I’m a Fitness Editor—Here Are the Best Black Friday Deals on Training Gear

I’ve personally used these adjustable dumbbells for years, and their ability to pack a punch while taking up a small amount of floor space is clutch. The PowerBlock brand is one of the most established and respected in the industry.

I’ve seen these dumbbells everywhere from the elite NFL training facility Exos and the home gym of world-renowned trainer Don Saladino. Of course, you can throw these dumbbells anywhere, on the floor or any garage storage you may have, but picking up this stand really brings the set together.

If you have room for it, having a rack in your home gym is massive. It helps you perform those fundamental lifts like squats and presses. This one from Sportsroyals is solid and is impressively multi-functional.

Not only does this rack support your fundamental lifts, but it also allows you do add cable training and bodyweight exercises like dips or pull-ups your routine.

If you don’t have a serious piece of cardio equipment like a stationary bike at home, you are missing out on an opportunity to take your training to that next level. Especially now, with the tempertures dropping, you may want to knock out more of your high intensity work indoors as opposed to outside in the chill.

I’ve been using this Bowflex bike in one of my gyms for years, and I’m shocked to see it at this huge of a discount. If you’ve been looking for a great, reliable exercise bike and don’t want to spend a few thousand for a smart bike, this is a great way to go.

As much as we’d all like to live in the gym and do nothing but make gains all day, this is just not a realistic. But what is possible is bringing the workout to you, which is why I’ve created a home office area that makes sure I’m still moving and active even when I’m stuck editing or answering emails. Our team has recently investigated the tremendous health benefits of simply walking for extended periods of time.

This WalkingPad allows you to hit your step count no matter where you are. I keep it at my desk and when football comes on I’ll sometimes roll it over to the living room to crush my step count while I watch the game. This P1 model is super slim, making it easy to store away and transport, while being one of the more sturdy options on the market.

This weighted vest has really helped me escalate my bodyweight workouts. I’ve had this piece for years, and it gets used no matter the season. I’ve been impressed by how long it’s standed the test of time, as well as a few moves. This vest is also much more comfortable than other options than I’ve tried in the past.

This is a great bench to pair with the PowerBlock dumbbells, if you decide to pick those up, or whatever weights you have at home. This is a great piece of gear to really increase the amount of exercises you can do at home.

There are a lot of weight benches that out there, but many of them are pretty flimsy. Not the case with this Finer Form bench, which is also pretty comfortable for those long training days when you’re hitting chest. I also like how low profile it is, meaning I can make more out of my garage gym space.

Our team at Men’s Health has tested all the fitbits out there, and this is our pick for best overall, which you can read about in our story. The jist is this is an awesome fitness tracker, which can really help you change your lifestyle for the better.

Fitbits are easy to understand, with real insights that inform decision making, a great choice for anyone who isn’t looking for a piece of tech to take over their lives. It’s easy to put on and take off, and looks good in the gym or at work.

Prepping for a marathon is serious business, and it’s important to have the right kind of footwear if you plan on going 26.2 miles. I’m a huge fan of these shoes from Brooks. They are comfortable but not overstuffed, so you can still feel the ground.

The Glycerins have popped on our “best shoes” lists quite a few times, as I’m not the only editor who is a fan. This colorway is great too, bringing a little pop into the equation.

I like to train, and I like to train hard. If you’re a reader of Men’s Health, that it is important to put just as much effort into your recovery. Keeping a Hypervolt 2 around, by the desk and at the home gym, is clutch in a lot of ways to relieve soreness from workouts and loosen up the muscles after periods of inactivity.

Since it’s my job to test all kinds of gear, you can be sure I have a number of different massage guns around, but I like Hypervolt best because its lightweight and quieter than other machines.

Hpygn Resistance Bands Set with Handles

One of the products that I am most often asked about from new gymgoers is resistance bands. Given the ability to use them for an effective workout at home, outdoors, or while traveling, they are one of the items you absolutely should have. I bought these a few years back and have been using them often in my nearby park.

Resistance bands are a tough item to get right, and often I see people spending money on inferior products. They can also be difficult to use for the uninitiated, which is why I like to steer people towards this set. Not only does it come with a convenient travel bag, but the handles make for an easier to execute on exercises like curls and banded push-ups.

There’s nothing better I like better than working out outdoors, getting some endorphins, and a little natural vitamin D. That includes running and bicycling on the road for hours, even if it’s a bit crisp outside.

No matter whether you live in the city or in the suburbs, it’s dangerous to be on the street with noise canceling headphones stunting your awareness. I like these Shokz OpenRun Pros because I can keep listening to my training playlist while hitting the pavement.

CAP Barbell Olympic EZ Curl Bar

EZ bars are a great way to mix up your arm workouts. I have this one at home, which I picked up off of Amazon years ago and it still gets the job done. Sure, there are more expensive bars out there, that are a little more refined, but for me this one all I need.

The benefits to having an EZ bar? Getting to change up the grips on your curls, getting a more full workout of the bicep. I wrote about the benefits to your wrists in this story that I did about Hugh Jackman’s training routine for Deadpool 3. Yes, that’s right, Wolverine uses an EZ bar too.

I’ve never liked too much on my wrists, so in the past I haven’t had much success sticking with a fitness tracker. I would wear a heart rate strap on more intense cardio sessions but that’s about it. That changed when Oura Ring hit the scene, which I wrote about here.

I like keeping track of my biomarkers, and being able to switch fingers keeps me from feeling too constrained. The data I collect from their app helps inform the training decisions I make throughout the week.

The Oura Ring 4 released recently, which means you can save on the previous model. There have been some design changes, but much of the health tracking is stil the same and current with software updates.

Given the amount of water you should be drinking throughout the day, if you don’t have something that carries more than 20 ounce, you’re doing it wrong. I’ve been a fan of the YETI brand since I was a kid, and the outdoorsman in me loves seeing the logo throughout the day.

This Rambler follows me everywhere, from the gym to the office. One of the reasons I like this YETI so much is how it is to clean, as opposed to other options where the straw is inside the bottle. It also fits easily to into the car cup holder, which isn’t always the case.

I drink a lot, a lot, of water throughout the day. But when you ahave a summer like the one we had this year, and you like to train outdoors, it’s never enough.

I have enjoyed adding a Liquid I.V. to my water almost daily, usually after I’ve finished my run. The citrus-based flavors are refreshing and fun. It’s an easy way to level up a glass of water and keep the hydration process from getting too monotonous.

There are electrolyte companies who put out a product without nutritional information, stay away from those. That is not the case for Liquid I.V., and for anyone looking to learn more about electrolyte powders from MH along with registered dietians, check out our story here.

Read more: Best Electrolyte Powders

I was on a cycling cardio kick until recently, when we were lucky enough to welcome our daughter Rose (pictured here) into the family. She recently turned a year old, and was cleared by our doctor to join me on runs in a jogging stroller.

Now there is nothing I look forward to more than buckling her up in the Bob and going for a jog on the track or on some local trails. The Alterrain Pro lives up to its name, keeping the ride smooth no matter what terrain we are on. It’s been handling the fall leafs and fallen branches with ease.

One of the benefits of the Alterrain Pro is its ability to handle kids up to 75 pounds, meaning you don’t have to upgrade or replace for years. On the Amazon page, be sure to switch the color to “black” as that’s the option on sale right now.