Sports Blog » Buying Guides

People love the holiday season for a lot of reasons. There is the time spent with family and friends, the always interesting office Christmas parties, and perhaps best of all, those delicious home cooked meals.

Of course there is a downside to eating all of that scrumptious food — putting on a few holiday pounds. Starting with Thanksgiving feasts and ending with Christmas dinners, it is easy to find your jeans fitting a little snugger at the start of the new year.

And with the weather getting colder by the day around the country, it is harder and harder to get outside and exercise. So for those of us who still want to shed some calories without having to face the weather or pay costly gym memberships, buying home fitness equipment is the best option.

You might be hesitant to do so because you think the process will be too difficult, but it is actually pretty easy to research and buy gym equipment for your home. To help you get started, here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to buy a home treadmill.

Step one: The first thing to determine is how much money you are willing to spend. Like most consumer items, the more money you are willing to spend the better quality item (in general) you are likely to get. For treadmills, the lower end of the spectrum will be in the $400 to $500 range while the higher end models can cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars. Consider what features you need and can live without to avoid spending more than you have to.

Step two: The next step is deciding if you want a treadmill with or without some type of motor. Treadmills without a motor function off the energy created by your motion and are generally much less expensive than treadmills that do come with motors. If you do decide to go the motor route, check to see what speeds and inclines that the machine is capable of to ensure it offers the experience you need.

Step three: After deciding on the price and type, the next thing to consider is the features you will require. Do you want a treadmill that offers a wide range of inclines? Do you want a treadmill that can automatically track how far you’ve ran or measure your pulse? Do you need extra bells and whistles like built-in iPod integration? There are many different options available to you so make sure to check out all of them before making a decision.

Step four: The final things to take into consideration are how much noise a treadmill makes, how much space it takes up, and how comfortable it feels to use. Many people do not consider the sound a treadmill will make, but ones with large motors and poor design can be loud and very distracting. Space is also a big consideration — especially if you do not have a dedicated space to work out — so if space is at a premium you may want to choose a model that can fold up and fit into tight spaces.

Finally, and this is often overlooked, you want to take into consideration how a treadmill feels when you use it. If possible it is highly recommended to use the model you want before purchasing it because you may find one treadmill more comfortable than another. When shopping online this is not going to be possible, so make sure to check out the return policy before purchasing from an online retailer.

Image Source: Health-Fitness-Beauty

Find deals on treadmills at Smarter.com.

It may have taken longer than expected to get here, but finally a majority of America is experiencing actual winter weather. Temperatures across the nation are dropping and many places are even getting (or are about to get) snow.

If you are lucky enough to live near snow you know all about the many different fun activities you can do in it. From something as simple as building a snowman to something more adventurous like heading to the slopes to ski, it is hard not to have fun after a fresh layer of powder hits the ground.

However, if you have never been skiing or snowboarding it can be a daunting task to plan. Where do you go? Is it difficult? Where do you get a board? What do you look for in one?

If you find yourself overwhelmed, sit down, take a deep breath and relax. I’m here to help you out with a quick step by step guide on how to rent or buy a snowboard for your next trip to the mountains. I may not be able to teach you how to ride, but with this guide you will at least be able to get the right board to try.

Step one: The first thing to consider is whether to rent or buy your board. If you have never been snowboarding I strongly urge that you rent (or borrow if possible) because as fun as snowboarding is, you don’t want to buy expensive equipment only to later find out it is not your cup of tea. Save yourself the money and try before you buy.

Step two: After you decide to rent or buy you are going to have to decide on the specifics of the board. The biggest aspect to look at is the length of the board itself. The shorter the board length the more maneuverability the board has. However, with the benefit of greater control comes a decrease in the boards stability. In other words, the shorter the board the more experienced the rider should be.

Step three: The next thing to look at is the binding system of the board. The binding system is a fancy name for how your feet are held down to the board. The two main types are strap bindings, which are slow to put on and remove but provide excellent support, and step ins, which are easy to slip in and out of but are generally less supportive.

Step four: The final step in the process is deciding on how much you want to spend on a board. Obviously as the price increases the boards get generally better, but there is no need to spend a fortune, especially if it is your first one. The bottom line is unless you are a really experienced rider, there is no need to break the bank.

Shop for discount snowboards at Smarter.com.

Image Source: Canada Photos

Can’t figure out what you want you kids to be for Halloween this year? Here are some great sports ideas for what they can be this year.  Check them out because Halloween is fast approaching and you don’t want to be picking at the last minute.  Here are some I found:

TODDLER’S FOOTBALL PLAYER BOYS HALLOWEEN COSTUME 2-4T -$34.99

CHILD’S ROCKY LICENSED BOYS BOXER HALLOWEEN COSTUME MED - $49.99

KID’S DLX EVERLAST BOYS BOXER HALLOWEEN COSTUME LG - $49.99

TODDLER KID’S BASEBALL PLAYER UNIFORM HALLOWEEN COSTUME – $39.99

Infant Football Player Cute Boys Halloween Costume 0-6m - $24.99

Find more kids’ sports costumes and baby sports costumes at Smarter.com.

