Best Training Tech for Endurance Athletes
By Berne Broudy
Train smart, be safe and optimize performance with this ingenious gear and gadgetry.
Oura Ring
Strap Humon’s Hex to your thigh, and it analyzes muscle oxygen levels in real time to help you get the most from your workouts. This AI training tool sends data to your smart watch, phone or bike computer as it’s collected. Then, in conjunction with Humon’s app, it advises you on pace and recovery so you know when to push harder and when to back off, or if you need to modify your workout or program. $295
Humon Hex
Strap Humon’s Hex to your thigh, and it analyzes muscle oxygen levels in real time to help you get the most from your workouts. This AI training tool sends data to your smart watch, phone or bike computer as it’s collected. Then, in conjunction with Humon’s app, it advises you on pace and recovery so you know when to push harder and when to back off, or if you need to modify your workout or program. $295
PowerDot
Electro muscle stimulation (EMS) contracts muscles for training and recovery. With PowerDot, you have home access to the same level of EMS you’d get from a doctor or physical therapist. Use PowerDot’s pre-programmed performance modes, which include warmup, strength, endurance, resistance and explosive strength, to strengthen muscles and clear lactic acid. The Uno treats one side of the body at a time, while Duo lets you work the full body at once. $249-$449
Rylo Camera
Slightly bigger than a GoPro, this camera-on-the-go captures 360 degrees of action. Advanced frame stabilization and integrated horizon leveling help you record pro-grade hero footage, and Rylo’s app lets you frame, clip, crop and motion control clips on your phone. Share your captures as traditional videos or swipe-able 360-degree images. Various modes allow you to put yourself in the picture, include forward and backward facing views in the same frame, and turn the world into a marble beneath you. $499
POC Ventral Spin
The ultra-light Ventral uses silicone helmet pads that shear in any direction to absorb impacts more effectively. Strategically designed vents channel air through the helmet, not around it, maximizing cooling and minimizing drag. The interior harness is highly adjustable and fit riders with a variety of head shapes and sizes. $290
Under Armour Hovr
The lively 8mm-offset Hovr boasts bouncy energy return, an anatomically molded insole, and cradling heel support. But its most exciting feature is the electronic pod embedded in the midsole. Under Armour’s Sonic Record Sensor, paired with MapMyRun, tracks, analyzes and stores running metrics like stride length and cadence to help you fine tune your form. $110
Zwift
The online platform that that lets you train virtually with other people in your own video game-like environment recently introduced training plans. Designed by professional coaches and athletes to help riders and runners tackle a first fondo, ride a crit, run a marathon, or hone off-season fitness, the plans vary in duration and intensity based on user goals and schedule. If you miss a workout, Zwift reshuffles sessions for you. The plans are included in the monthly membership, which now serves runners as well as cyclists. $10/month
AfterShokz Trekz Air
Ear buds and headphones are great for the office and travel, but they often block ambient noise completely, which isn’t safe when you’re on the bike. AfterShokz uses bone conduction so you can hear the music without tuning out the sound of approaching traffic. These wireless Bluetooth headphones are lightweight and made of waterproof titanium, produce great sound quality, and last for six hours on a single charge. $180
Garmin Edge 520 Plus
The compact and moderately priced Edge 520 Plus puts a smartphone’s worth of apps and functions on your handlebar. The same size as the 520, the 520 Plus pairs with a power meter, controls Garmin lights and radar, provides advanced mapping directly from route finding and recording apps like Strava and Trailforks, and lets you send and receive messages to the group you’re riding with—no need to pull out your phone. Enable weather alerts so you know if a storm’s rolling in. $280