch [on a label], but there are specific types of rayon that are made from beech.”

The rayon from bamboo used in this rashguard is not likely to contain the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, nor is it biodegradable or “green” in any way. It’s just very, very soft. It reminds me of t-shirt sheets.

Performance

I only rolled in the Women’s Performance Training Top a few times. It feels like heaven against the skin when it’s dry, but when it gets wet it becomes heavy and stretches out more than I’d like. I was afraid someone would get their fingers or toes caught in the fabric and get injured. For rolling I prefer a fabric that maintains its shape and stays close to the body.

I did wear the top in a couple of videos because I love the look of it. You can see it in action in this technique video where Renzo Gracie black belt Peter Martell demonstrates the triangle:

Since then, I’ve only worn this rashguard as loungewear and pajamas. As active wear I feel it would be ideal for yoga, walking, or anything that wouldn’t cause it to become saturated in sweat.

Durability

The Performance Training Top has kept its shape very well since I bought it over a year ago. The seams didn’t unravel or split at any point but there are a lot of little pulls in the mesh panel on the back. Also, although the fabric hasn’t quite pilled yet, I can feel little fuzzies developing all over the rashguard, and the Jaco logo at the front hemline is cracked and beginning to peel, as is the inner label.

Measurements

*Although the front and the back are different lengths, they sit at the same place at the hips due to the cut of the rashguard.

Jaco is on the right track regarding the overall style of the Women’s Performance Training Top. I feel it would be perfect if they had chosen a fabric similar to the surf-style rashguards like 93 Brand Jiu Jitsu’s Mandrill 2.0 (review coming soon).

I am glad to have the Jaco Women’s Performance Top for activities such as yoga and walking outdoors. I enjoy wearing the fun, flashy gear in the privacy of my club but I prefer plainer styles when I train among the general population.

The Jaco Women’s Performance Training Top is available for $39.99 at JacoClothing.com.

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I think I’ve discovered my new favorite hoodie. It’s the JACO women’s hooded Henley and it’s ridiculously comfortable. But before we get into the Henley and pants I tested from JACO, let’s talk about the company itself first.

Having been a fan of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for many years, I first noticed JACO some time ago when various fighters started wearing the shorts in the cage. A little while later I noticed people in the CrossFit gym started wearing these same shorts. And everyone I knew who had JACO clothing also had good things to say about it.

JACO markets themselves as “hybrid training apparel” and as such has found great appeal and application in the MMA and CrossFit worlds. They have branched out from their original board-type shorts to a full line of men’s and women’s apparel.

JACO also positions themselves as different through their use of rayon made from bamboo and environmentally friendly water-based inks. According to the JACO website, “Bamboo plants grow quickly, do not require fertilizers or pesticides, release more oxygen into the atmosphere than trees and are self replenishing, making them 100% sustainable and earth friendly.”

For my part, I was excited to check out the items that didn’t seem stereotypical of the JACO I knew, so I chose to test out the women’s hooded Henley and the flare leg training pants. As I mentioned earlier, the hoodie quickly became one of my favorite pieces of clothing. I wish it came in more colors than off-white so I could buy more

The women’s hooded Henley is made from 45% rayon from bamboo, 35% polyester, and 20% cotton. The fabric is both incredibly light and pleasingly soft. From an aesthetic perspective I love the contrast stitching and the cute little buttons up the front. While it may constitute lounge clothes, you still look pretty stylish in this hoodie and it has a clingy, but comfortable fit.

In keeping with the stylish, but comfortable, but functional theme, I enjoyed pairing my Henley with the JACO women’s flare leg training pant. The pants are made from 87% nylon and 13% spandex. They are low slung around the waist and fit the legs and hips nicely and smoothly. I appreciate that JACO resisted putting pockets anywhere around the waist or hips on these pants, as with tight fitting pants that just tends to end up looking unflattering.

One drawback to the pants was that despite the fact I tried a size small they seemed overly long. According to the website the small, medium, and larges sizes are all 32” in length, which seems counterintuitive to me. While the length might be nice for lounging around the house, it proved problematic when wearing the pants outside the house, either for casual or athletic purposes. In addition, the leg gussets look really cool, but make it impossible to roll up the legs in any decent looking manner.

Overall I find both the pieces to be of high quality and high comfort. While the pants have some functionality issues, it has not stopped me from wearing them for more casual purposes and someone taller than me (I am 5’5″) would have zero issue. And now my idea of what JACO clothing has been quite expanded, from the original MMA board shorts to a full line of stylish and environmentally responsible apparel.

The women’s hooded Henley is available online for $49.99.

The women’s flare leg training pants are available online for $59.99.

The post Product Review: JACO Clothing – Women’s Henley and Training Pants appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Nearly anyone can relate to the enjoyable freedom of being in socks, whether it’s around the house, in a yoga class, or otherwise. Barefoot activities like yoga, dance, martial arts, and Pilates are often practiced in socks or barefoot by default. When both wearing shoes and being barefoot aren’t appropriate, wearing classical socks seems to suffice as a happy medium. Until now.

ToeSox has created a sock with the specific purpose of supporting these barefoot activities. With a five-finger toe design, these socks are arguably the closest things to being barefoot as one can get. The five-finger element allows the user to spread his/her toes naturally. While socks with toe slots are rare, but nothing new, ToeSox are largely unique in my opinion, because of their gripping sole.

While they look and feel like a standard pair of cotton socks with the addition of individual toe slots, these socks become nothing like you’ve ever worn before due to the addition of tiny round rubber grips that cover the bottom of your feet like Braille. Rethink the classic scene with Tom Cruise in Risky Business sliding across the hardwood floor in his socks. The same scene with ToeSox would look a lot more like a viral “fail” video than the iconic graceful slide we’ve seen time and time again. ToeSox may not be good for sliding around your hardwood floors, but you can imagine the utility in a dance studio or a yoga class.

There is a bit of a movement worldwide with regards to the benefits of barefoot activities. The barefoot running trend is exploding. With sales of the shoe equivalent of ToeSox, Vibram Five-Fingers, in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the minimalist shoe movement may be enough to legitimize the claim that barefoot training is worth something. Minimalist shoe sales have grown 300% since 2010.

I’m not a regular yoga practitioner, but I did enjoy wearing ToeSox, especially around the house. I felt the utility and performance that is to be had in a pair of ToeSox. For someone who is often being active while being barefoot or in socks, ToeSox may be your new best friend. Outside of the fact the socks are a bit taller than my usual low profile style sock, I’d consider padding my sock drawer with a few pair of ToeSox.

ToeSox also come in twelve different color combinations, if you’d like to add some flair to your barefoot activity. ToeSox are a dream come true, especially for folks with hobbies that have them on their toes.

Toe socks are available for $15.00 at shop.toesox.com.

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