Well+Good | 2025 Health Tech Awards

Why we love it:

Apple has been at this game for a decade now—and it shows. With the Series 10, you get all of the features that Apple has become known for—seamless integration with your iPhone, tracking every fitness activity you can think of, sleep, cycle tracking, and more—all in the thinnest watch to date. The Series 10 has faster charging (important if you’re planning to wear it 24/7), and can also detect sleep apnea.

Heads up:

While our tester tried hard to wear it day and night, ultimately, it took some time to get used to wearing a watch to bed every night. Our tester also noted a bit of “information overload”—and recommends turning off (or ignoring) some of the tracking features.

Why we love it:

This watch has all of the features you’d want to track a long-distance or multi-sport event. The battery is one of the best that we tested, charging up quickly and lasting for a few days. It’s fully waterproof—so you can seamlessly go from pool to track and back without missing a beat. During testing, the watch tracked our tester’s heart rate and workouts with no noticeable glitches or interruptions. While lots of watches have similar features, the size and durability of this watch are what set it apart—and make it perfect for the outdoor enthusiast.  

Heads up:

The setup process wasn’t exactly intuitive or quick; our tester said reading the instructions was essential, and the whole process took a bit longer than expected. And because the watch is on the larger side, those with petite wrists may find it feels a bit clunky and heavy.

Why we love it:

This watch functions as both an everyday watch and a fitness tracker, giving you the ability to track over 40 different types of workouts, plus sleep, steps, heart rate, and more. Our tester loved using it to track sleep, in particular, and found the watch felt lightweight and comfortable (though it did get slightly sweaty during workouts). A nice bonus feature: You can connect your Spotify to the watch and pair Bluetooth headphones to it so that you can stream music straight from your wrist. After said sweaty workouts, the watch is easy to clean and has removable straps that you can swap out for different colors or patterns.

Heads up:

The watch is water resistant (technically not waterproof). This means it can withstand casual water activities—showering, swimming, accidental splashing—but not more intense scenarios (think: water skiing). If you’re planning track lots of water-based sports, you might want a different watch. And while the watch seemed accurate for tracking steps and workout, some of the other features seemed a little off: Our tester got sick during the testing period, and while a normal thermometer showed she had a fever, the temperature feature on the watch didn’t. The heart rate reading also regularly contrasted with another wearable.

Why we love it:

The setup was so easy—this watch was pretty much ready to wear straight out of the box. The companion Fitbit app is easy to navigate, and syncs seamlessly with the watch. The battery life is a dream: It lasts 10 to 14 days, depending on how much GPS tracking you use, and it takes less than an hour to fully charge. With 30 preloaded activities, heart rate monitor, automatic sleep and movement detection, and an accurate GPS, this souped up watch is excellent for anyone who is really interested in their body data and getting an accurate reading on their workouts and recovery. Our tester especially loved the sleep and “body battery” features, which suggest how much sleep you need based on your activities and stress levels, and the “morning mode” that rehashes your sleep data and recommends the day’s activities based on that. She also wore this day and night and found it to be so comfortable she forgot she even had it on her wrist at times.

Heads up:

Our tester struggled with the features that connected to her phone notifications (your messages don’t automatically pop up but your calls and other notifications do) but said it was really worth the money for general wellness and understanding metrics like your heart rate variability and sleep.

Why we love it:

It sticks to the basic fitness and health-tracking features, making it a less pricey option for those who don’t need (or want) all the wellness and smartwatch options that some other wearables offer. It’s small but mighty—packing 40-plus fitness modes, plus a battery life of five-plus days and seamless compatibility with the Fitbit app. Our tester found the workout tracking and heart rate monitor to be quite accurate, and liked that the tracker buzzes during workouts to alert you when your heart rate gets to a certain number.

Heads up:

If you’re keen on tracking your sleep, you may want to pick a different watch: Our tester found this tracker extremely uncomfortable to wear when sleeping—so much so that she took it off in the middle of the night.

