We’re back with the WiFi HiFi holiday gift guides! Each week, we’ll release a new themed gift guides, chocked-full of great tech gift ideas for different people on your list. This week, we’re looking at great gifts for sports and fitness enthusiasts, or those who just want to focus more on their health and well-being.
Fitbit Sense
Fitbit’s latest smartwatch feature’s the “world’s first” electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor that can help manage stress along with an ECG app and on-wrist skin temperature sensor, something that is especially useful as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic where one of the most common symptoms of the coronavirus is an elevated temperature and fever. It has all of the usual Fitbit features you’d expect, tracking activity, steps, active minutes, calorie burn, and detailed sleep data, along with a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium for tracking additional metrics like heart rate variability (HRV), breathing rate, and Sp02. It also includes GPS so you can go for a run or bike ride and leave your smartphone at home and works with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice assistance. Battery life is up to six days per charge, which is also an improvement over previous-generation models. It comes in cargon/graphite stainless steel or lunar white/soft gold stainless steel for $430.
Samsung Galaxy Watch3
As the latest generation model in Samsung’s smartwatch family, the Galaxy Watch3 is made from premium materials including stainless steel and genuine leather and features a slimmed-down version of the popular rotating bezel. Offering what Samsung calls its “most expansive wellness suite yet,” the device has advanced sensor technology, integrated heart rate sensor, and Fall Detection that lets you send an SOS message to emergency contacts in the event of an accident. Samsung Health provides more than 120 different home training programs so you can track your workout progress on your watch. The Watch3 is available in 45mm (Mystic Black, Mystic Silver) and 41mm (Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver) with pricing starting at $550 for the 41mm and $600 for the 45mm.
Geneinno GT-1 Waterproof Massage Gun
After an intense workout, sometimes you just need to take care of your body with a soothing massage for sore joints and muscles. This message gun is about the size of an iPad and comes with six different massage heads. Because it’s completely waterproof, you can use it while in a pool, sauna, hot spring, or even the shower or bathtub. It runs for six hours per charge and weighs just 1.6 lbs., making it travel-friendly, too. Quiet Glide Technology reduces the sound to 50db so you can use it while at the office or gym without attracting attention due to loud sounds. US$150
Apple AirPods Pro True Wireless Earbuds
A perfect gift as an upgrade for someone who owns previous-generation AirPods or a first-time AirPods owner, these boast active noise cancellation, transparency mode so you can hear surroundings when you need to, a customized fit with three sizes of eartips, and sweat- and water-resistant design. They last for up to 24 hours with the included charging case and can recharge on Qi-certified wireless chargers. Like the previous-generation AirPods, they work seamlessly with other iOS devices, like the iPhone. $329, you can also personalize them for free when ordering directly from Apple.
Apple Watch Series 6
The latest version of Apple’s popular smartwatch, this one adds compelling upgrades like blood oxygen monitoring, always-on altimeter, and a wider variety of case finishes and band colours. Plus, you finally get sleep tracking. A new feature called Family Setup means you can get an Apple Watch for a teen or tween and their parents can set it up, connected to their mobile devices. There are also cool features like new workout types, automatic handwashing detection, and on-board GPS, along with all of the standard activity tracking and signature rings to monitor daily progress. It runs for 18 hours per charge and can completely recharge in 1.5 hours. Starts at $529 for the Wi-Fi version of $659 with cellular connection as well (with an applicable plan).
Jabra Elite 85t
An upgrade to the Elite 75t, these true wireless earbuds include Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology with transparency via HearThrough mode, along with six microphones, wind protection for call clarity, and Qi-certification for wireless charging. The 12mm speakers allow the Jabra Elite 85t to produce a big sound and powerful bass, while still enhancing comfort and relieving ear pressure with its semi-open design, says Jabra. The company has also adapted the ear gels to an oval shape providing better sealing in the ear. This means the tower of the Elite 85t does not sit as deeply within the ear, giving you a more comfortable but also secure fit.
The Jabra Elite 85t provides up to 5.5 hours of listening with ANC on, which extends to 25 hours with the charging case with ANC on and 31 hours with ANC off. With IP55/IP57 rated durability, with ANC on, battery will be 5.5 hrs on a single charge (24 hrs in total with charging case), and with ANC off it will be the existing 7.5 hrs and 28 hrs in total. MSRP US$229, they come in
Titanium/Black or, if you wait until January 2021 for a belated gift, you can grab a pair in Gold/Beige, Copper/Black, or Black and Grey.
