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The heart rate sensors on smartwatches are usually good enough for casual training (and some of them are really good), but to get the best possible accuracy, you want a separate heart rate monitor—ideally a chest strap. Fortunately, these wearables are still on sale even after the end of October Prime Day. Heart rate monitors from Polar, Coospo, and more were available at discounts, and two of my favorite models are still discounted.
The Polar H10 chest strap is $20 off
All electrical chest straps are good, but the consensus in the fitness world is that if you want the best, you get the Polar H10. It’s the chest strap that Apple used in its own heart-rate accuracy testing; it’s also the one I recall being put on me when I did a VO2max test in a lab. It retails for $104.95 but goes on sale from time to time, and now is one of those times: You can pick up a Polar H10 for $84.74.
I love when a budget option works as well as the top-of-the-line model, and that’s why I swear by my Coospo heart rate monitor. Full disclosure, the H6 model I used for over four years finally gave up its ghost, so I’ve moved on to a newer model, the H808S. Both are on sale: the H6 for $23.99, down from $29.99, and the H808S is $26.26, down from $36.99.
Heart rate monitors connect to your watch or to gym equipment wirelessly, usually with Bluetooth and sometimes with an older protocol called ANT+. (Many heart rate monitors can do both.)
You’ll need to set up the heart rate monitor to either broadcast your heart rate or to pair to another device. (Usually you broadcast to gym equipment, but pair to a watch or phone.) The specifics vary by brand, but it’s usually pretty straightforward. If you have a fitness watch like a Garmin, an Apple Watch, or a Samsung Galaxy Watch, pairing a chest strap is a simple job. Pixel Watches, unfortunately, can’t pair a heart rate sensor.
But even without a watch, you can use a sensor with your phone. I like the Polar Beat app as a simple heart rate tracker, but there are plenty of other options. The Apple Fitness app can use third-party heart rate sensors, and so can Strava.
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Amazon's October Prime Day sale ends tonight, which means you have a few more hours to snag some great deals on my favorite brand of workout headphones: Shokz. If you're unfamiliar with Shokz (and the world of bone conduction headphones in general), I could talk your ear off about the big selling points: better situational awareness, all-day comfort, and ears that stay free and open. If you want to join the club, or need an upgrade, these are the best Shokz deals from this year's October Prime Day sale.
For runners, the OpenRun Pro 2 are down to $109.95 in Rose Gold (originally $199.95). In other colors, they're discounted down to $119.95 (originally $179.95). This beloved bone-conduction model combines Shokz’s signature open-ear design with a bassy sound and long battery life (up to 12 hours), making it one of the most popular choices for outdoor workouts.
The regular OpenRun headphones are also discounted, dropping down to $89.95 (originally $129.95). They offer many of the same benefits of the Pro line at a lower price point, including a lightweight frame and open-ear design geared toward runners and all kinds of outdoor athletes.
For anyone with a smaller head size, the OpenRun Mini have 0.83-inch (21mm) shorter band than the standard size, and they're seeing the same discount—currently available for $89.95 (originally $129.95).
The trendy OpenDots ONE are $60 off
If you've been following the trendiness of clip-on-style earbuds, the OpenDots ONE are 30% off, dropping down to $139.95 (originally $199.95). One of Shokz’s newer designs, the OpenDots ONE sit outside the ear canal, offering a lightweight alternative to traditional earbuds while still maintaining that signature situational awareness. Plus, they're a strong alternative to the pricier Bose Ultra open earbuds.
These swimming headphones are $50 off
Swimmers can save 22% on the OpenSwim Pro, now $179.95 (originally $229.95). Unlike most workout headphones, this bone conduction model has an IP68 rating and is built for use in the water. They support onboard MP3 storage, allowing you to listen to music even when Bluetooth connectivity isn’t available.
October Prime Day FAQs
When is Prime Day in October?
October Prime Day is a two-day event that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7.
Is Shokz a reliable brand?
Yes, Shokz is one of the best brands when it comes to bone conduction and sports headphones. The OpenRun Pro 2 model especially is a go-to pick for battery life, comfort, and situational awareness.
Do Shokz Prime Day discounts apply to all their product lines, or just select items?
Unfortunately, not all Garmin products are on sale. However, there are many Shokz products on sale, and you can find them all on the Amazon landing page.
What else goes on sale on Prime Day?
Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.
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Earlier this year, I explained how a Christmas gift I'd bought my then-15-year-old son—a set of adjustable dumbbells ($255) and an adjustable weight bench ($59.49)—had actually gotten me to stick to a steady lifting routine for the first time in years. And now, for October Prime Day, both are on sale, and the dumbbells are even cheaper than what I spent during last year's Black Friday sale.
