In the fitness space, there’s a lot of talk about the different types of tech you must own. In some cases, these pieces of tech are more of an option than a necessity. Some fitness tech can be useful to help you achieve any fitness goals you may have, or if you want to recover more effectively after working out. As CNET’s resident fitness expert, there are some products I recommend, but this time, I asked certified personal trainers, physical therapists and other fitness experts about the fitness tech they love and recommend.
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Whether you’re new to exercising or experienced, you’ll find some of these products to be useful. These are the pieces of tech our experts recommend.
1. Massage gun
A massage gun is a helpful tool to have on hand if you’re looking for recovery relief. I’ve tested many massage guns and have some personal favorites. Certified personal trainer, running coach and massage therapist at Knead Massage, Amanda Grimm recommends investing in one, especially if you exercise regularly.
“Regular use of a massage gun will reduce your recovery time between training sessions, allowing you to train more consistently and with more intensity,” she says. Additionally, massage guns can help improve your range of motion, so you’re prepped to take on any workout.
“The most obvious advantage that my clients report is decreased muscle soreness in the days after a tough session,” explains Grimm. Taking your recovery seriously also has its advantages. The faster you feel recovered, the faster you can return to your next workout.
If you’re new to using a massage gun, Grimm recommends using it before and after a workout for just a few minutes at a time. “Using a massage gun on a slower speed pre-workout allows us to target the major muscle groups that we’re going to be working, boosting the blood flow and increasing the available range of motion,” she explains.
For post-workout, Grimm advises targeting the main muscle groups you focused on during your workout. “Using a medium intensity setting for one to two minutes will help flush out excess fluid and inflammation and kick-start the recovery process,” she says.
Grimm’s favorite massage guns include the Renpho R3 Mini Massage Gun and the Theragun Pro. “I like the Renpho R3 because it’s affordable and compact, making it a good choice to pop in your gym bag,” she says. She notes that it’s powerful for its size and price and features multiple speed settings, making it a versatile little tool.
The Theragun Pro is her preferred professional-grade massage gun that she uses with all her clients. “The Theragun Pro is packed with great features, including an impressive 16mm amplitude (which is basically the depth of each ‘hit’ into your muscle tissue) and fantastic ergonomic design, with a rotating arm and really comfortable handle,” she says. This is also CNET’s best massage gun pick, which we recommend for serious athletes.
2. Apple Watch
As someone who enjoys running, I’ve always liked tracking my runs on an Apple Watch because it’s easy to read and seamlessly connects with my iPhone. Personal trainer, fitness coach and sports dietitian Umo Callins of Well Rooted Health and Nutrition, based in Oklahoma City, also swears by the Apple Watch.
“I like the different workout options it has to track, and I recommend fitness watches to my clients who don’t mind having something on their wrist and benefit from data,” says Callins, adding, “I find that my data-driven clients are more consistent with their lifestyle and physical activity when wearing fitness watches.”
The latest Apple Watch Series 11 has added an FDA-cleared hypertension alert feature, improved battery life and sleep tracking. Callins likes that the Apple Watch shows her activity trends on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Additionally, on days she isn’t as active, it nudges her to get moving. “I also like that it syncs to my Oura Ring, which helps with learning about how my body recovers from day to day, my sleep patterns and overall readiness, which is a major part of what dictates my workouts,” she adds.
3. Under-desk walking treadmill
I’ve tested walking treadmills previously and appreciate that they take up minimal space and allow you to multitask. Certified personal trainer, registered dietitian and owner of One Pot Wellness, Wan Na Chun swears by her under-desk treadmill. “As someone who works from home, a walking pad helps me stay active instead of sitting for long periods,” she says.
Chun also recommends walking pads to clients, who have loved how simple they are for incorporating more daily movement. This is because the walking pad makes staying active more accessible, regardless of weather or busy schedules. Chun particularly enjoys using the Kingsmith Walk and Work walking pad and says she’s been using it for years while taking calls, reading or doing work on her computer.
Chun recommends that clients use a walking pad as a low-impact option to help them get steps in primarily, but says it shouldn’t be their only form of exercise. “An under-desk treadmill is meant to complement your structured workouts by keeping the body active in small and sustainable ways throughout the day,” Chun explains. She says that, on average, she can easily clock in about 5,000 steps daily at a slow pace and adds, “I particularly find it helpful during the winter months when I’m less active outdoors because of poor weather conditions.”
4. Whoop band
If you’re serious about your recovery and want to track that data, Ed Gemdjian, general manager and certified personal trainer at The Gym Venice, recommends the Whoop band. Gemdjian specializes in working with clients age 40 and older. He says, “It gives clear daily readiness for work and training by combining heart rate variability, resting heart rate and sleep quality.” This allows him to use the data provided by the device to match the training load to recovery for his clients. ”This is especially valuable for our over-40 clients who thrive with smart progression and appropriate recovery,” he adds.
Gemdjian understands the importance of sleep and being well recovered, and the Whoop offers him better insight into his clients’ habits. “We review sleep metrics and provide sleep hygiene coaching to address common non-medical issues such as inconsistent bedtimes, caffeine timing and screen use before bed,” he says. The Whoop is a good screenless wearable option that provides the wellness data you need without getting in the way during sleep or when you’re in the gym.
5. Body composition tracking
If you have access to a DEXA scan or an InBody scan, these are some of the best ways to track your progress. This type of assessment is usually done in a gym or a practitioner’s office that carries this type of equipment, as it’s not available to consumers. The DEXA scan is considered the gold standard for measuring everything from bone mineral density (it’s mainly used for osteoporosis screenings), lean muscle mass, fat mass, hydration levels and much more.
It gives you the closest accurate data about your body versus hopping on a scale that simply weighs you. Gemdjian uses these tools with his clients to get a baseline at onboarding and then rechecks every eight to 12 weeks to see if there have been any physiological changes. “We coach to trends, not single numbers, so if skeletal muscle mass is up and visceral fat is down, we know we are on the right track even if body weight has not moved much,” he explains.
