OneGood Earphone Review

Repost from here: http://barefootinclined.blogspot.com/2012/06/listen-up-far-end-gear-onegood-earphone.html

Listen up! Far End Gear - OneGood Earphone Review

I seldom have used ear buds when running, especially since I've started trail running much more. Generally, I don't need the distraction, and I like to be able to hear my surroundings for safety reasons.

However, I recently had the opportunity to try out the OneGood earphone from Far End Gear.  What is great about the XDU single earphone, is that it combines stereo sound into one ear bud, leaving your other ear available to hear surrounding sounds etc.

Here are some of the specs/details from the Far End Gear site on the noise-isolating earbud:

• *Now Gold-Plated* Stereo 3.5mm right angle plug (same as 1/8-inch size plug)
• Includes 3 sizes of rubber ear tips, to find your best fit
• Compatible with Apple iPods, Apple iPhone, Sony MP3 Players, Laptops and Desktop Computers, as well as Sansa, Creative, Etek, Ativa, RCA and other low-cost MP3 players
• Works with any device that accepts a stereo or mono 1/8-inch (1/8") or 3.5mm plug
• Weighs in at 0.3 ounces (8 grams)
• Stereo plug's circuitry mixes both stereo channels (left and right) together into one earphone
• 42 inch long cord

I also tried out the BuDLoks, which are motion-resistant eartips that fit over most earbuds. The idea is to provide a stable, soft-silicone holder for your earbuds to help secure them better when active. 

Initially, I tried the earbud by itself, and it actually fit quite comfortably.  There are three sizes of ear tips, so they should fit most people well.  I liked the noise isolating sound in one ear, and the quality was decent.  I did try out the BuDLokS also, and they too fit very comfortably, however the trade-off was losing some of the noise isolation and sound quality.  Since the standard earbud stayed put while running, I've been using that primarily. 

As I noted the sound quality was pretty good for music, however I really liked them for listening to podcasts etc.  I wore the earbud on my first 2.5 hour trail run, and listened to theTrail Runner Nation podcasts... that worked out really well.  I learned a lot, and was still able to be aware of my surroundings (bears, mountain lions etc.. ;-)  ).

While the OneGood Earphone is not going to compete with higher-end dual earbud systems as far as sound quality for music goes, for purposes of running or anything active, they provide an ideal way to listen to music or podcasts safely on the road or trail. 

At $19.95, they are a terrific value, and Far End Gear also offers a variety of other models, including ones with mics to use with your iPhone etc. If you love to run with your music or podcasts, Far End Gear offers the best way to do it safely. 

Happy Trails!

Jeff

http://barefootinclined.blogspot.com/

Good intro to paleo

From lovelyish.com

• What's Up With The Paleo Diet, And Why Are People Losing Weight On It?

  I first heard about the Paleo Diet from a woman at work who was constantly munching on nuts and bringing grilled chicken for lunch. She claimed it had helped her lose almost thirty pounds a few years back, and that it was working weight loss miracles again. The diet is based around the idea that processed foods and whole grains are making us fat, and that we need to go back to eating like cavemen. This means lots of meat, nuts, fruits, veggies and raw foods. And ever since learning about the diet, I keep hearing of more and more dieters who tried it and lost weight. But what makes people think it's so healthy?

  
  
  io9 recently ran a fairly extensive evaluation of the Paleo Diet, which contains some shocking facts. Did you know that, due to our lifestyles, the young generation now may have shorter lifespans than their parents? Yikes! It's no wonder people are trying to change the way they eat. According to the article, the idea behind the Paleo Diet is that sugar and processed foods are poison, and that, "The answer to many of our health problems...is to look at our evolutionary history and see what it has to say about what our bodies were actually meant to eat." This also means no dairy, grains and legumes.
  
  According to dieters, the gluten found in grain is literally poison, due to the fact that:
  

  Many plants have evolved chemical defenses to dissuade animals from eating them. Think of it as a kind of chemical warfare, with gluten being a particularly nasty weapon. It turns out that people suffering from the celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder, aren't the only ones sensitive to gluten. In fact, it has been shown that all humans react poorly to it."

  Meat is a huge component of the Paleo Diet, and, while lots of foods are vilified by it, fat is not.Some Paleo dieters actually say that half of our calories should come from good fats, and point to studies showing that, "no single study could associate saturated fat with increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or coronary vascular disease." And apparently fat staves off depression, which isn't surprising since it'sso delicious.
  
  The article didn't quite convince me one way or the other about the diet, nor did it offer any personal testimonials. But, beneficial or not, it certainly seems to be a movement that is heavily catching on.
  
  What do you think of the Paleo Diet? Do you know anyone who has done it?