These Tech Items Can Elevate Your At-Home Workouts
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This year, home workouts went from being an option to a necessity. And by the looks of it, you’re probably going to be sticking with living room sweat session for the long haul. Heck, maybe you've vowed to never go back to the gym again. Why would you, when you can have everything you need for a killer workout right at home?
So, at this stage, you're probably thinking of starting to really invest in your home gym — but with so many products out there, it's tough to know which ones you *actually* need. Lucky for you, this guide is here to take the guesswork out of stocking your space. Grab these devices, accessories, and must-have pieces of tech to take your living room/garage/basement workouts to the next level.
Google Home Max Speaker
This isn’t the boombox of your childhood that barely picked up three radio stations. The Google Home Max speaker can connect with your YouTube Music, Spotify, and Pandora accounts, so you can listen to your playlist of workout bops without plugging in the aux cord. Plus, Google Home Max uses AI to automatically adjust the equalizer settings to match the acoustics of your room, meaning you’ll never have to mess with the “bass” setting when “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons comes on again.
Buy It: Google Home Max Speaker, $299, target.com
HYPERICE Hypersphere Mini Vibrating Fitness Massage Ball
Nordstrom
The HYPERICE Hypersphere may only be the size of a softball, but it offers numerous benefits for your post-workout body. The sphere uses vibration therapy to loosen muscles, ease soreness and tension, and boost flexibility, and since it’s so tiny, it’s ideal for targeting specific muscles that may need a bit more TLC. The best part: It’s TSA-approved, so you can bring it to your race across the country (or just to mom and dad's house) and not worry about agents stealing it from your carry-on. (Related: The Best Workout Recovery Method for Your Schedule)
Buy It: HYPERICE Hypersphere Mini Vibrating Fitness Massage Ball, $99, nordstrom.com
SOUL S-STORM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Amazon
Few things are more annoying than headphones that slip out of your ears with every jump squat or burpee. One solution: This SOUL wireless Bluetooth speaker. The device is small enough to put into your pants’ pocket and comes with a carabiner clip to attach it to your running belt, allowing you to always have your motivational jams at your side. If you’re exercising outside, you can take comfort in the fact that the speaker is weatherproof, so even a bit of rain can’t ruin your sweat sesh.
Buy It: SOUL S-STORM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, $50, amazon.com
FitTrack Dara Smart Scale
FitTrack
Aside from the visible definition in your muscles and the weight you can lift, tracking all your gains in the gym can be complicated. Thankfully, the FitTrack Dara Smart Scale is here to help. When you stand on the scale, it sends a low electrical signal through your feet that passes quickly through the water stored in your muscle tissue but faces resistance when it reaches fat tissue. In doing so, the scale calculates body composition measurements like muscle mass, hydration levels, and more. To see how your strength is progressing over time, connect the scale to the FitTrack app, which will show your daily, weekly, and monthly changes in easy-to-read charts. (Related: 5 Smart Scales That Tell You More About Your Body Than Just Your Weight)
Buy It: FitTrack Dara Smart Scale, $90, $180, getfittrack.com
Jaybird Vista Headphones
Amazon
Waterproof, sweatproof, shockproof, dustproof, and drop-resistant, the Jaybird Vista Headphones can handle everything from heart-pumping home HIIT workouts to hikes in the Utah desert. The headphones have a 16-hour battery life, so you don’t need to worry about them dying mid-sweat sesh, and come with three different ear gel attachments, guaranteeing a fit that’s most comfortable for you. And if you’re someone who always loses their headphones, you’re in luck: These bad boys can be tracked in the Jaybird app.
Buy It: Jaybird Vista Headphones, $160, $180, amazon.com
GIKERSY Adjustable Height Laptop Riser
Amazon
Instead of straining your neck to see your laptop down on the coffee table during a live-streamed workout, prop your computer up on this adjustable stand. The stand fits most laptops up to 16 inches, raises your computer up 6.1 to 8.1 inches, and angles it slightly downward so the screen is more at eye-level. Bonus: The stand will even make your WFH setup a bit more ergonomic.