I've had 9+ months of regular use with both (plus intermittent use by my now-16-year-old, 6-foot son), and both still look and feel brand new. The dumbbells can be adjusted in five-pound increments from 10 pounds all the way up to 55; the bench can lie flat or be adjusted at eight different angles, including a decline position. (Plus, they match, if that sort of thing is important to you.)
I was admittedly skeptical about how the padding on the seat of the bench would hold up over months and years of use; I've pre-emptively addressed that by adding a blanket to the seat when I use it, but it's likely not necessary. I've also caught my son as recently as two days ago dropping the weights to the ground as though he was standing on a padded gym floor, rather than a 100-year-old cement basement floor with unforgiving carpet, and they survived the abuse.
If you live in a small home but want to create a little weight-lifting space for yourself, I highly recommend both of these products—especially while they're on sale for October Prime Day.
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The October Prime Day sale is proving to be a good time to pick up fitness equipment at a discount—for proof, look no further than this list of the best fitness equipment deals. But if you're looking specifically for Peloton equipment, there's more good news: one model of the Peloton Tread is on sale for $1,000 off, and several Bike models are deeply discounted as well.
Peloton's Cross-Training Tread (that's a treadmill, obviously) is $2,295, down from the regular price of $3,295. This is Peloton's standard treadmill, currently in its second generation. It has a swiveling screen and upgraded hardware compared to the original Tread. Peloton offers running classes you can do on the Tread, and as with all its equipment, you'll need a $49.99/month subscription to use it and get all the streaming content.
The Cross-Training Bike and Bike+ are both deeply discounted
If you're looking for one of Peloton's signature Bikes, they're on sale today as well. The Cross-Training Bike is $1,295, down from a regular price of $1,695 (that's $400 off). And the Cross-Training Bike+, which applies resistance automatically as you follow a class, is $1,795, down from a regular price of $2,695.
For a budget option, there is also an original Bike, available refurbished for just $995. This Bike is still a solid pick (I have one myself!) and gets the same content as the more expensive bikes. It normally goes for $1,395 as a refurbished model, and was $1,695 when it was new.
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Amazon's October Prime Day sale is here, and I've been tracking the best fitness deals—and deals on adjustable dumbbells in particular. I love recommending adjustable dumbbells as a way to save time, money, and precious floorspace when you're trying to strength train at home.
Where buying individual pairs of dumbbells in five-pound increments up to 80 pounds would cost well over $1,500 (and take up your entire home gym), adjustable dumbbells deliver the same versatility for a fraction of that price. Right now, my favorite set, the PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells, is $339.99, down from its usual $399.99 price tag. That's a solid $60 savings.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a "best home dumbbells" list without these PowerBlocks near the top. The futuristic cubic look is stylish, but more importantly, it's a seriously economical, space-saving design—which is the whole point of going adjustable over a traditional rack of individual weights. The weights have flat edges so you can hold them on end on your lap, and unlike a lot of adjustable models, they're compact enough that they won’t bump into each other on shoulder or chest presses. The only real drawback is the frame design: You have to place your hand inside the dumbbell's structure to grip it, which can be awkward, especially if you’re wearing a large watch.
These dumbbells also come in 70-pound and 90-pound versions. If you go with one of the smaller sets, you can also buy expansion sets later to upgrade to the larger versions. The full 90-pound set is also on sale right now, down to $738.65 from an original $869. And if you're not yet sold on adjustable dumbbells as a concept, this 150-pound set of traditional dumbbells is also discounted—down to $149.99 from $189.99.
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As a marathon runner, I take my recovery seriously. After trying out dozens of different products over the years, I've found what actually matters when shopping for massage guns and recovery tools. It's not hyperbole to say that massage guns have changed my life as an athlete—and TheraBody is a brand name I swear by.
TheraBody's signature triangular grip design is a fan favorite for good reason, as it allows for comfortable handling during long massage sessions. As far as Theragun options go, this is the pick for anyone looking for power and durability. Plus, its quiet operation makes it suitable for use in shared spaces without disturbing others. The battery life extends up to 120 minutes on a single charge, ensuring you won't be interrupted mid-session, right when you need it most.
If you're looking for other options, there are more Theragun deals in Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale:
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Amazon's October Prime Day is officially over, but I haven't stopped keeping my eye on all the best deals on home gym equipment that are still active right now. When it comes to building out a home gym, your best strategy for home gym shopping when you don't have a ton of room to work with is to focus on versatility and efficient use of space. That's why I'm keeping a close eye on adjustable dumbbells in particular.
