As 2025 approaches, I will have been a professional fitness writer for 10 years and a professional technology writer for 5 years. During my long career writing about fitness and fitness technology, I’ve tried just about every category of training equipment and health-based technology imaginable.
I really think so.
From smart blood sugar monitors that require a needle in your arm to smart sleep masks that play soothing sounds, we’ve tried out every gadget in the name of reviews. We tried out an intelligent insole that slips into your shoe to let you know your running gait, and an AI-powered camera that helps you train with dumbbells.
Smart training mirror?Smart ring? Peloton class? Electrical stimulation to improve muscle tone? Bone conduction headphone technology? All the boxes are checked.
This is quite different from reviewing the best fitness trackers or best running shoes on the market. Of all the gadgets I’ve tested over that time, only a handful of the hardware I actually use regularly in my personal life.
It pretty much says the current state of the industry that each wellness technology is touted as a game-changer or problem-solver, yet I always end up going back to the same old kit. As someone who has unfettered access to all the equipment in the TechRadar tower, this says a lot. So without further ado, here is a list of only the technologies that I return to over and over again.
Bone conduction headphones: Shokz OpenRun
(Image source: TechRadar)
Whether you’re running, cycling, or doing any exercise outdoors, it’s beneficial to be aware of your surroundings.
I’ve been using Shokz OpenRun for years as a way to listen to music and podcasts broadcast from my phone while running without compromising situational awareness. Technically, you could do the same thing with AirPods or other workout headphones using HearThrough or Conversation modes, but the best bone conduction headphones are designed to keep your ears free. Masu.
The OpenRun Pro is more expensive, charges faster, and lasts longer, but I still use the original OpenRun and have had no problems with the battery over time.
They are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and when I run very long distances, I sometimes call my wife and family to break up the monotony, and they have no problem hearing me.
This is the set of headphones that got me through two marathons two years in a row.
In-ear headphones: Jabra Elite 8 Active
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
During the off-season for marathons, I like to go to the gym to regain the muscle mass I lost when I became obsessed with running.
Here, too many tools fall out for me to use. For example, even the best smart rings run the risk of getting scratched or damaged when I’m weightlifting, so I use a watch instead.
The same goes for bone conduction headphones. When you’re outdoors, you want to hear your surroundings, but in a commercial gym, you need headphones to drown out the gym music and other gym-goers’ noises so you can focus on your own workout.
I used to use cheap Anker Soundcare P20’s for this, but I eventually outgrew them and switched to the Jabra Elite 8 Active, which are currently the best workout headphones on the market. After that, there was no looking back.
It’s comfortable, durable, completely waterproof (it survived a glass of water anyway), and has active noise cancellation. You can toggle it on/off if you need to ask a question to the staff, or preferably to another lifter. Easy to set up and use, durable as nails and long lasting.
Smartwatch: Garmin Epix Pro
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
I’d really recommend the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which is functionally impressive, but the poor battery life of smartwatches continues to be a frustration for me.
The Garmin Epix Pro lasts for years and also has route creation, which is my most used running tool. For hikers, runners, and cyclists who don’t yet use Garmin Connect to plan routes and follow instructions on their watch, this is a game changer. It’s this one smartwatch feature that has made the biggest difference in my training.
I also like big, chunky watches and hate having to charge them all the time, so the Fenix series (including the Epix Pro) fits the bill. I know some people find it uncomfortable to wear a smartwatch in bed, but I don’t mind it at all.
Additionally, while I don’t often use my smartwatch to formally track sets and reps at the gym, it doesn’t get in the way of my weight-based workouts in the same way that smart rings do, so you can use it passively. Masu. It tracks your activity and calorie burn in the background and incorporates it into your recovery metrics.
