AKG K 321 in-canal headphones - They do the job

AKG K 321 In - Canal Headphones

http://www.akg.com/personal/English,lang,1.html

$79.95 (Amazon.com)
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Ever since I got my iPhone 3GS I've experimented with its capabilities as they relate to running. Over the past month I've broken my cardinal rule about listening to music as I run and have enjoyed the experience. The main reason for this change is due to my acquiring a pair of AKG K 321 in-ear headphones that are remarkably comfortable and provide a great combination of sound quality and outside noise suppression. I say remarkably comfortable for a reason - I normally dislike ear buds and when I say dislike what I really mean is that I HATE THEM. It may be the shape of my ear aperture but I've never been able to keep ear buds in place for more than ten minutes before the pain exceeded the enjoyment of the experience. I was pleased by the way these headphones fit when I put them in and even after an hour of jostling on the trails I had no compulsion to remove them. I find that in most cases the driving beat from a Podrunner Podcast (excepting the occasional endlessly repeated vocal motet) can be motivating. I suffer from some hearing loss in one ear and the K 321's seem to provide a well balanced sound experience compared with other ear buds and headphones I have tried.
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My biggest problem right now is that my brand new 3GS iPhone has suddenly died (as did its predecessor) so I'm unable to use it for music while I run. I have a loaner and as soon as I have it configured I'll be back on the road with it. There's not much more I can say about these headphones except that they do the job, fit me like a glove and have allowed me to enjoy an experience that I've always viewed negatively.

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More information about the AKG 321's can be found at http://www.akg.com/personal/K_321,pcatid,7,pid,97,_psmand,1.html

Moji to Go & Moji Knee - Ultimate Icing Convenience

The Emerging Runner and I had previously tested and reported on the Moji Knee. In our review I'd lamented that the Cold Cell hadn't remained cool enough for use during a 24-hour running relay. About 5 hours into the event I had pulled it out for a teammate and found that the temperature of the cell was tepid and unsuitable for use. The Moji folks, upon learning this, provided the Moji to Go cold system to Runner's Tech Review to try. The Moji to Go consists of a large, stainless steel, insulated canister and two ice sticks that resemble freezer pops (inedible of course!). After freezing the Moji Cold Cell and the two ice sticks, it can all be placed inside the stainless steel canister. After that you are free to travel and use the Moji Knee when needed.

The Moji site indicates that the Moji to Go should keep the Moji Knee Cold Cell frozen for 4 to 6 hours. I was admittedly skeptical about this claim but was delighted to find that this underestimates the Moji to Go's capabilities! My maximum test lasted 10 hours, and while the Moji cell wouldn't have remained cold enough for a thorough 20-minute icing session, I was pleasantly surprised to find it still relatively chilled after 10 long hours. 4 to 7 hours is certainly the sweet spot though.

"The convenience and comfort of the system encouraged me to ice more frequently than I ever had..."

In our previous review, I had indicated that the Moji was almost too cold for direct skin application immediately upon removal from the freezer. After storing the Moji in the Moji to Go canister for an hour or more, however, I found that the temperature had dropped just enough to be ideal. The convenience and comfort of the system encouraged me to ice more frequently than I ever had before, and I'm hopeful that this will translate to better recovery and joint health.

Since I do not go home before attending post-work athletic events, the transportability of the Moji to Go is very important. I was happy to have it on hand when a teammate at a soccer match injured his ankle and another aggravated his shoulder. (As a side note, the Moji Cold Cell we have is intended for use on a knee, but I've had success jerry-rigging it to apply cold and mild compression for shoulders, ankles, and quads!) When the cold cell wasn't appropriate, the ice sticks even came in handy for quick icing needs on the sidelines.

"The stainless steel and bright orange rubber stripe get it noticed and a few people asked me, 'Wow! Did that just fall from space?!' "

As a city dweller, the Moji to Go's main drawback is that it is cumbersome to carry around. Athletes who travel to events in cars, however, won't be concerned by its size and weight. The stainless steel and bright orange rubber stripe get it noticed and a few people asked me, "Wow! Did that just fall from space?!" The only other concern I had with the canister was that the cap did not fit well. Instead of screwing in place it pops on, and it was sometimes hard to align it for a proper fit. Other times it didn't fit snugly when inserted.

The device is pricey: $54.95 for the canister and two ice sticks plus the initial $84.95 investment for the Moji Knee. A bundle pack containing both the Moji Knee and Moji to Go is priced at $124.95. It is very well made and will surely have a long lifespan. Moji To Go is an excellent investment for serious athletes and a great gift for a team coach. I can imagine that school athletic departments would happily stock up on these units for use by trainers during games. I'll admit that I have a full day soccer tournament this coming Saturday, and I'm very excited to have the Moji Knee and Moji to Go to bring along!
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Reported by Adventure Girl and the Emerging Runner