Sports and Fitness Buying Guide
Hitting the great outdoors and keeping fit should be on everybody’s agenda! Within our sports and fitness collection you’ll find activity trackers, smart watches, GPS devices and electric scooters which will keep track of your activity every step of the way.
Action Cameras
Action cameras may not be essential but they’re most certainly a cool gadget to have! It is important to consider the video resolution before buying a camera. All our action cameras feature 4K resolution to create shots of the highest quality.
The majority of action cameras are small and lightweight so they are portable and easy to take out with you. Mounting the camera to your handlebars or helmet keeps your hands free allowing you to enjoy your activity knowing you’ll be capturing all the action of the day, with excellent clarity.
For shake free footage look for models featuring a gimbal or EIS (electronic image stabilization) EIS and gimbals minimize blurring and adjust to your movements to ensure video footage is as smooth as possible even on the bumpiest terrain. Dual screens allow you to switch between a front and back screen with just the touch of a button. This means if you want to be part of the action, you can!
Our action cameras are built to withstand the elements so they’re a great choice if you love to go off piste, ride the waves or lose yourself in the jungle! With hydrophobic coatings, waterproof casings and cameras capable of withstanding extremes of temperatures from -10°C up to 40°C you have the kit to capture incredible footage, wherever you go.
Smart Watches
Keep track on your activity every hour of every day with a Smart Watch. Our smart watch collection has models suitable for both adults and children. Basic models will track steps and calories burned, while others are capable of monitoring sporting performance, sleep patterns, heart rate and more.
For sports professionals or those on serious training missions it is worth looking for smart watches featuring built-in mapping and navigation. Our top of the range smart watches will automatically track your progress and keep you on route in challenging environments keeping you motivated and safe throughout your training. They feature advanced monitoring and tools that are capable of evaluating your recent exercise history. Consistent performance monitoring enables the watch to alert you if you are training productively, peaking or over reaching too!
For those training for a range of sports our Forerunner, GPS Collections are an excellent choice. Forerunner Smart Watches are ideal for use when running, cycling, swimming, skiing and snowboarding. They’ll keep track of steps, calories burned, monitor stress levels during your training and more. You can also take your training to the next level by pairing a heart rate monitor with your Garmin; HRM-Swim or HRM-Tri bands are specifically designed to measure metrics during your training.
Help to keep children fit and motivated with a smart watch designed specifically for children! Children’s Garmin Activity Tracker Smart Watches can be synced to the free Vivo Junior App allowing parents to monitor their little ones activity. You can create your own activities and chores in the app that are personalised to your child; Brush teeth, make your bed, do 20 minutes of homework! Once a task has been completed a virtual coin will appear on their phone. When they hit their daily activity target they’ll open up adventure moves on the treasure map via the app too!
Handheld GPS For Hiking
Casual walkers and experienced hikers should all take a handheld or wrist-mounted GPS device on their adventures. Our handheld GPS devices are designed to help you stay safe and connected while exploring the great outdoors.
We have hiking GPS models to suit everyone. All our GPS devices that are tough and durable. For extreme situations look for Hiking GPS models that are water rated to IPX7. These models are water resistant and suitable for use in rain and snow.
Our cheapest GPS hiking sat nav devices are easy to use and feature a monochrome display, more expensive models provide colour screens and more advanced features. All our satellite navigation systems plot routes and waypoints enabling you to plan your hike with ease. Models featuring a compass allow you to keep your bearings at all times while those including a barometric altimeter will also update your altitude.
A Handheld GPS featuring TopoActive Maps is the perfect technical aid for hiking, cycling, geocaching and even fishing. These highly detailed maps include terrain contours, elevations, summits, water sources and geographical points. Mini, palm sized devices allow you to travel light when you’re exploring off the beaten track. Despite their compact size, they are still packed with communication and SOS tech that will help to keep you safe.
If you plan to go on an adventure that lasts days or maybe weeks, devices capable of providing Active Weather Forecast Updates and Weather Radar Displays are very useful. It is also important to consider battery life. Some GPS devices give you the option to switch between GPS mode, expedition mode and battery saving mode to extend battery life on lengthy pursuits.
For peace of mind for you and your loved ones GPS models that offer monitored SOS functionality are worth consideration. In order to take advantage of this service a subscription to the Iridium satellite network must be activated. Once subscribed, your device will be capable of triggering an SOS to GEOS, the world leader in emergency response. They'll track your device, alert the appropriate emergency responders, and continue to stay in contact with you until help arrives.
Electric Scooters
Skate parks are becoming increasingly popular, as are electric scooters. We’re not talking mobility scooters here, we’re talking about state of the art, modern scooters! Our collection of electronic scooters are stylish, functional and some even feature LED lights for a striking aesthetic. We even have a range of fantastic scooters designed for children from age 8+.
If you plan to travel to school or work on your new electric scooter, look for designs that can be folded and feature collapsible handlebars. The option to collapse your scooter makes it much easier to fit them into a locker or the boot of a car, plus they are also easier to carry once folded. You’ll be thankful for a foldable scooter if you forgot to charge it fully before setting off too! Some models feature a set of auxillary wheels that can be attached to the scooter and used to ‘wheel’ the scooter along which is another handy feature to look for.
Once fully charged, you have the potential to cruise for miles on your new wheels, model dependent of course! It is worth checking the range available after a full charge. Travelling such distances at speeds of up to 18 mph warrants the need for good suspension. Selecting an electric scooter with decent suspension and shock absorbing tyres will alleviate jolts and bumps on the footplate and more importantly, your wrists, during the ride.
A selection of electronic scooter manufacturers cover the footplate with skateboard style grip. This is a great feature as it will keep your feet firmly gripped onto the board, especially important when travelling at speed. To keep it clean and to retain friction on the plate, a simple Griptape cleaner will remove unwanted dirt.
