Best gear to use while going on a walk

While you don’t actually need any gear when you go for a walk — other than your shoes of course — having the right gear can help improve your enjoyment of the trip. This is especially true if you’re particular about your health, where fitness trackers and apps can help you optimise your time and streamline your regimen.

Smartwatches or fitness trackers

Smartwatches and fitness trackers help track everything from the number of steps you take to your walking speed, elevation, heart-rate while walking and resting, and more. Many also come with features that help push you to exercise harder.

1. Fire-Boltt Dazzle Plus

If you’re on a budget, get any smartwatch that you like the design of, the Fire-Boltt Dazzle Plus  BSW037 is a great place to start.

ALSO READ: 5 best smartwatches for runners in 2024

It retails for just Rs 999 on Croma, features a 1.81” LCD display, and tracks 60 sports modes, your heart rate, SpO2, and more. It’s also IP68 water and dust resistant.

2. boAt Gen 1 Smart Ring

The boAt gen 1 smart ring, priced at Rs 8,999, is another amazing option. It’s unobtrusive but tracks everything from heart-rate to SpO2, sleep, and sports. Battery life is a solid seven days and it is water resistant.

3. Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 is a significant step up in both price and features, and if you’re an Apple user, there’s really not much else you’d want to use. That said, it’s an incredibly powerful smartwatch with a host of useful tracking and training features, and it even comes with something akin to inertial navigation for tracking hikes in the back of beyond.

True wireless earbuds

Another great addition on walks, especially long ones, is a pair of wireless earbuds. They’re great for two reasons: the first is simply that they distract you from the burn of the exercise, and the second is that music helps maintain a tempo and thus your pace.

1. Nothing Ear 2

For most users, we’d recommend the Nothing Ear 2. They retail for Rs 6,999, connect via Bluetooth 5.3, and sound really good for the price. We also like the fact that they include ANC and have an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance. 

Other notable alternatives include:

2. OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is available for Rs 3,299.

ALSO READ: Best headphones and earphones to use while working out in the gym

3. Apple AirPods Pro 2

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 is for Rs 23,999.

Power banks

Long walks are great, but the last thing you want is to be out on a walk in the wilderness and then discovering that your phone or other gadget is out of juice. If you’re going on a long trip, carry a power bank with you.

ALSO READ: 5 best power banks to consider buying in 2024

Depending on how long you’ll be out, we’d recommend either the 10,000 mAh Croma power bank for Rs 799, or the 20,000mAh one for Rs 1,799. They both support fast charging at 22.5W and the USB PD standard for power delivery over USB-A or USB-C. Both are great companions for long hiking trips.

A handful of essential gadgets will not only make your walking trips safer, but also more fun and, from a health perspective, more productive. Most of these gadgets are also readily available on Croma, and at very affordable prices at that. Be sure to check out the full list and more alternatives on croma.com!