The best fitness wearables and devices to aid your health and recovery
The tried-and-tested fitness and health tools designed to maximise your fitness and recovery.
IT’S NEVER BEEN cooler to wear your heart rate on your wrist, finger (or legs?). With health-conscious millennials and Gen Zers leading a fitness revolution—the uptake in health and fitness regimes, with the prioritisation of recovery, is increasingly apparent—there’s never been a better time to put your health and fitness first.
Why, you may be asking yourself?
Because now, more than ever, there are brands dedicated to the optimisation of fitness and recovery, creating groundbreaking technology that even the world’s best athletes are utilising in some shape or form. From fitness wearables to general recovery tools, the ability for individuals to monitor their health, fitness and recovery in such scrupulous detail is incredible. With data-driven insights that assist with sleep and recovery to health monitors designed to guide you through your workout plans, the future of fitness and health is bright, and wearables will become the common thread in the years to come.
So, if you’re currently going through the paces and are perhaps looking to maximise—and optimise—your workouts, sleep and recovery, these seven leading fitness wearables and devices will unequivocally assist in your endeavour to reach your fitness goals, no matter how small or large they may be.
1
WHOOP 4.0 Band
Is it a watch? Is it a step-tracker? Is it a sports bracelet? These are probably the questions you’re asking yourself when looking at the WHOOP band. And the answer is neither—rather, WHOOP is one of the most advanced fitness and health wearables on the market, designed with built-in photodiode sensors that quietly monitor a wide range of individual health metrics, like sleep, strain, recovery, and overall health. Data is then presented daily to the wearer via the dedicated WHOOP app that is incredibly intuitive; it gives you meaningful insights to make the changes needed to optimise your health on a daily basis.
Favoured by some of the best athletes in the world—LeBron James, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Mahomes are all wearers/fans—WHOOP is designed to be worn at all times – during sleep, on your daily walk, during a gym workout or HIIT class. It can feel a little awkward at times—you’ll glance at your wrist more than once thinking it’s a watch—but this no-frills device will soon become one of your most trusted fitness allies. For the more you wear it, the more accurate and consistent your personal data will be. After using WHOOP for some time, you’ll come to rely on its daily insights that truly support your health, training and recovery.
2
OURA RING
Oura Ring has appealed to many globally—those fitness savvy and not, especially within Hollywood’s circles—thanks to its super portable, discreet and stylish proposition: it’s a ring that you wear all day, every day. But packed in this tiny device is an incredible fitness offering that can change the way you train, rest and sleep. The Oura Ring, much like WHOOP, comes with a dedicated app that will give you daily insights into your fitness and recovery, with special emphasis on the latter. Not to take away from the aforementioned fitness tracker, but Oura Ring perhaps has WHOOP covered with its dedicated sleep metrics, which go into a little more detail with its data offerings that can really assist those looking to maximise their sleep (and in turn, recovery). The other main difference between the two fitness wearables is that Oura Ring has a pedometer, which some will love purely for the fact of knowing how many steps you might have achieved in one day. They say great things come in small packages, and in the case of Oura Ring, this sentiment definitely rings true.
3
APPLE Watch Ultra 2
Arguably, one of Apple’s greatest product reveals to date, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a tried-and-tested tool smartwatch that has incredible capabilities for those that love adventure. Thanks to its space-grade titanium fit out, the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra 2 is incredible light, robust and rugged. It has built on its predecessor’s offerings by offering intuitive updates to its fitness functions, with an improved GPS system, greater diving capabilities (you can now enjoy a water resistance of up to 40m during recreational scuba diving), improved battery life plus much more.
4
HYPERICE Normatec 3 Legs
You might have seen your favourite athlete wearing the Normatec compression boots in recent times—Kelly Slater, LeBron James and practically every AFL player use them religiously. But the fact of the matter this compression system has long been used to aid recovery in sport, and Hyperice has been at the forefront of this technology offering since the beginning. Conquer sore muscles thanks to the “best best massage of your life” with Normatec 3 Legs. It’s proven to help with lymphatic drainage and decrease pain and soreness so you don’t have to worry about DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) or general aches and pains after working out again. The first time you slide on the Normatec 3 Legs, the feeling of immediate compression can feel a little overwhelming. But rest assured, these comfortable slip-on boots are simple doing their thing. An honest game-changer!
5
THERABODY TheraCup
Thought that cupping therapy was solely reserved for your local physiotherapist to administer? Now, thanks to Therabody, take the treatment of advanced cupping therapy home thanks to this portable cupping device: the TheraCup. With three suction settings and a 3-in-1 heat and vibration cupping powered by the cutting-edge ThermaVibration Technology, enjoy an easy-to-use cupping treatment any time, anywhere, with this small yet powerful device that can aid general muscles soreness and optimise localised relief and recovery.
6
PLUNGE Cold Plunge
While ice baths might not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying the latest recovery craze in the fitness world which is ice bath therapy, or, cold plunges. In recent years, scientists have discovered the indisputable benefits that cold water therapy can play in one’s recovery and general fitness. Plunge allows you to take that next step in your fitness regime by offering a dedicated, at-home ice bath. Utilising powerful cooling, filtration, and sanitation, The Plunge gives you cold, clean water whenever you want it, making it far superior to an ice bath or chest freezer. The Plunge makes cold water therapy easy to do at home, indoor or outdoor; simply fill your Plunge up with a hose, turn it on, set your temp (down to 4 degrees celsius), and reap the benefits.
7
THERABODY Theragun Pro
Therabody are leaders in percussion technology, and there really is no greater percussion tool on the market right now than the Theragun Pro. Over the years, the Theragun has become quieter yet more powerful, optimised for the most convenient at-home percussion therapy which is a scientifically-proven tool for deep muscle treatment, recovery and pain relief from ailments, aches and pains. The Therein Pro has been fully redesigned in recent years, offering visually-guided, built-in routines and a second generation proprietary EQ-150 motor that’s 20 per cent quieter to any other percussion tool of this calibre. Together with its integrated mobile app, Theragun is the perfect tool for pre and post-workout routines to ensure your muscles are feeling great, no matter the activity at hand. A particularly great tool for runners, cyclists.
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