HEADPHONES AND EARBUDS are essential, whether you use them to keep the pace during high-intensity workouts, stay occupied during long commutes, listen to podcasts while completing mundane chores, etc. But they can also be quite the investment, especially if you want ones offering top-notch fidelity, noise-canceling tech, and/or whatever else.

Thankfully, there are great ways to save on even the best headphones on the market. One such way is through Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. As you might expect from the biggest shopping holidays of the year, we’re seeing some impressive price drops (including lots of the lowest prices ever on some models) on even the biggest brands, like Beats, Sony, Bose, Apple, and more. You don’t have to go far to find these great deals because we’ve rounded them all up for you right here. These are the best Black Friday headphone and earbud deals you can find now.

Black Friday headphone deals 2024

Apple AirPods Pro 2 

BUY NOW

 

Sony WH-1000XM5

BUY NOW

 

Shokz OpenRun Pro

BUY NOW

 

Jabra Elite 8 Active

BUY NOW

 

Sonos Ace Wireless Over Ear Headphones

BUY NOW

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

BUY NOW

Apple AirPods Max

BUY NOW

Apple Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds 

BUY NOW

Sony WH-1000XM4

BUY NOW

 

Anker Soundcore Anker Life Q20

BUY NOW

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

BUY NOW

 

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over Ear Headphones

BUY NOW

Beats Studio Pro

BUY NOW

Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

BUY NOW

Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Over-Ear Headphones

BUY NOW

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

BUY NOW

This article originally appeared on Men’s Health US.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

BUY NOW

This article originally appeared on Men’s Health US.

The post Best headphone Black Friday deals 2024: Beats, Sony, Bose, Apple, and more appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

If you want to optimise your workouts, reduce stress, recover faster, sleep better, and avoid burnout, a fitness tracker can be a useful weapon. Armed with these little labs, everyone now has access to elite level insights at the raise of a wrist or the swipe of an app. We’ve never had more information to help us fine-tune our fitness and stay on top form.

Evidence also shows the best fitness trackers can do wonders for your motivation levels and daily activity. Plus they’ll also help you handle the daily grind, tracking stress levels and helping you spot when it’s time to get stuck in or take a step back. Heck, the smarter fitness watches like the Apple Watch even offer tools to help boost your productivity.

Given the impressive capabilities of these new-gen models from the likes of Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, Polar, Coros and more, it’s no surprise the global smartwatch market is projected to hit a mega $58.1 billion by 2028.

However, choosing a tracker is now a trickier task. So to help you pick the best fitness watch for your training needs, our team of health and fitness experts strapped on the best fitness trackers you can buy right now and put them through rigorous testing, from roads and trails to the gym floor.

How to choose a fitness tracker

With all the choice on the fitness wearables shelves, finding the tracker that suits you best can be overwhelming. It pays to be really clear about your priorities and how you plan to train. If you’re hitting the gym three times a week for HIIT classes or strength sessions, you’ll want a very different watch to someone who’s planning big off-grid adventures.

The big brands to consider range from Garmin, Polar, COROS and Sunnto, who all tend to make devices primarily built for sport tracking first but with some smartwatch tools. Fitbit, Huawei and Amazift tend to offer more day-to-day fitness trackers while the very best smartwatches with fitness capabilities come from Apple, Samsung and Google.

In terms of budget, you can expect to spend anything from £99 right up to £1,000+ for the most capable multisport trackers and smartwatches. But there’s a whole host of devices from £200-£500 that cover the fitness tracking needs of most. Here’s 15 we recommend in 2024.

The 14 best fitness watches to buy in 2024

1

Apple Watch Ultra 2

If you’re after an adventure-ready smartwatch with excellent fitness smarts, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 blends the superior day-to-day use of an Apple Watch with rugged specs of the most expensive Garmin and Suunto watches.

With its longer battery life (versus the Series 9), more rugged design, boosted durability, and top-performing GPS and heart rate, it’s built to handle everything from regular gym sessions to more adventurous outdoor pursuits like trail running, diving and hiking.

This is the biggest Apple smartwatch. The 49mm case is significantly larger than the Apple Watch Series 9 but despite that bulkier frame, it’s still comfortable to wear 24-7. Helped by the big selection of interchangeable straps. The large frame houses a stunning, bright, super responsive pin-sharp screen that brings all your workout metrics to life and is easy to read in all lights. It’s also waterproof to 100m.

On battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t pack the staying power of the top-end dedicated sports watches like the Garmin Fenix or COROS Vertix 2 – those beasts run for days. But in our tests we got 20 hours GPS workout time in the highest accuracy mode, stretching to 45 hours in the lowest power/accuracy mode. That’s the best you’ll find and beats the rival smartwatches.

The GPS accuracy is also excellent and the optical heart rate is solid, feeding good information into a growing range of fitness insights. Apple recently added new Training Load tracking that lets you subjectively assess how hard you’ve worked, plus VO2 Max estimates and handy trends charts for running pace, exercise minutes, standing minutes, and your daily distance covered. Though you’re still not getting Garmin-level workout and fitness features.

Beyond fitness tracking, it’s also a powerful tool for daily life. With calls and messages, offline music and effortless contactless payments, there’s no disputing its practical superiority.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

2

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 8 was all about advanced health monitoring and tracking everything from steps to blood oxygen levels, but the Series 9 takes things a step further, making it, as Apple describes, ‘magical’.

Why? Well, the Series 9 features a brand-new double tap function that allows you to control certain aspects of your watch in an instant. By raising your wrist and touching your fingers together, you can answer calls, view your most used widgets on the watch face, and start and stop music.

The watch itself is comfortable and lightweight, making it the perfect choice for both in and out of the gym. Apple has also made the straps using mainly recycled materials.

While there’s been no improvements in the battery life (18 hours and 36 hours on low power mode) since the Series 8, when you consider the brighter display, the new ECG feature, and the consistent heart rate and activity readings, it’s difficult to argue this isn’t a top-tier smartwatch.

Review by: Priyankaa Joshi

Key specs

3

HUAWEI Watch FIT 3

All too often smartwatches look a bit, well, not exactly smart, veering instead toward the rugged, utilitarian looks that match well with outdoor pursuits. There’s certainly a place for that kind of aesthetic, but if you’re after a wearable that serves as much on the style front as it does performance, then the HUAWEI Watch FIT 3 might be for you.

With an ultra-slim, fashion-forward design, the Watch FIT 3 is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. As well as solid GPS it offers comprehensive health and fitness management, with heart rate and sleep monitoring, calorie management, sleep breathing awareness and water resistance (so you can take it swimming) as standard.

