The Skulpt Scanner will help you keep an eye on your body fat percentage, and offer in-depth muscle analysis.
Most smart gym gadgets that monitor activity will only track basic stats like total calories burned or the number of steps you walked or ran. Not only are these stats practically useless when you’re more interested in strength training and getting lean, but they don’t give you any true indication of your progress. It doesn’t take a genius to know that more steps taken and more calories burned means less fat, but how much less?
Skulpt is a remarkable tracker that lets you see a ton of detailed stats regarding your activity and fitness. It will measure body fat percentage – in 24 different areas of your body no less – and provide in-depth muscle analysis. It can even deliver some workout tips and guidance to help you build more muscle, boost your strength, or just burn some fat.
There’s plenty of tech out there promising to enhance your workout experience, suggesting training routines and exercises, and pulling your data into one place so that you can be at the top of your game. But with the barrage of such devices on the market, it’s almost impossible for the non-tech savvy among us to know which are really worth investing in. Luckily, I’ve tried plenty, and am in the position to let you in on what tech is actually worth splashing out on. So with that, here’s my rundown of the best tech to take to the gym – or any type of exercise for that matter – so that you’re suitably kitted out for any workout.
The Fitbit Ionic’s rich feature set means you can use it while working out anywhere, even the poolFITBIT
The Ionic is Fitbit’s strongest smartwatch yet and fitness fanatics are bound to love its list of features, and so it’s definitely got the potential to take on the smartwatch market. Its ability to track whatever workouts you can throw at it, with ease, all with a beautiful yet comfortable design that I’m sure will get heads turning at the gym, but for all the right reasons. The perfect smartwatch for those serious about fitness.
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The most comfortable sports headphones? JayBird Run, by farJAYBIRD
Surprisingly, in my experience, many earphones that are designed for running just aren’t really that comfortable. In many cases, wireless sports headphones are bulky, and a chunky or heavy set of earphones do not bode well for active pursuits, as any kind of strong movement usually means they just fall out.
But JayBird’s latest pair of fitness buds, the JayBird Run earphones, are quite the opposite. Not only do they have no wires connecting the two earpieces to give you more freedom, but they actually stay there. They are also one of the most comfortable sports earphones I’ve ever worn. Better yet, the sound quality is also superb, and best of all they are loud if you need them to be. (Something that many earphones suffer from these days, I think.) I’d recommend these for any long distance training when the company of audio will most likely become your best friend.
You might not associate a yoga mat with technology, but Naboso is looking to change that perception with its special yoga mat material that can help improve your vinyasa technique.
The firm has done plenty of research into this idea, and numerous studies have found that the material used in current yoga mats actually de-activates and blocks the proprioceptors in the feet and hands. “This translates to decreased stability and neurofeedback during yoga exercises,” the company says.
The Naboso mat counteracts this thanks to its technology that works via a small nerve proprioceptive material, which stimulates the (small nerve) proprioceptors in the skin on the bottom of the foot and hands. These are sensitive to different stimuli including texture, vibration, skin stretch, deep pressure and light touch, so when stimulated, the proprioceptors help us maintain an upright stance, activate our postural muscles and dynamically control impact forces.
I’ve been using the mat for a few weeks now, and not only is it lightweight and travel-friendly, but its unique texture and the enhanced grip of the Naboso Technology makes really does help achieve poses or inversions that require increased balance and stability. If you’re looking for a high-tech yoga mat that will help support your poses, this is the one
MyZone MZ-3 heart-rate monitoring chest strap: When you really want to push yourself
The MZ-3 is a heart rate sensor that snaps into a chest strapMYZONE
If you want a more accurate reading of your heart-rate than using a smartwatch, then the MyZone chest strap is a great option, with some really compelling bonus features, too.
The MZ-3 has been around in the UK for a good year or so now, but it’s still a great device. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a heart rate sensor that snaps into a chest strap. But this isn’t just any old chest strap, as it also has built-in heart rate monitoring electrodes, which, when combined with its custom Bluetooth and ultra-low power wireless sensor module, is meant to provide more accurate measurements of your workout than your typical wrist-based fitness tracker or smartwatch.
The idea behind the MZ-3 is simple. You exercise with the chest strap and earn points based on your bpm measurement. These can then be used to improve your rank within the MyZone app, compete with your friends and family and unlock badges for sharing on social media. It works incredibly well as its emphasis is on effort rather than mere calorie burn helps to motivate you to do your best. It’s easily one of the most accurate and fun heartrate trackers I’ve used.
