Fitness Awards 2026: Best Fitness Tech
The Most Advanced Gadgets to Improve Your Training, Track Your Health & Prepare Yourself for Competition
The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.
Our annual AskMen Fitness Awards are back for 2026, and we’ve spent months testing and comparing home gym equipment, fitness tech, supplements and gear to separate the best from the rest and declare our winners.
In our most competitive categories, more than a dozen products vied for the top spot, while our panel of judges, encompassing current and former college athletes, weekend warriors and personal trainers, worked overtime to generate feedback and vote on winners.
Before we get to business, we’d like to thank not only our hard-working judges for their efforts but also all of the brand reps who battled bad weather, delays and postal worker strikes to ensure our judges got their hands-on testing experience.
Finally, here are our favorite products of 2026 in the category of Best Fitness Tech:
Best Fitness Tech
Best Smartwatch
Google Pixel Watch 4
Smartwatches went from a niche tech category to a must-have fitness accessory in the blink of an eye, with the market getting more competitive and more saturated each year, but in 2026, it was Google’s Pixel Watch 4 that stood above the competition. Our judges loved its sleek good looks, extra-large and vibrant display, and integrated Google Gemini functionality, which can automate common fitness tasks like creating a workout playlist or mapping out a running route. Battery life was also a standout, with the Pixel Watch 4 continuing to run and keep up with longer workouts long after other watches required a charging break. Google has also been heavily leaning into fitness tech of late, and this watch feels like the perfect showcase: there’s dual-band GPS for the most precise possible run mapping, as well as granular data on running dynamics, from stride length to cadence. And for all you outdoor adventurers, Google has included a potentially life-saving feature: satellite connectivity to contact emergency services, where no cellular or WiFi signal can reach.
Best Kids Smartwatch
Garmin Bounce 2
There’s a growing movement against giving kids access to tablets and smartphones that might be harming their cognitive development, but there’s a very strong case for gifting your child a smartwatch like the Bounce 2 from Garmin. Not only does it have built-in GPS, so you can enjoy peace of mind when they’re out roaming the neighborhood (the Bounce 2 allows parents to set up geolocation boundaries, sending out an alert if they go farther than you would like), but it also gamifies health and fitness, helping your child build healthy habits and rewarding them for completing chores or reaching health milestones. There’s even a “school mode” to turn off notifications and other distractions when your kid is in class.
Best Fitness Tracker
Fitbit Inspire 3
If you want most of the functionality of a high-end smartwatch without either the heavy price premium or the added weight on your wrist, the Inspire 3 from Fitbit deserves your attention. With 24/7 heart rate monitoring, automatic exercise tracking, incredibly detailed sleep analysis, and a design so lightweight and unobtrusive that you’ll quickly forget you’re even wearing it, the Inspire 3 goes where you go, effortlessly keeping up with your most demanding workouts while simultaneously providing you the most granular data on everything from your breathing to your heart rhythms to your blood oxygen saturation. And with up to ten days of battery life on a single charge, you can spend less time remembering to charge it and more time running, biking or hiking far from home.
Best Sleep Tracker
WHOOP 5.0 Life
Easily one of the best-looking wearables, the WHOOP 5.0 is also one of the most advanced, and we were particularly impressed by its sleep tracking capabilities. First, and most important, its SuperKnit Luxe band actually makes it comfortable for all-night wear, while its extra-long, 14-day battery life ensures it won’t lose a charge midway through your shuteye. Their continuous monitoring system analyzes a wide range of physiological data, from quantifiable metrics like blood pressure and heart rate to more esoteric but equally important variables like stress and recovery status, giving you constant feedback such as sleep quality assessments and even behavioral analysis to help you assess which of your habits may be contributing to your sleep problems.
Best Metabolism Tracker
Lumen
Despite the incredible advancements in wearable technology, there’s no easy way for a watch, ring or wristband to accurately track your metabolism. That’s where Lumen comes in. Using a breathalyzer with a built-in CO₂ sensor and flow meter, Lumen can determine whether or not you’re burning carbs or fat for energy, giving you incredible insight into not only your metabolism from moment to moment but also the efficacy of your diet. Using that information, Lumen will not only give you greater insight into your habits and body rhythms, but will also give you personalized advice based on your own goals, helping you know what to eat and when to achieve the best results.
Best Heart Rate Monitor
Polar H10
If you’re looking for the most accurate heart rate information possible, a chest strat will always beat a wrist-worn device, which is why we keep returning to the Polar H10. The strap is easy to adjust and sits comfortably across your chest, becoming barely noticeable on longer runs, while battery life, build quality and durability are all top-notch. Polar’s heart rate monitoring sensors and software are second to none, comparable to the accuracy provided by medical-grade equipment, and constantly improving via Bluetooth software updates. You can even use the Polar Beat app to estimate your Vo2 max on the basis of your run data, an incredibly useful feature for anyone interested in upgrading their cardiovascular health.
