Fitness Gear Guide

Honest reviews and buying guides for the gear that matters.

How to taper for race day without losing fitness
Triathlon transitions: how to save minutes without buying anything

Triathlon transitions: how to save minutes without buying anything

Practical tips for faster T1 and T2 transitions in triathlon. Layout strategy, practice drills, and common mistakes that cost minutes.

Brick workouts: why they matter and how to do them right

Brick workouts: why they matter and how to do them right

What brick workouts are, why the bike-to-run transition feels so strange, and how to structure them for sprint and Olympic distance triathlon training.

Best gym flooring for home workouts

Best gym flooring for home workouts

Rubber tiles, stall mats, foam tiles, and crash pads compared. What to put under your home gym without destroying your garage floor.

How to pace your first sprint triathlon

How to pace your first sprint triathlon

Pacing strategy for your first sprint triathlon, from surviving the swim start to not dying on the run.

Best weight benches for home gyms

Best weight benches for home gyms

Flat benches, adjustable benches, and budget options compared. How to pick the right bench for your home gym and what to spend.

How to fix the most common bike fit mistakes at home

How to fix the most common bike fit mistakes at home

Practical guide to fixing saddle height, reach, cleat position, and other bike fit issues that cause knee pain, numb hands, and back problems.

Running in the heat: what actually helps and what doesn't

Running in the heat: what actually helps and what doesn't

The science and practical advice behind running in hot weather. What works for hydration, cooling, clothing, and acclimatization, and what's just marketing.

Best running shoes for triathlon training and race day

Best running shoes for triathlon training and race day

Running shoes that handle brick workouts, sockless racing, and the weird demands of going from bike to run. Six picks across every budget.

Open water swimming when all you know is the pool

Open water swimming when all you know is the pool

A pool swimmer's guide to open water: sighting, waves, murky water, panic management, and the things nobody tells you before your first lake or ocean swim.

Best barbells and weight plates for home gyms

Best barbells and weight plates for home gyms

Olympic bars, bumper plates, and cast iron compared. How to pick the right barbell and plates for your home gym without overspending.

How to build a triathlon training plan around a full-time job

How to build a triathlon training plan around a full-time job

A realistic guide to fitting swim, bike, and run training into a normal work week without burning out or neglecting everything else in your life.

Best swim goggles for triathletes and open water

Best swim goggles for triathletes and open water

How to pick swim goggles that won't leak, fog, or fall apart mid-race, plus the best options for pool training and open water.

Indoor training vs outdoor riding: what transfers and what doesn't

Indoor training vs outdoor riding: what transfers and what doesn't

How indoor cycling fitness translates to outdoor performance, what gets lost on the trainer, and how to get the most from both for triathlon.

Best cycling computers for road and triathlon

Best cycling computers for road and triathlon

Garmin, Wahoo, and Hammerhead compared. Which GPS cycling computer is worth buying for training rides and race day.

How to keep running through winter without a treadmill

How to keep running through winter without a treadmill

Strategies for layering, breathing, traction, visibility, and the mental game of running outdoors when it's cold and dark.

Best triathlon watches for swimming, cycling, and running

Best triathlon watches for swimming, cycling, and running

GPS watches tested for open water swimming, cycling power, and run tracking. Which ones are worth it for triathlon training and race day.

Why strength training makes endurance athletes faster

Why strength training makes endurance athletes faster

The research behind how lifting heavy things makes you a better swimmer, cyclist, and runner, and why you won't bulk up doing it.

Best triathlon wetsuits for open water swimming

Best triathlon wetsuits for open water swimming

What to look for in a tri wetsuit, how they differ from surfing suits, and which ones are worth buying at every price point.

How to run negative splits (and why most people don't)

How to run negative splits (and why most people don't)

Starting slow and finishing fast sounds simple. The physiology and psychology of why negative splitting is so hard, and how to actually pull it off.

Best wrist wraps and knee sleeves for lifting

Best wrist wraps and knee sleeves for lifting

Which wrist wraps and knee sleeves are worth buying, which ones to skip, and how to figure out if you even need them.

Best power racks and squat racks for home gyms

Best power racks and squat racks for home gyms

Full cages, half racks, and folding options compared. How to pick the right rack for your space, budget, and training style.

Freestyle drills that actually improve your stroke

Freestyle drills that actually improve your stroke

Six swim drills for triathletes and adult-onset swimmers that fix the most common freestyle problems. What each drill does, how to do it, and mistakes to avoid.

Wahoo's smart trainer lineup compared for 2026

Wahoo's smart trainer lineup compared for 2026

KICKR V6, KICKR MOVE, and KICKR CORE compared. Which Wahoo smart trainer is worth buying for your indoor cycling setup.

A beginner's guide to cycling power zones

A beginner's guide to cycling power zones

What FTP is, how to test it, and how the 7 cycling power zones work. A practical intro to training by power for triathletes and cyclists.

