The holidays are back, and with them the stress of finding the right gifts for family and friends. But that process doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, with a little help from our gear experts, it can downright fun! We review hundreds of products of every kind each year so you have the best options for your unique needs, right at your fingertips. If the newest gadget or gizmo is what the cyclist in your life is constantly pining after, these products just might help.
AFTERSHOKZ TREKZ AIR
Few headphones are as innovative as the Aftershokz Trekz Air, all because of the company’s innovative bone conduction technology. Sound waves move through your cheekbones directly to your inner ear. For riders who like listening to music but need to stay aware of their surroundings, this technology accomplishes what once seemed impossible.
JABRA ELITE SPORT WIRELESS HEADPHONES
Wireless earbud technology has improved quite a bit in recent years. It’s now standard for high performance models to connect via bluetooth not just to your phone but to each other as well, eschewing the need for a strap around your neck. If you’re looking for that kind of comfort and flexibility, the Jabra Elite Sport Wireless Headphones are one of the best options out there. Features include high audio quality, in-ear heart rate monitoring, three hours of battery life, an external microphone to hear ambient noise, and a companion app that can provide coaching cues during a ride.
SOLOS SMART GLASSES
The Google Glass never took off like some predicted, and yes, the Solos Smart Glasses look pretty similar. But in this case, less is more. These glasses stick to what you need on your ride (or run)—they’re comprehensive, efficient, and simple. You can customize the constantly updating data you see in the corner of your vision to show measures such as distance, speed, and heart rate. The glasses can also give you turn by turn directions to follow a specific route. The setup includes a microphone and speakers, plus of course protection from the sun’s rays. If you feel glancing down at your computer every so often is annoying or unsafe, the Solos Smart Glasses could be the the solution.
GARMIN EDGE 520 PLUS
Other bike computers may have more bells and whistles, but the Garmin Edge 520 still remains supreme when it comes to reliability and user satisfaction. It’s got you covered on Strava live segments, turn-by-turn directions, smart notifications, VO2 max and recovery time calculations, and of course basic measurements like speed and distance. The rechargeable battery lasts up to 15 hours, and the whole unit stays affordable at just $280.
TREK BONTRAGER ION 100 R AND FLARE R CITY
This front and rear high visibility set may look small, but it has plenty of power to offer. Several features—including focused optics, an interruptive flash pattern, and a broad range—make them ideal for urban settings. And in flash mode, the Ion 100 R’s integrated light sensor automatically adjusts brightness up to 100 lumens. In the back, the Flare R City’s four modes offer up to 35 lumens. Plus, buy these two lights as a set and save $10!
SILCA TATTICO MINI PUMP
Welcome to the latest iteration of “there’s an app for that.” The Silca Tattico Bluetooth mini pump senses when you begin inflating, and automatically pairs the pump with the iGauge app on your smartphone, so you can accurately track the data across the full breadth of your phone screen. The 9.5-inch pump is rated up to 120 psi.
RYLO 360 VIDEO CAMERA (IPHONE VERSION)
Not satisfied with your standard GoPro? Try out the Rylo 360 Video Camera, packed with more cool and user-friendly features than can possibly be listed here. The camera uses multiple lenses, Rylo’s own algorithm, and some powerful stabilization technology to shoot steady video 360 degrees around. It comes with a basic case, is compatible with standard mounts, and Rylo offers an Adventure Case for even better protection (and basic waterproofness). Then there’s the smartphone app, which pairs with the camera in real-time and includes not just lens controls but some pretty sophisticated editing tools as well.
PHENOM VIBRATING FOAM ROLLER
Take your postride recovery to the next level with the Phenom Vibrating Foam Roller. In addition to the traditional offerings of a ridged foam roller, you can choose from three frequencies that Phenom claims can help improve an athlete’s range of motion by as much as 40 percent. The rechargeable lithium battery lasts three hours, which is plenty of time for a thorough massage.
FITBIT IONIC
There are tons of watch options from Fitbit, let alone the smart watch industry in general, but the Ionic remains a stalwart choice. Imagine a feature you might want from a smart watch, and the Ionic probably has it: a customizable display, water resistant, heart rate monitor, interchangeable wrist straps, automatic workout tracking, third party app syncing capabilities, the list goes on. It boasts a quite respectable 10 hours of battery, it’s not terribly expensive as smart watches go, and the kicker—unlike many of its peers, it can store music directly on the watch for a phone-free listening experience.
MOPHIE POWER CAPSULE
Many bluetooth earbuds, including the above mentioned Jabra Elite Sport Wireless Headphones, use a charging case instead of directly connecting to a charging cord. In other words, the case acts as not just protection but a portable battery pack; you plug the case itself into the wall when you get home. The mophie Power Capsule brings this new system to other wireless earbuds—it’s a carrier case and battery pack with a USB port that works with any compatible charging cord (likely the one that came with your earbuds).
POLAR H10 HEART RATE SENSOR
If you’re looking for the next step in analyzing your fitness data, a good heart rate monitor is a must. And there’s no better option than the Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor, which Polar claims is its most accurate model to date. The monitor wraps around your chest via a flexible strap, and can either store a workout worth of data until you have a chance to sync it or feed its measurements in real time to a connected smartphone. Polar also offers a cool bonus feature in partnership with GoPro: You can sync the H10 and a Hero 5 camera and overlay your heart rate data on recorded video.
LEVI’S COMMUTER X JACQUARD BY GOOGLE
First there were smart phones, then smart watches. Now we have smart jackets. Levi’s partnered with Google to build a sensor into the sleeve of a classic, stylish jean jacket that can understand certain taps and swipes you make on the fabric. Imagine you’re bike commuting to work, and a ringtone interrupts the music playing in your earbuds. You can’t afford to stop, pull out your phone, and chat in the middle of the street. But with this technology, a simple tap or swipe on your sleeve and you take the call. Added bonus, nearly all the customer reviews on Levi’s site rave about the quality of the jacket itself.
QUARQ SHOCKWIZ
The Quarq ShockWiz is a small gadget, essentially a complicated sensor inside a protective plastic casing, that connects to your bike’s fork or Schrader valve and constantly monitors air pressure while you ride. The Quarq algorithm then uses that data to tell you (through an app for your phone, what else) not only if any issues arise, but how best to fix them.
STRAVA SUMMIT
For $60, you can purchase a one year subscription to Strava Summit, one of the most advanced and popular ride tracking services available. The bare essentials are free, but a monthly fee gets you access to some attractive features. Strava now splits those into three packs—Training, Safety, and Analysis—which you can pay for individually for a few dollars a month. But with the full Summit experience, you get training plans, personalized goal-setting, live activity tracking for friends and family, and access to several other measures of success such as power and relative effort.
AMAZON PRIME SUBSCRIPTION
Many of the products in this gift guide can be found on Amazon. If you’re not an expert rider yourself, or just can’t figure out which gadget would be best for the gift’s recipient, a one year subscription to Amazon Prime is a first step that can’t go wrong. Now a Prime subscriber, the cyclist in your life will be able to purchase whatever they want and receive most products within two days with free shipping, and they’ll also have access to Amazon’s burgeoning catalog of music, movies, and TV shows.