Shopping·14 min read

The Best Physical Wellness Products to Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals

good-for-you-physical-2024
Design: theSkimm | Photos: Alo Yoga, Oura
May 13, 2024

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Taking care of ourselves physically is a prerequisite for feeling good overall, so we set out to test all the best products in the fitness game ​​— from athleisure to at-home equipment. We chose the winners based on how well they performed, whether they enhanced our fitness routines, and if we’d keep using them once testing was over. We also consulted Miriam Fried, a personal trainer based in New York, to back us up and share her insights. Let’s get moving.

Looking for more feel-good products? Check out our full list of Good For You Award winners here.

Athleisure

leggings
Alo Yoga

Best Leggings: Alo Yoga 7/8 High-Waist Airlift Legging

These leggings literally do not budge — whether we’re running on the treadmill, doing Pilates, or just running errands. They’re highly compressive so everything stays secure but the material still moves with you and is comfortable. Fried says, “They also last forever (I’ve had pairs for 4+ years that are still in great shape), and they look good on everyone.”

$128 at Alo Yoga
sports-bra
Thirdlove

Best High-Support Sports Bra: Thirdlove Adjustable Sports Bra

This bra has wireless built-in cups that’ll keep you supported no matter how intense the workout (and it's big boob-approved). We love that everything is adjustable, from the back closure to the straps, so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect fit.

$78 at Thirdlove
bralette
Amazon

Best Light-Support Sports Bra: Calvin Klein Modern Cotton Bralette

We reach for this cotton bralette for lower-impact activities, like Pilates and gentler yoga, and for day-to-day wear. The cotton is soft and has the right amount of stretch, and the logo band never bunches or digs in. We have it in multiple colors and wear it several times a week.

$14.99+ at Amazon$30 at Calvin Klein
bike-shorts
Amazon

Best Bike Shorts: Baleaf Biker Shorts

These are the best bike shorts we own (and we keep stocking up on them). They’re breathable, don’t ride up, and have pockets on the side for storing your phone while you walk. The high-rise waistband is comfortable and hugs us in all the right places. 

$14.98+ at Amazon
tennis-skirt
Alo Yoga

Best Tennis Skirt: Alo Yoga Varsity Tennis Skirt

With tenniscore in full swing, we wear this one daily even when we’re not on the court. It has compression shorts underneath for additional coverage, and the high-rise silhouette is comfortable. The pleats add a fun touch.

$74 at Alo Yoga

Smart Tech

oura-ring
Oura

Best Wearable Tech: Oura Ring

We love that this ring tracker looks at overall well-being, rather than zoning in on steps or diet. It’ll let you know how well you’re sleeping, your stress levels, and can even detect when you might be at risk for getting sick. We don’t find ourselves obsessing over the stats with this one, just using it to feel our best every day.

$299+ at Oura
theragun
Therabody

Best Recovery Tool: Theragun

Although it’s an investment, there’s no better massager on the market for sore muscles, aches, and pains. It has six attachments that feel like you’re giving yourself a professional massage at home. It’s also surprisingly quiet, so if you’re massaging after an early morning run, you won’t be waking up the whole house.

$599 at Therabody
walking-pad
Amazon

Best Walking Pad: Redliro Walking Pad Treadmill

We didn’t know what we were missing until we started using this walking pad while working. It’s lightweight and portable, so you can easily move it under your desk or table, then store it away when you’re finished. It has a five-layer belt so it feels cushioned and won’t be hard on your joints as you get your steps in. 

$194.99 at Amazon
earbuds
Bose

Best Earbuds for Workouts: Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

The cuff-like fit of these pro-favorite earbuds leaves your ear open to take in some ambient noise, making them great for daily walks or runs when you want to be aware of your surroundings. They’re comfortable, don’t shift while you move, and the sound quality is definitely up to Bose standards.

$299 at Bose$299 at Best Buy
air-purifier
Molekule

Best Air Purifier: Molekule Air Mini+

This air purifier is worth the investment for so many reasons. In addition to a HEPA filter, it also has light-activated technology that removes bacteria and particles from the air to remove smells, pet dander, and general pollutants. The indicator that lets you know when to change the filter is the icing on top. 

$359.99 at Molekule

Shoes & Socks

hoka
Hoka

Best Running Shoes: Hoka Clifton 9

We will never part with our Hoka running shoes, and Fried is equally enthusiastic about them. They’re light and breathable but incredibly cushioned so it feels like you’re walking on clouds. We love that they give us a little platform-like lift while we’re doing our daily walks. 

$145 at Hoka
allbirds
Allbirds

Best Sport Shoes: Allbirds Tree Runner Go

We’ve been Allbirds fans for a long time now, but these are the perfect athletic shoes. We’ve worn them running, walking, playing pickleball, and trekking around a new city. They’re so lightweight it feels like wearing nothing, and they’re made with fiber that’ll stay cool even when it’s a million degrees outside.

