The 22 Best Fitness and Wellness Products I Tested in 2024

Product recommendations dominate the internet: If you Google “best sunscreen” or “best running shoes”, you’ll scroll through the sea of curated lists. Most publications have entire shopping sections designed to help you figure out the perfect product for every situation—at least, that’s the idea. Many writers (including myself) and editors (including so many I work with) put a lot of thought and effort into these roundups, but over the past few years—and specifically this year—they’ve been getting worse and worse.

Instead of offering genuinely helpful advice, they’re now crafted to rank high on Google and rack up affiliate link revenue. And if a product or brand doesn’t offer that money-making incentive? It gets the knife. (The same is true for your fav influencers’ shopping lists.) Sometimes, these gift guides blast you with crap from Amazon that nobody has ever touched IRL. It’s just known to sell well. (Amy Odell posted a super interesting analysis of this if you’re interested in a past vs present comparison.)

As a journalist who spends an absurd amount of time testing fitness, health, and wellness gear, I come across a lot of products I adore that just don’t get the coverage they deserve because they haven’t become one of the few regurgitated products that will boost SEO rank. So, I figured I’d take matters into my own hands and round up the best stuff I used in 2024. All of this has been in regular rotation since I got my paws on it:

First things first: Footwear.

Shoes are easily the category I test most often—running shoes, trail runners, and athletic or lifestyle sneakers. But I’m not the type of runner chasing PRs or obsessing over race-day performance—I lean more towards daily training + long runs. My recs are going to look a little different than a bunch of my super speedy pals who geek out about race day shoes.

1. As a relatively slow runner girlie (my 11-minute-mile babes where we at) prone to shin splints and hip pain, the Brooks Glycerin Max has quickly become my go-to shoe for long runs or treadmill sessions. I got them back in October and since then, they’ve been on my feet for approximately 40% of my runs—which is saying a lot when I have so many good options in my shoe closet. They’re soft, bouncy, supportive, and perfect for cruising at a casual pace. You probably won’t break any records in these shoes, but you’re going to be damn comfortable.

2. If you’re looking for something that will increase your pace, you’ll want to skip the Brooks Glycerin Max and go with something like the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v4 (great value, classic fit) or On Cloudboom Strike (pricey but built for speed, though narrow) instead.

3. While I tend to find the good in most pairs of road shoes, I’m PIIIICKY about trail running shoes. I’m usually a La Sportiva or Salomon stan, but the shoe that impressed me the most this year was the Hoka Tecton x 3. It’s sleek and comfortable, with a decently wide toe box and a carbon plate that adds a bit of pop underfoot. I’d keep it out of slippery conditions though. I didn’t wear them for the Javelina 30k I did with Hoka in October (I wore the new Speedgoat 6 instead), but they’re at the top of my list for the Moab Red Hot 55k that I’m running in February (eeek!) Anyone wanna join me?

4. I lift 3 - 4 days a week, but I don’t love traditional lifting shoes because sometimes my workouts involve pivoting & jumping, etc, which requires a bit more agility than being firmly planted to the ground. I originally wore the Nike V2K Run to the gym when I had places to be after and wanted a more versatile shoe, but fell in love with how they felt during nearly every movement. The wide, dense midsole feels solid for squatting but still agile enough for lunges. Sadly, they’ve been stashed in my friend’s basement for the past two months as I moved from Utah to New York, and I’ve thought about them at least a dozen times since.

   Fitness Tech and Accessories

   

5. I’m all about my over-the-ear headphones (PSA for PR reps: If you have a great pair, send them my way—I’m on the hunt) but these Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have completely wowed me this year. Unlike Airpods, they won’t leave your ears aching after a couple of hours, and they let in just enough ambient noise to keep you aware of your surroundings—crucial for both city or trail runs. I even wrote about them for Well+Good earlier this year because I love them so much. The only drawback is the max volume isn’t super loud, so they may not be ideal in loud places.

6. When you just want to bring your keys and phone on a run, the SPI Running Belt is perfectly streamlined. I took some trial and error to figure out how to avoid bouncing (Wear it snug at your natural waist or a bit lower. I like to move the pocket side to the back), but now it’s a staple for almost every run. Bonus points for being a woman-owned company!

7. Sunglasses and headphones in one? I honestly can’t believe we haven’t seen more products like the Chamelo Music Shield. They work similarly to bone-conducting headphones so that you can hear your music but the other people on the street won’t. So feel free to crank up your guilty pleasure jam. The audio is crystal clear, and the lenses have an adjustable tint—just swipe a finger to go from full-on shades to cloudy day coverage. The design isn’t perfect yet (the arm tips have started to get stuck in my hair and they act finicky when the battery is getting low), but it is certainly innovative and very cool.

8. Despite how active I am, I’m not big on wearables. I just don’t need all that data (and my HR is always really high so I hate looking at it anyway.) But as my runs get longer, tracking with Strava on my phone isn’t cutting it. I’ve been using the Suunto Race S on the regular because the battery life is phenomenal—it lasts for over a week even when I’m running back-to-back days. It also feels slim enough to fit under tight sleeves, and the mileage is always accurate to my mapped routes.

