The Best Fitness Tools for Your Home Gym

High-Tech Workout Tools

1. Go Big
Feel like you're actually in the workout DVD with the 42-inch Panasonic TC-P42ST30 plasma TV, featuring 3-D imaging technology that makes people and objects appear to be coming out of the screen. It also has Internet streaming capabilities, so any videos on your computer can be watched on your TV. ($800, panasonic.com)

2. Central Command
Work out to your latest digital issue of FITNESS with Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 10.1. With 4G connectivity or Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth, you can check e-mail and surf the Net between sets. Bonus: The Galaxy is preloaded with the Amazon Kindle e-reader. (Starting at $500, samsung.com)

TIP: FITNESS is now available as a digital subscription! Watch each issue's workouts come alive on video with our new tablet app.

3. Beam Us Up
The Garmin FR70 heart rate monitor tracks your exercise, time, beats per minute, and calories burned and wirelessly sends your workout data to your computer. ($130, garmin.com)

TIP: "Set your heart rate monitor to beep whenever you slip out of your target heart rate zone," Jenkins says. "That way you won't constantly check your wrist monitor mid-workout."

4. Weight Watcher
Start your own Biggest Loser competition: Step on the Leifheit Soehnle Easy Control Digital Bathroom Scale to get an accurate reading of your weight and body mass index on its large LCD screen, then let your workout buddy take a turn. The scale recognizes up to five people and can hold up to 330 pounds at a time. ($40, leifheitus.com)

5. Perfect Player
With the palm-size Apple TV gadget, you can rent or buy movies or TV shows, stream your favorite workouts from Netflix or laugh-out-loud clips from YouTube, and take anything from your iPad, iPhone, iPod, or Mac straight to the big screen. ($99, apple.com)

6. Now Hear This
Blast your workout playlists on the iHome iP3 Studio Series Audio System. Place your iPod or iPhone in its dock or plug your computer directly into the streamlined stereo unit. ($230, ihomeaudio.com)

TIP: "For motivating music, check the Hot 100 and Dance/Club Songs charts at billboard.com," trainer Jeanette Jenkins says. Her current fave: Kelly Rowland's "Motivation," featuring Lil Wayne.

Originally published in FITNESS Magazine, October 2011.

Download or subscribe to your FITNESS digital subscription here