We’re heading into January 2026 (or already there depending on when you’re reading this) and you’ve either committed to getting fitter this year or you’re helping someone else do the same. The good news is that fitness technology has become remarkably accessible, and the right gadgets can make the difference between sticking with it and abandoning your goals by February – but remember, they won’t do the steps or the lifts for you.
I’ve spent years experimenting with various fitness tech, and what strikes me most is how much value you can extract at almost any budget level. These aren’t just toys; they’re tools that provide the data and motivation many of us need to actually make progress.
The Foundation: Wearables and Trackers
The cornerstone of any fitness effort, in my experience, is data. Wearables give you a gentle nudge to get moving and provide feedback on whether you’ve been active enough overall and let you know if your day is short of some movement. They also give you motivation by offering insights into achievable goals (again like steps or activity streaks). They range from around €50 to €550, which means there’s genuinely something for everyone.
Xiaomi Smart Band 10
This is fantastic value from Xiaomi and works with both Android and iPhone. It tracks steps, sleep, and delivers well over five days of battery life. That’s a big win for sleep tracking, because what good is sleep tracking if you’re charging your watch every night.
The tech that powers this band would have cost two or three times the price just five years ago. It’s perfect if your office is planning a step challenge, or you simply want to understand your baseline activity levels without a significant investment.
Buy the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 for under €50 on Amazon
Whoop Band
Whoop represents a completely different approach to fitness tracking. It doesn’t even count steps. Instead, it’s a subscription-based service starting at €200 per year, though the band itself is free. The battery lasts roughly two weeks because there’s no display, just sensors constantly monitoring your vital signs.
All that data about your body gets handed over to the Whoop algorithm, which calculates your effort, recovery, and overall condition with impressive accuracy. Once it’s dialled into your baseline, you can often predict when you’re about to come down with a cold based on your recovery scores. That’s genuinely useful for athletes or high-performance amateurs who need to know when to push and when to rest.
But I have to stress this: Whoop really isn’t for someone who just wants to track steps. It’s a specialised tool for people serious about optimising performance.
Garmin Forerunner 570
If you want a comprehensive solution that brings everything together, the Garmin Forerunner 570 is one of the best fitness wearables available. It bridges the gap between enthusiast-friendly and serious athlete-focused tracking.
One feature I particularly appreciate is the ability to sync Spotify and connect my headphones directly to the watch. This means I can head out for a walk or run and take a break from notifications without carrying my phone, which feels genuinely liberating.
People more serious about fitness than me get excited about the GPS tracking accuracy Garmin offers. There’s built-in activity tracking for cycling, running, triathlons, hiking, and strength training, amongst others. You can also connect to Strava, which is excellent for tracking progress and social sharing. Because if you don’t share your run on Instagram, has it really happened?
From a practical standpoint, the colour e-ink display saves massively on power consumption. You’ll get well over a week between charges under normal use, though GPS tracking will drain the battery significantly faster. My mates and I love comparing sleep scores, which probably reveals more about my use case than anything else.
Buy the Garmin Forerunner 570 on Amazon.ie
Making Exercise Enjoyable: Audio Solutions
All the couch-to-5k programmes in the world won’t help unless the activity itself is entertaining. Whether you prefer music or podcasts, there’s a critical safety consideration that many overlook: most modern earphones use noise-cancelling, which isn’t ideal when you’re moving through traffic or shared spaces.
Shokz OpenFit 2
The Shokz OpenFit 2 are open-ear headphones with speakers positioned beside your ear rather than inside it. This design delivers surprisingly high-quality audio whilst keeping you aware of your surroundings. They’re ideal for people running, walking, or cycling who want distraction from the effort but still need to hear approaching vehicles or other potential hazards.
I’ve found this design particularly valuable during winter commutes when visibility is already compromised. Being able to hear what’s happening around you whilst staying motivated makes a genuine difference to both safety and enjoyment.
Buy Shokz OpenFit 2 on Amazon.ie
Apps That Actually Help
MyFitnessPal
I’m consistently amazed at what this app, combined with a simple kitchen scale, teaches me each year. I recommend paying for the premium version (the Premium+ version is overkill for most) and focusing on macro tracking rather than pure calorie counting. That’s where I’ve achieved my best results, even if I did undo much of that work over Christmas.
The real value lies in understanding what you’re consuming. Having data behind your nutrition usually highlights why certain ingredients cost more to your health than they add to your happiness. Conversely, it can show when you’ve genuinely earned a treat in the evening, rather than assuming entitlement to one.
ChatGPT and Gemini
I regularly use AI tools for recipe ideas, general fitness tips, and help to analyse the data my various devices generate. This might seem silly, but having an always-available resource for quick questions has proved surprisingly valuable. Just use it responsibly and verify anything that seems questionable.
Zombies, Run!
What workout is better than one you barely notice happening? Zombies, Run! has been around for several years, and it remains brilliant. It’s an audio-based fitness game that turns your run into an interactive story.
You start the app and head out with your headphones. As you run, the narrative unfolds: you’ve woken up in the zombie apocalypse and must outrun bloodthirsty zombies whilst acting as a supply runner. The story progresses with each run, gamifying the entire experience. You’ll want to get going again, potentially even feeling disappointed when the day’s workout ends.
This approach of making exercise feel like something other than exercise works remarkably well for many people.
Gamification
PSVR2 for PlayStation 5
Sticking with work outs that pass by without even noticing, virtual reality offers another excellent avenue for gamified fitness. I’ve broken some serious sweats using my PSVR2 (which officially speaking isn’t IP rated for sweat). Beat Saber and Les Mills Bodycombat are both incredibly fun and genuinely challenging once you get into them, particularly Les Mills, which feels like a proper boxercise session with a personal trainer.
There’s also the practical benefit of being able to justify a PS5 purchase under the guise of getting fit.
Speedience Gym Monster 2
This is one of my favourite pieces of fitness tech right now. Whilst not cheap, it’s remarkably clever in execution. The Gym Monster 2 is a comprehensive home gym solution that replaces most weights and resistance-based machines from a traditional gym.
The innovation lies in how it achieves this with a relatively small footprint. Instead of physical weights, it uses electromagnetic resistance to generate up to 100kg of resistance for your workouts. You can do squats, bench pressing, skiing movements, even rowing.
The machine includes a screen with virtual personal trainers who guide you through workouts. There are several other features that make this genuinely better than traditional weights, like variable resistance and the control ring, but those deserve their own detailed explanation another time.
Get the Gym Monster 2 on Amazon.ie
Setting Realistic Expectations
The technology I’ve described here ranges from affordable entry points to significant investments. What matters most isn’t having the most expensive gear; it’s finding the tools that actually motivate you to stick with your fitness goals.
If you’re just starting out, a basic fitness tracker and a good pair of open-ear headphones might be all you need. As your commitment deepens and your goals become more specific, you can invest in more specialised equipment.
The other critical factor is honest self-assessment. Some days, despite having all this technology, the weather or your energy levels make rest the better choice. Don’t let attachment to tracking streak override practical judgment about what your body needs. As much as I love data, some of my biggest wins have come in the form of an old t-shirt feeling better on over the scales going down – particularly if you’re doing weights.
Fitness technology works best when it serves your goals rather than becoming the goal itself. Use these tools to understand your patterns, stay motivated, and make informed decisions about your health. The January motivation will fade, but good data and enjoyable routines tend to stick around much longer.