Adjustable dumbbells are a favorite category of mine because they let you go from five-pound to 50-pound weights (or more!) without needing multiple shelves of equipment. Where individual pairs of dumbbells from five to 80 pounds in five-pound increments would cost well over $1,500 (and take up your entire home gym), adjustable dumbbells condense an entire weight rack into a compact, versatile system. Here are the best deals on adjustable dumbbells that you can still snag, at least for the next few hours.
My favorite deal right now is this set of Bowflex Results Series 552 dumbbells, $328.98 for a pair, normally $399.99. If you couldn’t guess from the name, they can adjust from five to 52 pounds. The curved design is stylish, but more importantly, it's a seriously space-saving—which is the whole point of going adjustable over a traditional rack of individual weights.
Here are some more adjustable dumbbells that are still active, even after Amazon's October Prime Day sale has officially ended:
Feierdun Adjustable Dumbbells are $169.99 for the 90-pound set, down from $219.99. I'm especially drawn to how this system can configure the weights as fixed barbells, kettlebells, traditional dumbbells, or individual weight plates. Incorporating kettlebell swings and goblet squats without purchasing separate equipment? That's a steal.
These UNNMIIY adjustable dumbbells are also $169.99 for the 90-pound set, normally $259.99. These can adjust from two to 45 pounds per dumbbell, and they have a five-in-one design so you can use them as dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and even push-up stands.
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October Prime Day has officially ended, but some of the deals are still going. Most of the deals I covered yesterday are still live, including on one of the cheapest good smart rings you're likely to find, as well as several on Garmins, and even a Fitbit or two.
The RingConn Gen 2 Air smart ring is $159.20
RingConn makes some of the better subscription-free smart rings out there. I tested the Gen 2 and Gen 3 rings and found them to be decently good at sleep and lifestyle tracking, although not always great at workout tracking. (Add my standard disclaimer that rings are never good workout trackers.) In any case, the Gen 2 Air is on sale right now. This is a pared-down version of the Gen 2 ring, but honestly, you don't lose much—just sleep apnea monitoring and a few days of battery life. That still leaves the Air with a 10-day battery life, so it's a tradeoff that's well worth it if you want an affordable smart ring.
If you mainly want a general fitness tracker during the day, but would appreciate a precise and full-featured watch for workouts, something on the lower end of the Forerunner line can do both at a good price. Right now, the Forerunner 165 is $199.99, down from $249.99. This is an entry-level Forerunner from the previous generation (they're up to the 170 now), but I wouldn't call it out of date. Garmins age well, and the 165 is a solid pick that will give you many years of use.
Polar makes a screen-free smart band called the Loop that normally retails for $199.99, but right now it's on sale for $169.99 (and some colors are $161.99). The Polar Loop looks like a slightly more stylish Whoop. In my testing, I enjoyed the physical design, but was underwhelmed by the app (it's pretty barebones). Still, it has no subscription, and may be just the minimalist tracker you're looking for.
Fitbit's Charge 6 normally retails for $159.99, but right now it's on sale for $133.49. Or somewhere around there—I've been seeing the price jump up and down a few dollars throughout the day. You can read my review of the Charge 6 here. I found it a solid tracker if you just want the basics, but didn't love that it limits music playback to YouTube Music and requires your phone to be on hand for payments and maps. Still, it's one of the best options out there for a band that has a screen but isn't shaped like a watch. And if you don't ned GPS, you can save a few bucks and go for the Inspire 3, which is on sale for $74 to $88 depending on color.
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Amazon's October Prime Day sale has come and gone, but there are still some solid Garmin deals—for now, at least. Garmin is the biggest name in the sports watch world for good reason: They deliver advanced metrics and reliable GPS tracking, usually with a multi-week battery life. There was a time when I ran full marathons totally watch-free, but now I keep my Garmin Forerunner 970 on my wrist at all times. If you want to join the club, or need an upgrade, these are the best Garmin deals from this year's October Prime Day sale that are still live.
These Garmin Forerunners are a great deal right now
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is $158, down from $199.99. This is the most basic Garmin running watch you can buy new. Don't be deterred by the word "basic." As my colleague Beth Skwarecki reports, it was good enough for Sabastian Sawe to wear to break the sub-2-hour marathon barrier earlier this year.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is $100 off its original price
Garmin's Vivoactive line is probably its most underrated, according to my colleague Beth Skwarecki: "It's solidly good at running and fitness tracking, and convenient for everyday use with a touchscreen for most functions (but still uses physical buttons to start, stop, and lap workouts)." The Vivoactive 5 was originally $299.99 and dropped to $229.99 back when the Vivoactive 6 came out. Right now, it's just $198.
