Men's Journal

Kurt Kinetic Rock And Roll Trainer

A bike trainer seems like a boon when you want to ride but the elements keep you housebound. Yet using one is like watching paint dry. The Rock and Roll spices up indoor crankfests and makes for a more efficient workout with a natural side-to-side motion, engaging your core muscles for balance and keeping you from falling asleep at the handlebars. [$370; kurtkinetic.com]

Buddy Lee Aero Speed Jump Rope

Handle, string, more handle: The formula for a jump rope is simple, yet Buddy Lee found room for improvement. Inside the Aero Speed’s aluminum grips are swivel-bearing systems that reduce tangling and friction, allowing the flexible PVC rope (adjustable for height) to spin up to six times per second. That is, if you can keep up. [$40; buddyleejumpropes.com]

Speedo Aquabeat mp3 Player

For some, the repetition of an act delivers a meditation-like peace. For others, it’s boring as hell. If you’ve avoided swimming laps for the latter reason, try the Aquabeat, a small, waterproof (to 10 feet) 1GB music player that provides in-pool entertainment. It’s easy to control by touch, lasts for nine hours on its rechargeable battery, and floats, too. [$145; speedousa.com]

Atomic Athletic Jade Padlocks

Long before Russian strongmen hoisted kettle bells, China’s Shaolin monks swung stone padlocks while training, pushing their upper bodies harder and improving their grip strength. These polished jade versions (in 10-, 15-, and 25-pound weights) will make you sweat as much as dumbbells and look far classier lying around the house. [from $200 per pair; atomicathletic.com]

Everlast Protex³ Boxing Gloves

Practice the sweet science often enough and you’re likely to come away hurt, the repetition of punching a hard object having done a number on your hands. The Protex³ gloves preserve your war hammers with a three-collar wrist stabilizer and specially developed foam that provides much-needed cushioning without deadening your punches. [$200; everlast.com]

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