One of the most frequent questions I see every year are from those trying to decide between purchasing an Apple or Garmin sports watch. In the video below, I break down the biggest differences between them, as well as my experience using the two brands in 2024.
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Colin lives in Ventura, CA where he runs a Strength & Conditioning facility. If you have suggestions for fitness tech that you’d like to see covered or reviewed, feel free to send info over to colin@9to5mac.com
EXR Rowing – 9 things to know in 2024 [sponsored]
When it comes to finding a rowing program, one of the best and fastest-growing options out there is an app called EXR. Often referred to as the Zwift for rowers, EXR is easily one of the most feature-packed rowing apps available.
Expand Expanding CloseHow to clean the Apple Vision Pro light seal cushion
If you own an Apple Vision Pro, you may want to consider regularly cleaning some of its components. Most importantly, the removable Light Seal Cushions since they are the contact point between the Vision Pro and your face.
Expand Expanding CloseTesting Fitness with Apple Vision Pro [video]
The Apple Vision Pro is shaping up to have huge potential in the world of computing and entertainment, but could it also hold up as a fitness device?
To find out, I’ve been putting through the works, with Peloton Classes, strength training, boxing, running, yoga, and more. Watch below to see how each of these fitness experiences hold up while having the Vision Pro strapped to your face.
Expand Expanding CloseAviron Go Rower review – has the Concept 2 met its match?
While there has been a ton of home rowers released in recent years, all of them have struggled to address the same question: why choose it over the Concept 2 rower which for many years has been considered to be the gold standard of rowers?
However, that question may have finally been answered with the recently released Aviron Go Rower. Not only does the design of the Aviron Go make rowing more accessible, looks better inside a home, is more stable when stored upright, and makes much less noise, but it is also much closer in price (currently $1,299) to the Concept 2 Rower than any other high-quality connected fitness rower.
Expand Expanding CloseWHOOP Band – why I’m still wearing it after two years
It has been two years since I first started using the WHOOP 4.0 Armband. During this time, I’ve also enjoyed testing dozens of other fitness wearables from the Oura Ring to the Apple Watch Ultra. But throughout these two years, WHOOP has continued to be the wearable I depend on the most.
Read (or watch) below to why I prefer WHOOP above other wearables, as well as some limitations of WHOOP that I think you should be aware.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Echelon Stair Climber Sport
Echelon has released several new pieces of connected fitness equipment this year, including a new Tonal competitor and Elliptical. Most recently, Echelon has released the new Stair Climber Sport, which is an adjustable, foldable, space-efficient, and impressively low-priced stair climber. Read (or watch) below to learn what we think after testing it out.
Expand Expanding CloseI swapped my Peloton with futuristic glasses for 30 days
Over the past 30 days, I’ve swapped out my Peloton Bike with the VITURE One XR/AR Glasses. In fact, I’ve been using VITURE’s futuristic glasses to take connected fitness classes for biking, rowing, running, and even yoga.
Expand Expanding CloseSTEPR review: The Peloton of stair climbers!
The STEPR is the first connected fitness stair climber designed for the home. Something that feels long overdue given how popular stair climbers have become over the past few years. Similar to Peloton, it connects to a variety of classes and entertainment options through an attached touchscreen. Also similar to Peloton, the design of STEPR takes it above and beyond what has previously been available.
Expand Expanding CloseFORME Lift: In-depth review
The FORME Lift is what happens when you take the idea of a fitness mirror and improve upon it in every way imaginable. Both taller and wider than the competition, FORME also boasts the largest and best picture thanks to its UHD 4K touchscreen display and multiple high-definition cameras to allow for more nuanced 1:1 coaching with a personal trainer. Plus, it is the first smart mirror to come with upgradeable options, such as the FORME Lift, which converts the fitness mirror into a full-on smart strength studio similar to that of Tonal.
Expand Expanding CloseThe hottest foam roller ever made: HotRock Review
When it comes to foam rollers, I’ve tested out the traditional, the spiky, the vibrating, the soft, the hard, the short, the long – you name it, I’ve tried it (and probably have it). However, when it comes to foam rollers that can heat up, there are not a lot of great options.
At least outside of the HotRock Foam Roller.
Expand Expanding CloseErgatta releases lower-priced ‘Lite Rower’
Ergatta has released a brand-new version of its gamified connected fitness rower: the Ergatta Lite. Made from Oak Wood, the Ergatta Lite is 40% lighter than the original at just 40 pounds (before water is added). Most importantly, this new water rower is $1,000 less than the original, starting at just $1,499.
