Health and fitness are top of mind nowadays, whether it’s about exercising more or using devices to keep tabs on essential metrics, like sleep, heart rate, and stress. There’s plenty of tech to help and we have rounded up some awesome options this year that would make great gifts.
JBL Endurance Run 2 Wired Earbuds
Not everyone loves wireless headphones. Some runners, in particular, tend to prefer ones that wrap around the neck for a more secure fit. The JBL Endurance Run 2 Wired earbuds would make a great back-up pair and an affordable stocking stuffer for a fitness lover on your list. At $30 through Erikson Consumer, they won’t break the bank. The buds are magnetic so they neatly clip together when you’re not listening to tunes, a podcast, or on a call. Speaking of the latter, there’s an in-line button remote with mic for hands-free calls; long press to activate Google or Siri. While these are wired ‘phones, you still get JBL Pure Bass signature sound to keep you on track to make that 5K next year.
Apple Watch Series 10 Smartwatch
Are they still sporting an Apple Watch Series 6, 7, or 8 model? Maybe even something older? Perhaps this would be their first one ever. In either case, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a solid option and the latest in the line. It comes with all the goodies you’ll find with watchOS 11, which does work with older model Watches as well. It also offers the new Sleep Apnea notifications feature, which has received official approval by Health Canada. It’s the first Apple Watch to look significantly different as well. It has a thinner and larger wide-angle OLED display with a faster refresh rate, faster charging (though the same 18-hour battery life), and new water depth and temperature sensing with a 50-metre water resistant rating and custom workouts for pool swims. There’s a new titanium option as well as a new jet black finish for the aluminum version. Pricing starts at $549.
Google Pixel Watch 3
For Android users, the Google Pixel Watch 3 boasts several improvements over its predecessor, including two size options (41mm and 45mm), an Actua display that is twice as bright at 2,000 nits, refresh rates from 60Hz, WearOS 5, and all-day battery life with a Battery Saver Mode that can extend it from 24 hours to up to 36 hours. Machine learning is used to detect sleep and enable Bedtime Mode to prevent unwanted disruptions. To assist with fitness, enjoy features like Daily Readiness, Cardio Load, and Target Load, and get your day started with the Fitbit Morning Brief that provides a useful summary. Additionally, track metrics like heart rate variability, Sp02, and skin temperature. There are features specific to runners, including a new Workout Builder for building custom runs. The new Loss of Pulse detection is a potentially life-saving feature, though it isn’t yet available in North America. Available with a six-month trial to Fitbit Premium, it starts at $479.
OnePlus Watch 2R Smartwatch
If you want something different from both Apple and Google, the OnePlus Watch 2R is a solid option for an affordable price at just $300. It’s almost identical to the more expensive OnePlus Watch 2 that I reviewed earlier this year except that it’s much lighter since it’s made from aluminum and has a slightly different looking face. But it has the same Dual-Engine architecture powered by two chipsets (Snapdragon W5 and BES 2700 MCU Efficiency) that ensures insanely good up to 100-hour battery life and fast charging. There are two side buttons (one for quick access to apps and an action button for fitness tracking), IP68 and 5ATM water and dust resistance, WearOS 4 by Google, 2GB RAM, dual-frequency GPS, OHealth app, and more. It comes in Forest Green or Gunmetal Gray.
Amazfit Helio Smart Ring
While you can’t track a ton of workouts with the Amazfit Helio smart ring – just walking, running, cycling, and treadmill – if you already have a smartwatch that does this, the Helio smart ring is a nice complement. The metrics captured by the ring and information provided in the app are designed to help with recovery support, monitoring, analysis, and guidance. It can accurately monitor data related to your mental and physical condition, then convert this data into a daily readiness score that helps you determine if it’s time to get active or recover. The smart ring leverages Zepp Health’s AI ecosystem through the Zepp Aura rest and wellness service. I have been wearing this ring for the last month and will be reporting my findings soon!
Trek BellBeats Digital Bike Bell and Speaker
For cyclists, consider getting them the Trek BellBeats Digital Bike Bell and Speaker (US$100), a tiny Bluetooth speaker that mounts to the bike’s handlebars (25-31.8mm). The Harmon speaker provides clear audio, whether you’re listening to music or a podcast, chatting with others on the ride, or listening to directions along your route. It also includes eight pre-loaded bell sounds to alert others of your presence, ranging from fun and friendly to urgent, accessed through the ergonomic controls. Get up to six hours of play time per charge and use the digital four-bar LED battery to gauge for visibility. It’s IP67 dust and water resistant for tackling tough terrain, even rides in the rain. It comes with a mount and shims, belt clip if you want to wear it for runs instead, and a USB-C charging cable.
Samsung Galaxy Ring Smart Ring
If the person has a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, and especially if they also have a Galaxy Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is the perfect gift. Available for $550, it packs just as much tracking and insights as a premium smartwatch to justify its price. It works seamlessly with the Galaxy Watch7 to provide insights that take all your data into account. It’s lightweight (2.3-3 grams) and affords 24/7 health monitoring. The concave design makes it both stylish and durable, along with the impressive 10ATM water resistance and Titanium Grade 58 finish. Running for up to seven days per charge, it comes with a specially designed quick charging case that has LED lights to indicate charging status. Available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gold, sizing kits are available to help you find the right fit from nine size options. With Galaxy AI, all data and insights are integrated into Samsung Health for seamless access within one cohesive platform without a subscription. This ranges from detailed sleep analysis to cycle tracking, respiratory rate, energy score, heart rate, activity tracking, and more.