On the activity tracking front, it boasts over 100 sports modes, including football, basketball and e-sports and a specific track running setting, while the ‘Activity Ring’ feature (essentially three coloured rings that fill in as you complete your goals) keeps you aware of your activity levels throughout the day. There’s even a ‘Smart Suggestion’ component, which recommends exercise based on your habits to help you reach your fitness targets. Clever stuff.

The aluminium alloy watch case houses a slim 1.82-inch (46mm) AMOLED colour screen that offers sharp graphics and a bright display that performs well in various light conditions. Meanwhile an impressive battery life — 7 days typical use, 10 days maximum usage — means you’ll never be caught short on the go. Running low? In just a ten-minute charge you can get enough juice to last all day.

Right now you can pick up the HUAWEI Watch FIT 3 for just £99.99 (the best price this year) and receive a free extra strap with purchase.

Key specs

4

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

The Apple Watch is off limits for Samsung and Android phone users. If that’s you, your best bet for a fitness-focussed smartwatch is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung’s tracker takes everything from the last-gen Galaxy Watch and boosts it. Better staying power, brighter screen, more features and bigger build. It’s also packed with clever health and fitness features and adventure tools.

There’s a no-nonsense heft to the robust, military-grade design that’s a bit bulky for daintier wrists. The 47mm watch face has a well-built titanium exterior and a punchy, responsive (unless it’s wet) sapphire glass display. It’s also pumped up to 3,000 nits – that’s bright enough to rival the Apple Watch and great for mid-workout metric monitoring.

There’s a few other nods to Apple’s tracker here, most notably a handy action button for quick-starting workout tracking. There’s also automatic workout detection in case you forget and other new smarts include an Energy Score (a bit like Garmin’s Body Battery), body composition estimates and sleep apnea detection.

Samsung also added accuracy-boosting all-systems dual frequency GPS and a new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor for measuring resting, daily and workout heart rate data, ECG capability (Samsung only) and powering the body composition analysis. In testing, the heart rate accuracy was generally good up against a Polar H10 chest strap. The body fat percentage reads we’ll take with a big pinch of electrolytes.

The battery life is also hit and miss. The GPS workout time was pretty solid. I ran 100 mile ultra using standard power settings and it lasted for 14 hours of the 22 hour run. The Apple Watch Ultra lasted 16 hours and my Garmin Enduro 2 still has 47% left three days later. But the general battery life was not only short but also incredibly unpredictable. Sometimes torching as much as 50% while I slept, often struggling to last more than 24 hours and taking a long time to charge.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

5

Amazfit Active

For the price, Amazfit’s Apple-esque cut-price tracker mashes up an impressive array of fitness tracking, wellness tools and smartwatch skills. As a smartwatch it’s no match for Apple, Google or Samsung, and its fitness tools aren’t as comprehensive or well delivered as you’ll get on a Garmin, Polar or COROS. But you get a lot here for what you pay.

That includes all your mid-workout metrics for 120 different sports, plus the usual post-session training effect and training load readouts, VO2 Max estimates, and recovery time recommendations.

The Active is light and compact and really easy to wear 24-7 and despite using less premium materials than pricier smartwatches, it avoids feeling cheap and plastic. Much of that is down to the 1.75-inch HD AMOLED touchscreen that punches well above the price tag. It’s easy to read and nicely responsive.

Tracking smarts include all-systems GPS and the usual heart rate monitoring. Sadly in my tests, the GPS accuracy wasn’t great. It consistently underclocked my distances by more than the usual margin for error. The heart rate tracking was also hit and miss with lots of rogue heart rate spikes when you shift gears during stop-go interval sessions.

However, battery life is strong. I easily got 11 days usage with 7.5 hours GPS training time thrown in. While the average one-hour run with GPS tracking burned less than 8-10%. That’s not far off the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

There’s music controls for linked smartphones plus storage for phone-free playback with room for more than 30,000 songs. You can also make calls via Bluetooth and get all your app notifications.

When you consider what you’re paying, this is a competent fitness-tracking smartwatch that packs plenty of value. Even if the partner app and software lack the finesse of some rivals.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

6

Garmin Epix Pro 2

The Garmin Epix 2 Pro is a rugged all-rounder that combines a robust, adventure-proof design with the best fitness and sports tracking features that Garmin has to offer with a smartwatch-esque, stunningly bright, AMOLED display.

This multi-sport tracking powerhouse offers a range of training, fitness, recovery, stress and sleep tools is about as comprehensive as it gets. It matches what you’ll find on a Fenix or a Forerunner. With advanced training metrics, recovery insights, HRV, sleep and daily stress tracking plus mapping, navigation and safety tools, whether you’re fast asleep, smashing out Hyrox runs or scaling peaks, the Epix 2 Pro keeps tabs and serves up insights to help you be at your best.

Running, swimming, cycling and golf are all covered, along with tailored modes for gym-workouts like strength training, HIIT and elliptical training plus AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata or custom workouts. If you need guidance, there are animated cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates workouts. Runners can tap into daily suggested workouts, run-coaching plans for 5km to the marathon.

It comes in three sizes, 42mm, 47mm and 51mm. It’s another hefty chunk on the wrist and not the most comfortable to wear through the night to unblock the 24-7 data but it’s well built and the nylon strap boosts the comfort.

In our tests, GPS and heart rate accuracy were solid. Battery life came up shorter than you’ll get on a Fenix or the Enduro 2, but that’s the sacrifice you’re making for that stunning screen. The built-in flashlight is also a touch.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

7

Fitbit Sense 2

This timepiece does way more than just logging workouts, although it impressed in that department, too. It tracks 41 activities and shows detailed in-workout stats on its crystal-clear screen, including heart rate zones.

Beyond classic Fitbit health monitoring – blood oxygen, heart rate viability and breathing rate – the Sense 2 has a continuous EDA sensor that sends notifications to alert you when your body is under stress and mindfulness sessions to help you relax. We rated the extensive sleep data via the Fitbit app and liked the ‘daily readiness score‘, which tells you when to go hard and when a rest day is in order.

This watch is let down by its lack of third-party apps, music playback and a voice assistant, but it does offer six days of battery life and has a fast-charging feature. If you’re in the market for a holistic tracker to monitor your health and wellbeing and you’re not bothered about the lack of smart features, this is your guy.

Review by: Priyankaa Joshi

Key specs

8

Best hybrid fitness watch

Garmin Vivomove Trend

Not your typical rugged Garmin, the Vivomove Trend combines smartwatch functionality with a traditional analogue design. Just flick your wrist to access notifications and view fitness stats, including heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep and stress levels (there’s also plenty more on the Garmin Connect app, from hydration to respiration tracking).