Why we love it:

Heads up:

We found the ring comfortable, but it is a noticeable piece of jewelry. For someone that does not usually wear rings, it may take some time to adjust to wearing it. It’s also pricey—up to $500 depending on which model you choose—but it’s also FSA/HSA eligible for those with insurance.

Why we love it:

Whoop collects comprehensive health data to help you optimize your performance and recovery. It’s a great pick whether you’re an elite athlete or just someone who is committed to improving all aspects of your fitness routine—especially your sleep, which it analyzes minute by minute (similar to the Oura). A big difference between this and other wearables: The Whoop 4.0 doesn’t rely on a rigid list of predefined workout modes; instead, it focuses on capturing metrics like strain, skin temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate variability, and sleep performance across your entire day. You can manually tag workouts or let its algorithm detect and classify them based on your activity level. Setup was easy and just required entering a few basic biometrics (like age, sex, weight, and height) as well as a couple of lifestyle habits (how often you workout, what activities you do, and sleep habits). From there, Whoop takes almost a whole week to get a complete reading on your body and calibrate your body’s data and homeostasis as you go about living your life. After the calibration stage, it begins to make recommendations for how you can maximize recovery (when to go to bed, what strain you should reach throughout the day, etc.). The battery lasts four or five days per charge, and it’s easy to slide off the pack and charge it on the go. Our tester also noted it’s comfortable enough to wear day and night, and easy to adjust thanks to the unique pin-closure design.

Heads up:

Whoop requires an app subscription with an annual fee ($30 per month, or $239 paid upfront for the year). The immense amount of data it provides may also be intimidating (and just not very useful) for some people, while others appreciate the comprehensive tracking and analyzing it can do.

Why we love it:

These high-tech boots are like getting a sports massage in the comfort of your home—honestly, game-changing. Our tester said that the compression of these boots felt so good that she was in absolute shock the first time she used them. Adding them into her routine one to two times a week made a world of difference for her fussy IT band that requires constant foam rolling and reduced the amount of time she felt she needed to rest in between workouts. It took less than 10 minutes from opening the box to using the product for the first time, and the boots come with a convenient storage bag that *actually* fits, so you won’t feel like you’re trying to re-stuff a sausage every time you put them away. The boots are easy to zip on and off, and each contains a full interface to turn the boot on and off, control time, and add “extra focus” areas, and a companion app (connected via Bluetooth) allows you to further customize the experience and select various pressure settings and body parts to target. The app can also sync with your Strava or Apple Health app and use that data to alert you when your best recovery times should be and help you set up a recovery routine.

Heads up:

They’re an investment ($900). Also, each boot contains an independent battery, but there’s only one charger so you do have to wait to charge each boot—the major upside is that both boots came fully charged, and after five 35-minute sessions, the battery seemed to only reduce by a quarter.

Why we love it:

It relieves muscle tightness on-the-go. Lighter and more compact than the other massage guns in Hyperice’s lineup, the Hypervolt Go 2 makes for a great travel companion—and still packs a punch. The device comes with two massage heads, and you can buy a heated one separately. Our tester highly recommends this, noting that she felt even more relief on her sore muscles the next day when using the heated attachment. After a 30-minute charge, our tester used the massage gun about five different times before needing to plug it in again. Plus, you can’t beat the price.

Heads up:

The device itself is reasonably priced, but buying additional attachments can make the cost add up.

Why we love it:

Its powerful combination of percussion and heat is no match for sore muscles. The massage gun comes with four attachments—heated percussive, wedge, damper, and a standard ball—plus a carrying case, charging cable, and QuietForce Technology oil to keep the percussive heads lubricated so that they perform as they should. The device itself has five speeds and three heat settings (compatible with the heated percussive head), which you can use with or without the percussion. It offers a battery life of approximately 150 minutes on a single charge, though this can vary depending on the attachment used. For instance, using the device with combined therapies—such as heating, percussive, and LED therapy—may reduce the battery life to around 60 minutes. It also connects with the Therabody app, which allows you to access recovery routines and control your device remotely—a “nice-to-have” feature, but not a necessity, since it’s easy enough to use the gun manually.

