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There are many “Best of” articles for 2021 covering the most popular apps and wearables like Peloton, Mirror, Apple, and Fitbit. I've written about many of these apps and wearables here on the ACE Blog, and they remain some of my favorite ways to help others on their journey to better health. However, my first ACE review of 2021 focuses on lesser-known fitness apps and wearables – the ones you may not know about yet, but should.
Vizer
I use the fitness app Performance for several years. I connect the app to my collected fitness data and itPayto make myself active. Every year I earn enough for some fitness equipment, such as: Hide smart water bottle. My new social conscience app for 2021 is Vizer. Vizer free download is a social fitness rewards app that gets you moving while fighting hunger. You set a daily activity goal, and when you reach your goal, corporate sponsors donate a meal to a local food pantry. You also earn Vizer Points to celebrate your practice and contribution. My local rewards can be used on vendors near me, including a sushi roll, fresh-cut flowers, pastries, and even a kombucha flight. Help others on your own journey of health and wellness. If you're looking for other apps that reward you for being active, check these out Paceline and Charity miles. Just make sure you're okay with how they use your fitness data.
Lose it
I've written about LoseIt before in an ACE blog, but they're worth revisiting with their recent improvements. In addition to the ability to manually track food intake through the app and be motivated by the connected community, LoseIt now offers food logging with their SnapIt feature (just take a photo of what you eat). They also have a new Challenges feature where you can compete with your friends from around the world to close your Activity Rings on an Apple Watch. Let me know if you would like to join my accountability group. The app is free for the general app and $59.99 for the annual premium features.
MyZone
I have used and tested many heart rate monitors, but my new favorite is from Myzone. In addition to connecting to my smartphone, this convenient heart rate monitor can also be connected to other wearable devices and fitness equipment. Real-time heart rate monitoring lets you view your personal performance live on your smartphone using easy-to-understand Myzone Effort Points (MEPs), a five-color zone points system. Each zone has representatives associated with the effort you put into your training. This unique scoring system levels the playing field so you can challenge and motivate your friends through friendly competition, regardless of their fitness level. The accurate heart rate monitor starts at $89.99, which is comparable to Polar and Garmin monitors. They also have a Bluetooth scale ($69) that automatically records your body weight measurements in the Myzone app.
Let's hike
If you're like me, you may want to forget about many of the challenges of 2020 and look forward to finding new and exciting fitness habits for 2021. I found an app in Let’s Roam that does exactly that. Let's Roam isn't a traditional fitness app, but it gets you outside, having fun and being active. Think of your traditional scavenger hunt with added physical activity. Their team of global explorers have created exciting experiences (many on foot) in more than 400 cities worldwide. For example, if you live in San Diego and have yet to visit Old Town (1 mile in under an hour), Gaslamp (1.8 miles in 1.5 hours), or Downtown (2.3 miles in two hours), this app will guide you through the city and show you historical and local lore. Consider helping out a local restaurant (a healthy one, of course) and plan a post-adventure meal at the end of your hunt to reflect on your fitness day. Fancy a post-COVID adventure in Europe? They have active passes for cities like Galway, London, Madrid and Rome and have plans for more cities in 2021. Tours start at $12.99 with an annual pass for the adventurous.
footpath
In case you want to check your Let's Roam walking distance or calculate a new walking or running route, you can do this using the Footpath app. In seconds you can map routes with your finger. The app can measure elevation and distance, save offline topo maps to navigate even without a connection, and provide turn-by-turn directions for your fitness trip. This app is free to download with an Elite subscription for $3.99 per month or $23.49 per year.
As I suggest to anyone who will listen, not all apps or wearables are created for every person. If you see one on my list that you might like, do a little more research yourself before spending any money. Make sure the app or wearable “fits” (pun intended) your 2021 wellness and fitness goals. And if you know of an app or wearable that I haven't mentioned, feel free to send me its handle on Twitter @tedvickey.