Expand Expanding CloseHyperice X review – the future of contrast therapy
Hyperice, the company behind the popular Hypervolt Massage Gun, Normatec Compression Boots, and a variety of other high-tech recovery tools, has recently released a new version of the Hyperice X. Designed for your shoulder, Hyperice X provides both hot, cold, and contrast therapy. Instantly. On demand. No ice and wires needed.
Expand Expanding CloseMeta Quest 3 review: Fitness edition
The Meta Quest 3 is finally here. I’ve been testing it out through various workouts in both virtual and augmented reality. Now, I’m ready to come back to the real world to share my thoughts on it.
This review will likely be a bit different from most. While most of the improvements will be covered, it will all be through the lens of how the Quest 3 holds up as a fitness device.
Expand Expanding CloseFreebeat MorphRover review – a Peloton and e-bike hybrid!
The best way to describe the new Freebeat MorphRover is if you took a Peloton Bike and combined it with an e-bike – a mix that works so well that, for the first time in over two years, I went and canceled my Peloton membership. Check out the full review below!
Expand Expanding CloseErgatta updates rower with new workout mode: Echo
Ergatta has added a fifth game mode, called Echo, to its popular connected fitness rower. Echo is a single-player interval workout experience designed to improve members’ rowing cadence. Read below to learn more about Echo and my experience so far with it.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit Charge 6: In-depth review [video]
Today, we’re taking an in-depth look at the brand-new Fitbit Charge 6, the latest in Fitbit’s most popular line of fitness trackers. It offers a wide range of premium features at a very reasonable price of just $159.
As the first Charge model to be released after Fitbit was acquired by Google, the Charge 6 also introduces new integrations. These include route navigation with Google Maps, music control with YouTube Music, and direct access to Google Wallet.
Expand Expanding CloseSpeediance improves design of Adjustable Bench
The Speediance Gym Monster and Speediance Gym Pal both promise to deliver an affordable, full-strength gym utilizing digital weight resistance. (You can find links to our reviews of both below.) Overall, most of the included accessories with Speediance’s packages are well designed. The only real problem I had was with the unstable adjustable bench.
Luckily, Speediance has now fixed the stability of the bench, and I have been able to test the new design out.
Expand Expanding ClosePeloton discontinues Heart Rate Armband
Released in 2022, the Peloton Heart Rate Armband has been removed from both Peloton’s website, in addition to its Amazon store. Additionally, packages that previously included Peloton’s Heart Rate Armband no longer mention it.
Expand Expanding CloseGarmin Venu 3 review and comparison to Forerunner 265 [Video]
The new Garmin Venu 3 feels as much a smartwatch as a sports watch. With smart features including a mic and speaker for answering calls, in addition to an upgraded heart rate sensor, and improved sleep monitoring, this feels like a great all-in-one option. Check the video below as we dive into all the features, as well as compare it to the recently released Garmin Forerunner 265.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 – what you need to know [Video]
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have been released and are now available to order. Here is everything you should know about each before deciding to buy.
Expand Expanding CloseI tried the $59 Hot Massage Gun Attachment by Hyperice: Is it worth it? [Video]
Hyperice, the recovery tech company behind the Hypervolt Line of Massage Guns, has released a first-of-its-kind Heated Massage Gun Head Attachment. After using it for a few weeks now, I have to say that this is the biggest game changer for massage guns over the past five or more years.
Expand Expanding CloseNordicTrack AirGlide 14i Elliptical review [Video]
The NordicTrack AirGlide 14i Elliptical has an auto-adjusting magnetic resistance and incline, cushioned and adjustable pedals, all alongside an HD touchscreen to access classes and programs through iFit.
In this review of the NordicTrack AirGlide 14i Elliptical, we’ll cover 12 things that you should know before deciding if this is the right Elliptical for you.
Expand Expanding CloseExclusive first look of the new Pro Kit for the Vitruvian Trainer+ [Video]
The Vitruvian Trainer+ Home Gym has a new Pro Kit that includes a ton of upgrades to its accessories. The new Pro Kit includes a completely redesigned Adjustable Bench, a brand-new Pump Handle, a thinner Barbell, and more. Check out the video below to get a first look at all the new changes!
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