Many of us use January and the new year as a catalyst to jump start our exercise routine that may have stalled during the holidays. Oftentimes a new piece of gear, whether clothing or shoes or tech, can inspire us, so we’ve put together a FabList of our exercise favorites:
Shoes & Socks:
- Altra shoes: For hiking the ‘hood or on the trails, we like Altra shoes. Known as Zero Drop, these shoes have no difference in height between the heel and the ball of the foot. This means that the foot is parallel to the ground, similar to how it is when walking barefoot. Jo has had feet/ankle issues her whole life and five years ago ditched her orthotics and started wearing Altras and has had ZERO foot issues ever since. We like the Timp for neighborhood walking and the Lone Peak for trail hiking.
- Shoes are very personal depending on your activity and anatomy, but many of our friends are beholden to the Hoka Clifton and the Brooks Adrenaline.
- Socks: Good cushy socks make all the difference! Some great choices are Bombas, Feetures, and Darn Tough or Smartwool wool socks for skiing/hiking.
Bottoms:
- Athleta: The Transcend High Rise is a FabList favorite. Chrissie loves the Salutation Stash ⅞ Leggings with a side phone pocket.
- Lululemon: Worth the money. They are so well made and last a looong time!
- Vuori Performance Jogger Sweats: If you are looking for a lightweight, soft pair of sweats this is the one!
- Bike Shorts: If you’re looking for bike shorts, our go-tos are Athleta and Lululemon. There are various options depending on how much coverage you want and the sport you’re using them for.
- For skorts/tennis skirts, our faves are Outdoor Voices and Sweaty Betty.
- Hiking Pants: Favorites are Outdoor Research Ferrosi and Patagonia Quandary.
- Long Underwear: Look no further than Smartwool!
Tops:
- Our favorite tee is this one from Beyond Yoga. Not too tight, not too short, just perfect!
- Another option is this one from Athleta. It also comes in a long-sleeved version that’s terrific – not too long.
- Target is a great option, especially this crewneck tee for $12!
- For a basic sweatshirt, Chrissie loves this one from Quince, this basic Hanes one, and for a ‘nicer’ option Vuori has lots of styles in their super soft fabric from crewneck, full-zip, half-zip, etc.
- If you are looking for a thermal layer for hiking/skiing, we highly recommend Smartwool!
Ski Clothing:
Because it’s Winter, we’ve thrown in a few outerwear manufacturers we like:
- Halfdays: Super cute bibs, coats, and pants in fun colors or the basics!
- Flylow: Great colors and styles.
- Outdoor Research: Well-made insulated pieces.
Sport Bras:
- We are big fans of Quince work-out bras! Jo likes this scoop neck racer back and Chrissie likes this one!
- Lululemon has a wide array of shapes, sizes, and colors so you can choose depending on your activity and level of support desired.
Smart Health Tech:
If you like keeping track and charting your progress, here are some tech tools for you:
- Oura Ring: Track your sleep and more. They are the rage….because they work!
- Apple Watch: This can track steps, sleep, heart rate, and even call 911 if you fall!
- Garmin Watch: If you’d like a longer battery life than the Apple watch and something more exercise focused, this is a good choice.
Tools:
- Weighted Vest: The latest craze to add weight to increase heart rate, calorie burn, and improve bone strength.
- Obshay Decorative Weights: Wow, what a great idea! Keep them on your desk or coffee table as chic decor…and then do some strength work!
- Owala Water Bottle: Stay hydrated with this bottle that has a patented FreeSip spout designed for either sipping upright through the built-in straw or tilting back to swig from the spout opening!
Post-Workout Recovery:
- Higherdose Serotonin Soak: Combines the healing art of bathing with science-backed ingredients to relax your body and boost your mood.
- Theragun Massager: Personal massager for everyday relief!
- Therabody Jet Boots: Wireless, compact compression boots for athletic recovery.
- Higherdose Sauna Blanket: We haven’t tried this yet, but many people RAVE about it, and we’re curious to try it out.
- Cold Plunge Pool: Cold plunges are all the rage right now. Again, we haven’t tried this on an ongoing basis ourselves, but people who are into them are REALLY into them and swear by the benefits for inflammation and more. This one gets great reviews as an entry product if you’re wanting to test the (cool) waters.