If you’re an athlete of the thrill-seeking variety, chances are you’ve heard about extreme racing. In recent years, hard-core obstacle courses like Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and The Spartan Race have taken fitness and adrenaline junkies by storm. Gillette Clear Gel is advertised as being built for training and designed with high-performing men in mind. Its triple protection formula claims to provide 48 hours of protection from wetness and odor.
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The good people at Gillette sent me a stick of their Gillette Clear Gel Power Rush Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant to try out. Like most men, I’ve been using the same stick deodorant/anti-perspirant for as long as I can remember, so the change to a gel was an adjustment for me. This is my uncut and unbiased review:
QUICK REVIEW:
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Dryness: A-
Scent: B
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Value: B
Overall: B+
Click “Read the rest of this entry” for the full review:
DRYNESS
Gillette Clear Gel goes on wet, as it is a gel (duh). There’s an initial shock as the gel is cold (due to the AC in my apartment), but when I got over the mental image of giving my armpits an ultrasound, I found this feeling refreshing compared to the normal application of my traditional deodorant/anti-perspirant that goes on dry. Now with my old deodorant, I would usually put a shirt on before applying (to avoid white streaks on my clothes), but the gel makes this method rather difficult. The back of the Gillette Clear Gel states that it is quick-drying, but what man has time to wait for their deodorant to try before they put a shirt on?
If you don’t wait a couple of minutes, you will get gel on your shirt in places it shouldn’t be. That just comes with the territory when using Gillette Clear Gel, or any gel deodorant I’d imagine. I found that 3-5 minutes is about how long it takes to dry, so if you have the time, wait before putting a shirt on.
As an active person who trains 5-6 days a week, there was no way I could test Gillette Clear Gel’s claim that it works for 48 hours. After working out, I’m usually drenched in sweat and definitely need to hit the shower and apply more deodorant afterwards. I was able to test how well Gillette Clear Gel held up during different types of workouts, though, and the results were favorable.
I do a heavy weight-training regimen 3-4 days a week that consists of 12 separate weight lifting exercises with 3 sets of 10 reps each. I usually work up a solid sweat when I do this, pit rings and all. To my surprise, my underarms weren’t gross after having applied Gillette Clear Gel prior to the workout. They weren’t 100% dry, but that’s pretty much impossible.
At the bare minimum, I also do some light cardio 3 days a week, and heavy cardio the other 2-3 days a week that I train. Whether it’s light or heavy cardio, I’m always drenched in sweat afterwards no matter what, with heavy cardio usually leaving my shirt soaked. Sorry, Gillette Clear Gel, you had no hope. I was definitely still very sweaty under my arms when I was done.
I give Gillette Clear Gel an A- grade on dryness, as I was pleasantly surprised how it held up during and after weight-training. You really can’t ask for more from your deodorant/anti-perspirant. If I didn’t have to wait for it to dry before putting a shirt on, it may have gotten an A.
SCENT
The scent of Gillette Clear Gel Power Rush for a lack of better words, was, powerful. I’m definitely more of a subtle guy when it comes to scent. My usual deodorant has a very clean, subtle smell to it. I felt like my armpits were lathered with cologne after applying the Power Rush Clear Gel. I found it very noticeable while I was working out, and when I went to work with it on.
Now while this was a drawback for me, I could see this being a huge benefit in a locker room setting. If you’ve ever played competitive team sports, you know the locker rooms absolutely stink. Soccer and hockey bags can be absolutely disgusting, and don’t get me started on football pads. A strong, pleasant scent would definitely be welcome in a locker room, and Gillette Clear Gel could probably provide that.
The scent gets a B rating from me for being too powerful. Maybe the other scents Gillette offers are a little more tame, but Power Rush is what I had to work with.
VALUE
While there are definitely more expensive deodorants/anti-perspirants out there than Gillette Clear Gel, this particular brand comes in at the middle to higher end after completing a product search on multiple retail websites. With prices ranging from $4-5.50, you’re paying as much if not more than some of the competing brands.
In my opinion, personal hygiene is one of those things you shouldn’t cut corners on. An extra dollar here and there for a product that makes you feel more clean is definitely worth it. The price of Gillette Clear Gel definitely would not be a deterrent for me if I was looking to purchase it.
