There are so many gizmos to track fitness activity, one can be forgiven for thinking that exercise only counts if it’s synched to a phone. There are bulky bracelets, unsightly bodysuits that measure every muscle twitch, and even “smart hats” that read your heartbeat through your overheating scalp. It’s time for subtraction, then: pick a workout gadget you will actually use and raise your heart rate in style.
The new Apple Watch Series 2 ($369-$1,299) comes in hundreds of combinations of cases, colors, and easily swappable bands. It features G.P.S. on board, which means you can run, bike, or—for the first time—swim without needing your phone to track your workouts. Apple exclusively tells V.F. it culled from its employee base more than 700 swimmers of all levels, who turned in a combined 1,500 hours of testing across the four basic swim strokes. The watch monitors both aerobic and anaerobic activity—a rarity in trackers, which tend to focus on the former.
Prefer to stay on dry land? Park yourself on the Peloton indoor bike($1,995, plus a $39 monthly subscription), which allows you to burn through high-intensity cycling workouts in the privacy of your own home. (Bonus: no screaming spin instructor.) An H.D. touch screen provides access to a seemingly endless variety of themed courses, such as 90s hip-hop and “scenic” jaunts “outside.” The company put the bike’s carbon-steel-and-aluminum frame through two years of design and testing to ensure that riders of all sizes and experience can get what they came for.
Finally, treat yourself to a Pryme Vessyl ($99), a water bottle that gives you ample feedback. You may not need it, but if your watch is a supercomputer, why shouldn’t your tumbler track how much you drink, and remind you to hydrate? The sleek bottle includes a wireless charging coaster and synchs with an app that determines your optimal hydration level. So there you go—swim, sweat, and drink up.
