Fitness | The Verge

Wearable health tech might be Tim Cook’s greatest legacy

2026-04-21T13:07:54-04:00

The Apple Watch was the first new product in the post-Jobs era.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Granted, 19th-century proverb writers were talking about the fruit, but Tim Cook helped give new meaning to the adage with the release of the very first Apple Watch. In fact, I'd argue that when he hands the reins to John Ternus in September, it won't be iPhones, Macs, AirPods, or the Vision Pro that defines Cook's legacy. It'll be how the Apple Watch set the course for modern health tech.

You don't have to take my word for it. In 2019, Cook himself told told Mad Money host Jim Cramer, "…If you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, 'What was Apple's greatest contribution …

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Peloton, stay in your lane

2026-04-17T09:04:23-04:00

People keep trying to make Peloton more than what it is, when the product itself is enough.

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here.

The camera zooms in on two well-formed cheeks clad in white shorts. These buns of steel belong to one Hudson Williams, star of the steamy hockey romance Heated Rivalry. As the camera pans up, a bead of sweat drips down his chin toward his clavicle. Sweaty abs are shown. The music swells. Hollywood's mega-hunk of the moment is swaying his chiseled visage back and forth, semi-gyrating on… a Peloton treadmill. A $6,695 …

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Why your Whoop might tell you to up your testosterone

2026-04-21T12:08:40-04:00

Whoop is popular among congressional staffers.

Last week, our editor-in-chief Nilay Patel messaged me about his new Whoop band, which he'd gotten thanks to a generous yearlong offer from Chase. A few days later, he sent a cursed screenshot. The Whoop AI coach had recommended several ways in which he could dramatically improve his testosterone levels. Not because he was deficient, but because they were at "not sick" levels. Whoop optimizes for performance levels. …

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Continuous glucose monitoring made me continuously crazy

2026-04-08T07:01:19-04:00

Continuous glucose monitors — also referred to as glucose biosensors — aren’t just for diabetics anymore.

Daily life is different when you're tracking glucose. A little over a year ago, I was on my way to a conference. My bags were packed, the Uber was on its way, but there was one last thing to do before I could head to the airport. Tearing open a small isopropyl alcohol wipe, I cleaned the skin on the back of my arm. After that, I applied a small applicator to the clean skin, doing my best to ignore the visible needle inside. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed a button. It made a ka-thunk. I repeated the process on the other arm.

In my right arm, I now had a Dexcom Stelo. In the left, an Abbott Lingo. Both were over-the-counter continuous g …

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Fitbit’s budget-friendly Inspire 3 is $30 off, matching its best price

2026-03-26T14:41:42-04:00

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has delivered discounts on wearables like the latest Apple Watch SE 3 and Fitbit’s Charge 6. But they’re not exactly cheap even though they’re on sale. If you want something under $100, the Fitbit Inspire 3 has returned to its all-time low price of $69.95 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

Fitbit Inspire 3

Where to Buy:

The wearable nails the essentials, accurately tracking basic health and fitness metrics. It’s a fine choice if you only want to track steps, though it can go deeper, offering features such as irregular heart rate alerts, sleep insights, and tools for managing stress. The tracker itself is lightweight and comfortable enough to wear while you sleep (The Verge’s Victoria Song sometimes forgot she was even wearing it). Details are easy to read on its bright OLED display, and the tracker can last up to ten days on a single charge. If you don’t want to wear it on your wrist, you can remove it from the band and use it with a clip attachment instead.

Unsurprisingly, this budget-friendly Fitbit lacks features found in pricier models. You’ll need to pay more to get advanced health tools like blood oxygen tracking and EKGs. There’s also no contactless payments, built-in GPS, or smart features like support for Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (most of which the Fitbit Charge 6 offers). Instead, the tracker just sticks to simple notifications, alarms, and timers, which keeps things easy to use and avoids unnecessary distractions.

Read our hands-on impressions of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

Here are 20 of our favorite outdoor deals from REI’s Member Days Sale

2026-03-21T10:52:31-04:00

REI’s latest sale is in full swing. The outdoor retailer’s exclusive shopping event runs through Monday, March 23rd, bringing with it a batch of discounts on Garmin watches, tents, portable stoves, and a slew of Verge-approved goodies. As expected, most deals are available only to REI members; however, you can still join the co-op for $30. Members will also receive 20 percent off one full-priced item — or 20 percent off one REI Outlet item — with promo code MEMBER26, meaning you can essentially save on just about any piece of gear.

With the exception of a few, the deals themselves aren’t quite as steep or as all-encompassing as what we might see during the retailer’s bigger Labor Day and Memorial Day sales. But with warmer weather already hitting many parts of the US, reservations opening up, and summer fast approaching, it’s never a bad idea to plan ahead.

