Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Bike SpokeLit
Cycling is growing in popularity across the UK, but as winter descends it’s vitally important that riders remain highly visible on murky roads. One excellent solution to this problem is the Bike SpokeLit, a small lightweight light that fixes onto the spokes of your wheel and creates a solid circle of illumination when you’re moving. The manufacturers claim that the device is visible for up to a mile, and there’s the added bonus that you’ll look like you’re riding one of the bikes from Tron.
Buy fromFirebox
Price: £7.99
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Fitbit Charge HR
There are currently a wealth of fitness tracking devices to choose from, with theJawbone UP2,Microsoft Band,and beautiful (but expensive)Withings Activiteall being fine examples.
Our current pick of the bunch though is the Fitbit Charge HR which can track your steps – including up and down stairs – monitor your heart rate, download the information to your smartphone or PC, and even tell you the time.
See our full review of theFitbit Charge HR
Price: £119
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Noke bluetooth padlock
With smartphones now being used widely in gyms as iPods and fitness trackers, it makes sense that they should also be able to open your locker too. Now they can, with the aid of a clever, bluetooth enabled padlock. The Noke (No Key) is a cool device that only requires you to have your smartphone in your pocket for the mechanism to release, meaning fast access to your stuff.
Buy onFirebox
Price: £59.99
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Bike Seat Rain Cover
While the freedom of weaving your way through traffic and increasing your fitness at the same time can be exhilarating, the experience can be spoilt somewhat if you have to do it with a wet bum. Thankfully there is a cheap and easy way to avoid this thanks to this saddle cover that slips easily onto your seat and ensures that your ride home doesn’t put a dampner on your day.
Buy onNotonthehighstreet
Price: £12.50
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart scale
Weighing scales have changed a bit since the corkboard analogue model that sold in Tescos for around £10. Now your weight, BMI, and body fat percentage can all be displayed to you on the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi smart scale, plus your (hopeful) progress can be sent to an app on your phone that links in with Fitbit’s activity trackers. Now you’ve no excuse when it comes to losing weight, and for that we are very sorry.
See our full review of theFitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale
Price: £99.99
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Sennheiser PMX 685i Sports headphones
Working out is always better with a bit of music to spur you on, but this can become a distraction if your earbuds keep popping out mid-stride. The Sennheiser PMX 685i Sports headphones combat this with a comfortable neckband that holds the earpieces in place as you run. The sound is clear and crisp, with an in-line microphone and music controls meaning you can take calls without stopping. Although the heavy breathing might get you in trouble.
Buy onAmazon
Price: £59.99
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: GoPro Hero 4
GoPro has built an enviable reputation for rugged, go-anywhere cameras, that can record the thrills of downhill racing, skydiving, skiing, or any other type of activity that would make for interesting footage. TheHero 4, reviewed,is that latest in this distinguished line, featuring 4K recording, an LCD display, and an included waterproof case so you can take to the high-seas in search of adventure. The list price is pretty hefty, but we’ve seen the camera for much less on Amazon, around £280
Buy onAmazon
Price: £409
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Football Manager 2016
If the manic rantings of Jose Mourinho, or pragmatic boredom of Manchester United under Louis Van Gaal have you screaming that you could do a better job yourself, well, now’s your chance. Football Manager 2016 is the latest instalment of the obsession that has drained the social lives of many a fan over the past couple of decades. Assemble your team, deal with the media, bring greatness to your club, oh, and don’t forget to actually go to work.
Buy Football Manager on PC or Mac fromSI Games
Price: £34.99
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Rugby Ball Washbag
Ok, so the Rugby World Cup was something of a disappointment unless you were a Kiwi. But don’t let England’s collapse linger on like a bad smell, instead use this rather fetching split-leather washbag to cleanse away the stench of failure. It can even accommodate a few close shaves too, so at least there will be some drama.
Buy onNotonthehighstreet
Price: £35
Best gifts and gadgets for sports fans: Cricket Ball iPhone case
If the sound of leather on willow invokes thoughts of last gasp sixes, impossible catches, or Mike Gatting shouting in an umpire’s face, then this splendid leather iPhone 6 / 6S case is sure to be appealing. The deep red colour, matched with rough stitching, is a classy look. Just make sure to resist the urge to drive it through cover, or a trip to the Apple store will be in order.
Buy onAmazon
Price: £12.99
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.