What could be more perfect for a tailgate or home party than a rug representing your school. It can bring school color and pride to any party. Whether your using it outside or inside these rugs can take anything. They are a perfect gift for the ultimate fan and right now they are on sale. Coming in two different sizes (5 foot by 8 foot) or (5 foot by 6 foot) to fit anywhere, why not make one yours today!

UCLA Bruins Ulti Indoor / Outdoor Rug (5×8) – $134.99 was $149.99

Michigan Wolverines Ulti Indoor / Outdoor Rug (5×8) -$134.99

Oregon Ducks Ulti Indoor / Outdoor Rug (5×8) – $134.99

Arizona State Sun Devils Tailgater Indoor / Outdoor Rug (5×6) – $112.49 was $124.99

Georgia Bulldogs Tailgater Indoor / Outdoor Rug (5×6) – $112.49

More NCAA floor mats available in both sizes at Smarter.com!

Want to cruse down the river or lake in a peaceful canoe but don’t have the space to bring it?  Get a high quality inflatable canoe that will take little space to bring.  These canoes can be ready to go in minutes out of the bag.  The best part is that the quality that you get from the canoes is just as good as the wood canoes for half the price.  So, get an inflatable canoe and save space and money for almost the same high quality.  Here are some good deals that I found for under $330.  

Sevylor U240 KCC305/HF Rio 1 Person Canoe inflatable - $225.95 was ($254.99)

Sevylor Inflatable Colorado Canoe/2 Seat - $276.94 was ($450.00)

Back Country Inflatable Canoe-Capacity: 2 persons - $298.95

Sevylor U241/KC335/HF Colorado 2 Person Canoe - $324.95

Shop for more inflatable canoes at Smarter.com.

In the last deal of the day I showed you high quality putters that you can find for under $150.  Now I’ll show you how the get geared up apparel wise for under $150.  My goal is to find good quality products that are either on sale or have a reasonable price.  There are plenty of other combinations of products to get geared up for under $150, but I tried to go with quality and name brand. Here’s what I found:

Nike Dura Feel (Golf Gloves)-  $5.99

Adidas University Golf Shoes: $34.99

ClimaCool White Base Stripe Polo: $34.99

Nike Golf SP Pant: $49.99

That brings the total to $126.96 not including tax.  What a deal!! These are all high quality products with name recognition.  You now have an extra $23 to buy anything else you think you need while your out on the course.

Shop through a wide variety of discount golf gear and equipment at Smarter.com.

All around the country people have been waiting for summer, and while it is still a little ways off the weather has heated up enough to get people thinking about hitting the beach for some much needed fun in the sun.

And from snorkeling to surfing, the beach just has so much to offer for both relaxing one-day excursions to week long vacations.  But before you start fighting your way through waves you are going to want to buy a wetsuit, and with so many to chose from it is hard to know exactly what you need or how much you need to spend.

No matter what your needs are, know one thing: there are plenty of quality, discount wetsuits out there.

When you start to look for one the first thing to consider is how cold the water is going to be where you are going.  Taking a dip on South Beach is just a tad different from playing with the polar bears in Alaska.  Spare yourself the expense of a thicker wetsuit if you can.  Not only will you save money, but buying a really thick wetsuit for use in warm water may leave you too hot.

You also want to consider what you will be using your wetsuit for.  If you plan on spending some time surfing, you are going to want a suit that cuts off at the arms and legs to give you the most amount of freedom possible.  Conversely, if mobility isn’t a top priority because you are going to be floating around looking at coral reef (or you just get really cold in water), go for a suit that goes to your wrists and ankles.

Lastly, if possible, take a second to get familiar with different wetsuit brands and how each type of suit fits.  It would look pretty silly if everyone was hopping into the water and your suit fit like a poncho.  Not only would it look ridiculous but the suit would be much less effective in keeping your body warm.  Ideally a suit should fit fairly snugly and leave no bulges in the mid-section.

With all of that handy information in mind, here is today’s deal of the day, wetsuit edition.  Over at Sierratradingpost.com they have a 2mm shorty wetsuit for only $69.95. Perfect for warm to temperate water, this deal is hard to pass up.

Camaro Mono Sonic 2mm Shorty Wetsuit: $69.95

Image Source: Aquaholicsurf.com and Sierratradingpost.com

High schools and colleges around the country are about to be let out for the summer and vacations will follow soon after.  One great way to spend some time outdoors with family and friends is to go canoeing.