Heads up:

There’s no getting around the fact that it’s pricey for a massage gun. If you don’t think you’ll use the heated function, a less souped-up device at a lower price point may be a better choice.

Why we love it:

An alarm clock that somehow makes improving your sleep hygiene easy and enjoyable? Sign us up. The setup from the box is extremely straightforward. It comes with everything you need—except the power outlet and Wi-Fi you’ll need to connect it to the Hatch app on your smartphone. Once connected, the app allows you to customize multiple routines throughout the day and set up any sound or color changes you’d like. For example, our tester has a morning routine that wakes her up gently at 7 a.m. with a light pink hue called “Conquering Fuji,” which resembles a summer sunrise, and an accompanying alarm called “Meditative Flute.” This gentle wakeup is ideal for for someone who doesn’t consider themselves a morning person. You can also set the range for how early the sunrise light starts to come on so that it feels like the real sun is waking you up, allowing your body to slowly adjust. Since having this alarm, our tester has started charging her phone in a different room, which has eliminated the temptation to check it first thing in the A.M.—another boon for sleep hygiene.

Heads up:

To get the full experience of the clock, you’ll need a Hatch+ subscription (which is only $5 per month, but worth noting). Our tester also noted that you can’t control everything from the clock itself—you’ll need the app on your phone.

Why we love it:

Heads up:

Because of the battery, this foam roller is slightly heavier than a non-vibrating one, and our tester noted that like many other vibrating products, it’s not as quiet as one might hope for during a cooldown.

Why we love it:

Massage balls can be an excellent addition to your rolling repertoire, reaching all of the smaller curves and muscle groups that can be tough to tackle with a foam roller. Because of the size and two-hour battery life, our tester also noted this was perfect for travel. She especially liked this one for hitting spots around her shoulder blades, IT bands, and even on her feet.

Heads up:

Although the size makes this tool ideal for travel, it also means that it could take longer to roll out larger areas of your body. Keep this on hand for targeted relief, and stick to a foam roller for everything else.

Why we love it:

If low back pain is your nemesis, let us introduce you to your new secret weapon. The Chirp Wheel Pro is intended to target back pain, and help increase range of motion. So whether you’re just hoping to not ache at the end of a long day chained to a desk, or you’re trying to improve your backbends in yoga class, this tool checks both boxes. Fans say that it’s well worth the price, and quickly helps to alleviate tension and tightness all over your back.

Heads up:

Similar to the massage ball, this is a targeted tool specifically designed for your spine. In other words, consider this purchase to be supplemental to a basic foam roller that can help cover the rest of your body.

Why we love it:

Somewhere between a massage ball and a cylindrical foam roller is the massage peanut. The unique design can help hit all the curves of your body, applying pressure where you need it most. Fans enjoyed the ridges, which help to dig into muscles, and the fact that it’s only two-pounds, meaning it’s easy to throw into a bag if you plan to use it at the gym.

Heads up:

Like some of the other products we’ve highlighted, this one is best for targeted massaging because it’s on the smaller side.

Why we love it:

The sound quality and noise cancellation abilities make any listening experience superior. You kind of have to hear it to believe it, but the immersive audio technology gives you that surround-sound feel, and multiple listening modes let you cancel out outside noise, let it in (so you can, say, hear traffic when you’re out on a run), and even block the wind specifically. But they don’t just deliver on functionality: They also look really sleek and are extremely comfortable to wear. One 2.5-hour charge gets you up to 20 hours of listening time, and your phone will conveniently notify you when the battery is running low.

Heads up:

You have to download the Bose app to connect the headphones to your phone, adding an extra (yet minor) step to the setup process. But our tester found that once she had the app, it was very easy to get the headphones connected and running.

