‘A literal life-saver’: 11 essential exercise products our writers use to get fit | Life and style

SPIbelt

Running Belt

from $26.99

I’m not sure what is more annoying: having to hold my phone and keys when I run, or feeling them flop around in my pocket the whole time. The SPIbelt eliminates both scenarios with its streamlined, minimalist design that holds all of the essentials. The stretchy zippered pocket expands to hold a phone, keys and credit card (I could probably fit my whole wallet in there, honestly). I’m most impressed by the fact that it doesn’t bounce – it stays firmly in place without riding up or squeezing the feeling out of my hips. – Paige Triola

Lumia

Occipital Neck Wedge

from $35.99

My neck and jaw are tight, and my shoulders often hover somewhere around my ears, so I decided to try this foam wedge that claims to help with TMJ, neck pain, headaches and other tension. It requires the kind of exercise that I particularly excel at: lying down and doing nothing. More like a passive stretch, this tool is meant for you to build from a few minutes to up to 10 each day.

I’ve only used it for about six weeks almost daily, and I already feel like my jaw muscles are a little looser. It’s hard to tell if the foam wedge is responsible, but the actual time spent lying on it is also relaxing and meditative, so it certainly doesn’t hurt. – Maria Ricapito

Stretch Your Story

ButterMelt Workout Set

$105

I recently got my hands on a set from Korean athleisure brand Stretch Your Story’s ButterMelt line, and I’m beyond impressed by the fabric: it’s incredibly lightweight (honestly, I worried it wouldn’t hold up) and breathable, but it has proven surprisingly durable after multiple washes and hot pilates workouts. I love that it doesn’t lose its shape despite repeated wear, and the waistband of the leggings doesn’t slide down. The sports bra has removable padding (a must-have, in my book) and also feels lightweight, cool and supportive. I’m slowly transitioning to using this nylon blend for more of my workout clothing. – Oset Bäbur-Winter

Garmin

8 Pro Smartwatch

from $949.99

Garmin’s Fenix 8 Pro is much more watch than most people need, but for anyone who tracks life in Strava segments, training blocks, elevation gain and time outside, that excess is exactly the point. I’m a devoted addicted Strava user, and this has become the watch I grab before nearly everything: mountain bike rides, trail runs, strength workouts, hikes and even scuba dives.

It is rugged without feeling like a brick, the battery life is excellent and the GPS tracking has been reliable enough that I don’t feel the need to double-check every activity afterward. The dive features are what sold me. I expected the Fenix 8 Pro to be excellent for riding, running and everyday training, but using it for scuba made it much more than a typical sports watch.

A lot of high-end wearables still feel like running watches with cycling, swimming and everything else added on. This one feels broader in a way that actually matters. It’s expensive, and it’s complete overkill if all you want is step counts, texts and the occasional workout. But for fitness fanatics like me, who want one wearable to track the many hobbies that eat away at their disposable income, the Fenix 8 Pro makes a strong case for itself. – Josh Patterson

Garmin

Cycling Rearview Radar, Varia RTL515

from $149

A little over a decade ago, I decided my life needed a lot more cardio. My weak knees ruled out running, so I bought a bike and never looked back. Cycling has been my go-to caloric burn ever since, but riding on the road comes with some major risks.

The biggest? The four-wheeled behemoths that roar up behind you. While I run a mirror and lights, I’ve found rearward-looking radar systems to be a huge confidence and safety boost on the road, and I recently upgraded to Garmin’s RTL515.

