Winter fitness: in the gym

Under Armour TriBase Reign 5

£115 / underarmour.co.uk

Despite spending a healthy (enough) amount of time in gyms, I’d never really considered the need for a dedicated gym training shoe. But after spending some time with the TriBase Reign 5, I can appreciate the benefit of the added support – especially if you’re into lifting heavy weights.

These shoes feel quite stiff to begin with, but they loosen up after a few good sessions. The rubber outsole is extremely grippy, and wraps around the outside for added durability. Some of the rubber is designed to grip during rope climbs, but I wasn’t able to test this (which was, in all honesty, a blessed relief).

That lattice-style WARP upper holds the feet really securely during squats, lifts, jumps and so on, and is very breathable. And though the mesh looks thin, this shoe is impressively durable. They’re far stiffer than your standard trainers, but the flat midsole is superb for distributing your weight evenly, with targeted creases on the sole for smart bending.

Get some extra laces, as the ones included in the box aren’t great: they’re overly long, and the round profile means they come undone with irritating regularity. It’s nowhere near as softly cushioned as a modern running shoe, so I wouldn’t wear these for long runs on the treadmill, but for HiiT sessions and sprints they offer brilliant grip and support. The full-length Micro G foam with 2mm drop offers good responsiveness, and the low base makes them a fine choice for lifting.

Now add these…

Stance Independence Crew Socks

These exceptional sports socks are worth the investment, with premium mesh nylon and cotton uppers, and cushioning where it counts.

€19.99 / stance.eu

Ninja Blast

Offering up to 10 blends per charge, this powerful portable blender is a must-have for anyone who loves their smoothies fresher than fresh, or those gym bunnies who succumbed to the onslaught of AG1 powdered greens adverts. Simple, sleek and dishwasher-safe, it has enough grunt to crush ice… so once the healthy work is done, anyone for frozen margaritas at the weekend?

£50 / ninjakitchen.co.uk

Pulseroll Ignite Mini

This high-performance deep tissue massage gun is small enough to stash in a kit bag, yet offers four power levels (from 1800 to 3000 thumps per minute) and has a hugely impressive heated head attachment that delivers warmth to target muscles and alleviate soreness and fatigue. Its 2500mAh battery is good for up to 6hrs of punishment between USB-C charges.

£150 / pulseroll.com

On Running Performance Bra

Weighing a mere 76g, this is a super-light, comfortable and inclusive sports bra with just enough padding to cope when there’s a bit of bounce to your workouts. It wicks sweat swiftly away thanks to the inclusion of a mesh panel, there’s added support all the way around, and the single-piece construction means you’re treated to a seam-free, chaff-proof feel.

£65 / on-running.com

Mirafit Tactical Weight Vest

Some say it’s sadistic, others simply call it dedication; but whichever camp you’re in, this weighted vest will help add some spice to your obviously all-too-easy workouts. Supplied with three pairs of slide-in steel weights (2x 2.35kg, 2x 3.4kg and 2x 4.3kg), it’s rated up to 10kg in total. You might want to start easy, though: the vest itself weighs around 1.4kg.

£70 / mirafit.co.uk

Hyperice Normatec Lower Legs

It’s not cheap, but Normatec’s most portable recovery system has just launched offering 360° air compression whenever and wherever you need it. Ideal for those who like to smash out a pre-work PB, it specifically targets the calves with three overlapping zones of massage to flush out and rejuvenate the body, reducing inflammation.

£429 / hyperice.com

Lululemon Metal Vent Tech T-Shirt

We’ve all arrived at the gym only to discover last week’s kit still festering in the bottom of the bag. It’s quite the rare scent… but with Lululemon’s latest shirt tech, it might just be avoidable, at least for a couple of washes. They’ve woven Silverescent biocidal silver nitrate through this T-shirt’s 100% recycled polyester to inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria.

£68 / lululemon.co.uk

Whoop Coach

A welcome update to the data-rich (read: jargon-heavy) Whoop wearable, this is an AI buddy that deciphers your data and gives quick answers to questions on sport, sleep and stress.

£229/yr / whoop.com

Roka Barton

Thanks to rubber strips on the nose and temples, these glasses don’t slip no matter how sweaty you get. (Note than in the UK you can only buy the frames, then get the lenses from your optician.)

£140 / uk.roka.com

Osprey Zealot 30 Backpack

Designed for gym climbers looking to keep their chalk bags and revolting sweaty shoes out of harm’s way, this backpack has a rolltop main section and multiple other spaces and pockets.

£120 / osprey.com