If the current statistics are anything to go by, health and fitness are still on our minds. A recent industry report suggested that the gyms and fitness centres industry in Australia in 2023 reached a whopping AUD$2.2 billion, bucking the global downshift, but are we really surprised? With our sun-bleached skin and year-round tropical climate, any excuse to get your kit off and showcase the abs is good enough for us, we’ve just got to find them first.
To ensure you’re up to date with the latest and greatest in the fitness and sports market, we’ve put together a list of our top products of 2023. We’re talking next-generation treadmills, the best smartwatches for tracking your exercise, prototype running guides, massagers and even an at-home ice bath for good measure. Whether you’re trying to get shredded or simply improve your physical well-being, our top fitness and sports products of 2023 have you covered.
Best Fitness & Sports Products of 2023
Our list of the best Fitness & Sports releases of 2023 includes the following.
- Best overall: Plunge All-In Cold Plunge Ice Bath
- Best for fitness: Peloton The Guide
- Best for sport: Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube
- Best for running: NordicTrack X32i
Now we’ve rounded up our favourites, let’s check out the full list.
Plunge All-In Cold Plunge Ice Bath
I’ll be the first to admit, 2023 was the year I finally got aboard the ice bath train. As a lifelong sauna enthusiast and part-time bio hack advocate, I’ve often engaged in a bit of cold water immersion therapy, but carting packs of ice from the petrol station to my teeny tiny bathtub is far from an inspiring way to start your Sunday. Thankfully, the industry is starting to catch up and the All-In Cold Plunge Bath from the aptly named Plunge is perhaps the best example.
The all-in-one option can self-cool down to 37°F, without the need for additional ice and best of all, it is completely operational via smartphone. All you need to do is plug-and-plunge, removing the unnecessary and often trivial task of carting packs back and forth for a good 15 minutes of pain. Admittedly, convenience does come at a cost. The All-In Plunge will set you back a whopping USD$13,913, so it’s only for serious dunkers. Casual dippers need not apply.
NordicTrack X32i
Those familiar with NordicTrack will know just how established the brand is in the realm of commercial fitness equipment, however, the X32i still managed to surprise me. The multi-dimensional treadmill is designed specifically for incline operation, which is precisely why it ranked so highly in my books. I’m a huge fan of incline solid-state cardio, having implemented the exercise into my training protocol for the last five years, so having a piece of equipment that prioritises was a welcomed change.
From a features perspective, the NordicTrack X32i is loaded with industry-leading tech, alongside a monster 32-inch cinematic HD display which I manage to sweat profusely over. Best of all, the treadmill comes loaded with thousands of pre-determined workouts, many of which stretch beyond simple running/walking patterns. I was genuinely shocked by the level of detail involved in the HIIT workout functions, which included dumbbell use and elements of strength training.
To me, the biggest surprise with the NordicTrack X32i was the decline capabilities. I’ve never used a treadmill that could functionally operate on a decline basis to emulate a downhill run, so it was a handy addition, even if it was just a novelty.
Garmin Forerunner 245
While there are swathe of smartwatches that could well have made the list this year, Garmin was perhaps the only brand that really managed to nail the basics of fitness. The brand’s Forerunner 245 Music doesn’t have anywhere near the number of features or benefits of Apple or Google’s flagship options, but what it does do, it does exceptionally well.
The running and sports-focused timepiece monitors your training load to ensure you are putting the required amount of effort into each workout. While a simple addition, it came in handy more times than not and provided an added level of accountability that I’m sure others would appreciate. Importantly, Garmin made sure the Forerunner 245 Music was a one-stop option.
This smartwatch comes with 4GB of memory and storage, meaning you can load in your favourite songs and not worry about carrying your phone with you simultaneously. Sure, Apple does this already, but not for under $350, it doesn’t.
Larq Water Bottle
The very notion of a smart water bottle feels redundant, but Larq may have finally won me over. The brand’s range of purifying water bottles self-cleans every two hours via a unique UV-C technology integration. That means no more stale water or crusty BCAAs stuck to the insides of your drink canister, which I can personally reveal is a disgusting way to start your workout.
The Larq also has purifying qualities, allowing you to instantly purify water by pressing the cap to activate a 60-second purifying cycle. Alternatively, you could switch to Adventure Mode for extra purifying power. Fully rechargeable, this bottle has a waterproof USB and a single charge keeps your bottle going for up to a month.
Withings ScanWatch Nova
I’ve been a big fan of the Withings ScanMatch line for a few years now, but my taste in timepieces has certainly evolved in recent years. Thankfully, the French consumer electronics company has also adapted its design language, releasing the ScanWatch Nova earlier this year. A fitness and health monitor in the body of a dive watch, this handy new release has a lot going for it.
For the first time, the new watch can track your baseline body temperature variations 24/7, which Withings claims may indicate the onset of an illness or other health condition, and boost your ability to manage performance and recovery via workout temperature variation zones. There is also ECG measurement and AFib detection built in, providing constant monitoring of cardiac arrhythmia.
Peloton The Guide
When AI broke onto the scene earlier this year, trainers in the fitness industry were perhaps the least concerned about losing their jobs, but maybe they should have been. At-home fitness icon Peloton is doing a darn good job at cutting out the middle man, with The Guide essentially acting as an AI-power personal trainer right in your living room.
The Guide is a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that connects to Peloton’s extensive catalogue of strength training and workout content. You simply set it up, load up the workout you want to complete and the camera will track your performance, rewarding successful sets with award badges. It is voice-activated and consistently updates to facilitate growth in your overall fitness and health. While it might not be as good as a personal trainer, it does come close.
Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube
There is no shortage of recovery massage options on the market but the RecoveryTherm Cube was a nice surprise this year. The compact device has the ability to deliver cold, heat and contrast therapies to treat injuries and relieve pain. As an athlete (loose use of the word) with two shoulders that are hanging on by a thread, consistent recovery work is essential and Therabody’s proprietary Cryothermal Technology has been a game-changer. Super small, always reliable and under $200, the RecoveryTherm Cube is a serious player in the massage game.
Hyperice Heated Head Attachment
An accessory for the accessory, the Heated Head Attachment is a small but mighty addition to this list of top fitness products. Compatible with all Hypervolt massage guns, the attachment is designed to relax tight muscles and maintain a full range of motion. Simply bolting the head onto your existing Hyperice machine increases blood flow soothingly, reaching heats of up to 120° F. Small and mighty, this got my tick of approval this year.
How Man of Many Chose The Best Fitness & Sports Releases of 2023
To arrive at this list of products, the Man of Many team went through hours and rigorous testing, implementation and analysis before culling it down to the very best. Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked on curated products that push boundaries and pioneer new fronts, across the automotive, fashion, lifestyle and technology verticals. Sure, we love getting the latest piece of kit in our hands, but being able to point out the benefits and shortfalls objectively is at the heart of what we do.
As a result, this list is primarily comprised of products that we tested in-house and use extensively first-hand. While there are a few exceptions to the rule, generally due to scarcity and availability, we made note of the cultural significance surrounding each product should we not have been able to review it personally.
2023 Fitness FAQs
ccording to a recent worldwide research survey from the ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, the biggest fitness trend for 2023 is strength training. Free weights was second, with bodyweight training as the number three trend.
While it is impossible to exclusively target belly fat, aerobic exercise and HIIT training are the most effective exercises for burning calories. These movements help to raise your heart rate, which will ultimately stimulate fat loss.