Why we love it:

These headphones stay put, are sweat resistant, and deliver great sound quality—ticking all the boxes when it comes to a solid pair for workouts. Setup and connectivity were seamless; our tester simply charged them and then paired them with her phone via Bluetooth without any issues. The batteries can last up to 11 hours, and a quick 10-minutes in the charging case will buy you 2 more hours of time, making them totally wearable for a variety of distances of runs, races, and other workouts. Since the earpiece doesn’t really go inside your ear (it sits right outside the ear canal) you don’t have to worry about earwax buildup like you do with comparable earbuds.

Heads up:

People with small ears may find the earpiece is a bit loose, which can make them feel a little unsecured during a workout. And of course, if you’re not used to an “open ear” headphone, it can take some getting used to.

Why we love it:

These tiny headphones fit seamlessly into our tester’s ears and stayed put during the sweatiest workout. Their design, which includes a “wingtip” that tucks under a fold in the earlobe and three silicon tip sizes, mean it’s pretty easy to customize the earbuds. Battery life is also a huge pro: Our tester charged them once per week, but because they’re stored in a charging case, she says she could have gone even longer without plugging them in.

Heads up:

Although our tester said these fit well, others have noted that the design can feel a bit on the bulky side at times. And while this isn’t really a drawback, if you’re prone to losing individual earbuds (no shame!), you may want to consider a wired version.

Why we love it:

The OG at-home stationary bike still comes out on top. It gives you access to boutique studio level classes at a fraction of the cost. Sure, at face value, a Peloton doesn’t exactly seem like a small financial investment. But when you calculate how much you’d spend on cycling classes at a studio, it really does pay for itself—and then some. For a monthly membership of $24 a month, you get access to unlimited workouts with top-notch Peloton instructors that includes not only bike classes but other modalities like strength, HIIT, and yoga. And new workouts are added constantly, so you really do feel like you’re taking fresh classes with your favorite instructors IRL. A new bike also comes with cycling shoes and a set of light dumbbells so that you’ve got everything you’d have at your disposal in the fitness studio in the comfort of your own home. Our tester notes that if you work out more than two times per week, you’ll quickly realize it’s worth the upfront price tag. Plus, having a dedicated workout machine in your home that you don’t have to commute to makes hitting your fitness goals so much easier—just throw on a sports bra and get going.

Heads up:

Yes, a big ol’ bike takes up some space, so if you’ve got little to spare, it may not be the best fit for your. But our tester notes that she lives in a studio apartment and has found that her Peloton is just part of her decor now—and doesn’t feel at all in the way.

Why we love it:

Heads up:

After your six-month free trial (which comes with the purchase of your bike), it does require a subscription ($24/month) to unlock all the aforementioned programs. It’s a commitment—financially and otherwise—and not everyone is going to love that.

Why we love it:

Heads up:

Hydrow offers the Wave, and the Pro (which is slightly more expensive). The Wave has a smaller screen that doesn’t rotate, but we appreciate that it comes in five colors and is lighter weight.

Why we love it:

If you’re in the market for a treadmill, look no further than this model from NoridcTrack, which can do, well, pretty much everything. It can do up to a 40% incline and a 6% decline, and reach up to 12mph (which is a five minute mile, for those keeping track). In addition to easily being able to change your speed and incline, the 24-inch display is crystal clear and offers a variety of walking and running workouts in beautiful locations.

Heads up:

Reviewers note that this treadmill does take up a fair amount of space, and it’s obviously an investment. If you’d like to keep up with all of the workouts, you’ll also need an iFit subscription, which costs $40 / month, or $396 / year.

Why we love it:

One of the biggest pros of these easy-to-use dumbbells is just how little space they take up. Rather than filling your garage or home gym with a full rack, these dumbbells take up just a fraction of the space. Reviewers also say that the mechanism to select your desired weight is simple, and there’s no assembly required—so you can start using them straight out of the box.

Heads up:

Like many adjustable dumbbells, some reviewers note that these weights can occasionally “freeze”—meaning that they get stuck in the rack as you shift between sizes.

