Meet the Gear Judge:
Contributing Editor Gina Lombardi is a certified personal trainer and host of FitTV’s FitNation.

Watch
New Balance Mini ($70)

Not only is this watch stylish enough to wear every day, but it doesn’t have a 30-page manual you have to suffer through to figure out its multitude of features. A training log stores the total time, number of laps, and best and average times for each run or walk. Plus, nine individual interval timers let you time cardio, strength, and rest sets for a circuit workout. And the readout’s numbers are big enough that you don’t have to slow down and squint at your wrist to check it (one of our pet peeves)

 
Heart-Rate Monitor
Polar F55 Red Velvet for Women ($219.95)

Judge Gina Lombardi says this lipstick-red version with chest strap takes heart-rate monitors to a new level. “It’s like having your very own personal trainer,” she says. A smart investment for beginners or serious athletes, the Polar Red Velvet does all the usual stuff, measuring your heart rate and calories burned. But it also tells you how often, how hard, and how long your cardio workouts need to be, as well as what strength-training moves to do, how much to lift, and the number of sets and reps based on your goals and your body’s individual needs.

 
Pedometer
New Balance VIA Pedometer With Panic Alarm ($25)

Talk about instant motivation. Clip this easy-to-use pedometer on your waistband, and you’ll be driven to walk (or run) farther each day. In addition to having a calorie counter, distance tracker, and timer, this sturdy unit flips up easily so you can check your stats midpace. It has a panic alarm, too (just in case)

 
Bag
Sherpani Flora Major ($69.95)

This messenger-style bag has all the pockets you could dream of but none of the bulkiness of the typical locker-room tote. It’s supersleek and comfortable to carry, and it comes in six hot colors (Cayenne, Green Tea, Black, Aloe Green, Caribe Blue, and Island Rose) Plus, it provides easy access to all your essentials: a wet pocket, yoga-mat straps, water-bottle holder, and cell-phone pocket.

 
Most Innovative
Nike + iPod Sport Kit ($29)

You don’t have to be a gearhead or techno-geek to appreciate (or use) this revolutionary system for keeping track of pace, distance, calories, and time. Just slip the quarter-size sensor under the sock liner of your Nikes, plug a special receiver into your iPod Nano, and start running. The sensor communicates your data to the Nano, which displays them onscreen and reports them via your earbuds with the push of a button. Upload your stats to Nikeplus.com, where you can also check your progress against your goals, challenge a friend to a distance duel, and see where you stand against other users on the “Leaderboard.”

 
By Ginny Temple