It’s the first Garmin to support wireless charging – no need to rummage around finding the right adaptor – and a quick 15-minute charge will give you up to 24 hours of battery.

If you’re after a discreet watch you can wear from the office to the gym, it’s a top choice. The touchscreen was tricky to navigate with sweaty hands and we missed third-party app integration, but these are minor quibbles. It scored top marks for step count and distance accuracy in our tests.

Review by: Priyankaa Joshi

9

Polar Ignite 3

Let’s face it, lots of fitness watches fall short in the style stakes. The Polar Ignite 3 bucks that trend with a sleek, slick design that sets it apart. It fits right in when you swap your workout gear for civvies.

Polar flags the Ignite 3 as a ‘fitness and wellness’ watch and its features are definitely geared more to casual training and building good fitness habits than your really serious gym goers. But there’s a happy simplicity to the activity tracking, workout feedback, recovery and sleep insights and the workout recommendations.

It covers all the basics like heart rate zone training and training load insights. There’s also FitSpark workout recommendations and voice guidance for recommended coached training sessions. We loved the handy work-rest guide for spotting when it’s time to do the next set.

At 35g, it’s light, compact and comfortable. Easy to keep on beyond your workouts to unlock the impressive array of 24-7 sleep, wellness and recovery tracking insights.

That includes Polar’s Sleepwise tracking with recommendations on your best times to hit the hay and Nightly Recharge recovery tool that rates the effectiveness of your overnight rest. Plus, you get Polar’s new nightly skin temperature tracking – a useful tool for spotting incoming illness.

When it comes to workout tracking and accuracy, the Polar Ignite offers dual frequency GPS. However, in our tests it failed to deliver the hoped-for accuracy boost. In short: the Ignite 3 struggles with distance and real time pace accuracy.

On the flip side, heart rate accuracy is okay for optical and the battery life is solid with 30 hours GPS training time extending up to 100 hours in low power modes. We didn’t quite get a full week’s training on a single charge but there’s more than enough juice to cover things like marathon-distance runs.

This isn’t as capable as a Polar Vantage V3 or Polar Grit X Pro but for general fitness it offers pretty solid value for money. Oh and there’s a pricier titanium option with a stronger, fancier frame but beyond the materials, performance is the same.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

10

Garmin Forerunner 265

If you wince at the idea of paying £800 for a premium running watch, but you still want a training tool that does more than just the basics, the Garmin Forerunner 265 delivers. It’s a Goldilocks, sweet-spot fitness tool pairing a comprehensive suite of tracking and features with a beautiful AMOLED display, an ok battery life and a relatively compact build. And though it’s got runner in the name, it’s capabilities extend far beyond the plod.

The best part about the Forerunner 265: its library of features. There’s a wide range of workout modes – everything for open water swimming to HIIT. You can download and follow animated workouts for HIIT and strength. Strength training mode attempts to automatically count reps and sets. It’s not perfect but with a little input, makes logging gym sessions easier.

Beyond that there are very detailed performance and health insights. You get everything from mid-run performance condition estimates, to post-workout training effect, training readiness and VO2 Max fitness estimates. It’s easy to keep tabs on the impact of your sessions and the daily grind, too with heart rate variability (HRV), recovery and stress, Body Battery energy levels and sleep tracking.

GPS accuracy is excellent – about as reliable as it gets – while the optical heart rate accuracy was solid, too. Not infallible, sometimes it seemed a bit slower to adjust in real time versus a chest strap, but show us an optical sensor that doesn’t.

Throw in some smartwatch features like music and contactless payments and you’ve got a really good all-rounder with enough to suit most.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

11

Polar Pacer Pro

The run-focussed Polar Pacer Pro packs many of the features you’ll find on the pricier Polar Vantage V and Grit watches but cuts the price by sticking to a basic design. The style is a tad dated but if you’re happy to trade premium materials for simpler old-school looks, there’s plenty here for running and general fitness for under £300.

That includes a pretty comprehensive suite of running, training, racing, sleep and recovery features. Polar’s running performance, walking and fitness tests are great for benchmarking your progress while VO2 Max estimates and a running index score lets you see how you compare to other runners. Runners also get tools like race time predictor, running power on the wrist while Polar’s Training Load Pro and cardio load monitoring tools offer useful training guidance. Sadly, Polar’s impressive Recovery Pro tools are missing.

When it comes to accuracy, the Assisted GPS all-systems satellite support was nicely reliable in our tests with super-fast GPS link-up. The heart rate was a bit more hit and miss but you can easily pair in a chest strap to improve your data.

With 35 hours of full GPS run time – extendable up to 100 hours in low-power modes – the battery life is very competitive. In testing it came up a bit shorter than thar but it’s still good.

There’s sadly no touchscreen but the button controls are easy to use and nicely responsive. The display isn’t anywhere near as sharp and vibrant as the killer AMOLED displays hitting the newer watches but it’s noticeably brighter than the cheaper Polar Pacer.

The built-in barometric altimeter, turn-by-turn routes powered by Komoot, route elevation profiles, automatic climb detection and back to start navigation are all bonuses at this price. So while the Pace Pro might lack the training insights and mapping and full navigation smarts of pricier rivals, the core fitness tracking is solid at a competitive price. This is a solid running watch for under £300.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

12

COROS Pace 3

The COROS Pace 3 is a highly capable runner-focussed fitness watch that offers excellent bang for buck. It packs a big battery life, All Systems Dual Frequency GPS and a wide selection of sports modes – including a new trail running mode.

The Pace 3 is about function rather than flare. There’s no fancy AMOLED screen and the always-on touchscreen is no match for the brightest and sharpest displays but it’s perfectly legible in most light. It’s a bit plastic but that’s what keeps it impressively light at just 30g. The nylon strap isn’t as soft as some but I was happy wearing this day and night and for all my sessions from strength to swimming.

The COROS Pace 3 training, performance and recovery features are quite comprehensive with EvoLab training, recovery and fitness insights plus sleep and activity tracking. You also get an SPO2 Pulse Ox sensor for keeping tabs on your blood oxygen levels, Barometric Altimeter and improved navigation tools with route planning, turn-by turn navigation and breadcrumb navigation, plus a handy Back to Start wayfinder.

The killer app though is COROS’ trademark long battery life. In tests, we got around 9 days use on a single charge with 15.5 hours GPS training using a combination of Standard and Dual Frequency GPS. That included burning 8% from 2.5 hours in Standard GPS while 1 hour in Dual Frequency burned 4%.

