Health & Fitness Tech Treasures [2011 Cool Yule Tools]

Get off the couch and start working out with these cool gadgets!

By Network World Staff, Network World
November 21, 2011 12:09 AM ET

. What's this?

Making a big comeback in this year’s holiday gift guide is the health and fitness category. Whether you’re just starting out on the path of exercise, or are a veteran athlete, the number of consumer electronics products dedicated to a person’s health has increased steadily over the past few years. Here are some of our favorites that can make a good gift under the tree for your favorite fitness enthusiast:

Watch a slideshow version of some of these products.

Products reviewed in this category
Sport Elite muscle stimulator, by Compex
Jabra Sport Bluetooth Stereo Sports Headset, by Jabra
iHealth Blood Pressure Dock, by iHealth
SensoGlove by Sensosolutions
Sport i-20 sport strap, by Armpocket
BioBrite Sunrise Controller, by BioBrite
TCL 200 Digital Alarm Clock with Vibration Pad, by Amplicom
Sunrise Alarm Clock Advanced, by BioBrite
Zeo Sleep Manager – Mobile, by Zeo, Inc.
SPIbelt Messenger Bag, by Overton Enterprises

The reviews:

Sport Elite muscle stimulator, by Compex
This device is a small portable electrical muscle stimulator that can help people with their workouts, both for warmup or post-workout muscle recovery purposes. If you've been working out for a while, or if you're just starting out and need something to help your muscles recover faster, this device can help.

The device comes with a number of different programs, including ones that help with endurance, resistance, muscle strength or "explosive strength", as well as warmups, recovery and a massage program. The device comes with four color-coded cables that you attach the snap-on/sticky electrodes, along with instructions on how to attach the electrodes and use the device.

At $849, this is an expensive purchase for a person who may be just starting out on a fitness program, and you may feel that if you're not an elite athlete that this isn't for you. But I disagree - one of the hardest things to do when beginning a workout program is the recovery time for your muscles. If there's a device that can help you recover faster, you're more likely to stick with the program, getting you even more benefits to get you to that next level. That is definitely worth it.

Cool Yule rating: 5 stars
Price: $849
Reviewed by Keith Shaw

Jabra Sport Bluetooth Stereo Sports Headset, by Jabra
If you like listening to music while running or working out, the headphone or earphone cords tend to get in the way when your arms move forward or back, making it likely that you’ll yank the cord away from the music player’s headphone port. The Jabra Sport Bluetooth Stereo Sports Headset aims to eliminate that issue, as the music travels wirelessly via Bluetooth from the music player to the headset. There is a cord, however, which connects the two earphones together, but this goes behind your head, and shouldn’t really get in the way.

To make sure that the headset doesn’t fall out of your ears, the system comes with three different Eargels that fit on the outer portion of the inside of your ear. In addition, the behind-the-ear design also keeps the earbuds in place. After a while the eargels started to get uncomfortable, but they should be comfortable long enough for you to complete your workout.