Oura Ring 4 Smart Ring
Yes, there’s another smart ring on the list. This comes from the unofficial leader in the space, Oura. The new Oura Ring 4 includes new Smart Sensing technology that works with research-grade sensors to adapt to your finger and deliver more accurate and continuous data. The lightweight, all-titanium design features recessed sensors for a smooth interior shape and thinner profile, which Oura says makes it more comfortable for 24/7 wear. Oura Ring 4 will also come in an expanded range of 12 sizes (4-15) and in Brushed Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Stealth, and an updated Black finish that features a glossy, tungsten PVD coating for improved durability and a deeper black look. With up to eight-day battery life, you’ll get a new Today tab in the app that’s dynamic, surfacing relevant information depending on the time of day and the member’s unique biometrics and health goals. Keep in mind that you will need a membership to get the most out of it, so factor that into the cost of $470 for the ring plus $90/yr. for the membership. It comes with a one-month trial.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport True Wireless Earbuds
I’m currently reviewing these earbuds, and they standout because there’s an integrated heart rate and body temperature sensor that can report on crucial data when connected to a compatible app, including a Peloton bike as well as Apple Watch, Garmin watches, the Strava app, and, most notably, Polar devices. With the semi-open design, you can go for a morning run while remaining aware of your surroundings. The headphones feature adaptive noise cancellation and an anti-wind mode. With long battery life and a IP54 rated case that supports wireless charging, you can’t go wrong. Get the burned olive finish for something that will stand out. It will set you back $450.
Peloton Bike
I recently tried a Peloton bike for the first time in a hotel gym and I fell in love. While there are other branded bikes that cost less and get great reviews, I feel like once your fitness fanatic (wife, perhaps?) tries a Peloton, she won’t want anything but. The bike itself is about $2,000 with taxes, but this includes delivery and set-up. It does not, however, include a membership to the classes. That is $55/mo., so about the same cost as a gym membership. There are rental options for $129/mo. that includes membership, so you could start someone off with a rental for three months to see if they like it first. Don’t be surprised, however, if she’s hooked after the first week. What should you know about the bike? It has a 21.5-inch HD touchscreen for following classes, an easy-to-use resistance knob for manual control if you’re following a class that requires it or doing your own custom workout. Enjoy in-workout metrics like heart rate, output, cadence, and resistance, and pair a heart rate monitor or use the Peloton Watch app to track workouts. Classes include both live and on-demand options and range from cardio to strength training, yoga, and more (yes, there are classes that don’t involve the bike, too). The bike measures 4 x 2 feet in size, so make sure there’s room for it first.
Withings Body Segment Smart Scale
Ever since I reviewed the Withings Body Segment Smart Scale, several of my girlfriends (who are also moms) are in awe of the detailed data it provides. They all want one, too. Beyond traditional weight and BMI, you get in-depth body analysis, including visceral fat, muscle and fat mass, EDA, heart rate, and more. But thanks to the retractable handle and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), you also get more details, including a 3D diagram that advises how fat and muscle mass is distributed throughout your body. It outlines the arms, legs, and torso so you can see where more fat is being distributed or where you have greater muscle mass compared to other Withings users of the same age, weight, and height as you. Learn more about how this $500 smart scale works in my review, but trust me, anyone who is into fitness, even those just trying to lose weight or gain muscle, will want one in the bathroom.
Circular Ring Slim Smart Ring
While we’re on the smart ring bandwagon, let’s include another one on the list. The Circular Ring Slim is different from others in that it incorporates haptic feedback and alerts for things like wake-up alarms and medication reminders. The sleek Circular Ring Slim assesses seven biometrics and 142 derived markers 24/7 to help people sleep better and live healthier lives. By optimizing physical activities and maintaining mental wellness, the Ring focuses on personalized, preventative health. The Kira+ AI wellness assistant helps with this, providing useful feedback each day. Measuring 2.2mm thin and weighing just 2 grams, it offers precise health tracking via a suite of advanced sensors. The three-axis accelerometer assesses activity and movement, and there’s also a surface temperature sensor. Advanced PPG sensors capture health vitals like heart and respiratory rates, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate variability. With a six-day battery life (though if you use the most informative mode, it’s much less) and 20 days of on-board memory, Circular Ring has a matte black titanium shell. It collects health data every two minutes and, over time, helps build a picture of overall health as well as predict potential health conditions. Learn more about it in my review. There are no subscription fees, but you’ll pay $448 ($311 for the Lite version without vibrations) for it outright. Leave time for shipping as it takes about two weeks.
Apple Fitness+ Subscription
If they’re in the Apple ecosystem, an Apple Fitness+ subscription is the best pairing, affording access to tons of guided workouts of all types, working programs you can customize to your liking, walking and running music and conversation via Time to Run and Time to Walk, and more. It’s so easy to start a workout right from an Apple Watch or use it even without one. Keep on top of your stats from the watch or a compatible Apple TV. My favourites are Time to Walk, which I listen to often while going on my weekend morning walks, and kickboxing. New Apple device owners get free trials, depending on which device you buy. For a close family member, you can sign them up for the year for $100 or set up an Apple One family account for a single fee that includes Apple Fitness+ so everyone can enjoy access.