The GPS performance was less impressive. Accuracy in Standard GPS mode was a bit hit and miss, with a tendency to read long. It was much better in Dual Frequency Mode and I found it often matched the much much pricier Garmin Enduro 2 and the COROS Vertix 2 Dual Frequency. Though you’ll sacrifice some battery life to use the more accurate setting.

On heart rate accuracy, the Pace 3’s optical sensor regularly struggled for the first 10 minutes of my workouts with a lot of high spikes early on. It was prone to spiking mid-session as well and often failed to follow drops in intensity when I stopped.

There’s not much here by way of smartwatch smarts. You get simple notifications, 4GB of MP4 music storage and playback (but no Spotify or Deezer support) plus some limited watch face customisation. But there’s no contactless payments.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

13

Suunto Race

The Suunto Race joins the growing army of fitness watches packing those big smartwatch-style AMOLED displays. But this one comes in bigger – and crucially cheaper – than many of the AMOLED rivals.

The Race heroes in running but with 95 customisable sport modes, a full suite of advanced training metrics and a whopping 40-hour max accuracy battery, it’s not just a run tracker.

When it comes to general fitness insights, Suunto serves up pretty standard fare — all your usual mid-workout metrics plus training load, training progress and recovery advice. There’s also AI coaching advice, race pacing tools, HRV monitoring, sleep and activity tracking.

At 83g, it’s built more like a chunkier Garmin Fenix, Coros Vertix 2 and the Polar Grit X2 Pro. Though, if you want a similar set of skills just in a more compact design, you could look at the 45mm Suunto Race S.

The battery life is competitive for an AMOLED offering 40-120 hours. In my tests, a one-hour run using the highest accuracy GPS mode burned an average of 3%. That’s pretty stingy. Tracking your vitals overnight eats just 2% even with the battery-thirsty blood oxygen sensor on.

The accuracy-boosting all-systems, dual frequency GPS gets a big thumbs up, too. In my tests, in max accuracy mode, the dual band accuracy was at least on par with the Polar Vantage V3 and the Garmin FR965. No complaints here.

I was less convinced by the optical heart rate. Up against the Polar H10 chest strap on slow, steady workouts, the Suunto Race had a tendency to lag and lurch and during pace-changing interval sessions and runs where I shifted gears more, it suffered from delay. Basically, where optical sensors can struggle, it did.

Despite that, there’s a lot of watch here for under £400. Even if you opt for the pricier – and lighter – Titanium model, the Race is still significantly cheaper than the Garmin Forerunner 965 and the Polar Vantage V3. And keep an eye on that price. If it drops any lower in 9 months time, the Suunto Race will hit big bargain territory.

Reviewed by: Kieran Alger

Key specs

14

Best Fitbit tracker

Fitbit Charge 6

With five predecessors, Fitbit certainly knows a thing or two about activity trackers – and with a load of new features, the Charge 6 is a step up from the 5.

Aesthetics-wise, it looks pretty much the same; however, the Charge 6 boasts a haptic button on the side, meaning you don’t need to rely solely on touchscreen for navigation – useful after those extra sweaty sessions. The waterproof feature also comes into play here, as well as in the pool. Did we mention it tracks up to 40 different sport modes, compared to the six on the previous model?

It claims to have the most accurate heart rate monitor yet, which you can connect to treadmills, rowers and bikes via Bluetooth for extra visibility. As well as heart rate, it can flag any irregular heart rhythms with an ECG monitor, and there are electoral dermal activity (EDA) sensors that measure stress levels, plus personalised sleep data to help with stress management.

No pockets for your phone? Worry not, thanks to another new software feature – simply link up your Google account to use Google Pay and Maps on the go. This is great if you already have a Google account but will take some extra setting up if not. It’s also compatible with YouTube music to keep your tunes pumping day-to-day (well, across a seven-day battery life period, at least).

Review by: Priyankaa Joshi

What is a fitness tracker?

Fitness trackers cover a wide range of devices, from entry level band-style simple trackers like Fitbits that monitor the activity basics, right up to do-it-all, adventure-ready Garmin sport watches that handle everything from step counts to scaling mountains. Then there are fitness-focused watches from Fitbit and Amazfit that increasingly pack smartwatch skills while regular smartwatches from Apple and Samsung now offer serious fitness credentials, too.

What to look for when buying a fitness tracker

Fitness trackers now serve up a vast array of fitness, health and wellbeing features. Here are some of the key tricks and tools to look out for.

AMOLED Screen

When it comes to bright, crisps, responsive touchscreens, smartwatches like the Apple Watch set the pace but fitness trackers are increasingly following. The kicker here is that you tend to trade battery life for sparkly screens but the best devices are pushing those limits too. But if you want the sharpest display, AMOLED is the way.

Dual-Frequency GPS

Dual frequency GPS lets devices receive satellite signals from multiple frequencies – in theory helping to plug gaps and weed out inaccurate reads in more challenging environments like built up urban areas. Just because a watch offers dual frequency doesn’t guarantee better accuracy but it’s a good sign you’ll log better training traces.

Heart rate (HR)

Keeping tabs on your BPM during a workout is one of the most effective ways to make sure you’re getting the most from your training. The majority of fitness trackers will monitor heart rate and offer heart rate zone training, but the rate at which it’s recorded (outside of workout tracking) can vary from device to device.

It’s not all about your fitness or calorie burn, though. Many fitness trackers now continuously measure your resting heart rate (RHR) — the number of beats every 60 seconds at rest – as a reliable way of checking your heart health. They also used it to feed stress readouts. If heart health is a focus, it’s also worth looking for devices that offer ECG readings and irregular heart rate alerts.

Readiness, sleep, recovery and HRV insights

The rise of readiness redouts has been pretty swift. These attempt to crunch things like your sleep quantity and quality, skin temperature and your heart rate variability into one estimate that helps you understand how hard you should push that day. But be warned: once you start combining estimated metrics into singles scores, it increases the room for error. Taking a simple, same time, same protocol heart rate variability reading daily is a far more reliable way to get a window into how your body is handling the stresses of training and life.

Other smarts

When it comes to the tools for handling daily life, music, contactless payments, weather and chat/messaging, bona-fide smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra win this battle hands down. But we’re seeing brands like Garmin playing some catch up offering offline music, contactless payments, camera controls and even chat.

How we test fitness trackers

Our team has put more than 50 fitness trackers and smartwatches to the test to find the best. We lived for weeks at a time with each watch, ran, swam, hiked, biked and worked out, testing each feature of these powerful training partners, before rating the results.