One thing I don’t like about gel deodorants is how easy it is for the gel to get squeezed out and cause a mess. You don’t have to put too much pressure on the stick to have the gel shoot out the top. If someone steps on your gym bag, you’re going to have a glob of gel in the cap of your deodorant which is pretty much unavoidable. Solid deodorants/anti-perspirants definitely have the advantage in “neatness” when it comes to the stick itself.
With these things in mind, my assessment on Gillette Clear Gel’s value is a B.
OVERALL
Gillette Clear Gel Power Rush comes in at a B+ overall. It’s a good, strong deodorant/anti-perspirant that you can count on. With several scents to choose from, this is definitely worth a try if you use a competing gel, and would make a great addition to your locker at the gym.
Gillette is currently running a new NFL Films produced web series entitled “Are You Built For Training?”. I had the opportunity to speak with Cincinnati Bengals’ running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis about his involvement with the series, as well as some football questions. Check out the Built for Training questions:
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And the full interview:
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a few words from the makers of Gillette Clear Gel:
GILLETTE CLEAR GEL ANTI-PERSPIRANT / DEODORANT HEADS TO NFL TRAINING CAMPS TO ASK PLAYERS “ARE YOU BUILT FOR TRAINING?” IN NEW NFL FILMS-PRODUCED WEB SERIES
Webisodes to feature rookie-veteran pairings from the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers who “Give Everything” to succeed
July 31, 2013: Today, Gillette® [NYSE: PG] in association with the NFL Media group debuts Gillette Deodorant’s “Built for Training” program, a six-installment web series that gives sports fans an inside look at some of the tough elements of NFL Training Camp through the eyes of hopeful rookies and their seasoned mentors. Veterans from the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers will each take one eager rookie under his wing to show him the ropes and test whether or not they – and Gillette Clear Gel anti-perspirant/ deodorant – are built for training.
The veteran-rookie pairings featured in the series include defensive backs Champ Bailey and Kayvon Webster of the Denver Broncos, linemen Ramon Foster and Mike Golic Jr. of the Pittsburgh Steelers and running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard of the Cincinnati Bengals. Gillette Deodorant’s “Built for Training” webisodes will feature everything from arrivals to camp, player introductions, workouts and training sessions, to team huddles and meal time.
“At NFL Training Camp, ‘give everything’ is just part of the drill; ‘smell nothing’ is usually not, which is why Gillette brought these talented players together to put their bodies and Gillette Clear Gel to the test,” said Doug Sticksel, associate brand manager, Gillette Personal Care. “These athletes have to thrive under pressure and through challenging workouts, so their deodorant should do the same. Designed with the high-performing man in mind, only Gillette Clear Gel eliminates body odor at the source, even during tough physical demands – such as NFL Training Camp.”
Episodes, produced by NFL Films, will be featured exclusively onwww.NFL.com/BuiltforTraining, with a teaser episode premiering today and weekly installments posting each Tuesday through Sept 3. The full schedule for the series includes:
- July 30 – Teaser Episode
- August 6 – Episode 1
- August 13 – Episode 2
- August 20 – Episode 3
- August 27 – Episode 4
- September 3 – Episode 5
Beyond the players on the field, football is all about the fans, so Gillette is offering football enthusiasts a chance to score an even deeper look inside NFL Training Camp. Throughout the run of the series, viewers will be asked to submit questions through Gillette’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to their favorite athletes about training tips and exercises, mentorship and lessons learned in the NFL. The “Built For Training” athletes will answer the most popular questions during a “fan interview,” which will be posted on Gillette’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter at @Gillette.
Gillette will also ask viewers to name their own most-grueling exercises – because training is challenging at any level. Fans can submit their answers via Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #BuiltforTraining. The top fan-submitted exercises will be compiled with the responses from the veteran-rookie pairings to develop the Gillette Training Manual, a fitness guide for athletes of any stripe to get their body Built for Training.
Gillette Clear Gel is available in Cool Wave, Sport, Arctic Ice, and Power Rush scents and provides 48-hour wetness and odor protection. Other product benefits include:
- A triple protection formula that contains active odor blockers, a transparent dry shield, and 48-hour scent technology
- Goes on clear
- Fast Drying Technology
Gillette Clear Gel products are available in a broad range of traditional and online retail outlets throughout the U.S.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G touches and improves the lives of about 4.4 billion people around the world with its portfolio of trusted, quality brands. The Company’s leadership brands include Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, and Ambi Pur®. With operations in about 80 countries, P&G brands are available in more than 180 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