This Garmin Instinct Solar 2X is $180 off
The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar Tactical Watch is one of the brand’s best solar-charged options, and right now it's available for $319.99, down from $499.99. Compared to its predecessor, the Garmin Instinct Solar 2X produces up to 50% more energy from the sun thanks to the Power Glass lens, which is particularly helpful in GPS mode, which can drain the battery quickly. It’s also 0.8 mm thinner and has a built-in LED flashlight, a compass, and an altimeter.
If you're looking for an even more premium tactical watch, a renewed Garmin Tactix 8 is on sale for $919.99, down from $1,030.25. This model is full of dedicated tactical features, like a jumpmaster activity, landmark projection, dual-position GPS format, stealth mode, kill switch, night vision goggle compatibility, rucking activity, and a preloaded applied ballistics solver.
The second-generation Garmin Epix Pro is nearly half off
The Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition is marked down 47%, bringing its usual $999.99 price down to $529.99. The reason for such a major discount is that Garmin has since merged the Epix and Fenix product lines, and this model was replaced with the Fenix 8 series, which has since been replaced with the Fenix 9 series. Still, the Epix Pro holds up. It's got you covered for tracking your sleep and blood oxygen levels, measuring your VO2 Max, tracking 30 activities, offering a multi-sport mode, plus extras that most running-specific watches don't have, like golfing features, tides, and fish forecasts.
October Prime Day FAQs
When is Prime Day in October?
October Prime Day is a two-day event that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7.
Is Garmin a reliable brand?
Yes, Garmin is one of the best brands when it comes to rugged sports watches and fitness trackers. The Forerunner line especially is a go-to pick for accurate and reliable GPS tracking for runners.
Do Garmin's Prime Day discounts apply to all their product lines, or just select items?
Unfortunately, not all Garmin products are on sale. However, there are many Garmin products on sale, and you can find them all on the Amazon landing page.
What else goes on sale on Prime Day?
Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.
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Amazon's October Prime Day, known as Prime Big Deal Days, is a two-day sale that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7. Already I've been tracking the best deals on home gym equipment, always keeping an eye on compact cardio solutions. Foldable treadmills are all the rage, and with today's deals, you can save even more on existing budget options. Right now, one of the most trusted name in treadmills, the NordicTrack T Series 5, is on sale for $449. That's a 25% markdown from its typical price of $599.
If you are looking for something more high-tech, the T Series 16 is on sale for $1,299, down from its typical price of $1,499. The main draw of this model has got to be its 16-inch touchscreen with a pivot display. Otherwise, the T Series 5 is the perfect starter treadmill for anyone who needs a minimalist option to get your run in, rain or shine.
The NordicTrack ecosystem gives you access to over 10,000 workouts when you sign up for an iFIT membership. For $39/month (or $396/year), you can follow expert trainers through global runs, hikes, strength training, yoga sessions, and more. When you choose a desired workout, your NordicTrack hardware automatically adjusts the speed and incline to match the workout. And for those of us who like to track our progress across multiple platforms, iFIT syncs with your Strava, Garmin, and Apple Health.
Amazon October Prime Day FAQ
When is Prime Day in October?
October Prime Day is a two-day event that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7.
What goes on sale on Prime Day?
Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.
Is Prime Day once a year?
Prime Day happens every summer. Prime Big Deal Days (or October Prime Day) happens every October. Big Spring Sale happens every spring.
This year was an interesting one for smart rings and smart bands, and we ended up with a few new devices that mark serious improvements on what was available before. With these new developments in mind, here are my picks for the best fitness trackers to consider giving (or asking for) as gifts this year.
The Fitbit Air is the best fitness tracker for most people
I’ll have recommendations below for athletes, runners, and people with higher budgets, but before we get into those, let me present the best fitness tracker for most people: the Fitbit Air.
Google now owns the Fitbit brand, and it spent the past few years making questionable choices about its software and mostly neglecting the brand’s iconic hardware. Then, in a stunning turnaround, Google launched the smallest, lightest, and most comfortable fitness tracker I’ve ever used (not counting rings, but we’ll get to those).
The Fitbit Air tracks your steps, sleep, and workouts without needing much attention from you. Its battery lasts a week, its app reports all the standard information without a subscription, and the price is sensible for such minimalist hardware: $99.99. The only real downside is the overly chatty AI built into the app, which you can disable if it annoys you as much as it did me.