Best gym bags for every type of training

Best gym bags for every type of training

Duffels, backpacks, and crossovers compared. What to look for in a gym bag and which ones hold up to daily use.

What running cadence actually tells you (and what it doesn't)

What running cadence actually tells you (and what it doesn't)

The 180 steps per minute rule is everywhere, but the science behind cadence is more nuanced than most running advice suggests.

Best weighted vests for calisthenics, running, and general training

Best weighted vests for calisthenics, running, and general training

A practical guide to weighted vests that actually fit well, last, and won't wreck your shoulders. What to look for and which ones are worth buying.

Best exercise bikes for home gyms in 2026

Best exercise bikes for home gyms in 2026

Spin bikes, upright bikes, and smart trainers compared. What's worth buying for indoor cycling at home and what to skip.

What heart rate zones actually mean for endurance training

What heart rate zones actually mean for endurance training

A practical guide to heart rate training zones: what each zone does physiologically, why 220-minus-age is unreliable, the 80/20 rule, and when HR is the wrong metric.

Best rowing machines for home gyms in 2026

Best rowing machines for home gyms in 2026

A practical look at the best rowing machines you can buy for a home gym, from budget-friendly air rowers to connected smart machines.

Best cable machines for home gyms in 2026

Best cable machines for home gyms in 2026

Functional trainers, cable towers, and compact pulley systems compared. Here's what's actually worth buying for a home gym.

Best weightlifting belts in 2026

Best weightlifting belts in 2026

Leather, nylon, lever, prong. Here's how to pick the right lifting belt and which ones are actually worth buying.

Best running hydration vests and trail packs in 2026

Best running hydration vests and trail packs in 2026

Tested picks for trail running, ultras, and long road runs. Soft flasks, bounce, fit, and which vests are actually comfortable.

Best pull-up bars for home gyms in 2026

Best pull-up bars for home gyms in 2026

Doorframe, wall-mounted, and freestanding pull-up bars compared. What actually holds up and what to avoid.

Best workout earbuds for the gym and running in 2026

Best workout earbuds for the gym and running in 2026

What actually stays in your ears, survives sweat, and sounds good enough to keep you moving. A guide to earbuds that can handle training.

Do you actually need lifting shoes?

Do you actually need lifting shoes?

What weightlifting shoes do, who they help, and whether you should buy a pair for your home gym. Four options from budget to premium.

The best recovery tools for athletes, from foam rollers to massage guns

The best recovery tools for athletes, from foam rollers to massage guns

A practical guide to recovery tools that actually work for triathletes and endurance athletes, with specific product picks across price ranges.

Battle ropes: a full-body conditioning tool worth trying

Battle ropes: a full-body conditioning tool worth trying

Battle ropes build upper body endurance, crush your heart rate, and take up almost no storage space. How to use them and which ones to buy.

Best heart rate monitors for triathlon and endurance training

Best heart rate monitors for triathlon and endurance training

A side-by-side comparison of the best heart rate monitors in 2025, covering accuracy, comfort, features, and price to help you pick the right one.

HIIT gear that actually matters: kettlebells, jump ropes, and more

HIIT gear that actually matters: kettlebells, jump ropes, and more

The gear worth buying for high-intensity interval training at home. Four picks that cover everything from conditioning to tracking your effort.

Kettlebells vs. dumbbells: which should you choose for strength and conditioning?

Kettlebells vs. dumbbells: which should you choose for strength and conditioning?

A practical comparison of kettlebells and dumbbells for triathletes and endurance athletes looking to add strength work that actually improves performance.

Best energy gels for runners and endurance athletes

Best energy gels for runners and endurance athletes

Six popular running gels tested and compared. What they taste like, how they sit in your stomach, and which ones are worth the money.

Best fitness trackers and smartwatches for general fitness

Best fitness trackers and smartwatches for general fitness

Fitness trackers and smartwatches for people who want health data without a full triathlon watch. Four picks from budget bands to capable smartwatches.

Best adjustable dumbbells for small home gyms

Best adjustable dumbbells for small home gyms

Five adjustable dumbbells compared for tight spaces. Dial systems, plate-loaded designs, and budget picks for every type of home lifter.

Best yoga mats for stretching, mobility, and actual yoga

Best yoga mats for stretching, mobility, and actual yoga

How to pick a yoga mat that works for your training, whether that's full yoga sessions, post-run stretching, or mobility work on the garage floor.

Resistance bands: the most underrated training tool you can pack in a bag

Resistance bands: the most underrated training tool you can pack in a bag

How resistance bands fit into endurance training for warm-ups, prehab, and travel workouts. Plus which ones are worth buying.

How to choose running shoes that actually fit

How to choose running shoes that actually fit

A practical guide to finding running shoes that match your feet, your gait, and the kind of running you do. Plus five solid picks to start with.

Home gym essentials: what to buy first and what can wait

Home gym essentials: what to buy first and what can wait

A practical priority list for building a home gym that actually gets used. What's worth buying now, what to add later, and what to skip.