My Fitness Gadget Wish list

We’re going to talk gear today – are you ready? A wish list, you’re probably saying? After Christmas? Yes!

I always start thinking about things I might need to pick up when I head back to the USA for a visit. It’s usually cheaper, there’s more selection, and especially in fitness it could take months or years for those products to be available internationally.

So here’s what’s on my fitness wish list – I probably won’t get to all of them on this trip, or even this year, but one can dream! If you have a favorite brand/alternative to anything on my list, please share in the comments!

New, darker running shoes

I’m ready to retire my white running shoes. It’s been a good run (pun intended, Lance) but I’m ready for something a bit darker. Hoping for all black, though I might get distracted by bright shiny colors and do that instead.

These New Balance 890s look good:

My friend Megan swears by her Nike Free Run+ 2 and she knows her stuff, so that’s enough for me to check them out as well. They’re all black and they look light, so I have hope. I have a soft spot for Nike since it was one of the first outlets in my hometown growing up. You can bet I had Nike shoes every year.

The perfect workout pants

I didn’t know what all the fuss was about when I heard about Lululemon. But I tried them on a trip to the US last year, and I thought they felt pretty good so I decided to shell out the money because I wanted a non-food reward for my progress.

Oh. my. goodness!

Seriously. I would wear these to every workout if I could, and all day at home, too. Ok, so I do wear them to every workout. The material is slightly compression so they hold you in, and they make you look even better. My friend Abbie had told me, “They give you the best butt,” but coming from her (a size 2), I was skeptical. But it’s so true!

Buy them for the butt potential, wear them every day for the silky smooth sucked-in feeling which makes me run faster, no joke. I bought a few friends gift certificates there, and I’m most likely getting another pair this year, too.

Here are the Lululemon crops similar to mine – the Run: Inspire Crop II:

The best workout hoodie

I love hoodies, and in the winter I wear one almost every day while working from home, and definitely to/from the gym, but they have to have a zipper or I feel a little claustrophobic. Luckily I have a WordPress logo’d one from American Apparel which is super warm and comfortable, but I almost don’t want to run in it, so I’m looking for another option for the end of this winter and next year’s so I can do a few cool-weather runs outside.

Lululemon again has a good looking hoodie which is a bit expensive – love the thumbholes – and one for running which looks good too:

Did you know Athleta is owned by Gap? You probably did. I liked this “half mile” hoodie by them:

Anyone tried Athleta? Worth checking out?

Running shorts

I’m not sure I’ll get into the running skirts here in Italy – people already look at you enough just running at all 🙂 But I would like some options for when the weather starts to warm up instead of my longer crops. I want some running shorts!

Here are the ones I’m looking at: New Balance Fun Run Shorts

I spent so many years playing soccer that I can’t leave out Adidas:

and Lululemon’s Turbo Run Short Ruffle are so darn attractive. I think it’s because we can see a real person with real legs and a real butt (though definitely not mine) in them. Take note, other companies!

The perfect sports bra

You knew this was coming. I’ve been using Champion sports bras since I can remember and I like the C9 line they do at Target as well – I have this C9 high-impact bra in black which I like and is pretty cheap:

but I like their Champion brand bras, too – this “Champion Double Dry+™ Spot Comfort® Full-Support Sports Bra” (what a mouthful!) caught my eye:

or this “Champion Double Dry+™ Spot Comfort® Max-Support Sports Bra” because I love the back clasp!

The perfect water bottle

I really love the Klean Kanteen I got for Christmas from work last year (and it’s got the WP logo! Love!) Mine is stainless steel, but this blue is nice, too:

…but it’s not a good option for taking a water bottle with you on a run (it’s 27 ounces and steel…so ya, not so much). I have a running belt with two little bottles from when I did my half marathon, but it also feels like a BIG COMMITMENT to strap it on and go for a run. Hey! Look at me! Wearing a belt with fuel because I’m an expert runner. I want something a bit more casual.

Maybe a hand-held one like this from Fuel Belt?

Or Nathan?

A Garmin with a heart-rate monitor

Yes, I really want one. I’ve been researching more about exercising in your target heart rate for maximum effects so it’s made me curious about my own heart rate while exercising, plus I would love to let my Garmin chart out my workout instead of me worrying about distances. And splits.

Not really sure what the difference is between all these models – the Garmin Forerunner 305 seems the most popular:

A travel yoga mat

This is a bit of a trick because it’s on my wish list though I haven’t actually found one which looks good enough to buy! I want one which won’t take up my entire suitcase (very little, actually) but will provide a clean surface on which to sit/stretch/exercise. Suggestions?

Anything else that should be on my wishlist?

Disclosure: None of the companies or brands mentioned are paying/compensating me to mention their products. I wish they would! Ha. 2-3 of the links are to Amazon with my affiliate code.