3 Sporty Gadgets That Will Make You Better, Faster, Stronger
Wahoo Tickr Heart Rate Monitor, $60
Why it’s great: Love using data to track your progress? This device, which monitors your workout stats in real time, is compatible with more than 50 popular fitness apps.
How it works: Strap the Wahoo to your chest to send your heart rate and calorie count to an iOS or Android device or a GPS sports watch. The monitor comes with its own app, which includes an eight-week training program.
Sony 4GB Walkman Sports MP3 Player, $100
Why it’s great: These waterproof headphones plus built-in MP3 player can stand up to sweat, rain, and even laps in the pool.
How it works: The Sony weighs just over an ounce, holds nearly 1,000 songs, and is waterproof down to six feet. The player also features a quick-charging battery: Plug the device in for a few minutes to get an hour of playback, or juice it all the way for up to eight hours.
Golf Buddy Voice, $107
Why it’s great: When you’re not sure which club to grab, tap the bitty Golf Buddy to hear the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green.
How it works: The two-inch-by-two-inch range finder clips easily to your hat or pocket and comes preloaded with tens of thousands of courses. The Golf Buddy requires no annual or new-course download fees. Don’t like a gabby device? You can mute it and read the distances on the LCD screen.
Not ready to commit to a new device? These three apps will help you up step up your fitness—for $3 or less.
Performance Stretching: Don’t hurt yourself! This $3 app matches your exercise routine with appropriate pre-workout stretches. iOS only.
Hundred Pushups: Yes, you can do 100 consecutive pushups, even if you’re not a gym rat. This $1 to $2 app will get you there in six weeks. iOS and Android.
5K Runner: Ease into running with a three-day-a-week program from this $3 app. In eight weeks you’ll be able to jog your way to a full 5K. iOS only.