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music lets you download songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. It also provides in-depth training metrics; however, it leaves out some of the more advanced features in exchange for a more affordable price. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

DJI Osmo Pocket 3

The Pocket 3 features a 1-inch CMOS sensor, three built-in microphones, and a 2-inch rotatable screen. If you’re unhappy with the video your phone captures, DJI’s compact cam makes it easy to get high-quality, stabilized footage, whether you’re vlogging your adventures or filming a wedding. Read our impressions.

Where to Buy:

No REI guide would be complete without a sleeping bag. While there are plenty of great options on sale, REI Co-op’s Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag is down to just $82.93 (about $36 off) at REI. The sleeping bag is rated to keep you warm in temperatures as low as 21 degrees Fahrenheit, with a quilt construction, face muffler and draft tube, and a contoured hood that fits snuggly over your head. It also features a durable water repellent finish and includes a stuff sack, so you can pack it down and throw it in your bag.
You can get the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol for as low as $37.39 (about $13 off) at REI right now. It’s a relatively lightweight, compact sleeping pad with an accordion-style design that lets you attach it to your backpack. The closed-cell foam also provides comfort after a long day of hiking, while the sleeping pad’s surface helps reflect radiant heat back to your body, so you can stay warm in the fall.

Mpowerd Luci Solar String Lights: Color

Mpowerd’s solar-powered string lights are perfect for camping or a backyard shindig. The 18-foot string can display six colors and last up to 15 hours on a single charge; the case also doubles as a charger, allowing you to top off your phone in a pinch.

Where to Buy:

JetBoil MiniMo Cooking System

JetBoil’s cooking systems aren’t for ultra-light backpackers; however, the MiniMo is incredibly straightforward to use, comes with a 1-liter pot, and heats water in as little as two minutes, making it suitable for everything from freeze-dried meals to a well-deserved cup of cocoa.

Where to Buy:

If you’re looking for a picnic-friendly Bluetooth speaker, then consider the JBL Flip 7, which has returned to $109.95 ($40 off) — its second-best price to date — at Amazon, Best Buy, and REI. The portable gadget features several upgrades over its predecessor, including a more rugged design, an enhanced tweeter, and an additional two hours of playtime. It also features JBL’s AI Sound Boost technology, which can boost the speaker’s volume without introducing distortion. An IP68 rating, meanwhile, means you can use it by the pool, while a PushLock system lets you attach interchangeable accessories like the included wrist strap.
A small, compact chair is nice to have for lounging by the campfire. REI’s Flexlite Camp Chair is a great option now that it’s down to $66.93 (about $23 off) at REI. It features an aluminum frame, a stable four-leg design, and a ripstop polyester seat with water and stain resistance. When you’re done, it can also quickly fold down into a drawstring bag, so you can throw it in your car or tent.

JBL Charge 6

The Charge 6 is a robust, IP68-rated portable speaker with up to 28 hours of battery life and support for lossless audio over USB-C. Like the JBL Flip 7, it can also analyze your audio to deliver clearer, louder sound and reduce distortion at higher volumes.

Where to Buy:

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L

Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel features a spacious 70-liter capacity, making it an ideal choice for extended trips. The bag features a durable construction that can withstand everyday wear and tear, while padded shoulder straps allow you to carry the bag like a backpack.

Where to Buy:

Shokz OpenSwim Pro

The OpenSwim Pro offers up to nine hours of battery life, a robust IP68 rating, and a unique triple-sealed design that lets you use the open-style headphones both above the water or up to 2 meters below.

Where to Buy:

The JBL Vibe Beam 2 have returned to around $39.95 ($25 off) at REI, Amazon, and Best Buy, matching their all-time low. The affordable pair of wireless earbuds feature active noise cancellation and a helpful transparency mode that allows outside noise to pass through, so you can remain aware of your surroundings. Meanwhile, their IP54 rating provides water and dust resistance, while the wireless earbuds promise up to 10 hours of continuous listening, or 30 hours with the included charging case.
Everyone could use a reliable light source to navigate their campsite at night. The Nite Ize Radiant 314 — which is currently down to $31.73 (about $13 off) at REI — provides 314 lumens of brightness, an impact-resistant design, and an IPX4 rating for water resistance. The rechargeable lantern can also last up to 96 hours on a single charge, while the built-in power bank can provide an extra boost of power to your phone in a pinch.

Zippo HeatBank 6 Pro Rechargeable Hand Warmer

Zippo’s rechargeable, IP57-rated hand warmer offers three heat settings and up to six hours of runtime. It can also serve as a 24-lumen flashlight or a 5,200 mAh power bank in a pinch, though, unlike most warmers, it’s only sold as a single unit.

