Strength & Gear

A weighted vest is the cheapest way to make a walk meaningfully harder without running, and the fit matters far more than the brand.

After comparing six adjustable dumbbell sets on published specifications, mechanism design, and long-term owner reports, the BowFlex SelectTech 552 is the set we recommend most often.

Best overall: Banded Loop Resistance Bands by Fit Simplify ($14): five resistance levels, durable fabric-wrapped latex, handles daily use without rolling or snapping.

The best jump rope for HIIT depends on whether you want speed, power, or portability. Five options ranked for athletes who actually use them, from sub-$20 to CrossRope.

The best kettlebell ranked for cast iron quality, handle finish, weight accuracy, and value. From beginner-friendly sets to competition-grade singles, what to buy at every budget.

Resistance bands are the most underrated piece of gym equipment available. Here are the best sets for strength training, warm-up, rehab, and travel, ranked by resistance range, durability, and value.

The best strength training apps ranked by logging speed, free tier value, analytics depth, and real-world usability. Plus the gear that makes your logged PRs actually mean something.

Strong and Hevy are the two strength logging apps most serious lifters end up debating. Both are excellent. The right one depends on whether you train alone or want a social layer, and how much you care about the free tier.

Strong does one thing, log your workouts cleanly and track progressive overload. We tested it for 12 weeks against every alternative. Here’s the verdict.