When you’re trying to get fit, it can be tough to know how much progress you’re really making.
That's where smart fitness tech comes in, and we’ve chosen three gadgets we think are among the best. They’re packed with powerful features to help you meet your fitness goals – and one of them will even soothe those aching post-workout muscles!
Garmin Forerunner 55 running watch
If you’re new to running, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is an easy-to-use GPS smartwatch that keeps things simple. It makes all the complicated stuff about running easy to understand, and gives you lots of guidance on training and recovery. That way, you can focus on improving your running.
Pace is something a lot of runners struggle to get right. To help you out, the PacePro™ feature gives you GPS-based pace guidance when you select a course or distance. It’s not just handy for beginners – if you’re a serious runner that enjoys racing, it’ll help you aim for those PBs.
Garmin Coach is another really useful feature. It’s basically like having a personal trainer right beside you (or on your wrist, to be exact). You’ll get on-screen guidance from expert coaches, along with free training plans that adapt to your goals. If you fancy a crack at anything from a 5K run to a half-marathon, Garmin Coach will help you get there.
Fitbit Charge 5 fitness tracker
The Fitbit Charge 5 is a powerful health and fitness tracker, and a real step up (no pun intended) from the older Fitbit Charge 4. It’s packed with our favourite features from other Fitbit devices, and it’s a great choice if you’re starting to get serious about fitness and well-being.
We’re especially impressed by its heart rate monitor. It’s incredible accurate, and notifies you with a gentle buzz when you move up (or down) a heart zone. If you’re into spinning classes or HIIT (high intensity interval training), you’ll be using this feature a lot.
Fitbit Charge 5 also does a great job of helping you handle your stress levels. A daily Stress Management Score lets you quickly see if your body is showing any signs of stress. A high score is what you’re after here, because it means you’re showing fewer signs of stress. If you get a lower score, it’s a sign you should think about stress-reducing activities like mindfulness or meditation.
Therabody Theragun Prime smart percussive therapy device
You can look after your body post-workout with percussive therapy. It’s a kind of massage designed to help soothe those aching muscles – basically, it’s like having a sports massage without paying loads of money for a proper one!
The Therabody Theragun Prime smart percussive therapy device (bit of a mouthful, sorry) uses strong, quick vibrations to get blood pumping to your muscles. It helps get rid of aches and pains, improves your flexibility and range of motion, and can even speed up your recovery from any sprains or injuries.
You’ve got 4 different foam attachments to use with the Prime Theragun. Use the dampener for bony areas that just need a gentle massage, or go for the thumb attachment for those hard-to-reach areas like your lower back.
If you’re not sure where to start, the Therabody app will help you out. Use it to find the best treatments to use, based on the type of activity you’ve been doing or result you want. There are activities (called ‘messages’ in the app) for warming-up, recovery, and general wellness.
Need more help choosing the best piece of smart fitness tech? Then talk to one of our tech experts in-store or via live video chat on ShopLive. They can even help you checkout online if you’re having issues.
