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Health Gear Awards 2011: The Best Fitness Products of the Year

Health Gear Awards 2011: The Best Fitness Products of the Year

By Rozalynn S. Frazier and Tiffany Melanis

June 28, 2014

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The top workout apparel, footwear, fitness gear, and healthy foods to help you get in shape.

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And the winners are ...

Credit: Rennie Solis

Had enough of sports bras that don’t support you, sneakers that give you blisters, and workout wear that leaves you hot and sweaty? After testing hundreds of new get-fit products, our judges have chosen these 44 standouts.

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Apparel
• Footwear
• Gear
• Food/Drink

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Meet our judges

Credit: Getty Images

• Su Reid-St. John is Health’s senior fitness editor; she writes frequent product reviews for Health.com.

• Lisa Halbower-Fenton is a footwear product development consultant specializing in fit-and-performance analysis and structure.

• Jessica Matthews is a personal trainer, plus the certification director and a gear reviewer for the American Council on Exercise.

• Kristin McGee is a yoga and Pilates instructor and personal trainer, as well as a regular Health columnist.

• Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RD is a physician and registered dietician, as well as a personal trainer and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.

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Top workout wear

Best workout jacket

REI Airflyte Running Jacket

($169; REI.com)

Light-weight and breathable (not what we usually associate with waterproof fabric!), this jewel-toned jacket is just the thing for damp hikes, power walks, and rides. What’s more, it looks great on virtually any body type.

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Best running jacket

New Balance NBx Jacket

($99; NewBalance.com)

Stay cool (and visible) on your run in this featherweight, fast-drying coverup—then store it in its own back vent when you’re through. One more thing judge Kristin McGee loves: the iPod holder hidden in the front pocket.

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Best post-workout jacket

Kalyx Angelina Jacket

($88; GoKalyx.com)

Cute, comfy and organic! This eco-friendly, slimming jacket will take from the gym to your final destination in style. One touch of the buttery soft cotton and we’re betting you won’t want to take this jacket off.

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Best workout top

Icebreaker Rush Crewe

($70; Icebreaker.com)

This wool top (you read that right) is itch-free, surprisingly light, and so comfy. The fabric wicks sweat pronto and nixes stink, too. Add the iPod stash pocket on the back and you’re ready to run. Or walk. Or skate.

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Best workout skort

LL Bean Fitness Skort

($45; LLBean.com)

Whether your exercise agenda includes hitting the tennis court, pounding the pavement, or just sauntering about on a Sunday, this saucy, figure-smoothing skort deserves a prime spot in your workout wardrobe—and beyond. "This is great for working out and wearing around town," McGee notes.

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Best workout short

Icebreaker Swift Short

($60; Icebreaker.com)

Flattering yet so comfy (hello, drawstring waist), you’ll be loathe to take these shorts off. Made of Merino wool, they’re naturally wicking, breathable, and antimicrobial—which is a good thing, since you may be tempted to sneak in a second wearing instead of tossing ‘em in the laundry.

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Best sports bra

ASICS Cross Back Bra

($40; ASICSAmerica.com)

With two layers of lightweight support fabric and adjustable cross-back straps, this stylish (but comfy!) bra will hold you in place whether you’re Piloxing or doing Pilates. "It gives full coverage and support, yet still makes me feel sexy!" McGee says.

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Best supportive tank

PUMA Complete Run Top

($45; RoadRunnerSports.com)

Sweat your heart out in this layered-look tank (we love the shirred back). There’s a mesh-backed shelf bra to keep you cool and supported, then the tank itself skims over your body, hiding those jiggly bits. "It’s so forgiving!" says judge Su Reid-St. John.

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Best yoga top

Champion Pro Cotton Tank

($18; ChampionUSA.com)

From lotus to lunge, this buttery soft, eye-catching racerback tank is the perfect pose partner—and just the thing to pair with jeans for an outing with the girls afterward. And talk about a bargain! "Can I just live in this?" McGee asks.

