Orca is a creator and developer of cutting edge sports apparel, born out of our success in the grueling and technically advanced sport of triathlon. For over 15 years, Orca has been leading the pack with innovation and design. 

Now Orca wants to offer customers products that will enable them to perform anytime, from the pre-dawn jog to running the gauntlet within the workplace. The chosen fabric for this new collection is premium New Zealand performance Merino wool – one of nature’s true superfibres. They’ve selected Merino because it is naturally thermo-neutral, meaning that the fabric responds to changes in the micro-climate around your body. Because Merino can absorb and release moisture, the garments cool when you sweat and warm when the temperature drops. It is also antibacterial so it won’t smell. And because Merino fibres are so fine, the fabric feels great next to your skin. Cross the finish line in Orca from Zappos.com.

We all know that Jillian Michaels means business. When she isn’t helping average Americans accomplish their fitness goals on The Biggest Loser, she offers her expert advice to those who are trying to take their fitness to the next level. Jillian Michaels and the team at K-SWISS have started an online video series where Jillian jumpstarts your workout and offers tips for top performance. Before you jump into a new regimen, protect your feet with the revolutionary technology that’s sure to change your approach to running. The Tubes™ Run 100 from K-SWISS® provides an amazingly responsive heel-to-toe transition and features full-length cylinders for excellent flexibility, support and stability. Head over to our Running page to try on a pair of Tubes™ Run 100 and check out this video with Jillian Michaels explaining the importance of upgrading your gear:

Cold weather shouldn’t keep you from getting in your daily jog and the team at Burton have put together a few choices of stylishly warm outerwear for the season. Stay warm,dry and fresh in the stylish Burton Expedition Quarter Zip top. The DRYRIDE Ultrawick™ 360G stretch microfleece will keep you perfectly warm and dry. The stretch 360° will give you unlimited mobility during every workout. The Burton Scoop Hoodie is another great option with its lightweight DRYRIDE Thermex™ grid fleece for quick-drying, breathable warmth. The inventive gingham check design  and contrast full-zip closure makes the Scoop Hoodie a certified winner for your Winter workout style. 

Burton has fueled the growth of adult and children's snowboarding worldwide through its groundbreaking product lines, its grassroots efforts to get the sport accepted at resorts and its team of top adult, child, and teen snowboarders. Put their expertise to good use on your runs this Winter.

The BIOM Project is an innovative running and walking concept developed by ECCO®. The design behind its products is based on the principle of allowing the foot to move as nature intended it to. The forward motion of running and walking is something that our bodies have become accustomed to over hundreds of thousands of years.

The human foot is made up of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles that are especially designed to support us when we run and walk. Both of these activities however, place increased strain on the foot, which is why ECCO developed BIOM running and walking shoes. They believe in adding support only where the foot needs it, so as not in impede its natural motion. All BIOM shoes are built on an anatomical last to provide a better fit and more natural flexion. As their aim is natural movement, they do not follow the design standards of overprotection, excessive cushioning, or motion control.

Professor Dr. Bruggemann, a leading scientist in running biomechanics, Torbjorn Sindballe, world-class triathlon pro-athlete, and ECCO have all worked in conjunction to make the BIOM Project what it has become today. The best thing about BIOM products is that whether you’re a walker, the occasional runner, the fitness runner, or the serious runner, they have a shoe to fit your needs.

People with “problem feet” around the world rejoice; Skechers Shape-Ups are designed to reduce the stress on knee and ankle joints, strengthen the back, increase cardiovascular health and did we mention promote weight loss?! Skechers has brought true style to the rocker-bottom shoe design that has been lacking since its inception. But how does it all work?

The rolling bottom contributes to biomechanical motion to give you a natural walking state by propelling you into your next step. The soft foam insert under the heal is combined with a dual-density midsole to support and stabilize the foot. These elements working together makes walking on the hardest surfaces feel like you’re on a cloud. At the same time, your muscles will be strengthened and you’ll experience increased blood flow and reduced impact on your joints and back. Continuous use of SKECHERS Shape-ups will help burn calories, fight cellulite, and improve cardiovascular health.

Looking for the ideal walking shoe? The SKECHERS Shape-ups SSR - Resistor (pictured above) is designed for enhanced resistance training and accelerated muscle activation. The advanced stabilization insole includes a rigid heel for added support and stability. Keep up the good kinetic movement in the winter months with the SKECHERS Shape-ups – Resolutions. The smooth suede upper with contrasting stitch accents and soft faux fur lining and collar make this boot a stylish and healthy choice this winter. Keep your feet happy and check out the full line of SKECHERS Shape-ups for men and women at Zappos.com.

There are few places in this world that I would consider “perfect” for a vacation. Every destination has its flaws, its drawbacks, its annoyances. If I had to choose one place, however, where I would spend every vacation if possible, it would be Sanibel Island in Florida.

Sanibel Island is the ideal tropical paradise. It has pristine, white beaches perfect for making sandcastles, sparkling water with plenty of sea life, every tropical plant you can imagine and a wide array of tourist activities. All this makes Sanibel Island a home away from home for many Floridians. Of course, it doesn’t matter where you live as long as you can hop on a plane, because Sanibel Island is only a short drive from Fort Meyers International Airport.

Rather than spending your vacation in a stuffy hotel room with air conditioning that blows too cold, stay the night at one of the Gulf Breeze Cottages, which are situated right on the beach and provide a stunning view in both the morning and night. You can rent bicycles to travel around the island rather than bringing your car, and you can take short cruises if you want to get on the water.

There are plenty of sporting activities on Sanibel Island, so this is the perfect vacation for athletic travelers. Golf, tennis, boating, in-line skating , basketball and racquetball are all popular in town. You can also try your hand at parasailing or water skiing if it suits you.

The best part of visiting Sanibel Island, however, is the shelling. Collectors of sea shells will assume they’ve died and shot straight to heaven, because there are millions of unique, colorful shells on all the beaches of the island. There is even a seashell museum on Sanibel-Captiva Road.

For your visit to Sanibel Island, I recommend a pair of comfortable sandals for long walks on the beach and strolls through town. The Birkenstock Arizonas are a great choice for men and women alike, with a contoured foot bed and raised toe bar.

We had 23 brands for running, eye projection, apparel, gear & equipment and more at the Athletic Expo yesterday. I was pretty ignorant about both rollerblades and bowling shoes and I learned quite a bit about both of them yesterday. For instance I did not know that bowling shoes had a different sole for each foot. One foot slides so that shoe has a relatively slick sole (I knew that) and the other grips or “plants” so that sole is not slippery. And for rollerblades I learned that high end, high speed roller blades have special fins built into the wheels to cool the axle bearing.