Fitness enthusiasts from our Good Fit and Tryouts series share their must-have workout accessories that also might appeal to the gym rat or exercise fiend on your gift list:
When Lisa-Maria Priester works up a sweat leading the Groove dance classes at Still & Moving Center in Kakaako, her Under Armour water bottle is always close by.
“Hydration is important because you lose water when you work out and your body depends on water to survive,” she said.
Priester bought her vacuum-insulated water bottle at Sports Authority for $31.99 and insists it keeps water cold for hours. For more information, visit underarmour.com.
(Priester appeared in Tryouts on July 7 leading the Finger Lights Groove dance class.)
Tracy Larrua of the Poi Planet public relations company adores her Spoonk acupressure mat, which she uses at bedtime for relaxation and relief from muscle tension.
“What I love about it most is that it is so easy to use,” she said. “I lay on it for about 15 to 20 minutes and sometimes even end up falling asleep on it. Some days, I sit on it on my office chair.”
Larrua owns both a large (starting from $59.99) and travel-size mat ($34.99). Find them at spoonkspace.com.
(Larrua was featured in Good Fit on Dec. 9, 2014, discussing living with lupus and fibromyalgia.)
Kettlebells — cannon ball-shaped weights with handles — are a must-have for Jeff Pelletier, Hawaii Krav Maga instructor. Unlike traditional hand weights, they can be used in a variety of exercises “for both fitness and functionality,” he said. These include the “swing” in which a kettlebell is lifted from between the legs, with knees and hips bent, up to a standing position with arms outstretched in one smooth move.
“It’s a two-for-one exercise. You’re able to combine strength training and cardiovascular conditioning into one efficient movement,” Pelletier said.
Kettlebells, usually made from cast iron or steel, have become so popular they are widely available at sports outlets and large variety stores like Walmart. Prices at Sports Authority ranged from $17.50 to $120.
(Pelletier was featured in Tryouts on March 3, demonstrating Krav Maga self-defense techniques.)
It may look like a lint roller but Dr. Clayton Everline, an orthopedist at Straub Clinic & Hospital, raves about RollerTek.
“It’s an all-in-one massage and roller therapy system … The parts are designed to be very long-lasting and generate more pressure than any product I’ve used,” he said.
RollerTek devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for muscle tension relief, massage, warming up and body rolling. “The kits are great to travel with and come in a drawstring backpack for easy storage,” Everline said.
Kits range from $64.95 to $139.95. Search for “RollerTek” on Facebook.
(Everline appeared in Good Fit on Jan. 27, discussing movements that help keep proper muscle tone and prevent injuries.)
Ironman triathlete Lori McCarney spends a lot of time outdoors and recommends XX2i polarized Sport Reader sunglasses.
“I wear them because they protect my eyes, are lightweight, durable and also have built-in reading lenses for reading up close,” said McCarney, chief executive officer of Bikeshare Hawaii. “It was a godsend that I found them.”
She said she needs the discreet reading lenses (available in three magnification powers) to read the smaller type on her Garmin GPS device and other gadgets. She orders them online at xx2i.com/collections/sport-readers, where they cost $99.99. McCarney advises waiting for occasional sales that offer a 40 percent discount, making them pretty affordable.
(McCarney was featured Oct. 20 in a Good Fit story that highlighted her climb up Mount Kilimanjaro.)