You may have dismissed the idea in the past because it sounds expensive.  After all, a good canoe must cost a lot of money, right?  Wrong! You can have a great vacation without breaking the bank by buying any of a number of cheap canoes.

If you have never been canoeing before or have no idea what to look for when buying one, take a deep breath and relax because it is easier than you think.  Here are a few things to consider when purchasing a canoe to make sure you are getting exactly what you need.

The first question you should be asking yourself is how you plan on using your canoe.  There is a huge difference between paddling on a gentle lake and rafting down a wild river.  Not only should you have experience canoeing/kayaking if you decide to challenge a river, the type of canoe you would use is different than the one you would use in a romantic stroll along a lake.

Speaking of romantic strolls, make sure to take into consideration how many people you will be sharing your canoe with.  Are you going to be out there by yourself or will you be sharing the space with a few buddy’s?  If you plan on being out on the water for a prolonged period of time, you are going to want plenty of space for your materials and gear (not to mention yourself).

If racing down white-water rapids isn’t on your itinerary, then you can afford to get a larger, wider canoe to store all of your passengers and equipment.  It won’t be as maneuverable as a racing canoe, but if you don’t plan on challenging strangers to random races it won’t have to be.  This will also affect what type of material you canoe should be made out of.  Again, if you don’t plan on racing, you don’t need the most expensive, light weight, aerodynamic canoe out there.

Also, before you pile everyone and everything in, it would be wise to take a look at the weight limit of your canoe.  It would be mighty embarrassing (not to mention potentially dangerous) for you to sink or tip over as soon as you got into the water.  If you are over the weight capacity take a few moments to think about what you could do without on your trip.

One last issue to think about is how you plan to transport your canoe.  When purchasing from online retailers it would be smart to see how much shipping for such a large item is going to cost.  And when you do finally get the canoe, you have to figure out how to get it from point A to point B.  Take the time to figure out how large/heavy of a canoe your vehicle can handle and adjust your plans accordingly.

Image Source: MyKayakingBuddies.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop through a variety of canoes.

Now that Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner, it is the perfect time to start planning a camping trip. It is a great way to spend some time in the fresh air, get some much needed exercise, and have a good time with friends and family that doesn’t involve staring at a TV.

There are a lot of supplies and equipment you will need, but one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what type of tent to bring. And if you don’t have a lot of camping experience, the decision can be overwhelming. Luckily for all you future campers out there, I have put together a quick and informative buying guide that will help you throughout your tent buying experience.

Before you slap down your credit card take some time to consider these questions:

How many people will be camping with you? If you are going to be in the tent by yourself, obviously you do not need as much room as if the tent was going to host a family of four. Tents come in all sizes so don’t splurge for extra real estate if it isn’t necessary. Also consider who is going to be sharing the tent. Each person is different and requires different amounts of space. Cuddling up to your significant other is fine. Being smushed up against three of your smelly friends isn’t.

What type of environment will you be camping in? You may think a tent is a tent, but they are designed with various climates in mind. One thing to take into consideration is what the weather will be like when you’re camping. Camping in the desert in summer is not like camping in the mountains in winter. If there is going to be a lot of sun you are going to want UV protection. If there is going to be a lot of wind you are going to want a tent with multiple tie-downs. If there are going to be a lot of mosquitoes you are going to want full mesh covering to avoid bites. Wherever you plan to be, find out as much as possible about the climate and conditions so you can plan accordingly.

What type of materials is the tent made up of? The quality of materials can be very important and ties into the last question. You are going to want poles that are high strength aluminum, carbon fiber or other sturdy material. The last thing you need is for a gust of wind to snap apart your poles and send your tent flying off into the distance. The type of fabric is equally important because some materials are better at trapping heat or keeping moisture out. Also consider how heavy the tent is. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking you are going to want to keep the weight of your supplies down.

How easy is it to put the tent together? This may seem like a silly question, but a camping trip is supposed to be fun. Who wants to spend hours trying to put together a tent that requires an engineering degree to assemble? The goal should be to put together a stable shelter in as little time as possible. Not only will this free up more time to kick back and relax, it will save you the frustration that can come with not being able to pitch a tent.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when buying a tent. Make sure to take time before your trip to select the tent that fits your needs and you will be able to avoid the headaches of having the wrong tent ruin your next vacation.

With the weather heating up around the country and Major League Baseball a couple weeks into its season, it is only natural to think about wanting to get out on the diamond to play some ball. And whether you plan on playing a friendly game with the family or a hard nosed battle in your rec league, you are going to need a solid glove to get you through the action. But how do you go about finding a glove? Which one is right for you? Where are the best deals? Worry not, because regardless if this is you first time picking up the leather or you are a seasoned pro, I’ve got you covered. Read more »