We checked out the eQua Plus towel, which is designed to be used on top of your yoga mat to provide a slip-resistant surface (and a handy way to dab the sweat from your brow). Interestingly, the material was more slip-resistant when damp – perfect for sweaty palms, but a little slick at the start of a workout. But the major selling point of the eQua Plus towel is in its sanitary properties. It is a poly/nylon blend with more than 25% of the fabric made from recycled coconut shells. These coconut fibers, mixed with active carbon, helps absorb and evaporate moisture (aka – sweat) quickly. The result? A towel that is not soaked or smelly by the time you are done with your workout. Plus, it is really soft (which may not be the best thing for me, who is easily distracted by soft things).

Manduka uses natural, recycled, biodegradable, and/or sustainable materials in all products, and support toxic-free facilities and fair labor practices. They offer a wide range of mats, towels, bags, and props to suit your every need.

Manduka.com

Banglz offers an easy way to do this with ankle and wrist weights that are meant to be worn everyday. These soft velcro weights are quick and easy to put on, and come in 1lb. ankle and 1lb. or 1/2 lb. wrist varieties. But sure, you can buy wrist and ankle weights anywhere. What makes these special? First, they are soft. The weights are rounded neoprene sleeves filled with sand. There are no pointy edges or lumps to deal with. But what really sets Banglz apart are the styles. Banglz come in a dozen different colors and patterns: black and white chain print, retro polka-dots, denim, zebra, tie-dye, and more.

The idea behind Banglz is that they are stylish enough to be worn every day. They aren’t going to fool anyone – they are bulky in a way that even the chunkiest jewelry is not. But they are certainly cute, and far more stylish and comfortable than traditional weights. Once, many moons ago, I bought a set of Reebok wrist and ankle weights but they were clunky and painful to wear. They now sit in a box in the closet. Banglz are appealing to the eye and the touch, making me more likely to put them on, even if it just to take the dog for a walk or while doing laundry. Every little bit, right?

Banglz are reasonably priced at $25 per pair. The fabric covers are not attached to the weights, so they can be washed separately. I would love to be able to buy additional covers without having to purchase new weights. A girl’s gotta accessorize.

Available at Amazon.com or Banglz.com

I hate Purell. I love the sanitizing quality, but it feels sticky and heavy on my skin. Luckily Burt’s Bees has a solution with their own, all-natural hand sanitizer. Utilizing ethyl alcohol for sanitation, witch hazel to soothe, and aloe vera to moisturize, this liquid spray leaves hands soft and clean without any funky residue. The only downside is that the 2oz spray bottle is not quite as convenient to carry in your purse (though I have had Purell leak all over my bag, and it wasn’t pretty), but I can live with that.

Silent Snooz promises to reduce snoring with a reusable plastic nose clip. It slides into your nose and hugs the wall between the two nostrils. It is supposed to open up your nasal passages kind of like those Breathe Right strips – but from the inside. Mr. Spork found Silent Snooz to be reasonably comfortable and did not impede with his sleep. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well. His snoring bursts were a little shorter, and a little softer, but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t enough to ditch my earplugs. Also, it fell out at some point during the night, and we never were able to find it.

It didn’t work for us, but maybe it would do better for someone with more normal snoring levels.

To purchase, visit SilentSnooz.com

The Pros

FiTrainer can be purchased at itami.com