You probably don’t need the Mayo Clinic to tell you why working out is a good idea. Bothersome as it is to keep up the routine, you know that you feel better, look better, live better when you hit the gym on a regular basis.
You also know that there’s no shortcut to physical fitness. No way around it: If you want to look and feel great, you in serious time at the gym.
These six “smart” clothing items and gadgets make the time you need to put in at the gym more enjoyable and productive. With them, you might actually look forward to working up a sweat.
1. Activity Tracker
If you don’t yet have an activity tracker on your wrist, you’re officially behind the times. An activity tracker helps you track your vitals, steps, distance traveled, and other workout-related information. It’s unobtrusive and lightweight — once you get used to yours, you won’t even notice it’s there.
If you need a more comprehensive solution, upgrade to a smart watch. Smart watches are more expensive, but they have a far broader range of capabilities and can sync with your phone to serve alerts, texts, emails and more.
2. Bluetooth Earbuds
Part fashion item, part common decency, Bluetooth earbuds help you maintain your energy level without annoying gym-goers around you.
They’re also wireless, in case the “Bluetooth” bit wasn’t a giveaway. No more tangles, no more knots, no more earbuds violently disengaging from your ears and flying halfway across the room.
3. Biometric Shirt
Like fitness trackers, biometric shirts collect a wealth of data in the background. Unlike fitness trackers, they don’t require any external hardware — all they need is a small, ultra-lightweight disc equipped with all the necessary sensors. Biometric shirts aren’t cheap, but they’re training must-haves for serious athletes.
4. Workout Apps
Your gym routine is different than the next guy’s. Fortunately, there’s an app for that — or, more likely, a cocktail of apps. No matter if your preferred workout involves long-distance biking, endurance running, rowing, strength training, tennis, basketball, something else, or some combination of the above. Your preferred app store has a slew of apps to track your activity and keep your workouts straight. Most are freemium, meaning you don’t have to pay to unlock basic features.
5. Pulse Oximeter
Pulse oximeters are no longer for medical professionals only. Thanks to rapid advances in design and sizing, they’re now in widespread use by serious fitness enthusiasts.
Finger pulse oximeters measure blood oxygenation with every pulse, keeping you on top of one of the most important (and hard-to-pinpoint) measures of physical activity. Blood oxygenation levels below 95% don’t necessarily signify an emergency, but they’re definitely worth checking out when experienced on a sustained basis — particularly if you’re gearing up for a massive physical test, like a marathon or mountaineering expedition.
6. Smart Water Bottle
Hydrating is hard work. Smart water bottles take the tedium out of the process: Models vary, but they generally tell you when and how much to drink. Most also track your water intake throughout the day, so you’ll know when you’re not getting enough even after you’re done at the gym.
Know of other must-have gym gadgets? Please share in the comments below.
