by Ben Greenfield

Did you know that a brand new Quick and Dirty Tips podcast just launched? It’s called Tech Talker, and it certainly got me thinking about technology. Of course, any time a fitness geek like me thinks about technology, I ponder which of the latest fitness gear and exercise tools could improve workouts. 

Here are my 8 favorites:

#1 Rumber Roller

In the episode How To Recover After A Workout, you learn that foam rolling is a great way to relieve sore muscles and get rid of painful tight areas called “adhesions.” Here is a video of my favorite soreness-reducing foam roller, called a Rumble Roller. This is a special foam roller with ridges that dig more deeply into your muscles.

#2 Yurbuds

I personally use an iPod Shuffle, which I prefer because it isn’t big and clunky, and doesn’t get in the way when I’m exercising. For headphones, I prefer Yurbuds. These awesome earbuds don’t fall out of your ears when you’re exercising, but still allow you to hear outside noises such as cars or workout companions.

#3 Underwater MP3 Player

In the episode How To Exercise In The Water, you learn how to do activities such as underwater running, swimming, or aerobics as a low-joint way to burn calories and get fit. Frankly, I find that most pool activities are a bit boring unless I’m using an underwater mp3 player that I’ve loaded with my favorite songs and podcasts. The sound is much clearer than you might expect, and this is a far better solution than my old method of putting my iPod into a ziplock bag and keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn’t get wet!

#4 Elliptigo

Whenever I run errands like going to the post office, bank, or grocery store, or even when I’m commuting to work or the gym, I use a special, low-impact workout contraption called an Elliptigo. This is just like an elliptical trainer, but it’s on mobile wheels, designed for the outdoors, and goes just as fast as any bicycle. You ride it in a stand-up position, and it burns as many more calories than running! To see how the Elliptigo looks from a first-person perspective, check out this video I took as I rode mine to the gym.

#5 Gymboss

I’ve been using a special workout timer called a Gymboss to complete my Tabata workouts, which is a type of workout where you choose just one exercise, like push-ups, and do as many as possible for 20 seconds, then take 10 seconds of recovery, and repeat the cycle for a total of 4 minutes. Watch this video to see how I program my Gymboss to get a better workout. 

#6 FIT10

I keep a FIT10 in my office for quick 10 minute workouts, such as the one I show in this video. The FIT10 is an easy-to-use contraption that only requires a door - making it perfect for quick and highly effective home, office, or hotel workouts. It has adjustable resistance levels for all fitness types, and can be used for upper body, abdominal, running or sprinting exercises, and an unlimited number of other movements. A FIT10 workout builds strength without compressing your spine or over-stressing your joints, making it a great option for people who need low impact exercise.

#7 Heart Rate Monitor

In the episode How To Use A Heart Rate Monitor During Your Workout,you learn how to find your fat-burning zone and get the most benefit out of tracking your heart rate while you exercise. Heart rate monitors consist of a chest strap and a wristwatch, they are one of the better qualitative tools you can use to monitor your workouts. The least expensive website I’ve found with the greatest variety of heart rate monitors is Heart Rate Monitors USA.

#8 Adjustable Dumbbells

One very useful and space-saving piece of equipment is a set of adjustable dumbbells, which allow you to adjust a single dumbbell from 5 pounds to more than 50 pounds. You adjust these by simply pushing a pin into the weight that you desire, then taking the dumbbells off their stand. These are perfect for a small home gym, office, or even a personal training studio with limited space.  

If you have questions about any of these fitness tools, or your own to add, simply share them below in Comments or on the Get-Fit Guy Facebook page!