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Best yoga pant

PrAna Mackenzie Pant

($75; PrAna.com)

Got curves—and lots of ‘em? Doesn’t matter: These soft, stretchy pants are almost universally flattering, giving legs a long, lean look. Bonus: "I love the shirred waist and front side tie—so cute!" McGee says.

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Best active swimsuit (one-piece)

TYR Polynesian Double Binding Reversible Diamondback

($74; TYR.com)

This quick-drying suit stays put without making you feel like you’re stuffed into a sausage casing. "It’s supportive and comfortable—like a second skin," McGee says. Bonus: It’s reversible, so you can wear beautiful blue one day, then wow ‘em with a jazzy print the next.

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Best two-piece swimsuit

Nautica Rugby Stripe Halter with Belted Hipster Bottom

($64 top, $54 bottom; Nautica.com)

Who says two-pieces are for just for sunbathers? This suit looks great, sure, but it also stands up to (and stays in place during!) both butterflies and beach volleyball. With a super-cute v-neck top and moderate coverage bottoms, you’re covered in all the right places.

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Best cycling skort

Terry Coaster Skort

($69; TerryBicycles.com)

Chic and figure-flattering, this skort offers ample padding to make longs rides comfy. We love the reflective details and hidden zipper (hello, unemcumbered leg movement), plus the fact the shorts are separate from the upper skirt, so you can wear them with other bottoms.

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Best cycling short

Adidas by Stella McCartney Cycle Performance Padded Shorts

(shopadidas.com; $115)

The silicon grips inside the leg bands help keep these moisture-wicking shorts from riding up—plus the padding keeps you comfy while you’re in the saddle. Style bonus: We’re wild about the sky blue with leopard-print jacquard pattern.

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Best workout hat

Brooks Printed Mesh Cap

($20; BrooksRunning.com)

Say hello to the lightest, coolest hat we’ve ever worn, thanks to mesh venting on the top and perforated bill to let the breeze in. Plus, it has a sweat-wicking inner band and reflective edging—nice touches.

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Best workout socks

Salomon XA Pro Ultra Cool

($11; SalomonSocks.com)

The perfect sweat session sock: thin, light, and breathable with a flat seam that won’t kill your toes. The anti-friction fiber underfoot means you can wave buh-bye to blisters. "They feel like silk going on," Reid-St. John says.

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Standout shoes

Best running

K-Swiss Kwicky Blade-Light

($130; KSwiss.com)

"Super-light plus super-supportive—that’s rare," judge Lisa Halbower-Fenton says. These shoes are both—and more: The angled treads help you gain traction during fast runs, then soften up to act as cushioning as you slow down. Plus, the seamless upper part of the shoe means no pinching.

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Best walking

New Balance 860

($90; NewBalance.com)

These have just the right balance of cushioning and support, plus a mesh upper that acts like an air conditioner for your feet and a flexible forefoot to speed you on your way. Walk on!

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Best cross training

ECCO Biom Train

($145; EccoUSA.com)

Basketball with the girls? BodyPump class followed by a few power-walking laps around the track? This shoe can handle it. Halbower-Fenton raves that it’s "so snug and comfy from heel to toe that it’s almost glove-like." She adds, "This is a good-for-everything, multi-purpose shoe."

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Best trail running

Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity HPi

($130; www.Hi-Tec.com)

Grippy tread? Check. Toe bumper to protect your piggies? Check. Just the right amount of cushioning? Check! This feather-light shoe is just the thing to help you stay firm-footed on even the rockiest trail, Halbower-Fenton says. We heart the vibrant colors, too—so sleek.

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Best light hiking

Patagonia Drifter AC Gore-Tex

($150; Patagonia.com)

This stable shoe will help keep you from turning an ankle on the gnarliest trails, thanks to an outsole that wraps around your foot from heel to toe. Other things we love: they’re waterproof yet breathable (a hard-to-find combo), super-comfy, and made of partially-recycled material.

