Keeping Fit | Original Penguin: Vintage Gym Collection

I do love me some gym gear. Even my first post for Buckets and Spades, all those twelve months ago, was on a selection of clothes for the gym.

Original Penguin have just launched their own gym range, with a 1950s feel about it. There's exactly what you'd expect in here, t-shirts, hoodies, sweat pants, and gym bags - all great looking stuff.

What's most interesting though, is rather than the typical press release with images attached, Original Penguin have done something...well...original.

Working with the incredible photographer Jonathan D Pryce (otherwise known as Garçon Jon) - and I don't say that to encourage a RT from him, check out his images here! - Original Penguin have spoken to four guys who like their fashion as much as they like their fitness.

Basketball, callisthenics (look it up!), tennis, and dancing. It's quite a range and hopefully it will inspire folks to try something new or help them push on with whatever exercise they love.

Images: Original Penguin and Jonathan D Pryce.

Like fitness? Check out my attempt at Tough Mudder and read the reasons why I run.

Sneaker Watch | Nike Free Trainer 3.0

Some people get very excited about the technology behind trainers. The materials, techniques, and devices used in their construction.

That's cool.

Part of me wishes I could understand more about intricacies of trainer design. Who knows, perhaps I will, one day.

For now, I'll appreciate their look and take the slightly conservative approach that if a brand's product has worked for me in the past, it'll work for me in the future. A limited outlook, I know, but one that hasn't seen me too far wrong.

I'm the proud owner of two pairs of Nikes (that's right, two whole pairs!) - one, a pair of black Nike Free 5.0; the other, a pair of Nike Free Trainer 5.0 that Nike were kind enough to give me for attending an NFL training session at Wembley, for Buckets and Spades.

I'm always looking to add to that meagre collection, as Nike are a brand who get their trainers right.

A strange thing to say, but there is never a press release I receive from Nike and wince at - a lot of other brands, who do produce some great stuff, regularly produce a dud.

These Nike Free Trainer 3.0 are exactly what I mean. Click the link and admire.

Read the tech specs if you like, but I'm already wearing these (in my head) to the gym, for a run, or on the walk to the climbing wall. So good, so Nike.

Pictures: Nike.

Like Nike? Like Running? Check this piece on running shoes and this one on running in London.