The fitness world has gotten pretty geeky as of late, what with the rash of new gizmos and social software that tracks pretty much every move you make and calorie you burn. With the holiday season (and, subsequently, new year’s resolutions) coming up, we present some of our favourite fitness tech tools, both hardware and software, free and paid:
Skimble Workout Trainer
Developed in part by a Canadian fitness and rock-climbing phenom, the Workout Trainer from Skimble is a free app for Apple and Android devices. It’s basically a massive glossary of varied exercises, managed by your very own virtual trainer. You can have the virtual trainer guide you through various exercises based on intensity and fitness goals, or you can pick from a list. Each exercise comes with instructions on how to do it properly, as well as a timer.
The free version of the app does have some annoying drawbacks, however, such as a robot-voiced instructor and frequent nagging prompts to upgrade to the paid version. But it’s still a pretty handy fitness tool, mostly as a great way to find new workouts when you’re tired of doing the same old routines over and over.
MyTrak Smart Coach
This tiny little piece of hardware is a data store for all your physical activity metrics. Just tell the Smart Coach what your fitness goals are (i.e. how many calories you want to burn, how much weight you want to lose), and then carry it around with you through your day, and it’ll measure everything you do.
Even though the Smart Coach offers all kinds of detailed charts on your performances, it also provides a handy way of quickly checking your levels. Just look at the little circle of light on the front of the gadget, and you’ll see how far towards your daily goal you’ve gone so far (the green part of the circle) and how much is left (the red part). When the circle is lit fully green, you’ve met your goal.
Fitocracy
Fitocracy might be exactly what people need to motivate their fitness goals. While it’s still relatively new and invite-only for now, the service gives out quests, points and achievement badges for completing certain milestones. Along with a robust tracking system and a group-based social network, the site turns working out into a game.
Users track their workouts by choosing from a large database of exercises, then inputting stats such as repetitions performed, weight lifted or distance travelled. The site will then assign them points, and keep track of the results of their workout. This lets users see when they’re making improvements, while a levelling system keeps them motivated.
Recent features include the ability to keep more intricate graphs to track user progress. The service is in beta, which means invitations need to be requested and given out, but is otherwise free.
Runkeeper
RunKeeper has been a great source for runners with smartphones for a long time now. Available for Android and iPhone, the app tracks your running route through GPS, and graphs numerous relevant statistics.
Perhaps more importantly, the app comes with a robust online community that has uploaded routes and workouts for other people to enjoy. This extends the usefulness of the app considerably beyond tracking; searching for a city like Toronto quickly gives you a bunch of new places to run.
Perhaps the greatest selling point for RunKeeper is that it is free on the Android Market and iTunes. Paying subscribers ($4.99/mo, $19.99/yr) can broadcast their races live, access more advanced record-keeping and get discounts on RunKeeper’s classes.
With files from Matt Demers
