fitness gadgets to get you moving

FROM earphones to the all-important GPS watch, these fitness gadgets will have you hitting your exercise targets in no time. Pulse Withings, $129 householdtechnology.com.au 4.5/5

FITNESS-TRACKING gadgets are growing in number but the Withings Pulse has something others do not: it can track your heart rate. The breakthrough feature hides on its back where a light shines through a finger to assess your pulse - a first for the category. This tiny, 8g device also offers a touch-sensitive display, historical data from the device itself, sleep-tracking, two weeks between charges, and compatibility with both Google and Apple smartphones. That's in addition to tracking your steps, your elevation, distance travelled and your calories burned, and displaying all on a free app. Silent alarms are missing from the Pulse, sadly, as is the ability to set your own goals, but this device is a step up in fitness technology.

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Sport Wireless+ Jabra, $129 jabra.com 3.5/5

MUSIC can help distract you from the pain of exercise and this wireless headset is designed to let you move to the beat without getting tangled. An enhanced version of the Jabra Sport headset, this wireless model connects to a smartphone or MP3 player using Bluetooth 3.0 to deliver streamed songs or phone calls, or delivers FM radio by itself. The headset is both weather and shock-proof to US military standards, so it should be able to withstand a sweaty jogger's noggin. The 25g earpieces fit around the back of your ears, and look like hearing aids. Plenty of differently shaped earpieces keep them in place, though users should experiment to find the right fit, and music arrives with reasonable but not great clarity.

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Walkman WH303 Sony, $199 sony.com.au 3/5

SONY'S Walkman has come a long way since the heady 1980s but its basic approach remains the same in its latest incarnation. The Walkman WK303 headset may look like a pair of chunky headphones, but it features a 4GB MP3 player and battery built into its ear cups, along with enough controls to avoid using a cord or remote control. This Walkman even hides one more wacky feature in its form - speakers that side on the outside of the headband to let users share music with those around them. While the ear cups are well-padded, the headphones clamp tight on an average head and can be a pain to use over time, plus they're on the heavy side at 292g.

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Multi-Sport TomTom, $249 sports.tomtom.com/en_au/ 4/5

TOMTOM'S new Runner and Multi-Sport watches have the GPS sensor and button control designed to slot into the band which keeps the watch surprisingly slim. The Multi-Sport has all the features of the Runner model ($199) plus more, namely the ability to track your distance and swim metrics in the pool and your cadence on a bike. Those motion detectors that keep track of your lap count when you're swimming can also keep track of your pace and distance on an indoor treadmill, something most GPS sports watches can't do without an extra device. The interface is simple and the display is clear, with big numbers that are easy to read while you're on the move. Triathletes will appreciate that you can quickly take the watch out of the wrist band and strap it into a dedicated bike mount. The Multi-Sport is a clever design that gives fitness fans an interesting new option.

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GolfBuddy WT3 GolfBuddy, $249.95 gpsgolfbuddy.com.au 4/5

IF you're a frustrated weekend hacker, any tool that can improve a round of golf is a good tool. GolfBuddy has a range of GPS devices that help you work out the distance between your ball and the green. This newest addition to its range is a GPS watch that comes loaded with 36,5000 golf courses, including more than 10,000 Australian courses, but is also a general use waterproof watch that lasts 50 days between charges. It shows you distance to the front, middle and back of the green and to any hazards on the hole. One of the strengths of the product is that GolfBuddy updates its library of golf course maps each week. There will be a lot of gadget-loving golfers adding this to their Christmas list.