TriNorthWest - Product Review

*Product Review*

	Oomph! Compression Shorts - Lava and Kilauea
	By-Andreas Oswald

The Review:
	My review is another look at a very important product in the triathlon world... your Triathlon Shorts. How many times have you thought on what kind of shorts you need to get when doing a triathlon? Once in a while? Every training ride? Or, after a grueling race when you are cursing your uncomfort! Whatever your reason, an important question to raise and answer. In the past, triathletes put on their running shorts at the transition after the swim and went like hell on the bike and the run... not too comfortable. Decades later and hundreds of races under their belts, I do believe Scott and Julie Gix at Oomph! Triathlon Apparel have got it right. There is a difference between the Lava and Kilauea Compression shorts. The Lava, named after the molten rock, which makes up the islands of Hawaii, is just the compression short. While the Kilauea, named after the most active volcano on the Hawaiian Islands, is the Lava, plus an integrated race number system. The Oomph! Compression short, or (Lava), $95, is a unique, ergonomically designed, triathlon specific short. The compression in the short is Lycra, in two different thickness, ergonomically cut and stitched so they compress against your skin to feel tighter than your normal pair of cycling shorts. The feeling of the shorts was comforting but not too tight. The gripper elastic is quite snug and didn't move too much when taking off the wet suit or when in your aero bars on the bike. A neat little pocket in the back has been stitched inside to hold your keys or I.D. The stitching is very high quality and will definitely last longer than my other tri shorts. The pad, Oomph's 'distance' model, has some neoprene to give some thickness, good for the bike, but not too much, good for the run. They also didn't soak up too much water in the swim, which was nice to find out. The length was a bit long for my taste but overall the shorts are comfy and look great with the contrasting white stitching on the black shorts. The Kilauea Compression short, $125, is the ultimate race short. It is the 'Lava' short with an integrated race number system stitched into the waist. What you get is a moveable Velcro race number belt, so you can move your race number from the back of your shorts when on your bike, to the front of your shorts when you are on the run. Two gel flask pockets are stitched onto the sides of the Lava and are easy to reach. Elastic loops are added to the waist belt on both sides to hold some gel packets, or film canisters for your pills, supplements, or salt tablets. A really great idea. Purchase a pair of Kilauea shorts you also receive 'NUUN' hydration tablets and some 'Cliff Shot' gel packets just so you can try out the loops and pockets... always cool when you get free stuff. The 'Lava' and 'Kilauea' Compression shorts were first featured in 2004 and have quickly become a hot item. Gordo Byrn of 'Gordoworld.com' quoted these as the "Cadillac of Tri shorts" and as many of you know, that is quite a compliment. I would compare the Lava to a high-end bicycle short but the value you get with the Kilauea is unmatched in the triathlon market. I would recommend the Kilauea to a dedicated triathlon racer and the Lava to more a weekend warrior. The price should not turn you away from what are very high quality and forgiving shorts. Others might put some fancy stitching and write something on their tag, but you really must slide on a pair and feel the difference of quality, ingenuity, and comfort. I know I did.