Gadget Weekly
Join Namerah Saud Fatmi as she explores the cool, quirky, and sometimes downright odd world of smartphone accessories, gadgets, and other nerdy toys every week.
I’m not much of a fitness buff myself, but my colleague Michael Hicks is the king of that hill. Where I do excel is nerding out over accessories and gadgets, spending hours poring over specifications, and getting into the semantics of why something is the right fit for a certain type of user. Thus, Michael and I are collaborating on this week’s Gadget Weekly to recommend the best fitness accessories to meet your workout goals in 2026.
But how do you know where to start? Here’s what Michael has to say about that…
Buying fitness accessories to hit your goals is a double-edged sword. You’re putting your money where your mouth is, giving yourself motivation to work hard and justify the money you spent. But if you don’t stick with it, your gear will end up shoved in a closet, and you’ll be back where you started.
I originally wrote a New Year’s resolution starter kit for useful tech, accessories, and apparel, but I’m happy to help out Namerah and lay out some more accessories that I’d personally recommend and will help you get fitter, faster, and stronger in 2026! Let’s dive into the best fitness accessories to jump-start your workout goals in the new year.
HR chest straps and armbands to fix your inaccurate smartwatch data
Rather than buying a new smartwatch, pair an HR armband or chest strap to your old watch; you’ll get better real-time data and workout summaries of how fit you are. Just make sure it’s compatible with your smartwatch first.