The Oura Ring 5 is the best fitness tracker to splurge on
If you have $499 to spare (or $399 for some colors), the tracker to get is the Oura Ring 5. Smart rings have always been pretty clunky, but for the fifth generation, Oura managed to get its ring to a size that blends in with jewelry rings. I’ve been wearing Oura rings since the gen 2, and this is the first one that really feels like you can forget you’re wearing a device.
You pay for the privilege, of course: The purchase price, plus a $5.99/month subscription fee. But Oura’s app is one of the nicest and easiest to use of any smart ring I’ve tried. Besides just giving you daily sleep scores, it breaks down your data to show things like how well you’re recovering despite stress, and how regular your bedtimes are.
Smart rings aren’t great for detailed workout tracking (or for strength training), but they’re excellent for casually monitoring how much exercise you end up getting throughout your day. For somebody who either doesn’t need workout tracking, or tracks their workouts with another device, an Oura is great for the rest of their day.
The Whoop band is the best fitness tracker for athletes
Some people may want more information than what the Fitbit Air or Oura Ring can give. If they still want to avoid having a screen on their wrist all day, the perfect pick for this person is a Whoop 5.0, specifically with the Peak (middle tier) subscription.
To explain the pricing: You’ll pay $239 for a Whoop band bundled with your first year’s subscription. After that expires, if you want to keep using it, you need to pay another $239 (or $199, if you want to downgrade your subscription and lose some of the features). That makes it more expensive than my top pick, the Fitbit Air.
But for an athlete who wants data to pore over, the Whoop seriously delivers. During workouts, you can see your heart rate zones on your phone’s screen, which the Fitbit doesn’t offer. The app can also guide you through weekly plans that are specific to your goals—say, totaling a certain number of minutes of zone 4 and 5 training, while also keeping a consistent bedtime and avoiding screens at night. The app is great at analyzing how the habits you log affect your sleep and recovery, and it’s easy to customize toward the goals you actually care about. I find it easy to balance perfectly so you don’t get information overload.
The only real downside is that many athletes may want something that gives them pace or heart rate data on their wrist. If your recipient already has a fitness watch, they can use it for workouts while using the Whoop for the rest of the day, and Whoop will seamlessly pull in workout data from the other device. That said, read on if you’re looking for an actual fitness watch with a display.
The Coros Pace 4 is the best basic fitness watch for runners
You probably thought I was going to recommend a Garmin—and I will, below—but first let me tell you why the Coros Pace 4 is a hidden gem, my personal favorite, and my best overall pick for most runners.
First, the price. It’s $249, which is cheap in the running-watch world. But it punches way above its weight, with dual-band GPS for accurate pace and distance tracking, a heart rate sensor that performed well in my extensive testing, and a fun and useful extra in its voice training logs. As of a 2026 update, it can now display maps, which is incredible for a watch in this price range.
You’d have to pay more than twice as much for a Garmin with all of those features—specifically, the Forerunner 970, which I say more about below. Buying a nice Coros (or a Suunto, for that matter) feels like you’re getting away with something.
The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the best top-of-the-line fitness tracker for a runner
If there’s a runner in your life you love very much (and want your budget to reflect that), you can’t beat the Forerunner 970. Our resident marathoner Meredith Dietz has an in-depth review here that you might like to check out, but as a spoiler: She loved it.
The Forerunner 970 packs in all the features a running watch could possibly have. It’s got all the core features of more basic watches like the Coros I mentioned above, plus more storage and better performance of onboard maps, so you can see where you are in the world by glancing at your wrist.
The 970 also has a ton of performance metrics and tools to plan your training, plus a feature everyone loves: an LED flashlight that can shine on what’s in front of you without interfering with your view of the watch. If you’re looking for the best fitness watch out there, I can’t think of one that’s better than the 970.
A new Google wearable may be on the way, and leaked pictures suggest it may be a fitness band with a screen, a successor to the Fitbit Charge 6. Android Headlines reports that the new device will be called the Fitbit Edge.
Earlier this year, Google ran ads on Reddit that seemed to show a new fitness band alongside Pixel watches and phones. In a post titled “Um so what the hell is that??,” redditors debated whether the unfamiliar wearable was an accidental leak of a yet-unreleased device, or just an AI hallucination. After all, if you asked an AI to create a hybrid of a Fitbit and a Pixel Watch, it would look more or less like what was in the picture.
What rumors say about the new "Fitbit Edge"
The leaked photos appearing at Android Headlines look like the device from the ad. It has an oval screen, only about as wide as the wristband and taller than it is wide. The rounded edges and the style of watch band match aesthetically with Pixel Watches, while the overall form factor—a tall screen set into a thin wristband—fits the design of the old Fitbit Charge 6.
