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Fitness-friendly MP3 players

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Jasmine France, May 22, 2008

Being active and getting in shape isn't just about looking good--it's also about being healthy. Luckily, you needn't suffer through workouts in silent boredom--some upbeat music can provide the perfect motivation to get moving. Better yet, plenty of MP3 players available today offer some great workout-worthy extras, such as built-in belt clips, pedometers, and even calorie counters. Even an FM tuner is a great extra, since it'll let you tune into the TVs at the gym--and tune out of the sometimes mind-numbing repetition of physical activity.

Some of my favorite choices for fitness include the Sony S2 Sports Walkman, a cigar-shaped player with a built-in pedometer and the ability to calculate calories burned. It even includes clip-on headphones to keep ear adjustments to a minimum. For iPod Nano owners, there's the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, which features a Bluetooth pedometer and some very handy fitness tracking software for recording results. If you're on a budget, check out the 2GB SanDisk Sansa Clip, which includes a belt-clip and an FM tuner for just $60. The RCA Jet is also a reasonable option with pricing around $45 including a built-in stop watch, an FM tuner, sport earphones, and both arm- and wristband attachments.

Of course, there's no reason to confine yourself to the treadmill and elliptical machine--the great outdoors makes the perfect gym. If cycling is your preferred training method, the Oakley Split Thump is a great choice--it's a pair of sunglasses with the MP3 player and headphones built right in. You can even remove the earbuds to use the sunglasses by themselves. For water babies who like the low-impact sport of swimming laps, there's the Finis SwiMP3, a waterproof player that uses bone-conduction technology to relay sound waves to your ears.