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Best barefoot running

Vibram Five Fingers Bikila LS

($100; VibramFiveFingers.com)

"These feel like a second skin with a layer of toughness on the bottom," Halbower-Fenton says. Your toes act independently, giving you the closest-to-barefoot feeling of everything we tested. (Just be sure to ease into wearing them if you’re used to pavement pounding in regular running shoes.)

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Best land/water

The North Face Hydroshock

($75; thenorthface.com)

Move effortlessly from trail to kayak and back again with this hybrid shoe. It’s quick drying and sturdy—yet flexible—so your feet will feel equally comfy wading through the drink and tackling rocks and roots on land.

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Best post-workout

Kalso Earth Premier 2

($119; EarthFootwear.com)

We can’t think of anything more pampering to slip into after a sweat session. While the lower heel position gives you a great leg stretch and terrific arch support, the thick cushioning inside molds luxuriously to your foot. Plus the outside leather is soft and beautiful.

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Best everyday/toning

Skechers Tone-ups Ready Set

($72; Skechers.com)

"Of all the toning shoes out there, the pods on these make you feel most in control," Halbower-Fenton notes. With soft, cushy bottoms, this lightweight, breathable shoe makes you feel like you’re walking on a sponge, challenging your muscles in a good way. Just the thing for a day spent on your feet.

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Best cycling

Specialized Spirita Touring

($90; Specialized.com)

This sleek cycling shoe’s internal cleat and non-slip sole lets you clip in for a more efficient pedal stroke, then clip out and walk around without slipping or teetering—ingenious! The mesh venting on top is a nice, cooling touch.

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Great gear

Best sports watch

Timex Ironman Sleek 150-Lap with TapScreen Technology

($90; Timex.com)

This is one user-friendly watch—you can start and stop the interval timers, turn on the light, and record splits by just tapping on the screen. Plus, it's too cute to save for workouts.

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Best heart rate monitor

Polar USA FT40

($180; PolarUSA.com)

Though it’s sleek and slim, we didn’t just pick this monitor for its good looks. "Both the watch and chest strap are very comfortable to wear," judge Jessica Matthews says, "plus it’s really easy to use." For added motivation, it also calculates calories and fat burned.

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Best pedometer/activity monitor

Oregon Scientific/Gaiam Zone Trainer G3

($110; us.OregonScientific.com)

Forget waist-clip gadgets that make you twist and squint to get a reading. A single glance at this bright blue watch-style pedometer tells you just how many times you’ve put one foot in front of the other. Bonus: It also measures heart rate and tells how many calories you’ve burned.

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Best gym bag

High Sierra 7139 Switch Blade

($35; Hssc.com)

There are pockets for everything in this bag—mesh ones for sweaty clothes, big ones for shoes, smaller ones for toiletries and a snack. Yep, it’s spacious—but it’ll still fit in your gym locker. Love the fun prints, too.

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Best daypack

Osprey Sirrus 24

($99; OspreyPacks.com)

Bye-bye, mid-hike backache! This pack’s mesh panel conforms to your back (so comfy) without causing you to overheat. What’s more, it has pockets for everything from iPod to waterbottle, plus a built-in rain cover. "It’s a really well thought-out design," Matthews notes.

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Health Gear Awards 2011: The Best Fitness Products of the Year

1 of 46

And the winners are ...

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Meet our judges

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Top workout wear

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Best running jacket

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Best post-workout jacket

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Best workout top

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Best workout skort

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Best workout short

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Best sports bra

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Best supportive tank

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Best yoga top

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Best yoga pant

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Best active swimsuit (one-piece)

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Best two-piece swimsuit

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Best cycling skort

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Best cycling short

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Best workout hat

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Best workout socks

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Standout shoes

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Best walking

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Best cross training

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Best trail running

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Best light hiking

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Best barefoot running

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Best land/water

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Best post-workout