Fitness and any technology connected to it have seen a massive upsurge and improvement in recent years. With new fitness gyms and boutiques cropping up globally, and 2017 loaded and laden with health and fitness resolutions amongst millions, the future for fitness and its related technology is proving to remain promising.
The global populace's con-current fixation with health and fitness seems to gel perfectly with the most prominent features of the digital age; in order to satisfy any individual's health fix, there are a wide variety of tech gadgets pertaining to fitness that can place even the pickiest gadget-pro at rest. From high-tech fitness watches, to wearable arm and head gear – fitness accessories now possess the power to regulate sleep, food and water intake, and levels of activity. Combine this cutting-edge technology and brainy software with internationally-recognized brands and logos, and individuals would be willing to stomach the hefty price tags for even the slimmest watch.
However, before you strap on that watch and prepare yourself for an invigorating run, it might be helpful to cover a few basics and ensure you run at your best.
Without further ado, here is a roundup of the best fitness accessories that can improve your run!
- Mobile applications
Though these do not technically count as devices, fitness applications have managed to pack an impressive punch on the fitness market as a whole. Such applications are quick and light to download, and may even come pre-set on certain mobile devices.
The beauty of such applications is their all-encapsulating nature; they track all the basics of your journey towards fitness: your weight-loss target, water intake, hours to sleep, and calories to burn are all generated and recommended based off your current weight and long-term goals.
You can chart out your data in the shape of graphs, or receive weekly reports on your progress in percentages. Some applications go so far as to routinely prompt you to begin your run if you have remained sedentary for a while.
- Fitness watches
This device has taken the world by storm as of late, and are available at varying prices; some may only cost around $100 to purchase, whereas others may set you back by $400 or more. Certain watches can be purchased with customizable straps, and inject a sense of aesthetic appeal to your running experience.
Because these watches are strapped around sensitive veins on the wrist, they can process and compute your dietary intake without the need for any manual input. Moreover, certain watches may keep track of your stride length and cadence, and advise you to either pick up speed or slow down according to your current weight and eventual goals. Your pulse and heart-rate are monitored alongside how many kilometers you have managed to run in order to give you that boost of motivation.
- Attachable foot-pods
These discreet foot-pods may be attached to your running shoes, and they sync directly to an application that may be downloaded onto any mobile device. This gadget promises to calculate and record strike rate, ground contact time, stride length, impact rotation, heart-rate, and other related metrics. These numbers are then displayed on your mobile application, and recommendations and records are taken care of from there.
- Wearable head-gear
These fitness trackers may not prove to be as discreet and inconspicuous as a standard fitness watch or clip-on foot-pod, but they manage to get the job done. Certain glasses, for example, allow you to go about your run without once glancing down at your fitness watch or mobile application to check your progress.
The glasses provide comfortable visibility, have built-in GPS and maps, and track everything from cadence, run-rate, pulse, and the like. Moreover, the headgear can potentially be Bluetooth connected, and you may receive calls while you run!