Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Celebrating Innovation in Fitness, Tech, and Wellness!

Well, folks, it’s that time of year again! The Tom's Guide team has been hard at work, putting countless gadgets, gear, and wellness tools through their paces to bring you our definitive Tom's Guide Awards for 2026. From pounding the pavements in the latest running shoes to meticulously tracking our sleep, we've tested everything under the sun to pinpoint the absolute best products that truly make a difference in your active lifestyle. Let’s dive right into the champions!

First up, in the ever-evolving world of wearables, the Apple Watch Series 12 has absolutely stolen the show, clinching our award for Best Smartwatch. Managing Editor Jane McGuire couldn't stop raving about it. With its blazingly fast S11 chip and a totally redesigned sensor that now measures your heart rate every five seconds—that's 60 times more frequently than its predecessor, mind you—it offers incredibly deep HRV insights. Seamless daytime vitals monitoring, a daily Readiness score, and a native step-count complication make it an indispensable health companion. Plus, charging up to 80% in just 30 minutes and offering 10 hours of GPS tracking? Unbeatable, especially with its seamless iPhone integration and the handy Siri Recap feature. It just works.

But what if you prefer something a bit more understated? For the Best Fitness Tracker, we're shouting out to the Fitbit Air. Sometimes, less truly is more, right? Senior Writer Dan Bracaglia loved how lightweight and long-lasting it is, offering reliable health and fitness monitoring without any distracting screens, beeps, or notifications. And here’s the kicker: it’s just $99, with its core features entirely subscription-free! All your crucial data—daily sleep reports, a dynamic readiness score, logged workouts, and even personalized training and recovery advice—is beautifully presented in the Google Health app.

For all you pavement-pounders and trail-blazers out there, the Garmin Forerunner 170 is our undeniable choice for Best Running Watch. Nick Harris-Fry, our Senior Writer, praised its impeccable accuracy and vastly improved training analysis. Garmin really listened to runners this year, rolling out the 170 (and the 70) after updating most of their other running watches last year. Add in useful smart features like NFC payments and music storage, a lightweight build, and an attractive design, and you’ve got incredible value.

Now, let's talk tunes. For Best Workout Headphones, the Shokz OpenDots 2 are a game-changer. Nick Harris-Fry again highlighted their genius clip-on design, which ensures a secure and comfortable fit. The sound quality is truly impressive, all while letting you stay fully aware of your surroundings—perfect for outdoor runs or busy gyms. (Psst… the OpenDots Air, also released this year, offers even better value if you’re looking to save a few bucks!)

After pushing your limits, nothing quite compares to proper recovery, and that's where the Hyperice Normatec Leg Sleeves truly shine as our Best Recovery Tool. Channel Editor Sam Hopes noted how these dynamic air compression sleeves mimic natural muscle pumps, speeding up lymphatic drainage, reducing dreaded DOMS, and helping to diminish inflammation, stiffness, and puffiness after exercise. You know they're legit when elite sportspeople and Premier League physiotherapists, like Geoff Scott, confirm players use them during travel and even in dressing rooms!

Speaking of running, for Best Running Shoes, the Asics Novablast 6 is a clear winner. Our incredibly experienced Senior Writer, Nick Harris-Fry (who, by the way, tested over 60 pairs of running shoes this year!), absolutely adored their perfect blend of comfort and speed. They offer just enough cushioning for those easy recovery runs, yet deliver a delightful 'pop' for faster efforts. Reasonably priced and genuinely fun to run in, they appeal to runners of all levels.

Heading outdoors, the Keen Jasper Zionic (hiking shoes) snagged our Best Hiking Boots award. Senior Writer Erin Bashford found them surprisingly waterproof without even needing Gore-Tex, which is pretty amazing! They're lightweight, super comfortable, and boast 4mm rubber lugs for unbeatable balance. The tongue-to-toe lacing ensures a secure fit, and the wide toe box? Bliss for your feet. Plus, they’re stylish, functional, hardy, and that suede is remarkably easy to clean.

When it comes to staying warm (or cool) in style, Nike takes the crown for Best Outerwear. UK Editor-in-Chief Jeff Parsons praised their activewear lineup for seamlessly blending street-savvy looks with high-performance engineering. From lightweight cropped windbreakers and softshells to hefty 700-fill down jackets, their versatile unisex fits are fantastic. We were particularly impressed by flagship advancements like their Therma-FIT Air Milano, featuring tunable, inflatable air chamber insulation. Oh, and let's not forget their high-profile collaboration with Kim Kardashian's SKIMS and providing jerseys for Team USA and England during this year's World Cup – talk about making a statement!

Back in the gym, for Best Adjustable Dumbbells, the classic Bowflex 552 proved unbeatable. Sam Hopes loved their sheer simplicity: no smart features, no app integrations, just a traditional weight feel that performs beautifully. The black coating on the weight plates helps prevent wear and rust, and the wide handle is perfect for double-handed use. Adjusting weights with the easy dial mechanism is a breeze. It’s comforting to see an established name like Bowflex, who launched their popular SelectTech 552 weights almost two decades ago, continue to deliver under new ownership.

Cruising into electric transport, the Segway Max G3 Plus is our Best Electric Scooter. US Editor-in-Chief Mike Prospero highlighted its great style, excellent range, and full suspension – a real game-changer for ride comfort. The added security features and rear turn signals are much-appreciated improvements, and with a larger 717-Wh battery offering a theoretical 56-mile range and a boosted 2,200-watt motor, even steep hills are no match for this 56-pound powerhouse.

And for those who prefer two wheels, the Segway Muxi/Muxi Pro secured Best Electric Bike. The Muxi, with its unique styling, is a super fun and functional mini cargo bike that really stood out to Mike Prospero. Its laid-back design, coupled with cool accessories like a center console with a cupholder, makes it a joy to ride. If you step up to the Muxi Pro, you get even more with turn signals, front suspension, a nine-speed electronic shifter for automatic gear changes, and an impressive 70-mile range!

For the fitness enthusiast who loves a challenge, the GoRuck Rucking Weighted Vest is our Best Active Accessory. Jeff Parsons loved its clever design: two curved cut-out weight plates (front and back slots) with a crucial hole in the middle, ensuring your diaphragm isn't restricted. This ingenious design evenly distributes weight across your torso, and with adjustable straps and a wide, stretchable waistband, it accommodates up to 60lbs (27kg). Big props to Florida-based GORUCK for such a well-engineered piece of kit!

Golfers, we didn’t forget you! The Skechers Slip-ins Golf: Blade Tour is our Best Golf Shoe. Dave LeClair, our Managing Editor, was seriously impressed. Skechers has truly been making waves in the walking shoe space, and now they're bringing that expertise to the green. The easy-to-put-on heel is a revelation, yet it locks your heel in for high-end performance and stability. And yes, they come in a stylish teal!

And finally, for the tech-savvy golfer, the Arccos Smart Laser is our Best Golf Gadget. Dave LeClair noted its accurate distances and slope measurement, which are already fantastic. But it's the seamless integration with Arccos game-tracking, offering club recommendations and flag location marking in the app, that truly elevates your game. Just remember, it does require an extra subscription on top of the game-tracking, but for serious golfers, it's a worthy investment.

So there you have it – our top picks for 2026! We hope this guide helps you make informed choices as you continue your own wellness and fitness journey. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead, filled with smart tech and exhilarating workouts!