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Fitness & Health

26th Feb 2015

Get fit, look fit: Wearable fitness technology

Computer says yes

Conor Heneghan

Technology can provide a huge boost to your fitness regime and you don’t want to be left lagging behind.

There are some people for whom ignorance is bliss, but a lot of people who keep active these days like to be able to track their progress with as much detail as possible.

And as you’d expect in this day and age, there are more than enough products to cater for that very thing, with gadgets and devices that track your every movement and are so advanced that they nearly do the activity for you.

Here are some that we recommend.

Nike+ Sensor (€13.49)

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Beginning with the basics, if you have an iPhone or an iPad Touch and a pair of compatible Nike runners, you can slip this sensor into your shoe and it’ll track measurements like pace, distance, time elapsed and calories burned to give you some feedback while you’re training.

Cheap and handy to use, it’s a good place to start.

adidas miCoach X_Cell and Textile Transmitter Strap (€47)

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When we think of a bulky-ish device that you strap around your mid-section we can’t help but think of this…

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Thankfully, this piece of technology is far more subtle and practical than what Homer was wearing and it can do some pretty nifty things too.

The miCoach X_Cell captures data such as quickness, reaction speed, intensity of play, jump height and heart rate while you work out and users can avail of professionally-designed workouts on miCoach.com.

It also stores up to seven hours of data that can be uploaded to Bluetooth compatible devices and subsequently shared so you can show off to your friends about how fit you are.

If you want to, that is…

FitBit™ Zip Activity Tracker (€59.95)

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Keeping a diary of your exercise routine is an excellent way of tracking progress and providing motivation for working out, but there’s no need for pen and paper with this little baby.

The FitBit™ Zip Activity Tracker is so tiny and light that you’ll barely notice you have it on you and it keeps track of everything from amount of steps taken, distance covered and calories burned throughout the day.

You can also use it to set goals, challenge and encourage friends via the free app.

Hell, it’ll probably even look after your tax return if you ask it to.

Garmin vivofit (€119.99)

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One of the biggest obstacles to exercise is finding the motivation to do it, but the Garmin vivofit provides the kick up the arse you need.

The size of a regular wristband, the vivofit tracks all the data you would expect of an app of this type but it does much more than just that.

It learns your activity level and provides an attainable goal that increases in difficulty the more work you put and the healthier you get.

If you’re inactive for too long, the vivofit will let you know via a red bar on the display screen and although it monitors your progress 24/7, it can last for over a year without a single battery charge.

Samsung Gear Fit (€199)

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Granted, this will be a little bit pricey for some, but if you’re one of those people who absolutely can’t be without your smartphone under any circumstance, then this is the gadget for you.

As well as doing the job of a regular fitness tracker, this will also provide instant notifications of phone calls, text messages and allow you to interact with apps while you’re working out.

Would you believe it even tells the time too. It’s amazing what technology can do these days.