Best Running Watch
Garmin Forerunner 55
The Forerunner 55 from Garmin isn’t the most expensive runner’s watch, even in Garmin’s own lineup, but it manages to be both a feature-rich, capable run tracking watch and a fantastic value proposition. With up to two weeks of battery life off a single charge (or 20 hours if you keep GPS on the whole time), its got the staying power for even the most elite of ultra-marathon runners and Iron Man competitors, while its host of activity tracking features, including yoga and pilates, guarantees it will keep up with you between runs as well. This watch also has the ability to make run suggestions for you, tailoring your workouts to your level of progress and desired goals.
Best Running Headlamp
BioLite Dash 450
Reflective clothing might be a night run essential, making you much more visible to drivers, but it’s often not sufficient for your safety, because if you can’t see in front of you, you’re inviting a pulled muscle or twisted ankle and the weeks of rehab that come along with it. The solution is a running headlamp, and we can’t recommend the BioLite Dash 450 highly enough. First off, it’s comfortable, with an adjustable head strap that never bounces or jostles, even as your pace quickens. The light itself delivers 450 lumens or brightness in a variety of lighting modes, from white spotlight and flood lights to a dimmable red light, while a tilting function allows you to adjust the angle. There’s even a rear red light to make sure you’re visible to cyclists or motorists coming up behind you. Add to that IPX4 water resistance, USB-C charging and excellent battery life and you’ve got a convenient, reliable running light to brighten up your nightly run.
Best Hiking Watch
COROS APEX 2
If you’’re an avid hiker, hunter, trail runner or camper, or if it’s in any way likely that you’ll be spending multiple days and nights in the wilderness, you have to ditch the standard smartwatch in favor of something with not only significantly more battery power but with a more rugged design and outdoor-appropriate feature set. The COROS APEX 2 is built from a combination of sapphire glass and titanium alloy, with a nylon watch strap, so you won’t have to worry about it when you’re hiking, kayaking or swimming. It offers an astonishing 75 hours of battery life with the GPS turned on, more than triple the GPS lifetime of consumer-grade smartwatches, while the downloadable maps can help you locate safety or chart a route home, even when you’re far from satellite towers and signal ranges.
Best Smart Ring
Oura Ring 4
If watches and wristbands are too obtrusive for you, especially in a professional setting, you can opt for a smart ring to keep a low profile without sacrificing that granular health data we all crave. The Oura Ring 4, available in six different color choices and 12 sizes for easy personalization, delivers constant tracking of over 50 health metrics, including sleep, stress and activity, while operating for up to eight days off a single charge. And the lack of a screen, speaker or vibration mechanism means you’ll never be distracted by it while you work, read or spend time with your family. With the Oura Membership, you get access to comprehensive logs of all of your data, making it easy to visualize where you’re doing well and where you could stand to improve.
Best Massage Gun
TheraGun Prime
Unless you’re a professional athlete who can afford a daily, hands-on massage from an experienced masseuse, the best deep-tissue you’re going to get is from a massage gun. The TheraGun Prime checked all our boxes, offering a powerful deep tissue massage at a reasonable price. With five different intensity settings and two included attachments to help you reach different muscle surfaces, it offers a comprehensive relief package in a portable form factor, and with up to two hours of operation off a single charge, you’ll rarely run out of juice.
Best Running Earbuds
Anker Soundcore Sport X20
Running places unique and contradictory demands on earbuds: they need to be simultaneously lightweight and unobtrusive, so as not to bother you on longer runs, but they also need a generous battery life, so they don’t die before you reach the finish line. The Soundcore Sport X20 from Anker, with their IP68 water- and sweat-resistance, extendable ear hooks for a secure hold, and adaptive active noise cancellation, manage to compete on equal footing with earbuds double their price, while the battery life is incredible, lasting up to 12 hours off a single charge or 48 hours if you include the charging case boost.
Best Workout Earbuds
Google Pixel Buds 2a
With the Pixel Buds 2a, Google has taken square aim at its earbud competitors and fired one heck of a warning shot. The buds themselves are lightweight and durable, both sweat- and water-resistant, but it’s their fit that instantly makes them stand out. Earbuds are notorious for not being a one-size-fits-all affair, as everyone’s ears are uniquely shaped, but the Google engineers have designed these with an adjustable fit: just twist the earbuds counterclockwise to get a snugger fit, or clockwise to loosen them up. Sound quality, as you’d expect, is absolutely top-notch, clear and balanced across music genres, while the buds seamlessly pair with multiple devices, so you can go from listening to colleagues on a work call to listening to your gym playlist from your phone without having to dig through screen menus or fuss with Bluetooth settings.
Best Workout Headphones
Sony ULT WEAR
If you prefer to rock over-the-ear headphones to the gym, you can’t do better than the Sony ULT WEAR. Their dual-noise cancelling technology, taken directly from their award-winning 1000X series headphones, helps shut out the sound of cardio machines and generic commercial gym music, allowing you to concentrate on your favorite workout tunes, while the 30-hour battery life paired with a quick charge feature that gets you to 1.5 hours of playback in three minutes ensures you’ll never curse yourself for forgetting to charge your headphones again. The cans themselves are supremely comfortable, with a thermo-foam interior that conforms to your ears without crushing them.
