Chris's Favorite Things
Ok, I'm Not Oprah, But Hopefully I Can Spark Some Ideas
As Thanksgiving approaches (seriously?) and of course, Black Friday (which seems to have expanded to Black November), I thought I’d share some gift ideas in the form of Chris’s favorite things. Most of the items on this list are tied to fitness, though some are just things that I like. So, without further ado. . .
Starting Small (Under $100)
ThinOptics (Amazon - $24.95) - One of the fun things about getting older is deteriorating eyesight. While it’s exclusive to reading, it still sucks. I’m constantly looking for readers that I try to leave strategically around the house, yet I still can’t seem to find a pair when I really need them. Fortunately, my wife found ThinOptics. The pair I own happen to be on a keychain, but they also come in a version that attaches to your phone. I keep them in my pocket so I always have a pair of glasses with me. Attach an Apple AirTag so you never lose them.
Apple AirTag (Apple - 1pack - $29; 4pack - $99) - If you’re not familiar with Apple’s AirTags and you use an iPhone, consider picking some up. They can be attached to keys, backpacks, remotes, or anything that you want to keep tabs on. Using the Find My app on your iPhone, items can be located down to the exact location when close by. When you leave something behind, the AirTag sends out bluetooth signals to nearby Apple devices, essentially creating a network of millions of beacons that help you locate your item.
Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks - (Apple - $29.95) - The latest iOS and MacOS updates introduced a feature called continuity camera, which allows you to use your iPhone camera (which is much higher quality than the built-in webcam) as a webcam. This mount was created for Apple by Belkin for this specific purpose. The mount attaches to the back of your iPhone via MagSafe and allows you to safely perch your phone atop your MacBook. Continuity camera has some cool features as well, including Apple’s center stage functionality, which keeps you centered in the frame, even when you’re moving around or standing up. It also can display your actual desktop, which can be useful for presenting handwritten notes.
Teton Hydration Backpack - (Amazon - $27.99)
Ok, so a hydration backpack isn’t for everyone, but if you’re running long distances or training for a half or full marathon, hydration is key. It doesn’t add too much in the way of additional weight and it’s surprisingly comfortable to run with. It comes with a 2L water bladder and yes, a little tube (see Sebastian’s bit above) for easy accessibility.
Quip Smart Toothbrush - (Get Quip - On sale for $25) - Yes, I am a nerd. No, you do not need a toothbrush that syncs with your phone to tell you how well you’ve brushed. But it is relatively accurate in terms of measuring the amount of time you spend brushing your upper and lower teeth and can be instructive in that regard. Plus, it’s much cheaper than other smart brushing options.
Calm - (Calm - $69.99/Year) - As much as I believe in the benefits of meditation, I still don’t do it as often as I like. But the fact that I always have an app with me that includes guided meditation is certainly helpful. There are tons of programs to choose from and they can help with everything from focus and anxiety to helping you fall asleep.
Golfshot - (Golfshot - $49.99/Year) - If you are an Apple Watch owner that happens to play golf, I highly recommend this app. It uses GPS to measure distance to the hole and also employs AI to track shots automatically (it doesn’t track putts as accurately). It includes thousands of golf courses and as an added bonus, will also track walking distance for the round. Sure, a laser pointer is going to provide more accurate distances to the pin, but for a quick distance check and the ability to track and post your score, it’s a no-brainer and negates the need for a standalone golf watch.
Anker 637 Magnetic Charging Station - (Anker - $99.99; currently on sale for $70) - This charging block helped me to eliminate clutter on my desk. It includes 3 Outlets, 2 USB A Ports, 2 USB C Ports and a magnetic charging block for your iPhone or AirPods. While I wouldn’t quite call it portable, it is small enough to pack for trips.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack (Apple - $99) - There are absolutely cheaper options out there, but I like Apple’s battery pack for a few reasons. The iPhone battery widget will show you the charging status of the pack and the iPhone. It will only charge your phone to 90%, thus prolonging the life of the built-in battery. And finally, if you also own AirPods, it will charge those as well. You can definitely find it for cheaper than what Apple sells it for (Best Buy - $79; Amazon - $74.99).
More Expensive (Under $500)
Beats Fit Pro (Amazon - $179.95) - Beats are owned by Apple, but I’m linking to the Amazon price here because it’s $20 cheaper. I would characterize these as an almost perfect pair of workout wireless ear buds. They have a better fit than AirPods or AirPods Pro, include active noise cancellation, will stay in your ears during even the most intense workouts and because they are ultimately made by Apple, they share similar features with AirPods, including “Hey Siri,” easy pairing and device switching with Apple devices and spatial audio. Plus, they sound great and are sweat and water resistant.
AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (Apple - $249) - AirPods have become fairly ubiquitous, to the point where “AirPods have become too widespread to be cool.” That said, the latest generation of AirPods Pro improve upon the originals by introducing enhanced noise cancellation, adaptive transparency which kicks in when your AirPods are in transparency mode and you happen upon loud noises such as a leaf blower or jackhammer, enhanced “Find My” capabilities and volume controls on the stem. As with the Beats Fit Pro, they are sweat resistant and water resistant as well. The case can be engraved with your Memoji for added personalization.
Peloton Guide - (Peloton - $295) - I wrote in-depth about the Peloton Guide in October after receiving one as a birthday present. I probably would never have purchased one on my own, but having owned it now for the past 6 weeks or so, I can say that it’s helped me with staying motivated throughout the workout, whether its a five minute core workout or a 20 minute chest and back workout. For me, it’s kind of like having somebody watching me at all times to make sure I’m actually doing the work. And it’s kind of fun to use as well.
On Cloud Running Shoes (On-Running - $139+) - Choosing a shoe for running boils down to personal preference, but I’ve been using these shoes for several years and I just won’t buy anything else. They are extremely comfortable over long distances and I use them as everyday sneakers once they’ve reached the end of their useful life for running.
Most Expensive (Over $500)
Peloton Bike Original (Peloton - $1495) - Peloton has been all over the place with their pricing lately, and their current offering is no exception. You can actually get a bike, shoes, mat, light dumbbell set and a water bottle for $1145 and for $1225, you get the bike, the aforementioned accessories, plus a chest heart rate monitor, an extra set of heavier dumbbells and an extra mat. The Bike+ adds another $1K to the price and includes a swiveling screen, automatic resistance switching and Apple Gym Kit, though your Apple Watch will work with the original bike as well. I’ve not used the Bike+, but during a recent visit to a Peloton showroom, the sales staff indicated that the original bike had a better track record when it comes to repairs. If you’ve been on the fence, I would snag one of their bundles as the offer is only available through November 28.
Apple Watch Ultra - (Apple - $799) - When the new Apple Watches were announced in early September, I wrote that it wasn’t necessary to upgrade, as the Series 8 is really not much different from the Series 6. The Ultra on the other hand does provide some compelling reasons to upgrade if you’re in the market for a new watch. Apple pitched it as a watch for extreme sports enthusiasts as a way to compete with offerings from Garmin which generally have battery life measured in weeks. If you’re a Garmin user, battery life is not likely to be a compelling reason to upgrade, but if you’re coming from a previous version of Apple Watch, the battery of the Ultra is impressive. It’s also quite large compared to other models, so it won’t be for everyone, but if a big, rugged watch with stellar battery life is your thing, go for it.