We made it! 2021 is nearly in the rearview. With a new year comes new resolutions and a freshened dedication to getting in better shape to tackle whatever is to come in 2022.
No matter what your fitness goals are for 2022, hitting a new personal record, achieving a certain amount of steps daily, losing weight, building muscle, this list will help you reach them.
BODi by Beachbody
Beachbody has been in the home fitness game for decades, offering full fitness programs by an array of superstar fitness instructors. Their BOD (Beachbody on Demand) program offers up hundreds of such programs but the problem is, they're fairly rigid. You're encouraged to take them sequentially and then retake them while you wait for your favorite instructor to release a new one. BODi (Beachbody on Demand Interactive) eliminates that "no-man's land" between programs by offering live, on-demand classes where you can take classes led by your favorite instructors or find new ones without having to commit to an entire series of classes. Unlike nearly every other at-home offering, BODi is unique in that it really is interactive. When you sign up for live classes, there's a chance that you could be featured on the screen behind the instructor, where they'll give you a shout out, encourage you, or maybe even correct your form. The classes are fun and high-energy, offering a lot of motivation (and more than a few pitches for Beachbody supplements and nutrition subscriptions). They've partnered with MYX fitness as well to offer a BODi-ready stationary bike. You can find out more about BODi and sign up for a 14-day free trial (after which it's $60 billed every three months) on their site.
Peloton
Peloton has had a hard go the past few years, there's no denying that. The Tread+ had to be recalled because of a serious safety issue, their bike was featured in the death scene of Mr. Big on the Sex and the City reboot (and even their wildcat marketing rejoinder had to be scrapped). But as many issues as their hardware might have endured, the fact remains that the core of Peloton, their instructors, is rock-solid. Peloton offers the most engaging, most versatile fitness classes that I've ever taken. There is a genuine quality to every one of them that makes Peloton classes fun to take. Instructors talk about what's going on in their lives, or relate stories that tie into the theme of the class, or maybe just talk about how much they love the song that's playing (Peloton also has the best curated playlists of any on-demand fitness program). It's the closest thing I've found to taking a regular in-person class. And with Peloton's new Peloton Guide hardware coming next year (pictured above), it's going to be easier and cheaper than ever to find out what all the hype is about. Get started on the Peloton site.
On Cloudstratus
On has been making next-generation running shoes for the better part of a decade and my feet are all the better for it. I started out training for 5ks (then half marathons, then marathons) in minimalist toe-shoes. Over time, I've come to accept that cushioning is a necessary part of keeping myself injury-free. For me, the Cloudstratus gives me the best of both worlds. Their open-cell CloudTec soles, constructed with Helion foam provide shock absorption and springy feedback, no matter what the temperature outside. The end result is that I run lighter on my feet, minimizing wear and tear on my knees. The recycled upper provides an expansive toe box, giving my feet plenty of room when I'm on long runs. There's nothing worse than being halfway through a long run and having your feet feel constricted. The On Cloudstratus are grippy as well, giving you plenty of traction no matter the running conditions. About the only thing you need to watch out for are small rocks getting trapped in the soles, though this happens less often than you'd think it would. On's engineering shines in the Cloudstratus. There's no other shoe I trust to get me through training seasons. Get yours from the On site.
On Cloud X
If you're looking for a shoe that will get you through cross-training sessions, then the Cloud X should be on your list. Made with a single layer of CloudTec, the sole is responsive and cushioned enough to get you through short runs but doesn't get in your way when you're off the tread and throwing weights around. It's also an extremely grippy shoe, making it perfect for HIIT and cardio training. The upper is a little tighter than the Cloudstratus, making it a shoe that you probably don't want to run long with but that extra support means your foot shifts less in the shoe when doing dynamic exercises other than running. It's an especially great shoe for boot camps, with extra cushioning and support around the ankle. This is the shoe I always grab for boot camp workouts. Find it on the On website.
Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE
Garmin's latest fitness watch, the Forerunner 945 LTE is a powerhouse of a multi-sport watch with a mind on safety. The crisp, full-color screen serves up route maps, workout statistics, music playlists, body health measurements and more. Garmin excels at fitness analysis and the Forerunner 945 LTE combines all their best sensors and algorithms in one device. The device not only lets you know how you're performing (and gives you previous workout statistics), it can tell if you're actually ready for harder training or if you need to take the day off. It's one thing to follow a preset training plan, it's another to be able to tell if you're actually overtraining and need to back off. The Forerunner 945 LTE can do just that. The LTE features of the Forerunner 945 LTE keep you connected even if you don't have your phone with you. You can contact emergency services or set the watch to automatically send an emergency request in the event of a fall. When it's not keeping you safe, the LTE connection can update your family and friends who are following you with Live Event sharing and send you their spectator messages. Battery life with GPS and LTE is just about 7 hours, plenty of time for most races and workouts (though ultra runners may need to look elsewhere). If you're serious about taking your training to the next level, the Garmin Forerunner 945 is for you. Pick one up on the Garmin site or find one locally wherever you buy fitness gear.
Apple Watch Series 7
Once again, as many trackers as I strap on my wrist, there's always one that I end up putting back on at the end of the day, the Series 7 Apple Watch. Granted, there isn't a lot of difference between the Series 6 and the Series 7 but the changes that are there are worth a look. The screen is larger, making it easier to interact with apps while you're in the midst of working out. The glass is tougher as well, so you don't have to worry quite as much about taking spills while running or biking (well, you do, but you at least don't have to worry about breaking your watch). The thing I love about the Apple Watch is its versatility. Not only does it have built-in fitness reminders and clicks seamlessly into the Apple Fitness+ classes, but it works with Nike Run Club, Headspace, and countless other fitness and mindfulness apps. The third-generation optical heart rate sensor is top notch, letting you target your training with ease. And if you go with a cellular model, you can contact anyone you need to right from your watch, even if you've left your iPhone at home. I tend to think of the Apple Watch as a fitness companion rather than just a fitness tool because it allows me to do just about anything I want without locking me into an activity. Grab one on the Apple site.
UA Project Rock Over-Ear Headphones
I'll admit, I'm not a "headphones at the gym" kind of guy. But I get it. You have a certain soundtrack you need to get properly hyped. Doesn't matter if it's Metallica or Taylor Swift (or both), your playlist is curated to give you optimal lifting power. The Rock has teamed up with JBL/Under Armour to create a pair of rugged over-the-ear headphones that sport impressive adaptive noise cancellation. The metal and rubber finish is rugged, durable, and makes the headphones easy to manipulate, even with sweaty hands. The cushions are thick to block out ambient noise, but are still vented to keep your ears cool. You can also toggle "Bionic" hearing so that you can hear the environment around you and talk to people easily. I felt that the fit was a little tight but if you're going to be lifting or doing cardio, you want a pair of headphones that aren't shifting around. At the end of the day, they help you lock in to your workout and look good doing it. Grab them from the JBL website.
Function Heartsync for Apple Watch
This little dongle has been my secret weapon in 2021. The problem with most exercise bikes and treads is that they want you to use their heart rate monitor, which is usually some sort of uncomfortable chest strap. That never made sense to me, given that most of us are walking around with wrist-mounted heart rate monitors in the form of our Apple Watch. Enter Function. It pairs via Bluetooth with your exercise equipment and your Apple Watch, bridging the gap so that you can use your Apple Watch as a heart rate monitor. It works perfectly for Peloton devices, letting you finally get your Strive score without having to workout with a heart rate strap. The only wrinkle is that you need to start a workout in the Function app on your watch to enable tracking on the device, which will require a bit of cleanup in the Fitness app on your phone if you don't want to double-track your workout. But for me, that bit of a headache is worth being able to just roll up to your treadmill, ready to go. It’s just $50 on the Function site.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Keeping a well-stocked home gym is a messy and annoying proposition. Not only do you have to find the right size dumbbells (not an easy task right now), you have to store them (or leave them scattered all over the corners of wherever you're working out). That's why I'm in love with the Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells. One compact package gives you weights anywhere from 5-52.5 lbs., in selectable 2.5 lb. increments. The weight selection is on the outside of either end of the dumbbell. The selectors rotate easily and have large, clear numbers for weight selection. Even better, if you want to do isometric training of a muscle group, it's easy to load up just one side of the dumbbell. Storing 15 sets of dumbbells to equal the weight capacity of the Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells would take up a ton of floor space. These get it done in the footprint of two large dumbbells. You can download all the apps you want, but this is the gear that's going to help you get that workout done. You can get a set on the Bowflex website.