Why we love it:

If building strength is one of your goals for 2025, Tonal is the only thing you need to make it happen. The machine is a one-stop shop for working out, including all of the instruction and equipment you need. Weight resistance on the machine starts at 5 lbs. and comes in one-pound increments up to 250 lbs. The resolution on the screen is crisp, and you can enjoy real-time coaching cues on your movement.

Heads up:

On top of the price tag, each Tonal purchase requires a 12-month membership commitment of $60 / month.

Why we love it:

Although virtual reality wellness might not be for everyone, we think the Meta Quest 3 is actually a lot of fun. Although you can use the headset for workouts—a variety of apps offer classes kickboxing and dance—you might also enjoy the headset for an immersive meditation experience. You’ll need to clear some space, and be ready for a learning curve—reviewers say the tech can take a while to get used to—but if you’re looking to spice up your fitness routine, this could be a great way in.

Heads up:

The pros of this winning item could easily be the cons depending on the person. You have to wear a headset while you’re working out, and it’s (obviously) best for those who enjoy working out alone.

Why we love it:

It keeps you accountable so that you actually reach your hydration goals. We all say we want to drink more water, but sometimes, we need a little nudging. The Daily+ Smart Water Bottle lets you know how much is left inside, and sends you gentle reminders via the smartphone app to tell you it’s time to throw back a few sips. After filling out some basic info in the app (which our tester found easy to use), it tailors your daily H2O suggestion based on your age, weight, height, sex, and activity level. The battery takes a little over an hour to fully charge and lasts four to five days, but the company recommends charging your water bottle every three days for the best results. It’ll also alert you when the battery is running low and it’s time to pop it on the charger again.

Heads up:

The bottle itself is dishwasher-safe, but the cap has to be hand washed—it’s not a huge deal, of course, but does mean you’ve got one more to-do at the end of your day. Our tester also found the capacity (17 oz.) to be on the smaller side, so consider opting for the 25 oz. option if you’re serious about meeting a water goal—and don’t want to be constantly refilling the bottle.

Why we love it:

It gives you the benefits of a sauna in a super compact package you can use at home. All you have to do is attach the power cord to the blanket and turn this baby on. The control gives you the option to adjust the heat setting and defaults to a 60-minute sauna sesh, though you can turn it off at any time. Our tester noted that at first, it felt a little awkward figuring out how to lay in the blanket and position herself, but once she got the hang of it, she was able to relax and either watch a show or lay quietly. Post-sauna, our tester felt refreshed and like her back was loosened up—not to mention, it’s a great way to get warm and cozy after spending time outside in the cold. Use it to customize your workout and recovery routine—for example, do a yoga class right before you climb in, or take a quick cold shower immediately after for a little contrast therapy action.

Heads up:

The dial is kind of old-school and there’s no visible timer, so you’ll have to set your own to keep tabs on how long you’ve been in there and when your time will be up. Also, the blanket doesn’t come with the towel insert—it’s an $89 upgrade. But our tester says it’s worth it to make the whole experience feel more cozy and clean.

Why we love it:

It feels like a real sauna! Our tester has tried dozens of gimmicky products that attempt to recreate spa treatments, but this one truly exceeded their expectations. It takes less than two minutes to set up and our tester usually let it run for about 10 minutes to get heated up (although it would probably be ready after five). It heats up to 115°F with 100% humidity, making it feel exactly like a sauna when you’re inside. Our tester said she started to sweat within minutes and instantly felt her sinuses clearing, muscles softening, and mind start to relax. There’s a little window in the sauna, so you could theoretically watch TV while in your sauna, but the window does get fogged up. There’s also a stool that comes with the setup. Whether it’s assembled or closed up, the entire thing is so compact and easy to store, making it an amazing, budget-friendly alternative to a real sauna.

Heads up:

The setup might take a few tries to get the hang of. Our tester noted that a couple of times after turning the sauna on, she’d realize that no steam was actually going into the pop-up tent so she’d have to readjust the steamer and make sure the hose was fully pushed into the tent. Although it comes with a foldable stool, the sauna would be much more comfortable if there was a seat with a back so you could lean back, instead of slouching or sitting up perfectly straight.

