Go, Go Gadget! An Activity Tracker Guide

Basic sketches for the pedometer appear in Leonardo Da Vinci’s work from the 15th century. Fortunately, design and technology have come a long way since then. Today’s activity trackers offer far more than the counting of steps, and they’re no longer clunky, pager-like devices that you have to clip to your belt. They’re wearable technology: light, sleek, and ultra portable. But with so many options available, finding the best tracker for your needs can be tricky. To save you time reading lots of product reviews, here’s a brief guide to the best activity trackers.

For those who are on the go
If you’re always on the move balancing work, home, and travel, an added personal device is the last thing you need, right? Maybe not. Some companies have designed activity trackers to suit the needs of the busiest user. For an activity tracker you can carry without worrying that it’ll get damaged or lost, a wrist based device is your best option. The Fitbit Flex and Jawbone UP are two activity trackers that come in a sleek bracelet form. However, there are some notable differences between the two.

Top 5 Gifts for Techie Athletes

Athletes like data, most of them, most of the time, anyway. Runners have their pace watches, beeping near the mile markers. Triathletes have their bike computers and power meters. Fitness fans have their heart rate monitors and calorie calculators. Those might be generalizations for who uses what, but we all know we track our data either religiously (with charts, logs and analyses) or periodically (when a race tells you your splits). We use data trackers and gadgets to power our workouts--working out harder, running faster and farther, hitting what once seemed like an unattainable goal. 

The problem is that sometimes we don't like to buy these gadgets for ourselves. Or after we've paid for the races, maintenance, training facilities, shoe updates and apparel, we're not left with much money to spend on these training tools. That's my excuse--and I wouldn't even call myself that techie (based on the fact that I have yet to buy a tablet, attempt to read a book on a Kindle/Nook, or update from phone to an operating system that would run all the apps I want to use). 

But maybe you know someone who's into fitness yet not into technology (and doesn't know the first place to start unless you gift her a device). Or maybe you know someone into technology but needs some fitness motivation to get up off the couch. Or maybe you're simply stumped on what to gift your fit friends. Keep reading as Fit-Ink shares some of the favorites we've uncovered this year.

Fit-Tool: The Foam Roller (Ahhh)

If I had the money, I would invest in two things....a daily massage and someone to change my sheets every night. Okay, the massage is pretty self-explanatory: It would feel soooo good to relax and recover from workouts with a rub-down every night. And the sheets? Well, that's just a weird obsession I have. I love the feel of crisp, clean sheets--I swear I sleep best on the nights I've just swapped in new ones.

But while I won't be getting a daily maid any time soon, I have figured out how to get a daily massage: with the foam roller. The tighter and stiffer I get when I'm in training, the better and better it feels. How it works: Place the foam roller on the floor and gently move your achy muscle along it in a slow, steady motion. Using your body weight, you can apply pressure to sensitive areas—loosening up knots you never knew you had. The more weight you put on the roller, the more intense the pressure.

I like to roll on it while watching the Today Show in the morning or after dinner at night. (Don't worry, my husband thinks this is just as strange as you do.) Seriously, it feels like a deep-tissue massage, minus the price tag. My quads and calves usually need the most attention, but you can use the same technique on your hamstrings, shins, back or whatever else feels tight. You can buy one for about $20 at PerformBetter.com. Photo grabbed from GetFitSource.com. Posted by Liz