Better Exercise Experience (BEX)
Wednesday June 1, 2011
Small BEXRunner on my hand
Large BEXRunner on my hand
I was approached by Cool Palms LLC to test a performance product that helps cool you down during your cardio session or while you are running or jogging or walking or many other activities that get you sweating like crazy. Sports with gloves or the use of both hands are not a good fit for this though.
YES, you wear it on your hand just like that!!!!!
The premise of this product, the BEX Runner per the representatives:
"The quick background is that heated blood from the core is sent to the body's extremities. Cooling the palms draws heat from specialized blood vessels in the palm called arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) and circulates the cooled blood back to the core. The BEX Runner enhances this cooling phenomenon, because it cools the AVAs more effectively than the outside air. And unlike traditional Comfort Cooling products that cool the skin, the BEX Runner impacts core temperature and heart-rate... the difference is feeling cold vs. being cooler. Everyday examples of core cooling are washing your hands in cold water after exercise to recover or kicking one foot out of comforter at night to cool down. Today, Cool Palms LLC is pioneering "in-use" palm cooling devices for athletes at affordable prices (under $30). The Better Exercise eXperience (BEX) product line, by Cool Palms, will expand to Marathoners and Triathletes by 2012. Our first product, the BEX Runner, www.bexrunner.com is designed to be the perfect training aid and stays cool 35 min to an hour in-use, depending on how hot your run. The benefits of core cooling include sustained peak performance periods, increased comfort in the heat, and general safety from heat stress.
There are two nuances: 1) the BEX Runner removes excess heat more efficiently... it does not necessarily make you feel colder. 2) the performance gains are derived from helping your body maintain normalcy (temperature and heart-rate) during strenuous exercise."
OK, I used their words because the way I describe it is going to be my simplistic terms!
You can read all about the scientific background & testimonials at the links.
First, let me say that the gym I do my cardio at right now is SUPER hot in the cardio area - no air flow going on there. Not sure why cause it is freezing in the stretching area! Go figure! Also, I sweat A LOT!!!!! I always have but with the age thing, well, you have heard me go on about that more than enough times. I run hot - and that is not sexy type of hot!
So, when I leave for the gym, it is about 45 minutes before I even start my cardio (I do some core/ab work first) so I have my BEX runner out of the freezer all that time. I do keep it by my cold water bottle but it is NOT a freezer.
I have tried both the women's & men's version of this. I was able to use both fine. The men's is a bit bigger in the 2nd pic above so will last longer. For me, in the conditions for my GYM cardio, it lasted anywhere from 25 minutes for the women's version to 35/40 minutes for the men's version. This is 45 minutes AFTER I took it out of the freezer. It is weird because it is not so much that I am not sweating BUT that I feel cooler & better. It is so hard to put into words but like the description above, it seems to cool you without you being cold. Really interesting.
I have not tried it outside yet because I run in the early morns & in California, it is still chilly in the morns. We are not getting warm weather here yet. BUT, here is a LINK to the GirlGetStrong review of it from October 2010 & it was tested on an outside run.
Even though I did my test on cardio inside the gym, I felt the same as the GGS ladies. Once I got used to it, it really did not bother me at all on my hand. I did like to switch hands now & then. I also hooked it & them just slipped it on my hand rather than trying to one hand hook it on me.
I also tested it when I was watching TV & just sitting but getting HOT due to you know what OR just the house being warm or drinking coffee. Yes, it did cool me. Honestly, I was skeptical but it really did seem to work.
IT IS NOT LIKE A FAN BLOWING ON YOU. It is more subtle & hard to explain but it did seem to work for me. I can't promise it will work on everyone but it seemed to help me!
Great news too - "Cool Palms intends to launch a complete product line with longer lasting gels and new designs to meet the range of sport and athlete expectations." I hope to test those when they become available.
Have you ever used anything like this? Would you be interested in trying a product like this? It really was interesting to try it & feel the effect - cooling but not in your normal way of thinking....
Small BEXRunner on my hand
Large BEXRunner on my hand
I was approached by Cool Palms LLC to test a performance product that helps cool you down during your cardio session or while you are running or jogging or walking or many other activities that get you sweating like crazy. Sports with gloves or the use of both hands are not a good fit for this though.
YES, you wear it on your hand just like that!!!!!
The premise of this product, the BEX Runner per the representatives:
"The quick background is that heated blood from the core is sent to the body's extremities. Cooling the palms draws heat from specialized blood vessels in the palm called arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) and circulates the cooled blood back to the core. The BEX Runner enhances this cooling phenomenon, because it cools the AVAs more effectively than the outside air. And unlike traditional Comfort Cooling products that cool the skin, the BEX Runner impacts core temperature and heart-rate... the difference is feeling cold vs. being cooler. Everyday examples of core cooling are washing your hands in cold water after exercise to recover or kicking one foot out of comforter at night to cool down. Today, Cool Palms LLC is pioneering "in-use" palm cooling devices for athletes at affordable prices (under $30). The Better Exercise eXperience (BEX) product line, by Cool Palms, will expand to Marathoners and Triathletes by 2012. Our first product, the BEX Runner, www.bexrunner.com is designed to be the perfect training aid and stays cool 35 min to an hour in-use, depending on how hot your run. The benefits of core cooling include sustained peak performance periods, increased comfort in the heat, and general safety from heat stress.