Under Armour SpeedForm AMP 3.0 training shoes: Workout in comfort
Under Armour’s new Amp 3.0 trainers proved great for running trainingLEE BELL
Runners love Under Armour shoes due to their lightweight construction that has also been adapted for use on most terrains. Running in a triathlon, you’re never going to know for sure what type of ground you’ll be sprinting across, so the firm’s latest SpeedForm Amp 3.0 trainers have proven a good training aid in that respect. The fully knit upper and sock-like design has also been built in a way to help you move fast and provide the lateral stability you need when jogging or sprinting. And I found the lacing system has provided some good stability in the forefoot. Another favorite feature of mine is the open, floating space between the foot and the midsole, which allows for natural arch movement while zooming from A to B.
There’s also a something Under Armour call a “Micro G” foam midsole, which turns cushioned landings into explosive takeoffs. A really nice, lightweight pair of trainers for any kind of workout.
In almost every sport, music can be a rather powerful motivation to run or cycle that extra mile but never to swim that extra lap, until now. Like Sportiiiis, the Finis Neptune is secured onto the user’s eyewear, in this case, swimming goggles. This device uses bone conduction audio to relay music to the user’s ears, without the need for ear buds.
The device also makes music louder and clearer when submerged underwater. It also comes with a built-in 4GB of storage space, a rechargeable battery that lasts 8 hours and an OLED screen with music controls.
This device plugs into older iOS devices using the 30-pin connector to track and trend your blood oxygenation levels, pulse rate and Perfusion Index, particularly if you are a sportsperson. The product is not intended for medical use and is more for sports and aviation tracking.
This means that this is a great and portable tool for sports players and sports teams that travel to play. The data from the device can be exported and kept in the athlete’s history for their reference or their coach’s.
Peloton Tread
No piece of high-tech gym equipment stood out on the showroom floor quite like Peloton’s new treadmill. Fitness classes broadcast on the Tread’s 32-inch touchscreen monitor offer a fresh take on the traditional treadmill experience. It ships in fall of 2018 and is available for pre-order for $3,995.
Black Box VR
Need some more fun in your workout routine? Black Box VR has created a unique virtual reality experience that blends video games with strength training. Co-founded by Ryan DeLuca, the founder of Bodybuilding.com, the company plans to open a boutique gym in San Francisco in 2018.
Golf is a game of skill, accuracy and practice, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a shortcut.
A golf GPS watch could help you improve your game by simply keeping you better informed meaning a more relaxed you, for that perfect swing you can only find when you’re in the zone.
Golf watches store the data of lots of courses across the world, meaning you can get information as you play. That also means seeing how far to the pin from wherever you are thanks to GPS location accuracy, plus your scores being tracked without you needing to do a thing.
Some even offer more advanced features like taking elevation changes into account. There are even watches that now offer features to help track and improve your swing.
TOMTOM GOLFER 2
Significantly cheaper than our top pick but still boasts plenty of neat features
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 8 hours
Courses: 40,000
Waterproof: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
+Allows you to see your drive and iron play distance+Autoscore card to track your game as you play
When it comes to the necessities, TomTom does it best. It automatically detects your shots so you can analyse and improve your game on the go. It keeps you in tune to the precise distances to the front and back of the green, and lets you know of any hazards nearby so the ball doesn’t go for a swim.
With its post game analysis giving you hole by hole insight into your shot patterns, there’s no reason why you can’t improve your game with this golf GPS watch.
3. CALLAWAY GPSY SPORT WATCH
A high end golf GPS watch packed full of features
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 10-12 hours
Courses: 30,000
Waterproof: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
+Built in score tracker+Notifies you of hazard distances
REASONS TO AVOID
–Hazard information could be more accurate
This big golf name offers the big features you’d expect from its dedicated golf watch.
That means GPS tracking to offer green lay-up and carry distances plus hazards and dog-legs. This will also auto-recognise and track your game so you don’t need to fill out a pesky score card.
Over 30,000 courses are available and a 12-hour battery life means you can get a full day’s golfing in without needing a charge. The display is big and clear so you can get what you need at a glance, leaving you to stay focused on your game.
4. GARMIN APPROACH S20 GPS GOLF WATCH
Similar to the TomTom, and with the addition of an activity tracker this one is great for the everyday
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 15 hours
Courses: 40,000
Waterproof: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
+Pair with the Garmin TruSwing to really train your swing+An impressive 15 hour battery life
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