For each model, we looked at the design, comfort and durability, conducted detailed side-by-side tests of the GPS accuracy, battery life and optical heart rate performance up against a chest strap. We sized up the in- and post-workout insights and recovery recommendations, including all the features that help you make progress.

Why you can trust us

All the products featured in this guide have been personally tested by our team of health and fitness journalists. Ever product listed has been editorially selected and personally tested. Retailers, brands and PRs never dictate the products we cover in our content. The products we personally receive for review are supplied courtesy of brands, but we never guarantee inclusions in return for samples. We occasionally feature promoted content in these guides, in which case they are clearly signposted for full transparency.

This article originally appeared on Men’s Health UK.

Related:

Why Olympic runners are wearing luxury watches on the track

The post The 14 best fitness watches, tested by Men’s Health appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

For those that participate, Black Friday will take place on November 29th this year. But of course, the sales period is not limited to the day itself. Some sales have already begun, most will run right into the Christmas period, and then there’s the second biggest sales day of the season, Cyber Monday, on December 2nd.

All of this makes for the perfect opportunity to do some Christmas shopping early, treat yourself to some nice retail therapy, or save big on essentials. Countless brands are taking part in the festivities this year, with sales varying from minor to massive. There are opportunities to give your wardrobe an update, cash in on the latest fitness gear and upgrade to new tech, to say nothing of the innumerable impulse buy options.

To help you navigate this year’s Black Friday sales, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals we’ve found across all the major brands.

Best Black Friday sales for men’s clothes

Doyoueven

• 40-60 per cent of everything on the Doyoueven website

lululemon

• 15 per cent off a range of items, including the new 2024 holiday range

Kathmandu

• 50 percent off Kathmandu’s iconic black puffer jackets

Myer

• Up to 30 per cent off men’s clothing
• Up to 25 per cent off underwear and socks

The Iconic

• 40 per cent off selected men’s styles
• Click Frenzy sale on clothing and footwear
• More huge Black Friday sales to come

Nike

• Deals on clothing and apparel
• Deals on running shoes

Adidas

• Discounts on men’s clothing and sports apparel

Wrangler

• Up to 30 per cent off denim, plus deals on other pants, shirts and workwear

Under Armour

• Up to 30 per cent off men’s clothing

Nautica

• Up to 40 per cent off t-shirts, hoodies, jumpers, pants and polos

Best Black Friday sales for fitness gear

Vulcan Fitness

• Up to 70 per cent off site wide

Rebel Sport

• Discounts on sports apparel, fitness equipment, footwear and accessories

Lifespan Fitness

• Up to 70 per cent off bars and weight, plus more huge discounts

GymandFitness.com

• Up to 50 per cent off gym equipment

LSG Fitness

• 10 per cent off site wide

Boating, Camping, Fishing (BCF)

• Discounts across brands like Yeti, Weber, MacPac, Garmin and more

Best Black Friday sales for tech

MANSCAPED

• 30 per cent off The Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra, The Beard Hedger, and The Handyman
• Up to 25 per cent off The Chairman Pro, The Beard Hedger Advanced Kit and The Premier Package 5.0

Amazon

• Up to 50 per cent off smartphones, earphones, TVs and smart watches

Bose

• Discounts on earphones, headphones and speakers

Dyson

• Up to 40 per cent off vacuums and other Dyson tech

JB HI-FI

• Huge sales on TVs, smartphones, laptops and video games

Lenovo

• Up to 50 per cent off laptops

Best Black Friday sales for sex toys

Lovehoney

• Up to 70 per cent off a wide range

Womanizer

• Bestselling sex toys 60 per cent and 20 per cent off

We-Vibe

• 20 per cent off a number of bestsellers

Arcwave

• 20 per cent off Arcwave’s most popular products

When is Black Friday 2024?

Black Friday is on November 29th in 2024. This is when the majority of shopping will occur, but the sales period will last much longer.

How long do Black Friday Sales last?

Like we said, most Black Friday shopping is done on Black Friday itself, but the sales period typically lasts for five days and can run for even longer. Usually, Black Friday sales begin on Thanksgiving (November 28th this year) and run right up until Cyber Monday (December 2nd). So expect the bulk of sales to take place between November 28th and December 2nd. That being said, some sales will run all the way up until Christmas, and some have already begun.

Why is Black Friday called that?

In Australia, we’d usually only use the word ‘black’ as the prefix for a day if it was marked by catastrophic bushfires. Assuredly, that isn’t the case with Black Friday, as frenzied shopping would be a mind-boggling way to commemorate a tragedy.

The origin of the term ‘Black Friday’ is disputed. Some suggest that the term was coined by factory managers in the 1950s, who gave the name to the Friday after Thanksgiving because so many of their workers would call in sick. Another theory suggests that the name originally carried negative connotations and was used by Philadelphia police and business owners to refer to the chaos that was caused by bargain-hungry shoppers. The most popular theory, on the other hand, posits that Black Friday earned its name because up until the day after Thanksgiving, retailers would frequently operate at a loss and therefore be in the red. The surge in sales thus allowed them to turn a profit and be back in the black.

Related:

Keep an eye on these new men’s activewear drops

8 pieces of equipment you need to turn your garage into a home gym

The post Where to find the best Black Friday deals for fitness gear, tech and more appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

Adjustable dumbbells, as the name implies, allow you to manage your loads, shuttling up and down according to the exercise you’re doing or your workout goals. Lateral raises, for example, generally require a lighter load than say, shoulder presses. Yet without the ability to change up your weights, you would likely have to sacrifice one of these exercises from your home shoulder workout.

The versatility of adjustable dumbbells make them your ideal training ally, allowing you to add load as your strength increases with just one piece of compact kit. Read on to discover the benefits of adjustable dumbbells, the best brands on the market and easy exercises you can do to get the most out of them.

How do adjustable dumbbells work?

Adjustable dumbbells are simple in design, consisting of a bar, weight plates and a locking mechanism. Adjusting the dumbbells is straight forward. Simply place the dumbbell on a flat surface, rotate the dials to the weight you want (or can handle!) and lift the dumbbell from the base. 

You can use adjustable dumbbells for a range of exercises, from isolation movements like biceps curls, to compound movements like lunges or power cleans, helping you target muscles throughout your body.

Most adjustable dumbbells come equipped with some type of lock. Unlock the dumbbells, and you can add or remove weight as you see fit – usually by turning a dial or sliding a notch to a given weight.

