All mySimon Sports and Outdoors Shopping Picks

It's raining, it's pouring, but this umbrella's not boring. Turn heads with the Rain Glo umbrella (ella... ella...), the shaft of which lights up, thanks to the built-in LED bulb that never needs to be replaced. Now that it's dark when we leave work, we like the idea of being more visible in rainy rush hour traffic. The umbrella has a 46" arc when open, comes in several colors, and requires 3 AAA batteries... more

Remember the Perfect Pushup gizmos with the rotating hand grips? The same company also makes the Perfect Pullup. Like its predecessor, the Perfect Pullup has rotating handles so you can engage more muscles - and strain fewer joints - in your arms, shoulders, chest, back, and abs. The bar has a swinging arm design, so you can move it down for standing rows and other exercises. And you can remove the bar entirely... more

Backpacker magazine recently did a feature on how to make perfect coffee while camping. The MSR MugMate got high marks because it's so small and easy to use. The MugMate weighs less than an ounce and works for both coffee and tea. Just put it in your cup, load it up with your favorite (ground) coffee beans, and pour in hot water. No muss, no fuss, no filters. And you can store the MugMate... more

Traditional volleyballs apparently have 18 panels. The Mikasa MVA200 volleyball, which they are using in the Olympics, only has 8 panels, which allow for greater hand contact on the ball, a better feel, and therefore greater accuracy and control. According to Wired, the Mikasa also sounds different when you hit it; it doesn't "have the same satisfying pop as a traditional volleyball." Which sounds like a challenge to hit it even harder, but maybe... more

As seen in the latest Oprah magazine (and as used by some personal trainers we know): Kettlebell weights. These traditional Russian fitness tools are supposedly making a comeback with modern athletes as well as regular people trying to increase their balance, strength, and endurance. Using them challenges your muscles and your cardiovascular system at the same time, even if it looks like you're holding bowling balls with handles. Kettlebells come in various colors, sizes,... more

Speedo's high-tech LZR Racer Bodyskins will not make you swim like Michael Phelps, but they'll certainly help you swim a little faster. And turn heads at your local pool. But at $550 for the full bodysuit, this is a lot more swimsuit than most people need. (Our strongest event is the dogpaddle.) The swimsuits are made out of the world's lightest woven swim fabric, with full-length bonded seams, laser-cut panels, and internal core stabilizer... more

As seen on TV: The Leg Magic exercise machine, an adjustable fitness tool that helps you strengthen your butt, thighs (inner and outer), and abs by using gravity and a lateral gliding motion. The handle is for balance (and for pretending you're on "Wagon Train"). Supposedly you only use this machine for 60 seconds at a time, several times a day, to see results in a few weeks. It comes with a workout DVD... more

The Tour de France begins this weekend, reminding the lazy among us that we actually have bikes in the garage, and that we should really ride them more often. Avid cyclists have no doubt heard about the Giro Ionos road bike helmet, which was tested by 27 riders over 50,000 miles in last year's Tour. After 3 years in development, the Ionos is finally available to the rest of us. What makes this helmet... more

As seen in the July issue of the Oprah magazine: Creative Living's roll up beach mats. Available in several color combinations, each mat measures 24" x 56" and is made of a breathable, lightweight foam. Roll it up, secure it with the fabric ties, and sling it over your shoulder for easy transport to and from the beach, leaving your hands free to carry more important things (like the cooler). The mats certainly look... more

According to InStyle, Brad Pitt rides his bike while towing sons Maddox and Pax in a Schwinn Mark 2 bike trailer. With an extra-wide aluminum frame, the Mark 2 is big enough to hold 2 children, and quickly converts to a jogging stroller (it comes with an 8" wheel kit). The universal coupler makes it quick and easy to attach to most bikes, and the zippered weather shield protects the passengers from rain (and... more

What do you get when you cross a hammock and a tent? (Raccoon bait? --Ed.) A camping hammock. Apparently you need one of these for when you're really going off the map and camping on the sides of mountains or other hard terrain. Backpacker and Outside magazines both recommend Lawson camping hammocks, specifically the Blue Ridge model. The 3-season camping hammocks are lightweight (4-5 pounds), weather-resistant, and protect you from flying insects. They look... more

With the Dualist cooking system, everything you need for outdoor cooking for 2 people fits inside one pot, and the whole thing weighs just over a pound. This set includes 2 insulated cups, 2 bowls, 2 Sip-It tops, a 1.8-liter pot with a lid that has small holes for straining pasta, and a carrying sack that doubles as a sink or water-hauling container. Backpacker says: "The nine-piece cookset simply disappears into itself." The more

Backpacker magazine recently gave GoLite's Adrenaline sleeping bags an Editors' Choice award, saying "These sacks are warm like the Grand Canyon is big: You gotta experience it to understand it." The lightweight bags have a trimmer mummy shape that ensures a close fit, warmth efficiency, and core temperature regulation. Available in men's and women's sizes, they're made with premium 800-fill goose down and are waterproof at the head and feet to protect against... more

The May issue of the Oprah magazine has a full page feature on a Raleigh bicycle and the Carrie bicycle basket. The basket is made out of rugged plastic and has a lace design (the designer was inspired by the Swedish tablecloths her grandmother once used for tea). It comes with everything you need to attach it to your bike, as well as a strap so you can use it as a shopping basket... more

If your scale only tells you how much you weigh, you are missing out on all kinds of interesting data. The Homedics HealthStation scale, Real Simple magazine's pick for best advanced scale, measures your body fat, body water, muscle mass, and bone mass. It's also got a Daily Calorie Predictor that tells you how many calories you should be consuming each day. Which makes us wonder if it also knows about that pint of... more