Swimming with music
Many medical experts recommend swimming laps as an exercise to keep fit. And unlike running, it doesn’t put strain on your legs, hips and lower back. But pools can be very uninspiring places, sonically as well as visually. That’s where Finis SwiMP3 comes into the picture bringing you music while in the pool. Finis’ unique approach does not use earphones or earbuds, so it is comfortable to wear and the music quality is terrific when your head is in the water.
The water-friendly MP3 player clips to swimming goggle strap and the area between your temples and cheek bones become the speakers. This method of listening to music is called “bone conduction”. Vibrations are transferred to cranial bones that send the sound to the inner ear. This way, when a swimmer’s head is inside the water, the sound vibration is amplified by the water for a truly immersive music experience. The music appears to fully surround you with rich reproduction of instruments and voice. While the experience is richer when your head is in the water, you can hear the music from the Finis outside the water too.
SwiMP3 supports 2GB of storage (nearly 500 songs) and users can listen to audio books and podcasts too. You will need to connect the device to a PC to drag-drop music. The SwiMP3 charges via the USB and can reportedly play for up to 8 hours on a charge. Priced at about Rs 7,200 on Amazon.com, Finis SwiMP3 is a practical solution for swimming long laps without getting bored of the routine.
Cycling with a purpose
Bike technology company Velocomp has launched a cycling computer dubbed the iBike Powerhouse that integrates with any standard bicycle along with an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Packed with specific fitness programs designed by Hunter Allen, renowned cycling coach and author of Training and Racing with a Power Meter, newbies to hard-core training cyclists will find this useful. The pre-fabricated regimens last four to six weeks and include iSlim, Express Fitness, Brazilian Butt, Kid Fit, Weekend Warrior, Zero to 50 miles in Three Weeks and Healthy Heart. Each program measures speed and distance and analyzes your performance against your personal goals.
The iBike Powerhouse system is available for approximately Rs 15000 and includes a water and shock resistant case for the iPhone or iPod touch, along with an app that interacts with the iBike’s electronics. You can also purchase additional training routines for $9.99 each via the iBike app. The kit also comes with a wireless speed and cadence sensor, and universal mounting system. The device will also provide riders the ability to listen to music or even take a phone call while on the bike.
Headphones that stay in place
One of the nuisances of earphones while exercising is that they tend to fall off quite frequently.
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That’s why AfterShokz headphones are designed such that they rest in front of the ear, and use the jawbone to convey sound into the middle ear (same bone conduction technology as Finis SwiMP3). These headphones stand out from the crowd because they conduct the music or noise via your cheekbones. There is nothing sitting on, in, or over your ears when they are playing and that’s why they don't even fall off easily.
One of the best parts of using these headphones is when you max out the volume on the player and the headphones you start to feel some vibration on your cheekbones and it is quite relaxing when it does it. Other features include water and sweat resistant build, a water resistant pouch to carry them in, and of course the USB connector. For a price tag of nearly Rs 2,230, you get a comfortable, easy to use, top quality technology that makes it so fun to use and to show everyone you know.
Track every movement
A simple digital pedometer that counts your steps, the FitBit Ultra is a largely unremarkable device until it's paired with the FitBit website to track and calculate a range of data.
To get started with the Fitbit Tracker, you will need to install a small program on your PC and then register the tracker online by going to the Fitbit website. The site requires you to fill up some basic information such as height, weight, age, gender, etc. Analysing the entered FitBit data, the site allows to set personal goals. For example, how many steps you want to achieve per day, or how many floors you want to climb. In return, you earn badges for achieving these goals that can be shared on social sites like Facebook, etc for your friends to see. The FitBit service also calculates and displays your daily activity breakdown, showing how long you’ve been sedentary, lightly active, fairly active or very active.
Fitbit can be worn on your belt/pocket and can accumulate steps and daily activity without having to calibrate it for your walking stride. The Fitbit contains a motion sensor like the ones found in the Nintendo Wii and can sense your motion in three dimensions and convert it into information about your daily activities such as walking, running and general household/lifestyle activities.
You will need to pay about Rs 5,500 for the device but it does serve as a god motivational tool to achieve those fitness goals.
Work and burn those calories
The TrekDesk Treadmill is a desk that you attach to your treadmill so that it can be used in conjunction with a treadmill exercise machine. Fitness enthusiasts who may have tucked away their treadmills in some corner should consider investing on a TrekDesk, though it is a pricey add-on at nearly Rs 30,000.
But mind you that one no longer has to find the time for exercising —you can work and walk at the same time. A gentle pace of about 1 mph is recommended for safety reasons and enables to use the TrekDesk fully. This gentle walking pace can normally be kept up for 2 hours without any strain on the walker, and many people find it more enjoyable than sitting in a chair for the whole day, without any real movement. This treadmill table attachment comes fully loaded with features that give you a complete office set up. You can place your computer, paper files, phone and other office supplies on top of your desk for easy access and maximum work production. It even has utility holders so that you can enjoy a cup of coffee while working and exercising.