But some older manually adjustable dumbbells still require you to remove the collars from your dumbbells and add or remove weight plates until you reach your desired weight.

How much do adjustable dumbbells weigh?

Most adjustable dumbbells range in weight from around 2.5kg to 24kg, with up to 15 weight settings available. This is a range that allows you to switch between isolated toning style exercises to heavier compound lifts. 

Are adjustable dumbbells safe?

For the most part, yes, but you do need to take precautions. Cheap or poorly made adjustable dumbbells inherently carry a higher risk of breaking or malfunctioning, increasing your injury risk.

One of the more common areas of concern is the locking mechanism, which typically uses a screw or latch to secure the weight plates to the dumbbells. If the lock isn’t properly engaged, there is a danger that weight plates may come loose or fall off.

Of course, as with any form of weight-lifting exercise, much of the danger comes from users lifting more than they’re capable, leading to strained muscles and ligaments and over-use injuries. Start light, focus on form and work your way up to heavier loads.

How to work out with adjustable dumbbells

It’s best to start off with a low weight setting when using adjustable dumbbells. This allows you to find the right weight for your desired set of reps, focusing on ensuring the weight is light enough that you can maintain strict form for maximum results. Here’s a simple routine you can do at home with adjustable dumbbells. Do 4-6 reps, three times a week.

1. Dumbbell deadlifts:

Muscles: Hamstrings, glutes and lower back.

Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your thighs. Hinge at the hips, lower the dumbbells towards the ground while keeping your back straight, and then return to a standing position.

2. Chest press

Muscles: Chest, shoulders, triceps.

Lie on a bench with your feet flat on the floor. Hold the dumbbells at chest level and push them up until your arms are fully extended. Lower them back down with control.

3. Dumbbell bent-over row

 Muscles: Back, biceps, rear shoulders.

Bend your knees slightly and hinge at the hips. Hold the dumbbells with your palms facing inward and pull them towards your torso while squeezing your shoulder blades together.

4. Dumbbell biceps curls:

Muscles: Biceps.

Stand with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward. Curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders while keeping your elbows close to your body. Lower them down slowly.

5. Renegade row

Muscles: Core, back, shoulders, arms.

Start in a plank position with a dumbbell in each hand. Row one dumbbell up towards your torso. Lower it back down and repeat on the other side.

What are the best adjustable dumbbells?

Fortis 24 kg Smart Adjustable Weights

Everything you need for a killer workout is right here in this 2-dumbbell set. With weight ranges from 2.5-24kg, with 15 weight settings available, you can calibrate weights to your needs with ease. We like the easy dial mechanism, which makes adjustment a breeze.

BUY NOW FOR $169

Powerblock Sport 24

Top marks here for ease of use. Just slide in a pin mechanism to tailor the weight to your needs. You can add load in increments of 1.4kg, up to 10.9kg per hand – plenty for a lateral raise. We like the open handle design, which increases your range of motion.

BUY NOW FOR $249

Sumo Strength Adjustable Dumbbell Set 

These are a little more premium than most adjustable dumbbells on the market. This 32kg set is compact, sleek, and made from quality grade materials. In terms of weight specs, we’re looking at a 4-32kg range in nine different increments. Bonus: holders stop your dumbbells rolling away when not in use.

BUY NOW FOR $699

Cortex Revolock V2

This could be the most versatile piece of kit around – you get a barbell, kettlebell and dumbbells all in one. The set allows adjustments up to 24kg with a total of 36 different settings. We love the easy-to-use locking system.

BUY NOW FOR $399.20

48kg Powertrain Adjustable Dumbbell Home Gym Set

This 15-in-1 adjustable dumbbell set is hard to beat. Each adjustable dumbbell has a weight range of 2.5kg to 24kg in 15 steps, allowing you to use them in an array of muscle toning exercises. Say goodbye to dumbbell racks and hello to more space.

BUY NOW FOR $299

FitnessLab 48kg Adjustable Dumbbells 

Offering up to 24kg on each dumbbell, this compact set offers weight increments of 1.2kg up to 11.5kg and then in 2.5kg increments thereafter, perfect for a progressive 6-12 week program. No need for screwing or turning, just turn the dial to lock in your desired weight.

BUY NOW FOR $259

Related:

Why you should be working out with resistance bands

Grow massive arms in 12 minutes with just one dumbbell

The post Want to get stacked for summer? Adjustable dumbbells could be the answer appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

But as far as daily trainers go, the latest shoe in the 1080 line, the 1080v14, is flashier than most. Released in Australia in October, the 1080v14 is far removed from the pared back colour schemes and uninspiring designs that beset most shoes of its ilk. The 1080v14’s colourways are bright and vibrant. Pair this with the shoe’s high-stacked Fresh Foam midsole, which features swirling, contoured grooves and you’ve got a certified eye-catcher that you’d expect to see on the feet of a professional athlete.

This flashier design doesn’t compromise on performance, however. New balance says the 1080v14 would hold up in a marathon if it had to, while still boasting enough durability to run a 10K the next day, and every day. With the 1080 being an extremely popular silhouette, I was keen to try out its newest addition. But can it live up to the heavy expectations laid by its predecessors?

The look

As previously noted, the 1080v14 is an eye catcher. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the 1080v14 for a raceday shoe – and while it can be used at one, there’s no carbon plate or ultra lightweight frame here. Although, with a considerable stack height, attention grabbing accents and the all-around appearance of a shoe that wants to move fast, the 1080v14 gives the impression that its wearers take running seriously, which is a positive.

My pair came in the ‘Inkwell with Silver Metallic and Ginger Lemon’ colourway. I’ll give you a moment to guess what that might entail. And now that you’ve guessed wrong, it’s primarily dark blue with some fluoro green and yellow accents and a beige midsole. It’s nice to look at, and it’s hard to fault any of the 1080v14s colourways, which offer a nice blend of either safe or bold tones to satisfy runners of all preferences.

The specs

With the 1080v13 being widely considered a great running shoe, there weren’t all that many improvements to be made with the v14. The shoe is quite similar to its immediate predecessor, with a few key changes focused on improving stability and support, which were areas of weakness in the v13.

The 1080v14 maintains a 6mm heel-to-toe drop, but with a total stack height of 38 mm, it adds some size and will make you feel taller than most other daily trainers. Weighing in at 298 grams, the 1080v14 is also 36 grams heavier than the v13. This increase shouldn’t scare you though. Being lightweight isn’t everything, and sometimes extra support is better than pure speed.