According to spec sheets that were reportedly also included in the leak, the device will have GPS, an altimeter, and a seven-day battery life. That's the same battery life as the Charge 6, which had GPS but no altimeter. The new device is said to work with both iOS and Android, as the Fitbit Air does, rather than being Android-only like the Pixel Watch. The rumors do not include a price, a release date, or a full list of features.
What this means, if true
If it weren’t for the earlier ad—the one that many thought was a hallucination—I probably wouldn’t have expected Google to release a device like this at all. Its last fitness tracker with a screen was the Fitbit Charge 6 in 2023. The Fitbit Air makes sense since smart bands are having a moment, and the Fitbit Air is a really well-executed one. But I wasn’t sure if Google was interested in continuing the Fitbit line beyond that one device.
It’s a good idea, I think. Small trackers are easy to wear (and forget you’re wearing), but sometimes you just want to be able to see the time on your wrist. If Google is smart, they’ll allow you to swap seamlessly between the new device and the screenless Fitbit Air. (Currently, you can pair one Pixel Watch and one Fitbit to your phone, but you can’t pair two different models of Fitbit.)
I’m excited to see what Google has in mind for the new device, assuming the rumors are true about its size, shape, and capabilities. I was disappointed by all the things the Charge 6 couldn’t do, and I hope the new Fitbit doesn’t repeat those mistakes. For example, the Charge 6 can control the music that’s playing on your phone, but only if you pay for a YouTube Music subscription. Most fitness watches—including Garmin, Coros, and Suunto watches I’ve tried—will simply give you controls for whatever is playing on your phone, no matter what app it comes from.
If it’s true that the new device also has its own GPS and altimeter, that’s also exciting—but I’m skeptical that Google will be able to stuff in high-quality versions of those components in the space available. The Charge 6, I found, had trouble getting a good GPS reading and a good heart rate reading at the same time. But the Fitbit Air is surprisingly small and capable for its size, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the new device might be able to do.
Formerly a favourite of the A-list, the chain has abruptly ceased trading, leaving teachers and customers blindsided
Kate Comer is a single mother with two children, so she is used to living on a financial knife-edge. But when the yoga studio at which she taught closed without warning in September, leaving her with two months’ worth of unpaid wages, it sent her anxiety skyrocketing.
“I’m just reeling right now,” she said, estimating her loss at about £1,500. “I’m very concerned about the future.”
Outdoors, smartwatches do a great job of telling you how far you ran or walked. Indoors, they often disagree with the readout on the gym’s treadmill. Which leaves a lot of us wondering—should we trust the treadmill, or the watch?
I won't make you wait: The answer to this question is the treadmill. While a watch guesses at your speed based on wrist movements, the treadmill will always have a better idea than the watch of what your feet are doing. But I don’t blame you for doubting everything you see on a gym machine’s readout. After all, their calorie counts are notoriously inaccurate.
How treadmills determine distance
Whenever we’re evaluating accuracy, it’s important to know whether a device is measuring something directly, or interpreting data to make a guess. In this case, the treadmill is measuring distance, while the watch is guessing at it. (Calories are always interpreted, which is why they are never truly reliable.)
Distance is pretty simple: It’s the number of miles (or meters) of treadmill belt that passes under your feet while you run. The treadmill knows how long its belt is, and how fast the motor is running, so it’s pretty directly measuring how much belt it’s sending under your feet. (Sticklers will note that technically there is still some interpretation going on here, since the relationship between the motor's performance and how much belt it moves can change over time, which is why gyms should recalibrate their treadmills from time to time. But the treadmill's number is likely to be close to accurate even if it's not perfect, and is still your best bet for the purposes we discuss here.)
How watches determine distance
Your watch, by contrast, is on your wrist. There’s no way it can know what your feet are doing. It can make some guesses based on how much your wrist is swinging back and forth, and thus pick up a cadence (each arm swing corresponds to one footstep). You’ll swing your arms a bit harder and higher when you’re running faster, so it can use the oomph in your arm swing to make a guess at the speed you’re running. From speed and time, it calculates distance.
Some devices use outdoor, GPS-tracked activities to estimate the length of your average stride. That number then goes into the distance calculation, which helps to improve accuracy. But your stride length isn't the same for every speed you might run or walk, or for every type of terrain. The calculation is pretty limited in its usefulness.
How to get the most accurate numbers on a treadmill
Neither is guaranteed to be perfect, but the treadmill is a lot more likely to get the right idea. A treadmill can be slightly miscalibrated, and give you a distance that’s a smidge off from what you actually ran. But a watch is just riding on your wrist, guessing. I’ve noticed that my arms don’t swing all that differently when I’m running at a fast versus a slow pace.