Best Bone-Conducting Headphones
SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2
If you regularly run in a city or train in an area where you need to be aware of your surroundings, traditional headphones and earbuds can be more of a liability than an asset. Bone-conducting headphones allow for an open-ear design, keeping you better aware of the world around you while still delivering excellent audio quality. Our judges loved the OpenRun Pro 2 from SHOKZ for their deep bass, 3D sound, and light weight, made possible by their uni-body design and Ni-Ti alloy memory wire construction. Call quality is also excellent, even mid-run, thanks to an AI-based noise reduction filter that removes 96.5% of disruptive background noise.
Best Workout App
Future
No, Future isn’t cheap, but it’s somehow still a bargain, mostly because it combines the expertise of a dozen different coaches with a combined 1,700+ years of experience, from college-level strength and conditioning coaches to former professional athletes. Future even does the leg work for you, assessing your fitness level, goals and desired training style and helpfully suggesting the best coach for your needs. You’ll get everything from training templates, form critiques and nutritional advice, all tailored to your needs and the equipment you have available to train with, but best of all for the mere mortals among us, you’ll have someone motivating you and holding you accountable, reminding you of your goals when you need it most.
Best Workout Tracking App
Strong
You can definitely still track your workouts the old-school way, with pencil and paper, but nothing beats the speed and convenience of a smartphone, and of all the workout trackers we’ve tested, we keep coming back to Strong. You can create and modify workout templates, draw from their massive assortment of exercises or create your own, and quickly and easily log your sets, reps, rest times and even RPE (rate of perceived exertion — IYKYK). Best of all, Strong keeps comprehensive logs of your progress, showing you, across multiple graphs, how your lifts are progressing over time, or how your body weight fluctuated throughout the year. In its latest iteration, it even added excellent smartwatch integration, making it that much easier to track your lifts while you rest.
Best Pilates App
BetterMe
BetterMe isn’t exclusively a Pilates app; rather, it’s a holistic health app with easy-to-follow workout templates, meal plans and a habit tracker tailored to your goals. But its Pilates workouts have become internet-famous, and for good reason: they offer both mat-based and wall-based Pilates workouts, with very detailed instructions and helpful progressions that will take you from beginner to intermediate to advanced in no time. Clear video guides help instruct you through the more difficult or complicated movements, while additional templates for strength and flexibility have great carryover towards your goals.
Find out more at BetterMe.world
Best Running App
Strava
Strava has been around for nearly two decades, which is both a testament to its longevity and to its ability to adapt to the times. It isn't just a running app, of course — you can track up to 30 different activities through the app — but its primary focus is on running and cycling, and it has built up a community of enthusiasts who share times, run routes and advice. The app itself keeps a full log of your training history, allows you to find, build and save preferred running routes, and uses artificial intelligence to generate running advice based on your own metrics. For people who intend to compete, there's even a cool predictive feature that can extrapolate from your current run times to predict how you would finish in a competitive 5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon. In short, Strava does it all, making it an invaluable tool for runners of all experience levels.
Best Golf Launch Monitor
Rapsodo MLM2PRO
No sport has embraced technology to the same extent as golf, and for good reason: it’s now possible for people living north of the equator to play golf all year round, in the warmth of their own home, using a launch monitor. And while, in the past, the average launch monitor was prohibitively expensive, today their prices have become much more consumer-friendly. The Rapsodo MLM2PRO is our choice for the average consumer on a budget, offering both dual-camera and radar processing to assess 15 shot metrics, from spin rate and angle of attack to club path and ball speed. Best of all, you can use it as a simulator, with access to more than 30,000 courses and two virtual driving ranges, whether you pair it with a full projector-and-screen setup or just a tablet.
Best Nutrition App
MacroFactor
For ease of use, convenience, and the unbelievable assortment of insights it unlocks, MacroFactor was our consensus pick for the year’s best nutrition app. Unlike many of its competitors, it is not available for free, but the cost of the subscription is more than justified by the ad-free user experience, intuitive interface, and AI-driven diet planning. Simply tell MacroFactor your current weight and goal weight and it will create a curated diet plan to take you to your destination, adjusting itself along the way with weekly check-ins. Best of all, for those of us who can’t always weigh and cook all our own food, there’s an AI calorie estimating feature: simply take a picture of your meal and let artificial intelligence do its best to break down the likely macros.
Find out more at MacroFactorApp.com
Best Sleep App
Calm
If getting enough sleep has been a consistent problem for you, and especially if you attribute your troubles to stress or anxiety, you owe it to yourself to try Calm. The app works by helping you establish a pre-sleep routine, using music, soundscapes, meditations and their extremely popular Sleep Stories to lull you into a state of relaxation and prime your body for rest. A Calm subscription also unlocks their in-the-moment calming meditations, breathing exercises and Body Scan program, which helps you get better attuned to your own body.
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