Check out smartphone apps for your model too. With particular scooter models, applications allow you to set cruise control from your smartphone. Other options include ‘motor lock’ which effectively locks down your scooters motor, if someone tries to move your scooter it will sound an audible alarm which is a handy deterrent. Within these apps you can also check battery life, mileage and more.
Electric Bikes
New generation e-bikes are becoming really popular and for good reason. Not only do they look pretty cool, they also make light work of getting up hills! E-bikes (as they’re also known) are very similar to a standard bicycle, however, they have been engineered to include a motor and battery to assist your pedalling on or off road.
E-bikes are an excellent choice for those who haven’t cycled for years and are a little out of shape. You’re still getting exercise when travelling via an electric bike, however, the amount of effort you use is completely up to you. With various assistance levels you can use more pedal power on the flat roads and boost the motor when you start to get tired. If you love a leisurely bike round through the mountains but don't have the power to pedal up those steep inclines, an electric bike will help you out!
Be sure to take note of the range. Top models will offer 80+ miles off a full battery. This exceptional range will re-assure you that you have enough power to see you through longer journeys. On average, batteries take between 2-6 hours to fully charge from flat.
If you need to carry the bike for part of your journey, it is worth taking note of the weight of the bike. Obviously an e-bike will be heavier than a normal bicycle due to the battery and motor. There are two types of motor on electric bikes; hub drive motor and mid drive motor. Mid drive is located in the middle of the frame between the pedals. A hub drive motor is located in the middle of the front or rear wheel of the bike. The difference between the two is minimal.
Bikes supporting a hub mounted motor are generally lower in price. They are ideal for urban, flatter terrain rides. A mid mounted motor is slightly more balanced, you can apply more power to the pedals (torque) making this style more suited for off road biking and hill climb rides.
Knaap electric bikes feature a large, padded seat suitable for carrying two people. If you plan to give someone a lift or want the option of extra space, look a two seater e-bike model!
All e-bikes feature a control unit of some kind. Often a small handlebar mounted computer will allow you to control assistance levels. Information relating to speed, remaining battery life and range will be displayed here too.
By law, all electric bikes must not exceed 250 Watts of power and a maximum speed of 25kmh/15.5 miles per hour. You can ride faster than this of course but the motor will cut out and stop assisting you. This means if you plan to go over 15mph powering the bike will be solely down to you! The capped power output means you do not require a license, insurance or documentation for your electric bike. A helmet is not compulsory either, however, for your safety, we would always recommend wearing a helmet, especially on a bike that is capable of travelling above average speeds.
Sports Therapy
Do you suffer from knots, aching muscles, arthritis, sciatica or other common muscular problems? With the right massage equipment you can create your own sports therapy treatment regime without the need to attend regular expensive massage treatments.
Our collection of Sports Therapy equipment includes a superb range of award winning electrical massage equipment. We have models suitable for pro athletes and fitness enthusiasts and others that are ideal for treating common problems including arthritis, sciatica, tech neck to name a few. All the massage guns we stock are designed to help your muscles relax and loosen. The most advanced devices will repair muscles after a hard workout for a speedier post workout recovery.
If you're on the search for a new massage gun consider devices with percussive therapy. Percussive therapy helps to treat the root cause of most body aches and pains; tension!
To relieve tension, percussive therapy (found in our Recovapro massage devices) overrides the pain signals to the brain and warms up the tissue which then helps to relieve tension. Percussive therapy targets areas with rapid pulses, essentially hitting the muscle fibres with a gentle wave of percussions. This helps your body to recover quicker, increases blood and lymphatic flow, improves lactic acid clearance and restores all over body wellness.
It is always worthwhile opting for a model with multiple speed options too (RPM - revolutions per minute). Lower speeds are perfect for warming up the muscles or for treating tender areas. Faster speeds are great to target incredibly stiff muscles and tight knots. If you have various massage spees on offer, you can cater for all your needs.
If you need treatments whilst you're on the go look for a lightweight, handheld massager. Smaller, portable massage guns are compact enough to pop in a large handbag and will soon become your round the clock therapist. Always consider the weight of a handheld device, you'll need them to be comfortable to handle throughout the whole massage!
It is worth investing in massage devices that include extra attachments as these can be used to target specific areas of the body. By treating particular areas with the right massage tool, you'll soon loosen knots and aid muscle recovery, wherever you need it most.
Kids Kick Scooters and Ride Ons
When choosing a children's kick scooter there are few things to consider before you select a model. Often, you need to carry the scooter until you are in a safe location to ride so, always be aware of the weight of the scooter. Foldable scooter designs are also a great idea if you plan to take the scooter in the car as they are compact and much easier to carry and store once folded. Three wheeled scooters are ideal for beginners and young riders, two wheels at the front will help to keep the ride more stable. Height adjustable handlebars are also a good option as you can change the height as your child grows.
Most children's electric ride ons and e-scooters are designed for kids aged eight and over. You will need to consider your child's weight when choosing an electric powered ride. You must pick a model that is compatible with their weight and height so they are able to control it safely. Always check the maximum speed of the ride too; For a beginner, ride ons limited to 10mph are a good choice. It is always best to ease children into their new electric powered ride!
Battery life and re-charge times should also be noted. Rechargeable batteries generally take around 6 hours to charge fully but this varies between models. Shorter charging times with maximum ride time from a full charge is always the most desirable option. A good battery will provide around 40 minutes to an hour ride time from a full charge.
Shop With Confidence With Appliance House
We're here to make your buying experience as smooth and as simple as possible. If you need advice about any of the products we sell just email, or call us on 0330 002 0229. You can contact our team on live chat too. We are always happy to help.
We offer various deals on our Sports & Fitness Tech too;