Smart technology is now firmly embedded into a huge range of wearable products, and some of these innovations are both surprising and impressive. We live in an age of wearable technology that goes far beyond smartwatches and headphones, and the quality of life improvements that these can afford us make them well worth considering.
Here is the best wearable tech available right now.
Q: Is a Smartwatch Actually Useful?
Generally, smartwatches offer a multitude of useful features that aim to assist you in your daily life and track your sports activities.
In terms of features, the Galaxy 5 Pro provides comprehensive body composition analysis, auto-workout tracking for more than 90 different activities, GPS, an improved Samsung BioActive sensor, and advanced sleep coaching to help you manage your overall sleep quality. You can accurately track all your body composition data from body fat to muscle mass, BMI, body water, and so on. And its fitness and multisport trackers help you achieve the best results from your workouts.
The Galaxy 5 Pro has a 45-millimeter sapphire glass display, and its casing is made from titanium, making it tough enough to wear for outdoor pursuits. It also has an IP68 waterproof rating so it’s perfect for swimming with. With all the health and wellness trackers you would expect from a quality smartwatch, plus improved performance and a tougher shell, there are plenty of reasons to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch 5 Pro.
Dual battery packs are placed into pockets inside the jacket’s lining and deliver 26 watts of power. Heat is channeled through the jacket and targets the chest, back, and collar. The batteries provide two hours of heat on the hottest temperature setting or up to eight hours on the lowest. There are three onboard button settings, while app control gives you a much broader temperature range. Remove the battery packs, and this jacket is machine washable like any regular jacket.
Boasting a 30% greater heat efficiency than similar heated jackets, the Venture Pro+ does come at a premium price. However, you’ll enjoy 40% better heat coverage with this jacket, and thanks to the app you can easily adjust heat settings on the fly. A great choice for anybody having to work or travel in the cold, and ideal for winter pursuits such as skiing; this smart jacket is perfect for keeping Jack Frost at bay this winter.
With a Bluetooth range of up to 30 feet, these glasses will work just fine when you’re out and about with your phone in your pocket. These open-ear sunglasses allow you to play your music discreetly via the in-arm speakers while producing very little noise leakage. You’ll get the benefit of listening to your favorite tunes, while still being able to hear the world around you. Plus, an advanced built-in microphone reduces noise around you for clearer call quality.
With a one-hour charging time and up to five and a half hours of continuous use from a full charge, you get an impressive amount of use with each outing. Scratch-resistant polarized lenses act to reduce glare and enhance visibility in the sunshine. And you can even have your prescription added to your Bose sunglasses, should you need to. You can look cool and feel cool in the sun with these stylish Bluetooth glasses.
Don’t expect to use these to listen to your favorite music or podcasts, though. The Bose Sleepbuds II work exclusively with the Bose Sleep app, which does not provide this type of content. Instead, it features a library of over 50 soothing sounds to choose from, to lull you to sleep. Noise-masking technology muffles external noise (but does not block it), to help your sleep remain uninterrupted.
You can set your favorite sleep sounds on the app and let your buds do their thing until your customized alarm sound gently wakes you in the morning. And the rechargeable case ensures your buds get plenty of rest themselves so that your ears can be soothed all night long.
Granted, if you’re addicted to podcasts or music for sleeping then these may not be for you. However, if the idea of relaxing white noise gently tickling your ears at nighttime appeals to you, then these are an excellent choice for leveling up your sleep.
Muse 2’s meditation technology reads your brain activity through the headband and translates that activity into soothing sounds that help focus your attention in a deep-dive meditation experience. Weather sounds are played back to you, and these will turn stormy should your focus drift; prompting you to refocus your mind to achieve that stillness you’re looking for.
There are app-led programs for mind, heart, body, and breath meditations. Each offers variations on the same basic principle, and you can track your progress on the app to keep on top of your calmness journey. Post-session reports are generated, so you can check how effective each session has been and make any adjustments to your meditation schedule.
Ideal for anybody who currently practices meditation, or for anybody who may be keen to try it out and hopes to benefit from its associated restorative properties.
This Bluetooth headset comes with a built-in FM radio and uses 40-millimeter dynamic speakers and CVC noise-canceling technology to significantly reduce surrounding noise. It can also be used to group up to six riders together on a group chat, making it ideal for navigating on longer trips. With an intercom range that extends up to 1,000 feet as well, you can use it to guide a wayward rider back into the fold, should they take a wrong turn somewhere.
Voice-control features let you make and take calls safely, check Google maps, or select your favorite music. Easy to securely install on the outside of your helmet, this is a great piece of comms tech for motorcyclists. By filtering out engine noise and utilizing its wind-proof built-in mic, you can stay in touch with your buddies all the way through to the finish line.
The CIYE app provides an in-depth report following each swim session, allowing you to zero in on target areas for performance improvement. Results can be shared with friends or synced to several popular fitness apps to be incorporated into overall fitness tracking.
A hefty price tag means this piece of kit is probably not suitable for casuals. But for anybody who is looking to make swim time a key part of their workout regime, this is a neat way to track all your vitals and push you toward those goals.
Created by cardiologists, this device can detect Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, and normal sinus rhythm. Should anything abnormal be detected, you are of course recommended consulting with a medical professional at the earliest opportunity. The one-lead EKG reader from KardiaMobile is intended to provide peace of mind to anyone with concerns about their own cardio health and can provide reassurance while out and about or traveling.
It’s important to stress that this device cannot detect a heart attack. Instead, what it is, is a safe way to check that all associated levels are operating in the way they should be. Its reliable readings can alert you to anything that might be of concern so that immediate action can be taken, or can simply allow you to continue enjoying your activities when all is well.
There are few things better than a smartwatch to keep you “connected” if you love mobility and ease of use.
Q: Are Heated Jackets Good for Winter?
Heated jackets are the perfect solution for cold-weather activities.
With a heated jacket, you can keep warm without having to worry about bulky layers of clothing.
Heated jackets are made with special materials that conduct heat so that you can stay warm even in the coldest temperatures.