9. One product that I haven’t managed to write about for any publication yet but has been essential in my life is this massage gun from Wellbody. No shade to the Theragun (which seems to dominate fitness gear roundups), but this one is better. It has a much more ergonomic handle and a flat attachment head that works wonders.

10. A shout-out to Athletic Brewing’s new mocktail line—specifically the Moscow Mule—which kept me happy and healthy over the holiday season when it’s so easy to reach for a drink at 3 PM.

For the girls: Athletic Clothing + Accessories

11. Okay, this first one is technically unisex, but oh my god, the Bandit Micromesh Long Sleeve. As someone who overheats the second my heart rate spikes even a teeny bit, this is one of the only long sleeves I can wear in mild temps without wanting to rip it off mid-run. It’s loose and flowy, which is a dream for spring or fall, but it’s way too breezy for winter. I have it in two colors and two different sizes because I’m obsessed. Also, how will anyone know I’m a BK-based runner if I’m not repping Bandit?

12. I just received this gym set—leggings and sports bra—last week but it’s too good to leave off this list. (And I’m usually anti butt-scrunch but this one has it and I don’t hate it??) The material feels incredibly durable and the compression hits the sweet spot, aka I feel confident wearing it at the gym, not like a sausage thank you very much. I went with the Rosewood color, which is everything. Prices are moderate, too.

13. This cropped, puffer pullover is a light layer that I kept reaching for again and again on fall days. I mostly used it to run errands or take a walk, but I’d also toss it in my climbing pack for those crisp mornings at the crag (if I even did that anymore.)

14. I’ve been wearing this gold-plated necklace from Flaire & Co nearly every day for the past year—through workouts/showers/everything—and it still looks brand new. Even the clasp hasn’t tarnished. I have about three pieces from them, but I want everything they sell because I am a lazy jewelry owner who still doesn’t want her shit to be discolored.

15. One of my most-engaged IG stories was for my article about workout underwear for Glamour. Y’all gave some amazing recs but I unfortunately couldn’t include the Brandwyn Essential Thong for strange commerce reasons (aka this small brand just sells direct-to-consumer). These merino wool undies are amazing for outdoor activities: I brought them on a backpacking trip in Idaho this summer and they stayed sweat-free, odor-free, and totally chafe-free. Every box checked!

16. I know Instagram brands can be sketchy, but I’ve been wildly impressed by Halara, which I learned about via social media ad. I have two pairs of their leggings—one flare pant, one standard—and the plain black leggings are probably my most worn article of clothing this year. They don’t have a front seam and they make my butt look so cute! So many compliments and only $35!

Misc Wellness & Sleep Products I’ve Loved

17. The best sunscreen in the world is Supergoop Glow Screen. No one can convince me otherwise. I wear the shade Golden Hour, and it does exactly what it says it will. (Makes me glow.) My mom even bought a tube after she spotted it in my toiletries bag over Christmas. The biggest seal of approval.

18. I’m very sensitive to scents so I’ve never been big on perfume but Future Society Invisible Woods is to die for. Imagine Le Labo Santal 33 but a bit more complex and mysterious. Apparently, the brand sequenced DNA from extinct flowers to create this scent? I have yet to research what exactly that means but it’s intriguing enough that I have a few tabs open on my computer to fall down the rabbit hole.

19. Earlier this year, I tested a whole bunch of fiber products for Glamour, and my personal fav was Belliwelli because it’s so much easier to take fiber when I feel like I’m getting electrolytes at the same time. I can only vouch for the Strawberry Lemonade flavor, but if anyone tries the Cucumber Lime Mint or Orange Mandarin Yuzu, plz report back immediately.

20. For my fellow hot sleepers, I’ve finaaaally found my solution. It’s not sheets or a comforter—those only do so much—but a bluetooth-controlled mattress topper filled with water that you can adjust to your ideal temperature. If I want to read in bed, I crank it up to 103 degrees to stay toasty, and then drop it to 73 for a subtly cool sleep surface. Some reviewers mentioned leaking (which would be an absolute dealbreaker, so I’ll report back if anything changes. But for now? Life changing.

21. Because I live on the ground floor of an apartment building, this silk sleep mask from Dream Recovery has made it so much easier to fall and stay asleep. It’s so soft and lightweight that I barely notice it on my face.

22. You guys, I really dialed in my sleep system oevr the past few months and let me tell you, there’s nothing more luxurious than a really nice down comforter. (This one is made in Brooklyn.) My time in bed is at an all-time high, and honestly, I might not leave my cocoon until spring. No seriously, a comfy bed is a blessing and a curse.

And there you have it—my absolute favorite finds of the year. Some I tested for work, others I bought with my own money, but either way, I hope you found something here that sparks a little joy. Writing this list was a fun way to kick off my Substack, and I can’t wait to (over)share more gear, tips, and insight in the future. Drop me a comment with your favorite discoveries of the year or just an enthusiastic “same!” if you’re also hoarding Bandit shirts. See you outside, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen.