Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 61, August 2014

Ma REVIEWS Great new gear, products and other bits and bobs put to the test by the Modern Athlete team. F M Light Up Your Run by Sean Falconer T hroughout the year, but especially in the darker months of winter, we runners have to be extra careful when running on the roads to ensure that motorists see us. So we wear bright coloured clothing and reflective vests or belts, and all running shoes come with reflective detailing. Some of us even run with headlamps, or a flashing light, like the cyclists attach to their bikes. However, one of the problems of reflective detailing in clothes and shoes is that they only really show up when light is shone directly on them, which means that a motorist can come round a corner and suddenly see you directly in front of the car… leaving little time to take avoiding action. As a runner myself, and as an editor of a running magazine, safety on the run is one of my priorities, and for that reason, I am very pleased to see PUMA bringing out its new NightCat Powered range, which literally lights you up. When I did the night-testing of these products, I must admit, I at first felt like a set of Christmas lights, but jokes aside, they work! BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE… Another useful addition to the range is the NightCat Powered Backpack, which also comes with an LED unit on the back that lights up, so if you ever need to run home from work or gym in dark conditions, and don’t want your running pack to obscure your reflectivity, this is the answer. The pack already has a reflective Cat logo for increased visibility, and offers ample storage space with overflow side pockets, and is hydration bladder compatible. Images: Courtesy Puma GET IT: Men’s Pure NightCat Powered Jacket: R2499 Women’s Pure NightCat Powered Jacket: R2399 Faas 600 v2 NightCat Powered: R1799 NightCat Powered Backpack: R1799 Available from PUMA Stores from August/ September. More info at 021 551 0832. ISSUE 61 AUGUST 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za 44 facebook.com/TriRockSA TriRockSA LIGHTS, ACTION… The idea behind NightCat is top-to-bottom, front-to-back visibility, so PUMA have built small, lightweight, removable and rechargeable LED units into their jackets and shoes. When switched on, these units light up brightly and are visible from some distance, no matter which direction you are running in, to ensure maximum visibility – and recharging is as easy as slipping the LED unit out and connecting to your com ]\

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 61, August 2014 | Page 44