At the base of the 1080v14 is, of course, the fabled Fresh Foam midsole. This time, the component’s geometry has been tweaked to allow for greater stability. A triple jacquard mesh upper is another new feature, offering increased breathability in key areas. Lastly, extra rubber has been placed in high wear areas to extend the shoe’s lifespan with more durability.

The test

The thinking behind the 1080v14 is that it can serve every runner. It’s an all rounder that everyone from the person doing their first 5K to an athlete running a marathon will find useful. Knowing this, I figured a single test run wouldn’t suffice in adequately assessing these shoes. So, I ran in the 1080v14 over distances ranging from 3-21km – and I even walked in them too – to see how they hold up, for every type of runner.

Firstly, many of the issues of the 1080v13 have been resolved with the v14 in aspects you’ll notice immediately. Where the v13 struggled with stability and support, the v14 excels, with an immensely cushioned feeling that will benefit you across any distance. Comfort is another area of note, because if a shoe is going to become your workhorse that you run in almost every day, it needs to be comfortable enough to rack up plenty of kilometres without a hint of pain, which wasn’t an issue in my experience with the 1080v14.

It’s not the most responsive shoe, and if speed is all you’re looking for, there are better options out there – and if you’re strictly a New Balance guy, the Rebel v4 is probably what you’re after. But the 1080v14 remains faster than most daily trainers and is more durable than most shoes designed for speed work, meaning it’s a great middle ground for the runner like me, who frequently shakes up their routine.

The verdict

The New Balance 1080v14 aims to be the running shoe for every runner, and for the most part it is exactly that. It excels in support, cushioning and comfort, has surprising speed for a shoe of its class and has very few points of weakness, although its responsiveness does diminish when you take it off road.

If you’re a runner who operates with a varied training routine that blends short and long efforts, as well as slow-paced and up-tempo runs, I’d highly recommend the 1080v14. At the end of the day, it is an all-rounder and is best suited to a runner who would classify themselves as the same.

Related:

The 2024 Men’s Health Sneaker Awards

How to master the art of shoe rotation

The post Tried and tested: New Balance 1080v14 appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

With every new Apple release, the first question on everyone’s lips is ‘how is this any better than the previous generation of the model?’ Admittedly, there is quite a significant difference between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max that I’ve been testing over the last few weeks, so perhaps the changes are more pronounced in my case. But there’s plenty of new features that even a person that upgrades their iPhone on a yearly basis will notice.

Of course, this is only the start. Just this week, Apple Intelligence – Apple’s own artificial intelligence software – became available, and while I was already impressed with the range beforehand, the upgrades are staggering. These are my honest thoughts on the next generation of Apple tech.

Display

For starters, the display of the 16 Pro has been expanded to – fittingly – 16 centimetres. This is despite the fact that the phone itself is no bigger than the 15 Pro. It achieves this increased display size through improved mechanical architecture and thinner borders, and the result begs the question of whether the iPhone will ever reach a peak, or if Apple will simply continue to find new ways to improve it. We’d bank on the latter.

The 16 Pro Max adopts the same design philosophy, except it’s even bigger at 17.5 centimetres. Both models have titanium frames that are stronger and lighter than ever, along with ceramic shield glass that Apple claims is twice as tough as traditional smartphone glass. All of this helps showcase the most immersive screens on any iPhone to date. The Super Retina XDR display supports ProMotion technology, bringing a seamless visual experience with always-on capabilities – and yes, that mean the screen never actually turns off, it just dims when you’re not using it.

Battery

The battery life of the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max is another standout. Jumping from a rapidly aging iPhone 8 to the 16’s long-lasting performance almost felt like whiplash, with the ability to outlast more than an entire day’s use on a full charge – some reports put the battery life at an astounding 18 hours, compared to 14 hours for the 15 Pro.

According to Apple, the 16 Pro and Pro Max have the longest battery lives of any iPhone, and I was the beneficiary of this advancement on more than one occasion. One day I simply left my charger at work. Rather than panic or borrow someone else’s charger, I figured the situation could be a testing opportunity. With my phone on just over 50% charge at 6pm, I spent the evening and following morning proceeding as usual: browsing social media, making a few calls and streaming some shows. The next day I returned to work and the comfort of my charger, and the 16 Pro had only dropped to 30% charge by 9am. Impressive.

Camera, Siri and processor

As for the camera, the iPhone 16 Pro lineup’s new 48MP Fusion camera and 5x telephoto lens work wonders for both amateur and seasoned photographers. Featuring a faster quad-pixel sensor, the 16 Pro is capable of capturing video in 4K at 120 fps with Dolby Vision support, a first not only for iPhones, but for all smartphones.

Siri has also levelled up, with better language understanding and a new on-screen interface. The voice assistant is now capable of handling in-app requests across different apps, with context retention and improved flexibility, which make it easier than ever to get Siri’s help.

Apple’s A18 Pro chip, built on 3-nanometer technology, is the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Its upgraded 6-core GPU, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, brings console-level visuals to mobile gaming and other apps. Gaming enthusiasts will especially appreciate Game Mode, which smooths out frame rates and reduces latency for AirPods and controllers, perfect for immersive, high-intensity gameplay.

Apple Intelligence

Now we arrive at the highlight. Central to the new iPhone 16 Pro models is Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI tools designed to simplify and enhance everyday tasks. Powered by the A18 Pro chip’s neural engine, Apple Intelligence uses both on-device processing and private Cloud information to deliver faster contextual assistance without compromising user privacy.

In practice, this means the iPhone can understand, summarise and help manage notifications, emails and other communications based on context. In-app, AI-powered writing tools can also help users write emails, check grammar and even summarise content in a desired tone, like friendly or professional. Apple Intelligence’s integration with the iPhone’s camera lets users access information instantly by simply holding the camera over objects. For instance, snapping a photo of a flyer enables you to add the event to your calendar. Lastly, if you’ve ever spent an unreasonable amount of time searching for a specific photo in your camera roll, the solution has arrived. Now you can simply describe the photo you’re looking for, like ‘me at the gym in a red shirt’, and Apple Intelligence will find it. The emphasis here is on practical uses, rather than needless features.

The verdict

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max redefine what smartphones can do, pushing boundaries in design, performance and user experience. With a stunning camera system, sophisticated AI capabilities and professional-grade performance in a sleek yet durable frame, these models represent the pinnacle of Apple’s engineering prowess. It goes without saying that it’s worthwhile upgrading from the iPhone 8, if there is anyone else that still has one, but the 16 Pro and Pro Max far surpass even the more recent models. This is the biggest leap the iPhone has taken in years.

