You need this gym bunny gadget in your life

Working out has always been synonymous with a good, pumping playlist to motivate you, and that’s why you need this gym bunny gadget in your life.

The harmony of exercise and music is the reason why there are classes designed according to the tune (shout out to all the themed spin classes out there!). And it’s also the reason behind our personal bests (there’s nothing like a Jay Z throwback to push through that last hill climb!). So when we heard word of a new activity tracker that also played music, we knew we had to get our hands on it asap. Want to find out how we got on? Read on for the full TomTom Cardio+Music review.

The Spec

It’s what we’d call a ‘proper’ activity tracker – one that tracks your time, pace, distance and calories according to each specific activity. That includes running, cycling, swimming and gym workouts – even if that’s dance or yoga. We’d say the built-in heart rate monitor also plays a pretty big part in the ‘properness’ of it, too. And it tracks your sleep, allows you to set goals and gives you audio feedback. Oh, and let’s not forget the handy GPS tracking feature either. It is made by the leading navigation brand after all…

The best part

All of that, and we haven’t even touched on the best part: built-in music storage. We’re not talking the size of an album either – TomTom’s Cardio+Music fits on average, 500 songs. Based on a regular gym bunny, we reckon that’s at least one month of workouts before getting to the end of that playlist! How does it work? Simply connect it to a pair of bluetooth headphones and you’re good to go!

Who is it for?

Having a watch that plays music is a game-changer in so many ways. As someone who rushes everywhere and always forgets her iPod, it’s such a relief to know that I’ll no longer be plagued by those awfully silent sessions on the treadmill. A more common observation is that you wouldn’t need to bring your phone with you. For those who insist on having their phone anyway, imagine a life where your hands are free (or if you use the phone-holder bands – your arms) and your iPhone isn’t out of storage!

The last word

It’s bigger than the average fitness tracker, but then the average fitness tracker isn’t as advanced. With a large digital screen that lights up when you cover it with your palm, we’d say that it actually looks quite smart. And with a USB rechargeable feature, it’s an easy replacement of our boring day watch. Oh, and it costs £189.99, so it’s probably cheaper than your annual gym membership!