As the fitness tech industry grows, companies are churning out better, less gimmicky products. Say goodbye to the novel but impractical and hello to gear that not only stands up to your workout, but will also make it more intelligent and comfortable.
Sony SmartWatch 3 ($250)
It's the , so you can leave your phone at home and still utilize all your running apps. A rubber strap instead of the usual leather stands up to sweat and the elements. Android only.
Lululemon Ultimate No Show Run socks ($18)
Plenty of companies use silver to kill bacteria on running apparel, but most spray their clothes with a compound that can wash out after a few rinse cycles. Lululemon鈥檚 are made with silver thread, so you鈥檒l stay funk-free longer.
Hyperice Vyper foam roller ($200)
Studies show that a little post-exercise muscle therapy helps you bounce back more quickly. Hyperice鈥檚 takes it a step further by adding a motor for a vibrating massage.
Garmin Fenix 3 GPS watch (from $500)
骋补谤尘颈苍鈥檚 combines the step-cadence and VO2-max measurements of the company鈥檚 multisport model with the advanced navigation features of its trekker. Two satellite receivers give you a fast and accurate signal, and the Virtual Racer lets you download routes before you head out the door.
Sennheiser PMX 686G Sport earphones ($110)
Research shows that music boosts performance during interval training. But unless you鈥檙e prepared to strap a boom box to your back, you鈥檒l need a solid set of headphones that stay put during high-intensity output. wrap snugly around your head and, at 0.8 ounces, don鈥檛 feel bulky.
Fitbit Surge ($250)
Fitbit's combines a 24-hour fitness tracker, for metrics like sleep and nutrition, with GPS and a heart-rate monitor, so you can analyze trends in your health and training all day long from a single device.
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Shell out $10 per month for YouTube鈥檚 and you get ad-free streaming, offline and background playback (which means songs run even when your phone is locked), and access to Google Play鈥檚 30-million-strong library. Bonus: the millions of rare remixes, bootlegs, and historical curiosities you simply can鈥檛 get anywhere else besides YouTube鈥攍ike .