Where to Buy:

REI Wonderland 6 Tent

REI’s Wonderland 6 is a no-frills, family-friendly tent with a large awning, a partial fly, and enough room to sleep six people. It also features a room divider, just in case you’d like some privacy.

Where to Buy:

~~$499~~ $299.39 at REI

If you own an older iPhone with a Lightning port, you can grab InfinityLab’s InstantGo 10,000 Power Bank for just $41.93 (about $28 off) at REI. The portable battery features a 10,000mAh capacity and a built-in Lightning cable, making it a solid all-in-one option for days when you won’t be near an outlet. It also supports passthrough charging, allowing you to charge your phone and the power bank simultaneously.
If you’re planning to go on a night hike, you’re going to need a headlamp. Luckily, the Petzl Tikka Headlamp is on sale at REI for $27.73 (about $7 off). The headlamp is a great basic option that features a max output of 350 lumens, tilt functionality, and an IPX4 rating, making it safe to use in light rain. It also features a lock function that prevents it from accidentally turning on when packed.
It’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but the GoBites Bio-Uno Long spork is on sale at REI in multiple colors for a cool $5.93 (about $3 off). I’ve used the sturdy, BPA-free utensil in the backcountry numerous times over the years, mainly because it’s relatively lightweight and saves you from having to pack more than one tool for devouring whatever freeze-dried concoction you opted for.

Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler

The Hopper Flip is a waterproof, soft-sided cooler that can hold up to 24 cans or 16 pounds of ice, making it the perfect companion for a day at the beach.

Where to Buy:

Insta360 X5

The Insta360 X5 is a powerful 360-degree camera that offers a larger sensor and new image processing. It can capture 4K footage at up to 120fps or 8K footage at up to 30fps, producing sharp video with rich colors. It also features more durable lenses than prior models, which you can swap out if they get damaged. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Former commerce writer Brandon Russell also contributed to this post.

My fitness tracker is a secret weapon against my chronic illness

2026-03-16T14:21:51-04:00

Arielle Duhaime-Ross does a bike tune-up. | Photo by Evan Ortiz / The Verge

One of the first major crashes I experienced as a chronically ill person happened on an unusually sunny January day in New York City. It was 2023, and I was riding my bike with a friend, flying high from the exercise. We'd covered just over 40 miles on mostly flat ground, a longish ride, but not out of ordinary for me. And that's when it started. About 15 minutes from my apartment, my body gave out.

At first it was just my head - it grew hot, and within minutes, my brain felt like it was on fire. Pretty soon, the rest of my insides were burning up, too. As the skin on my arms and face turned red, and my limbs grew heavy, I felt bewildered. …

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Peloton’s gamble on expensive new hardware has yet to pay off

2026-02-05T11:55:08-05:00

Last fall, new Peloton CEO Peter Stern made a bet. The company announced a complete refresh of its entire hardware lineup, complete with swivel screens and AI-powered features. Today, the initial results of Stern's bet are in. In its Q2 2026 earnings call, Stern noted that the hardware refresh hasn't landed with existing Peloton users, resulting in weaker-than-expected holiday sales during what's usually Peloton's strongest quarter. As a result, Peloton stocks fell roughly 20 percent this morning.

Peloton also announced that chief financial officer Liz Coddington would be leaving at the end of March. Last week, the company announced yet ano …

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The tragedy of Supernatural

2026-02-25T12:11:09-05:00

When you picture a virtual reality headset user, you're probably not picturing someone like Sherry Dickson. At 69, the snowy-haired, retired elementary school teacher hops into her Meta Quest headset five days a week, for roughly 60 to 90 minutes at a time. She's not attending live concerts or watching immersive films. Dickson, a fitness buff since Jane Fonda workout videos in the '80s, largely uses her headset for one reason - to play Supernatural, a VR fitness game with a huge, loyal fan base and a tight-knit community.

Supernatural isn't dead, but it might as well be. A few weeks ago, Meta shut down three VR studios as part of broader l …

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Peloton lays off 11 percent of its staff just a few months after launching its AI hardware

2026-01-30T18:53:55-05:00

Peloton said on Friday that it's cutting around 11 percent of its staff, mostly impacting "engineers working on technology and enterprise-related efforts," reports Bloomberg.

Last August, Peloton laid off six percent of its workforce and told investors it would continue layoffs globally in 2026, in an attempt to cut at least $100 million of annual spending by the end of the fiscal year.

Peloton's latest strategy shift to reverse the effect of its pandemic-era boom stalling out has also brought new hardware with Peloton IQ AI features. The Cross Training Series that debuted last October includes a new Bike, Bike Plus, Tread, Tread Plus, …

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