Why we love it:

It’s no secret that air purifiers have grown in popularity over the last several years—and it’s easy to see the benefits, especially if you live in an older home or cramped apartment. We love this one not just because it cleans air and removes 99% of pollen, odors, dust and smoke, but because it’s easy to set up, relatively quiet—and has a heated air feature. Yup, this purifier doubles as a space heater.

Heads up:

At $350, this purifier is one of the more expensive ones that we tested. The filter (which needs to be replaced about every nine months) is also $67 ($57 with a subscription), so consider this an ongoing investment.

Why we love it:

As someone who used the older version of this product, our tester was pretty psyched to try the 2.0. And guess what? It still delivers. Our tester uses this every single night and has one in her bedroom, and her kids’ bedroom. The humidifier helps alleviate dry, stuffy noses and parched skin all winter long. Plus, it’s easy to clean (and dishwasher safe!), easy to replace the filters (you can sign up for auto-refills), and super easy to set up.

Heads up:

Like all humidifiers, this one requires maintenance. It’s suggested that you replace the filters every 45 days, so just keep in mind the added cost if you’re planning to use it daily.

Why we love it:

Heads up:

At $250, this is a bit of an investment. And our tester also noted that after using the Drift for a few days, the sand tended to bunch toward the edges, so you’ll need to use the included rake regularly to manually level things out.

Why we love it:

Our tester has been using this app for years—and there’s a reason for that. It’s easy to use, there are constantly new programs and meditations being added, and because it’s a subscription, she actually feels compelled to keep up a meditation practice, she says. The multitude of programs help the app to feel hyper-specific. For example: Throughout her pregnancy, our tester followed a program geared at reducing fear and anxiety around labor. Postpartum, she listened to meditations about new parents and sleepless nights when she was up at 3am with her newborn, which she says helped to reduce feelings of loneliness. Fun fact: Although the app primarily features guided meditations, there’s also a music section that includes calming playlists from global artists.

Heads up:

Because the app is so robust, it can be a little tough to know where to get started. Yes, there is a “Beginning Meditation” program—but because there are so many other programs that might also feel suitable— “Calming Everyday Anxiety” or “Quick Focus Resets,” the number of choices can feel a little overwhelming.

Why we love it:

If the bright colors and animated characters in the Headspace app aren’t your vibe, Calm may be the ideal antidote. The app is beautifully designed, with visualizations of nature like rain on leaves, rippling pools of water, and mountain scenes. That’s part of the reason we selected this as our favorite app for sleep. You can listen to calming bedtime stories (both fiction and nonfiction), and there’s even a section for kids.

Heads up:

Like other subscription products on this list, it’s going to be a waste of money unless you’re committed to using it. If you’re not sure, consider paying month-to-month ($15 / month after a 7-day free trial) rather than for the full year upfront.

Why we love it:

Strava, the OG social fitness app that connects athletes and workout enthusiasts, still comes out on top, our tester says. Whether you’re working out casually, want a way to track your runs or bike rides, or you’re actually looking to up your game and get competitive with other athletes—this app has features for you. The app includes more workout modalities now than ever, and the interface makes it easy to use from the get-go.

Heads up:

One of the biggest complaints from the Strava community is the rising cost of the app. The original cost was $50 / year, which jumped to $60 in 2019. There’s a free version of the app as well, which might be more suitable for those who are casual fitness enthusiasts.

Why we love it:

With so many fitness apps available, it was crucial for us to select a winner that offered a variety of workouts. In other words, if you’re only going to subscribe to one, make it one that has plenty of variety—different instructors, modalities, equipment, and time. Our tester also loved the bright, poppy colors throughout the app, which made working out feel fun even on the gloomiest days. So many of the workouts can be done without equipment, and our tester said it was also easy to “stack” workouts back to back for days when she had more time.

Heads up:

The app works best if you already have an idea of what you’d like to do. Because there are so many choices, our staffer said it was best to go in with a goal (e.g. strength training that’s under 30 minutes) to help narrow it down.