$120 at Allbirds
walking-shoes
DSW

Best Stylish Walking Shoes: Dr. Scholl's Time Off Platform Sneaker

We put these TikTok-famous sneakers to the test and found the anatomical cushioning to provide great support while walking for miles in a new city. Fried says, “I walked 20,000 steps a day in Europe comfortably because of these sneakers.” Plus, they pair nicely with dresses and skirts as well as athleisure, so they’re great for a travel capsule wardrobe. The under-$100 price tag doesn’t hurt, either. 

$69.99 at DSW
socks
Wide Open

Best Everyday Socks: Wide Open Solid Cushioned No Show Socks

These are the most comfortable socks we’ve ever worn. Full stop. They don’t leave behind uncomfortable indentations around our ankles and have great stretch. They’re also cushioned in the toe and heel and made of merino wool, which is naturally moisture-wicking and antimicrobial.

$20 at Wide Open
athletic-socks
Amazon

Best Athletic Socks: Balega UltraGlide No Show Tab

We’ve been wearing these Balega socks for years. They’re made of breathable yarn that never rubs and keeps our feet from overheating, no matter the activity. Plus, even the discreet, no-show styles don’t roll down.

$13.78+ at Amazon

Apps & Instructors

peloton
Peloton

Best Biking & Running App: Peloton

We do love the Peloton spinning programs, but the app offers so many other programs that don’t require expensive equipment, including guided walks and runs. We also swear by their thousands of bodyweight, Pilates, yoga, and meditation classes that cater to every level.

$10.75+/month at Peloton
classpass
ClassPass

Most Versatile Fitness Service: ClassPass

From yoga to cycling, Pilates to HIIT workouts, you can find pretty much any type of group fitness class in your area on ClassPass. What sets it apart from others? You can use your credits for wellness and self-care services like massages and pedicures, too.

$39+/month at ClassPass
glo
Glo

Best At-Home Yoga & Fitness App: Glo

One of our editors credits Glo with sparking a daily yoga practice that she’s kept up for the past 10 years. The app is home to thousands of yoga classes that encompass every length, level, and type imaginable, from rigorous Vinyasa flows to Kundalini breathwork and soothing Yin and Hatha. The instructors are some of the very best in the world (pro tip: her favorites are Stephanie Snyder and Kathryn Budig). She also uses it for Pilates, bodyweight, and meditation classes, so it’s a really comprehensive service. She recommends it to practitioners of all experience levels.

$20.42+ at Glo
sculpt-society
The Sculpt Society

Best Cardio Fitness App: The Sculpt Society

If you love dance cardio, look no further. The Sculpt Society is a community with dance cardio workouts, yoga, meditation, and more. We love that you can start with low-impact classes and work your way up. The classes never fail to lower our stress levels.

$19.99+ at The Sculpt Society
tonal
Tonal

Best Splurge Fitness Machine: Tonal

Tonal is a full workout system, all contained in a touchscreen and the accompanying equipment. What makes it worth it is the on-demand workouts that feel like having a personal trainer in your home. You can also make separate profiles, so more than one person can track their progress at a time.

$73+/month, Tonal

Tools

yoga-mat
Stakt

Best Yoga Mat: Stakt The Mat

This mat does double-duty, since it unfolds completely for yoga and other floor exercises, then stacks on itself to become a block or knee padding. We love that it’s thicker than other yoga mats but still lightweight and folds up for easy storage.

$86 at Stakt
bands
Amazon

Best Resistance Bands: Renoj Resistance Bands

These are made of stretchy fabric, rather than the traditional rubber bands, so there’s no slipping or sliding and no chance of it breaking while you’re squatting. There are three bands with increasing resistance packed in an easily packable bag.

$12.72+ at Amazon
foam-roller
REI

Best Foam Roller: Trigger Point Grid Foam Roller

This Fried's favorite foam roller and the ones she uses at her studio. The grid pattern on this hollow roller is specifically designed to stimulate pressure points and increase blood flow. It’s firm enough to get the job done without being as uncomfortable as other solid options. No matter how you roll on this, it’ll feel like you’re getting a massage.

$34.95+ at REI
heating-pad
Amazon

Best Heating Pad: Huggaroo Embrace Microwave Heating Pad

We can’t live without this heating pad. It’s cordless, weighted, and shaped perfectly to ease neck and upper back pain. It’s also great for easing period cramps, and we love that it’s fragrance-free for sensitive noses.

$31.99 at Amazon
spibelt
SPI

Best Running Belt: The Spibelt

This is like the Mary Poppins bag of belt bags. It’s small, lightweight, and doesn’t bounce while we walk or run, but it somehow expands to fit larger phones, cards, keys, and more. The waistband is fully adjustable, and it comes in more than 20 fun colors.

$26.99 at SPI

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