It beeps whenever a vehicle is approaching, screams louder if that car is coming especially quickly and then chimes again to give an all-clear. It pairs with Garmin and Wahoo head units, and even my old ELEMNT BOLT bike computer, which pops up a series of dots identifying just how many cars are approaching. It’s a literal life-saver and I won’t ride without it. – Tim Stevens

The outdoor lifestyle comes with its share of aches and pains – sore muscles and tweaked knees being my most common ailments. Ice packs have provided short-lived relief, but the Novaa Light Pad has proven to be the most powerful solution I’ve encountered yet. LED therapy is thought to improve cell function, and the device uses 216 medical-grade LEDs to penetrate through the top layers of skin. After a couple of 20-minute sessions, I’ve noticed less pain and inflammation, which means shorter recovery time. It’s been so effective that I loaned it to my dad to see if it might help his chronic back and neck issues. Within one day of use, he reported sleeping more soundly and moving with less pain. – Paige Triola

My husband has high blood pressure and some not-so-great family health history. Which is why I’m taking no chances. I got him the Oura Ring 4 because he refuses to swap out his watch for a smartwatch, and is not interested in wearing a bracelet on his wrist (like the Whoop). Since he started using it about three weeks ago, we have been amazed at how well the built-in optical sensors have helped measure and inform on his heart rate variability and respiration rate, as well as his resting heart rate.

This also helps him to check for consistency and make sure he’s not overdoing things, all while building out what Oura calls his “heart health metrics”. Other than the insight into his cardiac health, Oura’s advanced sleep tracking is his favorite feature. It not only allows him to see how long it takes him to fall asleep, but it also shows how long he spends in each stage of slumber – which then helps him improve his habits. And I like that all this data leads to action, giving us both a better night’s sleep in the long run. – Tobey Grumet Segal

Like everyone else who is strapped to a keyboard, my shoulders are constantly tight and my posture isn’t what it could be. Years ago, my physical therapist recommended a weird-looking device called a Spinefitter, and the instant I laid down on it in her office, it was a revelation. The Spinefitter is basically the tennis ball trick for massaging your shoulders, but ramped up: the back-length series of balls means you can roll and move your spine around it for instant top-to-bottom release. The brand also offers a range of exercise tutorials to try to target relief where you need it most. – Julia Skinner

Bombas

Modern Rib Quarter Socks

from $18

I always kind of laughed at folks who went on and on about their workout socks. Like, whatever, right? But, lo and behold, I am now one of those people, and I am obsessed with my Bombas socks. They are thick. They are cushioned. And though they are not actually compression socks, they have a snug fit with a built-in arch support band (perfect for flat-footed athletes like me). The quarter length is my fave because I can also wear them with loafers or short boots, as well as my workout sneakers. But I’m also a fan of the Run Ankle Socks, which are equally comfy. They may be a little pricier than everyday sport socks, but for me, they are well worth it for their perfect fit. It helps that the company works to combat homelessness by donating one piece of essential clothing for every product bought. – Tobey Grumet Segal

Google

Fitbit Air

from $99.99

I’ve been testing the new Google FitBit Air, which includes personal health coaching built with Gemini. I love smartwatches, so the idea of a screenless health band never appealed to me. But the thin, lightweight FitBit Air is designed to just fade into the background – which means I often forget I’m wearing it, which is the whole point. Google Health Coach is a Gemini-based tool that costs $10 per month and analyzes your activity, sleep and stress, and then gives you day-by-day suggestions for how to maximize your activity levels. Like the FitBit Air itself, I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. – Adam Doud

OTPT

Axis Foam Roller

from $23.95

I love a good sports massage. With the amount of time I spend in the gym lifting heavy weights, though, I’d need a weekly appointment to keep my muscles loose, and that’s just not in my budget. So most of the time I rely on self-massage. And the tool I reach for more than any other (and I have quite a few of them) is this OG foam roller that I’ve owned for more than 20 years. I roll out my lower back, lats, quads and glutes on it. I also like to lie on the roller vertically to stretch out my spine. And I recently discovered via a physical therapist I follow on Instagram that I can use it to do hip-strengthening exercises at home. There are newer-fangled rollers out there, with bumps, ridges, divots and higher-and lower-density foam. But the OTPT costs less, is versatile and will hold up forever. – Juno DeMelo