2026 is here, and with it those fresh New Year\u2019s resolutions. If you want to start – or continue – to work on your fitness, now is the perfect time. There are plenty of gadgets and tech that can help, as I can attest with these picks that I have tested thoroughly. Some I’ve used for more than a year, while others have only just been released.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The most obvious and essential piece of fitness tech is an activity tracker or smartwatch. Strap one on and no matter the distance or sport, your stats are tracked and logged for you to keep an eye on your progress towards your goals.<\/p>\n
For the more casual buyer on a budget, the Fitbit Charge 6<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3139.99) is a great choice and is often on sale. Its battery can last about six days and with built-in GPS and contactless payments you can leave your phone at home.<\/p>\n The Coros Pace 4<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3229) is my current pick for a sports watch that nails the basics well, with more than a week of battery life, great OLED screen, very accurate GPS tracking and a superb mobile app.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also partial to the Suunto Race S<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3299), a well-made stainless steel watch with great features and unfussy software, with the offline maps you won\u2019t find on the Coros. The Suunto Run<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3199) is also excellent value if you don\u2019t want map access and don\u2019t mind a more plastic build. I do also enjoy Garmin running watches, but I feel they are often overpriced and the Garmin app is very convoluted these days, so Coros and Suunto get my vote.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t want a watch, how about a subtler smart ring? The latest Oura Ring 4 Ceramic<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3499) is sure to turn heads with premium finish in four different colours. Slip one on and it\u2019ll track heart rate, sleep, stress, skin temperature and all of your vitals 24\/7, though you need to pay a \u00a35.99 per month subscription fee.<\/p>\n A subscription-free alternative is the Ultrahuman Ring AIR<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3329), a lightweight smart ring that boasts no subscription charges. It measures all your health metrics, gives tailored health advice in the app and has different modes to save battery life depending on your usage.<\/p>\n To keep the tunes coming at the gym or on the track, try the Beats Powerbeats Fit<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3199.95). The new buds have clever wing tips to keep the in-ear design secure so it won\u2019t fall out when you\u2019re pumping iron or pounding the pavements. Noise cancellation and audio quality is top notch for iPhone or Android devices.<\/p>\n If you prefer to stay aware of your surroundings, the Shokz OpenFit 2+<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a3179) use an over-ear hook design and are \u2018open\u2019 headphones, loud enough to play audio into your ears but sit over your ear so you can still hear the spin class instructor or nearby traffic.<\/p>\n A cheaper but still great option is the Huawei Free Arc<\/a><\/strong> (\u00a399.99). They have a similar design to the Shokz but at the time of writing are on sale for just \u00a359.99.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve had a tiny Nathan StrobeLight clip for years (\u00a310.99). The light clips easily onto your shirt or jacket and can stay a constant red or flash. It\u2019s light enough not to notice when out jogging and while it won\u2019t illuminate your path, it\u2019s peace of mind that drivers know you\u2019re there. For lighting your path, try this Petzl Tikkina<\/a><\/strong> headlamp (\u00a326.95). It stays secure, and can double up as a good DIY and powercut tool.<\/p>\n