Calling all gadget geeks! The fanciest new fitness tech to turbo-charge your workouts
From the £69 sore muscle miracle-worker to the £600 futuristic recovery boots that’ll be on every athlete’s Christmas list this year, we’ve got the best fitness tech to boost your strength, speed and endurance. And make you look cool at the gym…
Any products in this article have been selected editorially however if you buy something we mention, we may earn commission.
Here at Get the Gloss, we love a clever gadget to boost our fitness, whether a high-end luxury treat (a Prada padel racket? Why not!) or practical and affordable (we were early adopters of weighted vests).
An increased awareness of the importance of fitness means that more of us are taking steps (literally) to be less sedentary. The global under-desk treadmill market alone reached $131.8 million in 2024, and is predicted to skyrocket to $203.8 million by 2033, according to market research firm Imarc Group. Plus more of us than ever are investing in what might previously have been considered niche products and the preserve of elite athletes, such as compression therapy devices.
While some might argue that investing in fitness kit is simply a way to delay doing the actual hard work of getting fitter, writer Oliver Burkeman says it can be a powerful tool. “Taking pleasure in the equipment that you use can be a positive force,” says the author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, £9.03. “I’m not in favour of the approach that says: ‘You don’t need nice running gear to run.’ Yes, focusing on that can go too far, leading to avoidance and procrastination, but getting pleasure from the tools you use makes you more likely to do the thing.”
So are the 10 fitness tech gadgets that we really rate right now – and, here’s hoping, will make you more likely to do the thing.
The futuristic sports recovery shoes
Hyperboot by Nike × Hyperice, £650
These may look like Back To The Future‘s Marty McFly’s sci-fi self-lacing trainers but they’re actually a highly anticipated new collab between Nike and innovative recovery tech brand Hyperice. Offering three different levels of heat and compression, they can be used to warm up or aid recovery – you sit, stand or stretch while wearing them. They use Normatec compression therapy, which helps with the removal of lactic acid and other metabolic byproducts that contribute to muscle soreness after exercise. Currently only available in the US, they should be on the market here in the UK in time for Christmas. Time to start saving!
Buy nowSoundtrack your swim
Shokz OpenSwim Pro headphones, £169
The new sports headphones from Shokz have incredible sound quality and the open-ear design makes them some of the most comfortable on the market. The running ones (see deputy editor Kerry’s review) are water resistant so you don’t have to worry about sweat or rain. But to go deeper, try the OpenSwim Pro headphones that can be used while swimming. Surely water blocks the bluetooth signal, you might wonder? Well, they’ve got around that with clever MP3 technology. Plus they wrap around the back of your head so they won’t fall out. If you get bored during laps of the pool, these could be a game-changer.
Buy nowFor when you’ve overdone it at the gym
Therabody Wave Solo Vibrating Massage Ball, £69
Super-targeted and ultra-portable, the massage ball is the new massage gun. It’s completely silent, very light (just 0.3kg) and allows you to target those hard-to-reach areas to heal and nourish your muscles. With three levels of vibration, use the Wave Solo to quickly and easily roll out tension wherever needed. Try rolling it under your foot, or place it against a wall and lean back on it. The textured silicone outer layer provides traction for ease and control.
Buy nowThe new generation abs-toning belt
Anyone who remembers those old Slendertone TV adverts from a pre-internet era might have thought that vibrating belts were long gone. But no, the tech has simply improved. The Compex Corebelt promises to improve your core muscles’ tone and definition in just six weeks, with three 20-minute sessions a week. Using electrostimulation technology, it connects to an app to guide through the process (and send reminders to ensure you keep it up!). In addition to sculpting, toning and slimming your waistline, the belt also helps improve your posture. Not only that, but there are also settings for a lower back massage – what more do you need?
Buy nowThe ring that makes you healthier – now with added fitness and nutrition tools
We have long loved Oura for encouraging us to prioritise sleep but it’s never been that useful as a fitness tracker… until now. The latest updates to the chic health tracker ring include new fitness metrics such as an algorithm called Real Steps, which makes it function more like a pedometer. If you’ve ever felt that your ring wildly overestimates step count, you’ve been right. The company has warned that users may see a decrease in step count of up to 20 per cent as a result of the changes. Meanwhile, Oura is taking on the Zoe health app with two other new features: meal-logging which uses AI to offer nutrition advice based on a photo of your meal, and continuous glucose monitors. Currently in the US only, but potentially coming to the UK, customers can buy a Stelo Glucose Biosensor from the Oura store to monitor blood sugar levels through the app.
Buy nowWalk while you work
FlexiSpot Under-Desk Treadmill, £179.99
Gloss Book expert and personal trainer Lavina Mehta MBE is all about finding easy ways to fit movement into your day, so it’s no surprise that she’s a fan of an under-desk treadmill. “I’ve seen a huge rise in followers adding these to their home set-up,” she says. “Compact treadmills that slide under desks are a great way to ‘stack’ movement into a busy day.” This one by FlexiSpot has shock-absorption design, a silent motor below 65dB, and six modes including incline options. Team it with one of their height-adjustable standing desks to get fit during your next Zoom call.
Buy nowTo track your blood pressure
Is tracking your blood pressure the new tracking your blood sugar? If it looks this stylish, then maybe so. Not only is your Hilo wristband a super sleek wearable health tracker, it’s also a class IIa medical device that is clinically validated and has achieved CE marking. This means that it can seamlessly fit into daily life and provide you with helpful insights into a key biomarker for longevity: your blood pressure. They say that what gets measured gets managed, and tracking key blood pressure metrics over time will certainly encourage you to make informed lifestyle decisions about everything from fitness to nutrition.
Buy nowA more affordable alternative to Jennifer Aniston’s lymphatic drainage trousers
CurrentBody Leg Recovery Boots, £739.99
Ever since Jennifer Aniston shared a picture of her lymphatic drainage trousers, we’ve been obsessed with getting the same benefits – but without the £8k price tag. Happily, now brands have cottoned on that they can produce wearable tech to provide sequential compression and mimic a lymphatic drainage massage. These groin-high boots encourage blood flow and improve circulation, to reduce swelling and water retention. They’re also much more portable than the full-trouser version sported by Jen.
Buy nowFor those who love health data
You know those clever devices at the gym, which use frequency sensors to assess your body composition and visceral fat, as well as your weight? Well, now you can buy one to have at home for less than £200. Resembling a set of scales and with eight sensors to deliver a precise analysis, it’s been described as having a SatNav for your body, to show you the fastest way to achieve individualised good health. The pod links up with an app to provide personalised health coaching, and track your fitness goals with weekly feedback. Who needs a human PT anyway?
Buy nowTo boost your best recovery tool – sleep
You can’t be fit without good sleep! We now know that sleep is a vital part of recovery, and recovery is a vital part of building strength or endurance. These new wireless earbuds are designed to block noise, stream your favourite sleep sounds, and promote better, more restorative sleep. An ultra-comfortable, sound-based wearable that helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Buy now