In fact, while following an interval workout on the treadmill on a Garmin, I’ve found that the watch thinks I’m going slower than I am during the fast parts. If I'm following a Garmin workout that asks me to run specific paces, it often buzzes to chide me (“Pace low”) even if I'm going at the right speed. I can often convince it I’m in range by pumping my arms a little harder. This isn’t really a solution, though.
Instead of trying to get more accurate numbers from my watch during the run, I approach my treadmill workouts with the assumptions that the following things are accurate:
The treadmill speed during the workout
The treadmill distance at the end of the workout
The heart rate from my watch (especially if I’m using a chest strap)
The time from either or both devices (which should be the same if I started them at the same time)
I then follow my workouts appropriately. If it’s a heart-rate-based workout, I let my watch handle everything. (Garmin might tell me to do 32 minutes at 139 to 167 beats per minute. Perfect. All you, Garmin.)
But if I want to do a speed- or distance-based workout, I manage that manually, with my human brain. A quarter mile at 7.5 miles per hour, repeated eight times? I boop the buttons on the treadmill accordingly. At the end of the workout, I’ll either “calibrate” (from the watch) or edit the distance on my app to make sure it recorded the correct total distance.
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Amazon's October Prime Day event may officially be over, but I'm still keeping an eye on all the best discounts for major brands like Peloton, PowerBlocks, Therabody, and more. Below are my favorite fitness deals that are still active even after Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale has ended.
The best October Prime Day deals on cardio equipment
The NordicTrack T Series is a foldable treadmill, normally $799, currently on sale for $616. For cardio, your options get trickier in an apartment setting or a home without a ton of extra space, but foldable equipment like this is a nice solution.
This Sunny Health treadmill is $699.99, normally $899.99. This treadmill comes fully assembled, goes up to 10 mph and a 15% incline, and folds up for storage.
This YOSUDA PRO magnetic exercise bike is $289.99, normally $329.99. With magnetic resistance, you can count on the bike to be quiet enough for a home gym setup.
This Chaoke walking pad is on sale for $149.99, down from $229.99. Designed to fit under your desk and be easy to store, this walking pad still gets up to a decent 9% incline at speeds up to 6.2 miles per hour.
These UNNMIIY adjustable dumbbells are $169.99 for the 90-pound set, normally $259.99. These can adjust from 2 to 45 pounds per dumbbell, and they have a 5-in-1 design so you can use them as dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and even push-up stands.
These FEIERDUN adjustable dumbbells are $269.99 for the 110-pound set, normally $349.99. These have my favorite type of adjustment mechanism: a one-hand rotating dial.
This cast-iron adjustable kettlebell is $47.99, normally $59.99. This kettlebell starts with a 15-pound weighted handle with four non-weighted removable spacer disks, a five-pound bottom plate, and a center pin to support additional weight plates up to 50 pounds.
The best October Prime Day deals on home gym staples and accessories
These resistance bands are $37.97, normally $49.95. A solid pair of resistance bands like these is the perfect addition to home gyms, travel workouts, or hotel rooms.
This 3-in-1 Plyo Jumping Exercise Box is $59.97, normally $69.99. Two sizes are available: 24 x 16 x 20 inches and 30 x 20 x 24 inches.
The Therabody Prime 6th Gen Deep Tissue Massage Gun is $199.99, normally $329.99. As a marathon runner, it's no hyperbole to say that massage guns utterly transformed my post-workout routine, and TheraBody is a brand name I swear by.
Amazon Prime Day is an annual event held in June or July. Amazon's October Prime Day event, known as Prime Big Deal Days, is a two-day sale that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7.
What goes on sale during October Prime Day?
Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.
Is Prime Day once a year?
Prime Day happens every summer. Prime Big Deal Days (or October Prime Day) happens every October. Amazon's Big Spring Sale happens every spring.
Google’s “Health Guardian” feature set has rolled out to Pixel Watches 3, 4, and 5 this week and will be coming to Fitbit Air users “later this year.” Google says the new features include reports on your blood pressure trends and on insulin resistance, which is a big claim for a wearable. Here’s what we know about Health Guardian, including how to set it up and what to expect.
Can you really measure insulin resistance with a wearable?
Credit: Beth Skwarecki
Insulin resistance is associated with type 2 diabetes, and can be an early sign that you are heading toward pre-diabetes or diabetes. When your body’s insulin receptors stop responding as strongly to insulin, you’re more likely to have higher blood glucose.
