I’m a Fitness Editor—Here Are My Favorite Early Prime Day Gym Deals

We’re big fans of Garmin here at Men’s Health, but for newcomers it can be daunting to get started. The active brand puts out several new watches a year, and its designs come with all kinds of price points.

I’ve been counting on the Garmin Instinct series for years, and it brings a high level of functionality at the lower spectrum of cost. Even more so when it’s on sale. So if you’re looking to get into fitness tracking and route planning for your runs, this is a great place to start. And now is a great time.

This weighted vest has really helped me take my bodyweight workouts to the next level. I’ve had this piece for years, and it gets used no matter the season. This vest is much more comfortable than other options I’ve tried in the past.

During the winter, bundled up and wearing my REP Fitness Strata, I can make a lot out of a little amount of time. The design helps me stay cool during the summer months. The green colorway is not on sale (it costs $110), but if you click on the black version, there’s a secret sale happening.

For this plate carrier, as for all others, you need to buy the plates separately, picking by which weight you would like to go with. For the best plates for this carrier, look at these from REP Fitness.

I was first introduced to HigherDOSE when I went to one of its recovery centers in New York City, and that visit is what really kicked off my journey with red light therapy. Now I have a mat like this that I use at home when I’m watching football or reading a book.

There are a lot of benefits that are talked about, from better-looking skin to improved tissue repair, all things that a dad who puts his body through a lot cares about. Some red light beds can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

But this mat bundle is one I like to recommend to people trying red light at home for the first time, because it comes with everything you need and makes it simple to start.

Having a water bottle that you can keep nearby is a life hack that can’t be replaced. This is the one that I keep at my desk and in my gym, because it is a stylish, sleek design that allows you to sip from a straw or drink down in the classic fashion.

Its double-walled, insulated stainless steel is perfect for durability and easy maintenance, as well as doing a great job of keeping hot and cold drinks at their respective temperatures.

Read more: Best Water Bottles

I’ve never liked too much on my wrists, so in the past, I haven’t had much success sticking with a fitness tracker. I would wear a heart rate strap on more intense cardio sessions but that’s about it. That changed when Oura Ring hit the scene, which I wrote about here.

I like keeping track of my biomarkers, and being able to switch fingers keeps me from feeling too constrained. The data I collect from the app helps inform the training decisions I make throughout the week. The price drop comes after the release of the Oura Ring 5, but if you’re looking to save a few bucks while getting all the same software, this is a good pickup.

Sometimes simpler is better, and it doesn’t get much better than this compact set of hex dumbbells from CAP Barbell. These dumbbells have all the features that I look for: knurled handles for grip, rubber ends so that you can place them on the ground without damaging your floor, and a hex design so they don’t roll away when you do.

Being a Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, it should come as no surprise that I’ve had a lot of pairs of dumbbells over the years. I especially like these, and bonus points for the convenient little rack they come with to keep them organized.

There is really no excuse for not having a few resistance bands in the gym bag or around the house. They are the most practical and cost-efficient pieces of gym equipment around, and a quality one can help you build strength, as well as help you stretch.

I have a bunch from REP Fitness, which I like because they’re comprehensively color-coded and super durable. Given I like to use my resistance bands outdoors, on trees or pull-up bars, having a quality product is ideal.

I was on a cycling cardio kick until recently, when we were lucky enough to welcome our daughter Rose into the family. She recently turned a year old and was cleared by our doctor to join me on a run in a jogging stroller.

If you’re training for anything from a 5K to a marathon, this is a great way to hit your mileage while spending time with your little one. That’s what I’ve been doing, and I find that the solo miles feel easy when you’re not pushing a toddler! There is nothing I look forward to more than buckling her up in the Bob and going for a jog on the track or on some local trails. The Wayfinder lives up to its name, keeping the ride smooth no matter what terrain we are on.