Related:

Tried & tested: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Flip phones are back – and this time they aren’t going anywhere

The post The next generation of Apple technology, reviewed appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

TRAIL RUNNING HAS an intangible quality that surpasses all other forms of the sport. Sure, there’s the same endorphin rush and the familiar benefit of feeling good about yourself for the rest of the day that you get from road running, but nothing beats being out in nature, taking in the sights while relying on nothing but yourself and what you’ve brought with you – which is more important than you might think.

On a recent journey to Lamington National Park in south-east Queensland, we discovered exactly how important having the right gear is to trail running success. Without it, you can end up in all sorts of strife. Luckily for the Men’s Health team, we’ve already got all we need. And luckily for you, we’re sharing our favourites.

Here, we break down seven trail running essentials we believe every self-respecting trail runner and hiker should have on their feet, on their body or in their trail pack.

What should you take on a trail run?

Salomon Genesis Trail Running Shoes

It may be an obvious choice, but you will need more than a pair of crocs to hit the trail with confidence. Made for the mountains, the Salomon Genesis is tough, agile and as eager to hit the trail as you are. Designed to be durable and precise on the most technical of terrains, the Genesis has a dynamic support chassis to place emphasis where you need it and grippy underfoot lugs to ensure stability. The Genesis can handle anything you throw at it – no trail is too rugged, no climb too steep – and it certainly served us well during our recent run.

SHOP NOW

Veos Trail Running Pack

For those longer adventures, you’ll want to be packing supplies – whether it’s water, snacks or a range of other accessories. In these cases, it’s important to have a trail pack that doesn’t hinder your ability to run. Something small and lightweight that is able to hug your body like this Veos trail pack is essential. It features a durable nylon ripstop to protect it from abrasion and ventilated shoulder straps to allow for breathability. It’s also able to hold up to five litres of supplies, and we recommend taking that number at face value because explaining why this metric is measured in litres will bore you to death and waste time you could be spending on the trail.

SHOP NOW

Salomon Soft Reservoir – 1.5L

Like with any run, you’re going to get thirsty at some point. Luckily, the solution is far easier than lugging around a hefty water bottle. If you have a trail pack like the one above, a soft reservoir like this one from Salomon is suitably compact and can be comfortably clipped inside to provide hydration with ease.

SHOP NOW

Bondi Sands Sport SPF 50 Wet Skin Sunscreen

It’s easy to forget with all that dense tree cover and thick foliage that you will still be exposed to the sun for a long time while out on the trail. Protecting your skin, then, should be a high priority. We recommend going for a sunscreen like this one from Bondi Sands. It’s SPF 50 and is formulated to be effective when applied to wet skin, making it ideal for those extra sweaty activities.

SHOP NOW

Kathmandu OT 5 Panel Cap

In addition to sunscreen, wearing a hat is another easy way to prevent sunburn during a trail run. The benefits don’t stop there though. Wearing a hat with a brim can also shield your eyes from the sun, which is important when you’re navigating uneven surfaces where rocks and fallen branches can come out of nowhere. Go for a hat that’s breathable and lightweight, so it won’t become damp with sweat or slow you down.

SHOP NOW

Kathmandu 1-Person First Aid Kit

Trail running is plenty of fun, but the reality is, it can also be dangerous. Rugged terrain can carry more than a few surprises, and a lot can go wrong. Add to this the fact that you’ll likely be a long way from help on many of your trail runs, and you’ll see the need for a first aid kit. The best ones will be compact enough to be shoved into your trail pack while containing enough bandages, wound dressings and sterile wipes to treat any injury on the spot.

SHOP NOW

Kathmandu Seeker T-Shirt

Last of all, a performance t-shirt is a must. This t-shirt comes from Kathmandu’s new Seeker range, which is designed for those who seek moments in nature above all else. It’s incredibly soft, eminently lightweight and maintains breathability even in the toughest of conditions. Plus, with an Ionic+ Botanical citric acid-based treatment to eliminate odour-causing bacteria, you can finish your run feeling as clean as you started it.

SHOP NOW

Related:

The 2024 Men’s Health Sneaker Awards

The best running routes in each capital city

The post 7 trail running essentials for your next outdoor adventure appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

What are the benefits of using resistance bands instead of free weights?

Upper Body

• Chest Press: Loop a resistance band behind your back and hold one end in each hand. Extend your arms forward to simulate a bench press, squeezing your chest at the top of the movement.
• Bicep Curls: Stand on the band with your feet shoulder-width apart. Hold the ends of the band and curl your hands toward your shoulders, keeping your elbows close to your sides.
• Shoulder Press: Stand on the band and hold the ends at shoulder height with palms facing forward. Press the band overhead until your arms are fully extended.
• Lat Pulldown: Attach the band to a sturdy object overhead. Hold the ends of the band and pull them down toward your chest, engaging your lats.

Lower Body

• Squats: Stand on the band with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding the ends at shoulder level. Perform a squat, keeping your chest lifted and knees aligned over your toes.
• Lunges: Step one foot onto the band while holding the ends in each hand. Perform a lunge by stepping the other foot back and lowering your hips, then return to the starting position.
• Glute Bridges: Lie on your back with a band looped around your thighs. Press through your heels to lift your hips, engaging your glutes and core.

Core

• Woodchoppers: Attach the band to a sturdy object at chest height. Hold one end of the band with both hands and stand sideways to the anchor point. Twist your torso and pull the band diagonally across your body, engaging your obliques.
• Russian Twists: Sit on the floor with your legs bent and loop the band under your feet. Hold the ends of the band and twist your torso from side to side, working your core and obliques.

4. Full-Body Exercises

• Deadlifts: Stand on the band with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the ends in each hand. Hinge at your hips and lower your torso, then return to a standing position, engaging your glutes and hamstrings.
• Rows: Anchor the band in front of you at waist height. Hold the ends and step back until the band is taut. Pull the band toward your torso, squeezing your shoulder blades together to engage your back muscles.

Circuit medium resistance band

$12 AT BIGW

1m and 30cm complete Powerband set

$234 AT POWERBANDS.COM

PTP SuperBand 3-pack

$89 at Rebel Sport

11x resistance band straps

$22 at BIGW

Resistance band 5-pack

$40 at BIGW

PTP MicroBand heavy resistance band

$17 at Rebel Sport

6-piece resistance band loop kit

$9 at BIGW

PTP Resistance Platform

$200 at Rebel Sport

In defence of bro science: 10 common muscle mantras put under the microscope

Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven the Hunter trainer shares his hero transformation secrets

35 fitness quotes to push you through your toughest workouts

The post Why you should be working out with resistance bands appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.