A travel towel is a micro fibre towel that is thinner, lighter, faster drying and more absorbent then a regular towel.  They are often coated in an anti-bacterial solution making them more hygienic than a normal towel.  Travel towels, as the name suggests, are ideal for those on the move and who want to bring a towel with them but do not want to use all the space in their bag that a regular towel would take up.  As they are fast drying they can also be used and packed away soon after use without them going mouldy or starting to smell like a regular towel.  Due to the small amount of space they take up, thank to their thinness, they are ideal for storing in your bag or car for use in an emergency such as getting caught in a rain storm.

People who would benefit from the use of a travel towel include:

• Triathletes: due to their absorbent nature a travel towel is an ideal way to quickly dry down between stages.
• Travellers: going away, need to take a towel but are short on space?  If so then a travel towel is ideal for you.  Get a large one and it can double up as a beach towel whilst still only taking up a tiny amount of space in your bag.
• Gym-Goer: if you use a gym a travel towel is ideal to take in with your as they can be used to mop up any sweat you or other gym-goers might leave on the equipment.  The anti-bacterial coating makes them especially suitable for this environment. Also as they take up less space in your bag your gym kit will be easier to carry to and from the gym.
• Dog walkers: does your dog ever jump in the pond or river and get wet?  Do you ever get caught in the rain whilst out walking?  If so then keep a micro-fibre travel towel to hand and you can dry yourself and the dog down quickly and easily.

A dry bag is a great way to transport your valuables when you are in or around water.  Dry bags come in many shapes and sizes but essentially all work in the same way: you put the items in them then roll or fold over the opening of the bag at least three or four times then shut the clasps and presto the back is sealed and your items are protected from the water!

As well as keeping the items dry the bag also floats as it is air-tight so if you accidentally drop it overboard or knock it from your canoe or kayak it will be easy to retrieve your dry bag and its contents.  As they float the dry bag could also be attached to your canoe or yourself and dragged behind you in the water.

Not only are dry bags great for triathletes they also have many other practical uses and can be of benefit to many other people. These include:

• Surfers: keep your gear dry whilst in the water.
• Plumbers and builders: keep your tools safe in a waterproof dry tube bag whilst on site.
• Fishermen: dry bags are great for storing any items you need for your fishing drip that you don’t want to get wet.
• Anyone who goes out in the rain or in wet conditions will benefit from the use of a dry bag.

Due to the array of shapes and sizes the list of items that can be put in a dry bag is endless.  Some items include:

• Mobile phones, cameras and mp3 players
• Wallets, money and cash cards
• Clothes and towels: use a large dry bag to transport your clothes if you are travelling by boat or kayak

A heart rate monitor is perfect for the tri athlete as it allows you to monitor your heart rate on land an in the water and chart increases in performance and detect which area(s) of your game needs improvement and extra focus.

A heart rate monitor like the Garmin Forerunner 50 features a wireless heart rate monitor that automatically transmits workout data to your computer for analysis once you get back home. This data can also be stored for monitoring over time purposes or shared online with other uses of Garmin Connect.

With the Forerunner 50 you can even listen to your heart rate whilst you work out to let you quickly know how hard your heart is working. You can set a heart rate zone which you want to work in and the Garmin will notify you when you leave that range.

If you are serious about increasing your performance in any sport, especially triathlons, a heart rate monitor is an essential addition to your kit.

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