Less than 10% of Indians get regular exercise, according to a new study, though help is on the way in the form of new fitness tech. This is great news indeed for those wishing to enjoy better heart health, battle stress, or last longer on their favorite gym machine.
Regardless of whether you are aiming to lose weight, hone your cardiovascular fitness, or gain in strength, you have probably set yourself goals you wish you could keep better track of. Check out this list of top gadgets that can help you achieve and set new goals on a regular basis.
Bellabeat Leaf Chakra
This gorgeous necklace takes fitness gadgets to the next levels, with a modern, nature-inspired design that looks more like a piece of fashion jewellery than a fitness device. Made with natural crystals, wood, and hypoallergenic stainless steel, it tracks your activity levels, giving you information on number of steps taken and calories burned. However, it also informs you on the quality of your sleep by tracking how much you move during the night, how long you sleep for, and your personal sleep patterns. The necklace comes in two designs. One contains playful pastel rose quartz (a stone that is said to promote a positive outlook) and another made from black onyx (to keep negativity at bay). The device connects up to a dedicated app that provides all relevant information on your smartphone.
Withings Move Activity Tracking Watch
Budding athletes who also work office jobs are wearing high tech devices which are also stylish enough to pull off at meetings. Withings’ new analog style watch has a refreshingly simple face that nevertheless tracks walking, running, biking, hiking, and swimming. If you’re an avid runner keen on hitting steeper goals, put the watch on GPS mode to glean your elevation, duration, and distance.
LVL Hydration Monitor
LVL is touted as the first fitness tracker that focuses on how hydrated your body is during workouts. We know there are bottles that remind you to drink, let you know the total amount you have consumed per day etc., but this takes it to the next level, because it lets you know how much your body actually needs – and this quantity varies greatly depending on the weather and the intensity of your workout. The device also tracks your heart rate, activity, sleep, and mood. After all, dehydration makes you cranky, so keep up those moisture levels to keep a smile on your face all day! The device has a neat design, too: the main hydration testing component is connected to a leather strap in black or brown.
Garmin Forerunner 935
This watch is considered a major standard bearer when it comes to running and triathlon watches, and its plethora of features reveal that it definitely deserves its reputation. A robust, sporty design is married to advanced features, some of which were developed by FirstBeat. The Forerunner 935 weighs only 49 grams, yet provides elevation changes and boasts a built-in barometer, altimeter, and electronic compass. It lets you know if you are undertraining or straining yourself excessively, providing advanced information for different sports – including contact time balance, cadence and stride length. Of course, it also lets you know your heart rate, training status, FTP and VO2 max. It is a great little ally to have around, especially when you’re training alone and you need an extra ‘push’. The watch lasts for up to 50 hours straight (when placed on UltraTrac battery saver mode).
Matrix PowerWatch 2
Matrix audaciously called this “the most powerful smartwatch you’ll never have to charge” at CES Las Vegas recently. The sturdy watch harnesses energy from the sun and the wearer’s body heat, delighting wearers with its in-built heart monitor, GPS, calorie counter, and sleep tracking features. The watch is also water resistant for up to 640 feet, making it ideal for summer wear. One feature that was heavily commented upon was the fact that the watch is more petite (and finer) than rivals made by Garmin and Sunto. However, it definitely still boasts a very sporty design, and can withstand extreme weather conditions.
If fitness is your world, make sure you have the wearable tech you need to boost your performance. From necklaces to bracelets, watches, and hydration monitors, there is always information to be found with just one click.
The above list features gadgets which are not only effective, but also boast appealing designs that work as well on social occasions as they do on sporting ones.