Upgrade Your Workout Gear

Take your fitness to the next level with cutting-edge clothes and toys.

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Hi-Tech Trainers

Plagued by injuries? Build the best running shoes for your feet with Somnio. Their sneakers feature a unique fit system that allows you to customize the footbed to match your arch height and foot shape, the amount of cushioning to your weight and preferred running surface, and wedge inserts to your specific biomechanics. The Runaissance, one of their newest models, also adds extra support and shock absorption, while keeping your feet aligned in a natural, flat position. Complete the fitting process at home or anywhere Somnio shoes are sold ($135; somniorunning.com).

Somnio

An Uplifting Development

Ever wished you could get the performance and comfort of a sports bra and the support and shape of a regular bra in one? Meet Luna by Moving Comfort. Hidden reinforcements keep the girls in place, while seam-free molded cups eliminate the uniboob look. Best of all, the construction is designed to minimize bulk and chafing ($52; movingcomfort.com).

Moving Comfort

The Missing Link

Another heart-rate monitor? Not quite. The Garmin’s new Forerunner 210 is not only GPS enabled—so you get real-time pace and distance data—but it’s also equipped with wireless ANT+ technology, which allows you to track your indoor workout numbers from any ANT+-compatible fitness machines. For a list of facilities and brands that offer this equipment visit the Garmin website  ($300: garmin.com).

Garmin

Happy Feet

Brooks' most popular running shoe just got an upgrade. The Adrenaline GTS 11 is now sporting improved cushioning that adapts to your weight, gait and speed and stretchy laces for a snugger fit. Runner's World magazine gave it "Best Update" honors in its Winter 2010 Shoe Guide ($100; brooksrunning.com).

Brooks

Swimming Made Simple

Optimize water workouts with the Swimsense Performance Monitor. This watch-like device not only automatically detects and tallies your lap total, distance, pace, splits, stroke count and calories burned, but it's also the first monitor that knows whether you're swimming the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly or freestyle. After your workout, upload your data to a free online training log to track your progress ($200; finisinc.com).

Finis

Hydration's Hidden Helper

The next time you go for a walk or to the gym, keep your valuables close by with the Contigo Kangaroo. This leak-proof water bottle features a built-in "pouch" for your keys, money, credit card and more ($13; gocontigo.com).

Contigo

Body by Design

For the ultimate in upper-body support, squeeze into the Lucy Perfect Core Racerback. A mesh compression panel down the front of this comfortably snug tank helps keep abs aligned and reminds you to keep your core tight and engaged during workouts. A built-in bra with molded cups also adds support and helps smooth and shape your figure ($64; lucy.com).

Lucy

Cold, Cold Heart

Keep your water chilled and your gym bag dry: CamelBak’s new 20-ounce Better Bottle is built with doubled-walled insulation, which minimizes condensation and keeps liquids cool more than twice as long as traditional plastic bottles. And, like the rest of CamelBak’s offerings, it’s BPA-free ($20; target.com).

Camelbak

Planet-Conscious Cover-Up

Zobha is known for its ridiculously soft fabric and now select styles are eco-friendly, too. We love the Cowl Neck Hoodie, which is 95 percent Tencel, a fiber made from dissolved wood pulp using an organic spinning process (think bamboo but with fewer chemicals and less post-production waste) ($98; zobha.com).

Zobha

Back to Basics

Has the brouhaha surrounding barefoot running made you want to jump on the bandwagon? Ease into the minimalist craze with a pair of ZEMs. These stretchy, slipper-like shoes let you feel the ground without scraping up your feet. Wear them during yoga, to the gym or to go running on the beach—some research says doing so may strengthen your feet, reducing your risk of injuries. Available in split and round toe; a heartier version designed for running and training on harder surfaces debuts in late spring ($30; zemgear.com).

ZEM

Train Like a Pro

Whether you want to lose weight, improve your tennis game or complete a marathon, the Adidas miCoach Pacer provides the guidance of a personal trainer without the hefty price tag. Simply strap on the heart rate monitor, attach the stride sensor to your shoes and clip the pictured device to your shirt: A virtual coach will guide you through your workout, telling you when to speed up or slow down so you don't stray from your prescribed heart-rate zone ($140; adidas.com).

 

Next: The Freshest Spring Gear for Exercisers

Adidas
First Published January 13, 2011

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