There are two nuances: 1) the BEX Runner removes excess heat more efficiently... it does not necessarily make you feel colder. 2) the performance gains are derived from helping your body maintain normalcy (temperature and heart-rate) during strenuous exercise."
OK, I used their words because the way I describe it is going to be my simplistic terms!
You can read all about the scientific background & testimonials at the links.First, let me say that the gym I do my cardio at right now is SUPER hot in the cardio area - no air flow going on there. Not sure why cause it is freezing in the stretching area! Go figure! Also, I sweat A LOT!!!!! I always have but with the age thing, well, you have heard me go on about that more than enough times. I run hot - and that is not sexy type of hot!
So, when I leave for the gym, it is about 45 minutes before I even start my cardio (I do some core/ab work first) so I have my BEX runner out of the freezer all that time. I do keep it by my cold water bottle but it is NOT a freezer.
I have tried both the women's & men's version of this. I was able to use both fine. The men's is a bit bigger in the 2nd pic above so will last longer. For me, in the conditions for my GYM cardio, it lasted anywhere from 25 minutes for the women's version to 35/40 minutes for the men's version. This is 45 minutes AFTER I took it out of the freezer. It is weird because it is not so much that I am not sweating BUT that I feel cooler & better. It is so hard to put into words but like the description above, it seems to cool you without you being cold. Really interesting.
I have not tried it outside yet because I run in the early morns & in California, it is still chilly in the morns. We are not getting warm weather here yet. BUT, here is a LINK to the GirlGetStrong review of it from October 2010 & it was tested on an outside run.
Even though I did my test on cardio inside the gym, I felt the same as the GGS ladies. Once I got used to it, it really did not bother me at all on my hand. I did like to switch hands now & then. I also hooked it & them just slipped it on my hand rather than trying to one hand hook it on me.
I also tested it when I was watching TV & just sitting but getting HOT due to you know what OR just the house being warm or drinking coffee. Yes, it did cool me. Honestly, I was skeptical but it really did seem to work.
IT IS NOT LIKE A FAN BLOWING ON YOU. It is more subtle & hard to explain but it did seem to work for me. I can't promise it will work on everyone but it seemed to help me!
Great news too - "Cool Palms intends to launch a complete product line with longer lasting gels and new designs to meet the range of sport and athlete expectations." I hope to test those when they become available.
Have you ever used anything like this? Would you be interested in trying a product like this? It really was interesting to try it & feel the effect - cooling but not in your normal way of thinking....
Posted by truth2beingfit at 5/31/2011 8:54 PM 
Categories: Fitness, Product Reviews, Reviews, Workouts, Cardio workout, Exercise, Workout/Exercise Gear
Tags: BEX Runner running jogging Cool Palms sweat GirlGetStrong workout accessories workouts product reviews Reviews Exercise fitness cardio
Categories: Fitness, Product Reviews, Reviews, Workouts, Cardio workout, Exercise, Workout/Exercise Gear
Tags: BEX Runner running jogging Cool Palms sweat GirlGetStrong workout accessories workouts product reviews Reviews Exercise fitness cardio
Wow! I may have to give that a try. I cannot sleep at night because I get so darned hot. I wonder if it would help cool me enough to get to sleep. Once I'm asleep, I'm fine--it's just sweltering that's the problem getting there. Not to mention, I do get hot when I do my cardio. Sounds wonderful.
Reply to this
Jo, if you are talking about night sweats - well, this is not going to do it cause I get BAD night sweats - I need a fan on high for mine!
Reply to this
If you'd said you really noticed a cool down while running I might be tempted, but I am not willing to have to hold something while running. I need my hands and fingers relaxed.
Reply to this
Sheri, you don't have to hold it - it velcros around your hand & you are NOT supposed to squeeze it.. just let the cold against the inner palm. It is weird - subtle but works for me.. I was using it today trying to put into words again but is so hard unless you use it....
Reply to this
Sounds like something my husband might like - he takes a lonnnngg time to cool down.
Reply to this
Yes, I have one and I love it! I use it all the time ; )
Reply to this
When we need tp get someone's temp down, we do apply ice to various body locations, but the hands are not one of them. I am skeptical of this device at this point. Placebo?
Reply to this
I don't think so Dr. J. I really was skeptical & tried it over & over again - used it, then did not, did the tests at home & so forth. I got the men's version because I was really going thru it pretty fast. Like I mentioned in the post - it is subtle the way it works - not like when a fan blows on you & is hard to put into words. I am going to continue to test it & see how it goes..
Reply to this
Jody,
Hmmmm....and I definitely sweat a lot!! Perhaps I should check it out!! Thanks for the review of this - I have not heard of such a device before.
Reply to this
It is a subtle cooling - really interesting.... check out the GGS review for their views on outside running with it...
Reply to this
Thanks for the review, Jody! I will be using the poor girl's version of this and walking with a frozen wash cloth tucked in my hand.
Reply to this
You got it down Cammy!
Reply to this
Interesting. I don't use anything in my hand, but I find laying something cold across the back of my neck cools me down really quick. I wonder if you could hold that on the back of your neck?
Reply to this
You could hold it there but the strap is not long enough for it to hang there...
Reply to this
Interesting. How do they come up with stuff like this???
Reply to this
I know!
Reply to this
P.S. Thanks for sending your friend over. I emailed her today. Let me know how she likes the armband!
Reply to this