I’m a Fitness Editor—Here Are My Favorite Labor Day Deals on Training Gear

There have been few weight benches that have impressed as much as this flat bench. You can feel the quality of the bench from the first time you move it. For anyone who is looking to save space in their home gym set-up, this low-profile option from REP Fitness can help you do all those movements you want, like seated curls and bench press, without taking up a lot of floor space.

I have also put this bench together quite a few times, for myself and Men’s Health shoots. As far as builds go, it’s pretty simple and it shows up at your door well-packed with solid instructions. There are cheaper benches on Amazon sure, but for a little bit more you can get a bench that you’re proud of, and with this discount, now’s a great time to pick it up.

Worried that this bench can’t hang? It’s rated to hold up to 750 pounds.

Read more: The Best Weight Benches, Tested by Us

This new massage gun is a recent addition to our Best Massage Gun guide, because it is a very solid offering for the price, and also brings additional features that other guns at this price point don’t, like heat and cold. For the price, this is an excellent piece of recovery tech that the whole family can use.

Sometimes simpler is better, and it doesn’t get much better than this compact set of hex dumbbells from CAP Barbell. These dumbbells have all the features that I look for: knurled handles for grip, rubber ends so that you can place them on the ground without damaging your floor, and a hex design so they don’t roll away when you do.

Being a Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, it should come as no surprise that I’ve had a lot of pairs of dumbbells over the years. I especially like these, and bonus points for the convenient little rack they come with to keep them organized.

There’s nothing I like better than working out outdoors, getting some endorphins and a little natural vitamin D. That includes running and bicycling on the road for hours, even if it’s a bit crisp outside.

No matter whether you live in the city or in the suburbs, it’s dangerous to be on the street with noise canceling headphones stunting your awareness. I like these recently-updated and lightweight Shokz OpenRun Air 2 because I can keep listening to my training playlist while hitting the pavement.

We’re big fans of Garmin here at Men’s Health, but for newcomers it can be daunting to get started. The active brand puts out several new watches a year, and its designs come with all kinds of price points.

I’ve been counting on the Garmin Instinct series for years, and it brings a high level of functionality at the lower spectrum of cost. Even more so when it’s on sale. So if you’re looking to get into fitness tracking and route planning for your runs, this is a great place to start. And now is a great time.

If you follow the Men’s Health social media accounts, you know that I’m a huge fan of this handy massage device, which you can keep at home or throw in your bag for on-the-go recovery.

They also make great gifts for anyone looking to take better care of themselves or dealing with muscle tightness.

Sometimes simpler is better, and it doesn’t get much better than this compact set of hex dumbbells from CAP Barbell. These dumbbells have all the features that I look for: knurled handles for grip, rubber ends so that you can place them on the ground without damaging your floor, and a hex design so they don’t roll away when you do.

Being a Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, it should come as no surprise that I’ve had a lot of pairs of dumbbells over the years. I especially like these, and bonus points for the convenient little rack they come with to keep them organized.

I’ve never liked too much on my wrists, so in the past, I haven’t had much success sticking with a fitness tracker. I would wear a heart rate strap on more intense cardio sessions but that’s about it. That changed when Oura Ring hit the scene, which I wrote about here.

I like keeping track of my biomarkers, and being able to switch fingers keeps me from feeling too constrained. The data I collect from the app helps inform the training decisions I make throughout the week. The price drop comes after the release of the Oura Ring 5, but if you’re looking to save a few bucks while getting all the same software, this is a good pickup.

If you want to feel truly locked in during one of your workouts, a pair of noise-canceling over-ear headphones like these Bose QuietComforts can help you drown out distractions and deliver your workout soundtrack in pristine sound.

Like a lot of people, I spent a lot of my day looking at emails and data, which leaves my body idle while my brain works. Being someone who likes to stay active, no matter the circumstances, I like having training tools around my desk like this grip strengthener.

This one from FitBeast is all you need, with multiple tools that can you can use to change up the habit. Grip strength is a big part of improving your upper body power.

EZ bars are a great way to mix up your arm workouts. I have this one at home, which I picked up off of Amazon years ago and it still gets the job done. Sure, there are more expensive bars out there that are a little more refined, but for me this one all I need.

The benefits to having an EZ bar? Getting to change up the grips on your curls, getting a more full workout of the bicep. I wrote about the benefits to your wrists in this story that I did about Hugh Jackman’s training routine for Deadpool & Wolverine. Yes, that’s right, Wolverine uses an EZ bar too.

I was on a cycling cardio kick until recently, when we were lucky enough to welcome our daughter Rose into the family. She recently turned a year old and was cleared by our doctor to join me on a run in a jogging stroller.

If you’re training for anything from a 5K to a marathon, this is a great way to hit your mileage while spending time with your little one. That’s what I’ve been doing, and I find that the solo miles feel easy when you’re not pushing a toddler! There is nothing I look forward to more than buckling her up in the Bob and going for a jog on the track or on some local trails. The Summit lives up to its name, taking you to the top no matter what terrain we are on.

This weighted vest has really helped me take my bodyweight workouts to the next level. I’ve had this piece for years, and it gets used no matter the season. This vest is much more comfortable than other options I’ve tried in the past.

During the winter, bundled up and wearing my REP Fitness Strata, I can make a lot out of a little amount of time. The design helps me stay cool during the summer months. The green colorway is not on sale (it costs $110), but if you click on the black version, there’s a secret sale happening.

For this plate carrier, as for all others, you need to buy the plates separately, picking by which weight you would like to go with. For the best plates for this carrier, look at these from REP Fitness.

There are few training tools as versatile as the kettlebell, as we have laid out in our best kettlebells list. And we’ve also managed to put a little story about how to pick the right size for you.

For most guys who lift and train, this adjustable bell is a great option for anyone who wants to push it a bit. When you are buying a piece of equipment that you could use as often as this, you’ll want one as high-quality as this. Even better when you can snag it on a deal.

I was first introduced to HigherDOSE when I went to one of its recovery centers in New York City, and that visit is what really kicked off my journey with red light therapy. Now I have a mat like this that I use at home when I’m watching football or reading a book.

There are a lot of benefits that are talked about, from better-looking skin to improved tissue repair, all things that a dad who puts his body through a lot cares about. Some red light beds can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

But this mat bundle is one I like to recommend to people trying red light at home for the first time, because it comes with everything you need and makes it simple to start.

There is really no excuse for not having a few resistance bands in the gym bag or around the house. They are the most practical and cost-efficient pieces of gym equipment around, and a quality one can help you build strength, as well as help you stretch.

I have a bunch from REP Fitness, which I like because they’re comprehensively color-coded and super durable. Given I like to use my resistance bands outdoors, on trees or pull-up bars, having a quality product is ideal.

I have put some serious hours and sessions into this gamified rower, which is as elevated as it gets. For this reason, it is currently featured in our Best Rowing Machines guide and got a nod in our Men’s Health Fitness Awards.

This rower brings smooth mechanics as well as a pristine display that will keep you entertained and informed for those winter workouts when it gets colder. For anyone looking for a solid rowing deal, this is a strong pick.