FlipBelt Running Belt
It’s a simple yet thoughtful gift for the fitness fan on your list. This $40 belt can be positioned overtop the waistband of your workout pants, and offers a clever place to store things like your ID, credit card, mobile phone, wireless earbuds case, car keys, and more while you work out at the gym or go for a run or bike ride. Made of moisture-wicking fabric, it has slits around the perimeter in which you can slide your items. There’s also a version with a zipper for keeping personal items secure during rigorous workouts. I’ve worn one on bike rides as well and it fits seamlessly, even with a large-screened phone and house key inside.
HELM Audio Sportsband HD Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones
The Sportsband HD headphones feature 25 hours of play time using the included charging case and have a IPX5 rating for resisting rain and sweat. They offer quality sound thanks to the Triple Driver Technology that consists of three speakers to capture the details in music, from the crisp highs to the smooth mids and deep bass, says HELM Audio. APTX HD low latency technology and AAC are also included. The earpieces are magnetic to stay connected together while hanging around your neck when you aren’t listening to tunes. They are also lighted so they will stand out while you are walking, jogging, or cycling in low light conditions. The ultra-lightweight earbuds come equipped with Qualcomm’s Bluetooth 5 technology for easy auto-connect, stability, and long-range connectivity. They also include an enhanced mic for calls, controls for volume, track changes, and voice assistant. US$130
FluidStance The Level
For those who are working from home exclusively, or more often than usual, this motion platform can help encourage you to stand more often. Stand on top the smooth surface and your natural micro movements will help strengthen and stabilize your body, soothing stuff joints and hopefully also keeping you awake, alert, and not sitting for too long. The silver base is made from die-cast aluminum and the top deck is available in high-quality multi-ply natural maple, maple with a walnut finish, or bamboo. It features 360-degree-tilt geometry and is made in the U.S. US$249
HP Omen 15 Laptop
There’s a new type of sport that is gaining attention these days: e-sports. For these kinds of athletes, this laptop might be an appreciated gift. It comes with an Intel processor and NVIDIA graphics along with a 15.6″ full HD screen. Loaded with Windows 10 Home 64, it has an ample 1TB SSD, bilingual keyboard, and Intel Turbo Boost Technology. It meets the minimum PC requirements for playing intense, high-action competitive games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, League of Legends, and more. Plus, if you buy it during a special offer period, you can get a copy of Marvel’s Avengers with purchase, perfect for an added stocking stuffer. $1,900
Bowflex C6 Stationary Bike
When plenty of people are dreaming of a Peloton, the cost of entry has just been too high for some. But there has been an upward trend toward those wanting to work out from home, whether it’s because gyms are closed due to COVID-19 or because they don’t feel comfortable going to public gyms to work out. This bike is a viable alternative to the Peloton that’s half the price. It offers a backlit LCD metric console you can use to access various workout apps from a connected smartphone, tablet, or even smart TV using Bluetooth. It includes magnetic resistance with 100 micro-adjustable resistance levels. It comes with a pair of 3 lb. dumbbells for enhancing your workouts, easily accessible from their cradles. It also has a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate armband monitor. Keep in mind that orders might take longer than usual to order it up quickly if you want it to arrive in time for Christmas or, at the very least, for the person to fulfill their new Year’s Resolution of getting fit. $1,399; add $169 for in-home assembly.
Withings Body+ Wi-Fi Smart Scale
Withings is back! The company was acquired by Nokia but after Nokia dissolved the division, the original owners bought the company back to continue to set out what they intended to do. And this scale remains a great option for those looking to keep track of their progress toward reaching weight loss, muscle gain, or other health and wellness goals. Step atop to see not only your weight but also data like body fat, water percentage, muscle and bone mass. Everything is automatically synced to the app so you can see how you progress over time. It recognizes up to eight users so one scale can work for everyone in the family, storing personal weight histories and automatically recognizing who it is when you step on top. You can find it on sale for under $100 during the holiday season.
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check back as this gift guide will be updated through to the end of 2020, and check out more gift suggestions in our other Holiday Gift Guides.