Buy It: GIKERSY Adjustable Height Laptop Riser, $34, amazon.com
Apple TV HD
Apple
To effortlessly watch your go-to shows while you pedal away on your stationary bike or to follow along to a YouTube workout on the big screen, turn to Apple TV HD. The attachment allows you to stream content from Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV+, and YouTube directly on your TV and comes with a Siri-equipped remote, so you can search those services without having to slowly type out every single letter.
Buy It: Apple TV HD, $149, apple.com
Wohome TV Sound Bar
Amazon
If you’re someone who blasts The Rock’s Spotify playlist during every lifting sesh, it’s time to bring out the big guns. This soundbar has powerful bass, thanks to two built-in subwoofers (the speakers that deliver the low frequencies from instruments like kick drums and bass guitars), and creates a surround-sound effect. Since it has Bluetooth and connects to your TV, you can listen to your favorite jams on Apple Music one minute and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie the next. (Related: I Worked Out Like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for 3 Weeks)
Buy It: Wohome TV Sound Bar, $90, $150, amazon.com
Echo Show 8
Amazon
With the Echo Show 8, even social distancing can’t stop partner workouts. The device is equipped with a video chat feature, so you can call your gym buddies who have the Alexa app or an Echo device with a screen and power through a home workout together. During solo workouts, watch TV shows or movies from Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NBC, and more or rock out to tunes on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. The latter, BTW, will show you song lyrics on screen, so you can follow up your workout with a round of karaoke.
Buy It: Echo Show 8, $80, was $130, amazon.com
HYPERICE Hypervolt Bluetooth Percussion Massage Device
Nordstrom
Don’t let muscle soreness keep you in bed all day. Using percussion massage therapy, the HYPERICE Hypervolt Percussion Massage Device increases circulation, which sends more blood to your muscles and aids in recovery. Plus, the tool helps increase range of motion, making for an easy warm-up before a treadmill or Tabata workout. Along with the massage gun, you’ll get four different head attachments to work every one of your nooks and crannies.
Buy It: HYPERICE Hypervolt Bluetooth Percussion Massage Device, $349, nordstrom.com
Twelve South Compass Pro
Twelve South
Built like an artist's easel, this tablet stand will ensure your virtual workout is displayed at *just* the right angle. The all-metal folding stand can hold your iPad, iPad Mini, or iPad Pro at three distinct slants: a steep "hands-free" angle that's ideal for watching your online class; a "desktop" angle that's perfect for playing Candy Crush late at night; and a "typing" angle that keeps your wrists comfortable while you write up emails. The best part: The stand is the size of a candy bar when broken down, so you can easily stash it in your backpack, bring it to the park, and follow along with a video sweat sesh in the great outdoors.
Buy It: Twelve South Compass Pro, $60, twelvesouth.com
Bose Frames Rondo 49.5mm Audio Sunglasses
Nordstrom
These Bose sunglasses are the easiest way to work out in style. Not only do they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays while you run around the neighborhood, but they also allow you to listen to music and podcasts through built-in speakers. Since the sunnies feature a microphone and Bluetooth connectivity, you can even make phone calls without having to put in a pair of headphones.
Buy It: Bose Frames Rondo 49.5mm Audio Sunglasses, $199, nordstrom.com
LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
LARQ
Your workout look isn’t complete without a fashionable — and useful — water bottle. This self-cleaning bottle from LARQ uses UV-C LED light in the cap to destroy up to 99.9999 percent of bio-contaminants from your water and the bottle itself. The light will automatically turn on every two hours to freshen up your H2O, but you can expect the stainless-steel bottle to keep your drink cold for up to 24 hours. While you’ll have to clean it with dish soap when you’re done, the bottle will still give you some peace of mind while you sip.
Buy It: LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle, $95, livelarq.com
Foldable Cell Phone and Tablet Stand
Amazon
Following along with an on-demand HIIT workout on your favorite app? Instead of holding your phone in your sweaty hand throughout the entire thing, set it in this stand. The stand can support four- to 13-inch devices — meaning you can watch on your tablet, too — and folds up neatly for easy storage. What’s more, the stand doesn’t cover up your phone’s charging port, so you’ll no longer have to worry about your screen going black in the middle of your workout. Score.
Buy It: Foldable Cell Phone and Tablet Stand, $17, amazon.com
