Sharing my thoughts on which fitness equipment is worth the hype and investment, and what I think is overrated and should be ignored.
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! How are you ? I hope you enjoy the week. We’re back from an incredible trip to Orlando – I’ll share a recap in Friday Faves – and we’re getting ready for Air Force pilot retirement. He’s retiring next week and I can’t even believe it.
Since we’re officially almost through the month of January with a great start to the year, I know many of us are preparing home gyms, researching fitness equipment, wellness products and health options. nutrition. I thought I’d do an updated roundup of some of my top picks. There are LOTS of things to choose from and it can get overwhelming! Plus, I’ve found that some trendy options are disappointing in real life. I’m sharing my picks from the list below, along with your submissions on Instagram. (Those with a * come from Instagram Replies.)
Fitness Equipment That’s Worth the Hype (And What’s Overrated)
It’s worth meditating:
Barefoot shoes
I’ve been into the barefoot shoe trend for so long because let’s be real, a lot of them are ugly. I discovered Vivobarefoot and fell in love. These are the only shoes I wear now for workouts and travel, and I feel like they help with stability and engagement during strength workouts. I have a full post on why I love them here!
Platoon
I’ve had my Peloton for about 6 years now and love it just as much as when I first got it. The bike is high quality and I always enjoy the lessons. You can consult my full review here!
Oura ring
The Oura ring it’s the same thing; it can last for the long term and provide incredible data. My only complaint is that I have a Model 2 and it is so bulky; the newer ones are much thinner so I may need to upgrade them. My full review is here.
apple watch
The Apple Watch is another thing I wear every day and love. This encourages me to move more throughout the day, although sometimes I think it encourages overtraining. For example, my Oura ring will tell me I need some rest and my Apple Watch will tell me to crush my next workout. I think it’s very practical and worth it. Here is an article I wrote comparing the Apple watch and the Fitbit alta.
Band loops
Band curls are a very inexpensive way to add an extra challenge to your workouts. They are portable, they can be used for the upper body, lower body (especially the outer thighs and glutes) and core. Definitely an underrated fitness tool!
Sculpture Society
These courses are SO good and so fun. I always seem to have a smile on my face, they’re tough without being totally exhausting, and I love the strength sets because the moves are bar-based and really challenge my legs and core. My link offers you a free month on the application and mYour full review is here!
Organization
Organization It’s 100% worth the hype. I drink at least one Organifi product every day. Greens are my favorite – mostly because I hate cleaning the juicer but still want to enjoy it – but I also love red, gold and harmony. You can use this link and code FITNESSISTA for 20% off.
* Theragun
THE Theragun feels like a dream (okay, a semi-painful dream) about sore muscles. I use a similar tool in my recovery and I feel like it really helps me on days when I feel more sore.
HigherDOSE sauna blanket
This is another thing I talk about all the time, but my friends, it’s worth it. I invested in this little beauty a few years ago and have used it countless times since. We don’t have the space for a full sauna, and this is the next best thing (and I think it’s even better because it’s portable). You can read my full review here. My code FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off!
* Peloton app (even if you don’t have a bike)
I loved that so many people said they enjoyed the Peloton app even though they didn’t have a bike. It’s quite cost-effective if you like the atmosphere of a group class without the studio subscription. I feel like some bodybuilding classes are hit or miss, but they have a wide variety of class types and instructors; after some experimentation, you will certainly find one that you like! I have an article here about a complete workout plan using the Peloton app if you’re looking for inspiration!
Owala Water Bottle
These definitely live up to the hype and they don’t leak!
Rowing rower
I think rowing is a great cardio workout, especially because you can use your upper body and core muscles in a different way. We love our Rowing! Be sure to check it out for a home gym option.
* Tonal
I have never tried Tonal but SO many people said they loved it! I think it’s amazing that you can do a cable workout at home and adjust the weights, plus they have amazing instructors. Do you have a Tonal? Do we need it???
* Normatec Recovery Boots
It’s a bit crazybut an awesome recovery tool. (We don’t own them, but that was another suggestion from IG!) I would definitely recommend something like this to endurance athletes as a recovery option.
* multi-compartment supplement holder
I LOVE these things and another very inexpensive way to make life a little easier. You can order the one I have here!
Treadmill
A few friends on IG agreed that they loved theirs and how obsessed I am with mine. I use it every day to take extra steps, especially while I’m watching HPI modules or on conference calls and I don’t need to talk.
Fitness clothing that feels good and fits well. The same goes for sneakers.
There’s nothing like a comfortable, functional workout outfit and a pair of well-fitting shoes!
Here are some of my all-time favorite pieces of fitness equipment:
I have so many of these tanks!
The best socks in the whole country
TRX
I think the TRX might be the #1 underrated piece of fitness equipment. You can work your entire body, it’s portable and lightweight, and you can easily modify or progress the movements depending on your fitness level. 10/10 a big fan. (An example TRX workout is here!)
A pull-up bar
Our pull-up bar broke but I think we need to get it back. a new. I’m *still* working on my pull-ups, and you can’t get better if you don’t practice. Ours used to hang on the laundry room door, so I did a few pull-ups between laundry changes.
Magnesium
It’s in my top 5 supplements for lots of reasons! I notice a huge difference in my sleep and recovery when I take magnesium regularly.
* PEMF Go Mat:
A few people agreed with me on IG that It’s truly one of the best things ever. It mimics the vibrations of nature and can be used for recovery, healing, reducing inflammation and as a meditation tool. I use it for every reason! It’s where I sit every morning to meditate (the infrared heat is SO nice on cold winter mornings!) and I often put it on my desk chair too. Check it out here and use FITNESSISTA15 to get a discount.
Overrated:
Factor75
You guys. I ordered this for a blog post review, because I had seen a few people post about it which I love(!), and it was disgusting and borderline inedible. Everything was brown and greasy; it just looked like mass-produced fatty food and not the healthy meal prep I had in mind.
I feel like I could prepare chicken and vegetables here at home and they would be much fresher and delicious. I tried a few meals – because I had to waste food – and after the sad, brown vegan mushroom masala gave me a stomach ache, the rest went in the trash. After having Sakara, nothing else really compares. (And yes, Sakara is designed to be something totally different! BUT I’m imagining healthy meal prep with protein and veggies, and this was…not it.)
Abdominal tilt
I just don’t need it. There are a thousand other functional ways to train your core!
Gliding discs
These can target your core, inner and outer thighs, but you can also use paper plates on a rug or socks on a wooden floor for free.
* A gym membership
I have mixed feelings about this one. You can absolutely do an amazing workout at home, if you’re the type of person motivated to workout solo. Some people really thrive in a group environment and need connection and community to train effectively. What type of person are you?? I can definitely work out at home and do a few days a week, but I love the gym atmosphere, classes, and group training environment. I feel like I always work harder when I’m not at home, but I’ll definitely do it for the sake of convenience.
*-Platoon; I sold it to enjoy the gym atmosphere
A few people said Peloton was overrated and they preferred working out at the gym. I totally understand this perspective, even as a Peloton fan. You have to do what works for you!
Colostrum Armra
Don’t be angry! Many people LOVE this and while I admit it tastes delicious, it didn’t do anything for me.
So tell me, my friends: what do you think is the most overrated and underrated piece of fitness equipment?
Is there anything I missed adding to the list?
xo
Gina