Insulin resistance is normally measured with bloodwork. For example, your fasting glucose levels and fasting insulin are combined into a score called HOMA-IR. If you’re concerned about insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, it’s best to talk to an actual healthcare professional to find out what tests they recommend, and what to do with the results.
The insulin resistance feature coming to Google Health is, Google notes, “not intended for medical purposes” and “not a pre-screener for diabetes.”
Google published a paper describing some of the testing that went into developing its insulin resistance algorithm. In the study, the researchers had people use their own Fitbits or Pixel Watches to record a variety of metrics, including heart rate, HRV, and activity. It’s not clear from this paper exactly how the algorithm works or whether it’s likely to be useful in a general population, but apparently Google is betting on it being an interesting factor to track in your Google Health app.
Can you really measure blood pressure with a wearable?
Credit: Beth Skwarecki
Google also published a paper on a blood pressure algorithm, although it is not peer-reviewed. Instead of explaining how the algorithm works, it describes how the researchers tried to figure out what their AI-based model might be looking at. According to this paper, Google's model works about as well as clinical blood pressure measurements, but it's not clear how useful it would be in the real world. For example, the study excluded people with heart disease, but I'd imagine plenty of people with heart disease would be interested in their blood pressure scores.
Is Health Guardian free?
Google said in a press release that Health Guardian, which includes insulin resistance and blood pressure trends, is available for free for people who use a Pixel Watch 3, 4, or 5. Fitbit Air users will get blood pressure and insulin resistance trends “with a Google Health Premium subscription later this year.” So it’s free if you have a Pixel Watch, but not if you only have the Fitbit Air. Google Health Premium is $9.99/month.
It’s unclear what happens if you own both devices; presumably, having a Pixel Watch will get you free access. In any case, other devices, including older Fitbits, do not seem to be included. For the moment, I'll note that a mix of Pixel Watch and Fitbit Air data wasn't enough to get my insulin resistance report; Google Health seems to require data from the Pixel Watch specifically.
How to get Health Guardian’s blood pressure trends and insulin resistance estimates
The new features are built into the 5.09 release of the Google Health app for Android, which is rolling out this week. (It seems iOS will be getting the features later. This makes sense, since iOS users wouldn’t have a Pixel Watch paired, anyway.)
You can set up your blood pressure and insulin resistance tracking as soon as you get the new version of the Google Health app. I was able to set up insulin tracking by going to the health tab and then tapping Metabolic, and I set up blood pressure under Heart. If you go to Respiratory, you can also set up sleep-breathing quality. (Some European users will get a feature that can call for help in a "breathing emergency," but that is not available in the U.S.)
Google said that the insulin and blood pressure features will give you a monthly report on the first of each month, with the first report coming Oct. 1, if you have given the watch enough data in the previous month. Here is what the app requires:
For blood pressure reports: You need to wear the watch for five consecutive days in the previous month. You don't have to wear the watch at night.
For insulin resistance: You need to wear the watch for seven days and nights in the previous month, but they don't need to be consecutive.
How well does Health Guardian work? We don't know.
I set up both features as soon as I got the update last week, but that timeline didn't give me a full seven days and nights. That means I don't have an insulin resistance result. I do have my blood pressure trend result: "Not High." As a reminder, a watch cannot know your actual blood pressure, so the watch is making estimates based on data that may not correspond with your actual blood pressure. That said, my blood pressure tends to read in the normal range at doctors' visits, so at least this wasn't surprising.
What's more confusing is what you're actually supposed to do about the results. If your watch says your blood pressure or insulin are fine, would you delay seeking care or abandon a treatment or lifestyle change that was supposed to help you? If your watch says something is wrong, would you believe that and maybe spend unnecessary time and money getting checked out? Pixel Watch users are discussing their results online, with a variety of reactions. One redditor says: "I awoke to find out that my blood pressure is too high and apparently the insulin in my body does nothing. This despite that my most recent doctor's visit and blood work were all perfectly normal." Another said: "I got this high insulin result this morning. I have really changed my diet the last 4 months and I have been going to the gym regularly. I have lost about 40 pounds this year. It's a bummer to see this. I just wonder if it's accurate." I wonder that, too.
Meet Sonita Mulah. She is the queen of powerlifting. At 2023 Classic Powerlifting Championships, she broke three open world records; squatting 285.5 kilograms, deadlifting 260.5 kilograms and totaling 688.5 kilograms. She was attempting a record 334.5 kilogram squat when a racist spotter intentionally sabotaged her lift. Mulah speaks out again in the NYT. This powerlifter talks more about racism in powerlifting.
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