11 Tech Gifts For Gym Addicts

11 Tech Gifts For Gym Addicts
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By Boxing Day, you and your loved ones will almost certainly be rendered immobile due to the sheer weight of turkey and Christmas pudding consumed.

As such, this is also the day when you'll vow to get fit in the New Year. Whether you're planning to shed a few festive pounds as part of your new year’s resolution or you're already a ripped fitness fanatic who’s on first name terms with all the staff at the local gym, there are plenty of gadgets to help you along.

Ranging from small stocking filler-style gifts to more pricey devices to place under the crimbo tree, fitness gadgets are an ideal Christmas gift. And the good news is that there are plenty to choose from in 2014.

To help you with your Xmas shopping, we've been running around collecting up our top 11 tech gifts for gym addicts to give you more time to eat mince pies.

11 Tech Gifts For Gym Addicts
Sony NWZ-WS610 Walkman(01 of11)
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This nifty all-in-one Walkman from Sony takes the form of a pair of in-ear headphones and is 100% waterproof up to 2m so not only will it withstand a sweaty workout and rainy run, it will also stand up to a dip in the pool. The 4GB capacity means that you can pack in around 1,000 songs. Playback time is limited to just 60 minutes, but then it only takes three minutes to charge up. There are three colours to choose from You can also get a 16GB version that takes around 4,000 songs. You can also hook up to your smartphone over Bluetooth to stream songs wirlessly and if you've got a Sony phone you can simply tap it connect, thanks to the on-board NFC. (From £129)
Yurbuds Leap Wireless(02 of11)
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US company Yurbuds has finally made it to the UK via audio maker JBL and this is its flagship wireless headphone option. The maker says that the earphones are compatible with all smartphones and sport a more secure fit than many other sports headphones. Boasting Yurbud's distinctive sweat-proof design, the earphones feature a microphone for making calls along with an inline remote for controlling the audio at the touch of a button. A respectable six-hour battery life should provide you with more than enough Taylor Swift on your ‘for-your-ears-only’ gym playlist.(£79.99)
Fitbit Charge(03 of11)
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The latest fitness gadget in Fitbit's arsenal, the Charge is an upgrade to the older Fitbit Flex and features a new LCD screen that can display the time as real-time fitness stats as well as caller ID from your smartphone. You can use Fitbit’s app to keep track of your food intake and record your workout info and even share it all with friends, or even compete with them if you're feeling super-confident. You'll get a 7-day battery life and the water-resistant casing means that you can wear it in the shower, though not in the pool. The Charge comes in four different colours and there are two sizes to choose from so there should be one to suit everyone. (£99.99)
Griffin Shoe Pouch(04 of11)
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It may not be the most exciting of gadgets, but the Griffin Shoe Pouch could well be one of the most useful. The durable nylon shoe pocket is designed to hold Fitbit, Misfit, Sony and Nike+ fitness trackers and can be securely attached to your trainer if you don't like the idea of a wrist-based gadget. The pouch features a reflective panel for extra visibility if you're out running in the dark and can hold any tracker measuring 8 x 48 x 10mm or less. You can attach it either by slipping it under your shoe's laces or by threading it through them for some extra hold.(£17.50)
Jawbone Up Move(05 of11)
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Landing in time for Christmas, this little fitness gadget is probably the best budget activity tracker around. As well as tracking your movement, the Move will also keep tabs on your sleep and feed back all the information via Jawbone's dedicated smartphone app. The simple device comes in a choice of five colours and can be worn on a wrist strap or popped into a clip that can be attached to a belt, pocket, bra or whereever else you care to keep it. The tracker sports an LED display that lights up when pressed to show how close you are to your goals without having to check your phone. What's more, it's water resistant so there's no need to worry about it getting all sweaty. (£39.99)
Misfit Flash(06 of11)
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This new fitness band is an updated version of the Misfit Shine, although the price has been slashed in half to a wallet-friendly 50 quid. The design isn't quite as fancy as some of its higher priced rivals, but you won't get laughed out of the gym either.The circular tracker slips into the back of the rubber wrist strap and as well as the standard activity and sleep tracking, you can also tell it when you're starting to exercise and it'll record various sports including running, swimming, walking and cyling. If it's a basic, no-frills fitness tracker you're after, then this is a very good shout indeed. (£50)
Sony SmartWatch 3(07 of11)
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As the name suggests, this is a fully-fledged smartwatch and runs Google's watch-specific Android Wear software. Connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, the watch links up with Sony's LifeLog app which keeps track of your fitness stats as well as music you’ve listened to and videos you’ve watched. The watchface is a removable unit that easily pops in and out of the silicon wrist strap and it's all completely waterproof so it'll survive your morning swim without any dramas. You'll also get 3 days of use on a single charge, better than any other Android Wear device currently on sale, so you can spend less time charging your battery and more time working off the Christmas cake in the gym. (£190)
Beats PowerBeats 2 Wireless(08 of11)
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These superb wireless headphones from Beats feature a Bluetooth 4 connection for hooking up to your phone or music player without pesky wires getting in the way of your excercising. You'll get around 6 hours of continuous playback which should be enough to get you through your workout playlist several times over. The flexible wire that connects the headphones together sits comfortably round the back of your head and the good news is that it's designed to stay tangle free. Add to that the facts that they're feather-light and they sound great and you've got yourself a hell of a good piece of kit for the gym.(£169.95)
Monster iSport Strive(09 of11)
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Monster makes several iSport in-ear headphones, with the Strive being the most affordable. Although they're not wireless, the flat cable stays largely tangle-free while the silicon ear hook keeps them firmly in place and the three differently sized pairs of earbuds help you to find the perfect fit. As you'd hope, they're also sweatproof. The semi-open design means that they're great for wearing while you're out on a run so that you can still hear traffic and any other potential dangers around you. Audio quality is also impressive, as you'd expect from Monster, so that you're getting premium quality without it costing the Earth. (£59.95)
Polar M400(10 of11)
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Bridging the gap between fitness bands and GPS sports watches, the M400 is primarily built as a running watch, though it can also be used to track other forms of exercise. Weighing less than 57g, the M400 is much less bulky than many other sports watches. It packs an accelerometer which means that it can track your activity as well as your sleep and because it's intended for running it will also give info on distance, pacing and the amount of calories you burn. The news for running newbies is that it includes a feature that will guide you back home via the most direct route using GPS if you get lost or need to call it quits halfway through your run. (£169)
iPod Shuffle(11 of11)
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This colourful little chap is an ideal companion for the gym thanks to a built-in clip that can be used to attach it to your clothes. Available in rainbow of colour choices, the Shuffle has a bargain price tag which makes it Apple's most affordable iPod. Tipping the scales at just 12.5g, you won't even notice it's there when you're working out. While you might not be able to cram your entire music library on, there's enough room for hundreds of songs to get you through your workout thanks to the 2GB capacity. The built-in rechargable battery gives you around 15 hours of playback which should be enough to see you through numerous visits to the gym. (£40)