Top 15 Fitness Essentials and Accessories Recommended by Experts

For many, achieving their fitness goals starts with feeling good. From those cute pair of leggings on your social feed to what you use to recover with, there are a variety of motivators that can help encourage daily exercise.

To help jumpstart your New Year’s goals, certified personal trainer and Executive Health and Fitness Director of Women’s Health Magazine, Jacqueline Andriakos, recently revealed to TODAY some of her favorite accessories for kick-starting your workout. Whether you’re just beginning your fitness journey or are searching for new favorites, these expert-recommended workout accessories will surely enhance your performance.

Ready to lace up your sneakers? Keep reading to discover the best workout essentials to achieve your fitness goals, according to an expert.

Best workout accessories seen on TODAY

Whether you’re working out at home or at the gym, the right fitness attire can make you look and feel good. “One of the trends we’re seeing brands really lean into is ‘soft strength’ — materials moving away from compression, the old-school really tight, form-fitting gear for high-intensity workouts,” says Andriakos.

“Essentially, people have the desire to strength train with a little more comfort, so think looser silhouettes [and] soft fabrics that are still super sweat-wicking, but move with you,” the fitness trainer adds. That includes the picks above, which can be worn separately or together.

According to Andriakos, the Yeti Helimix is the most searched and highest-ranking shaker bottle currently on the market. From daily protein drinks to mixing supplements, the mixer bottle doesn’t use a whisk ball to whip your beverage. Instead, the twisted vortex design helps whisk your shake without the clumps.

“What makes the Bala Power Balls different from other light weights is the shape; you’re forced to use your hands, grip and forearms, in a totally different way,” explains Andriakos. “Grip strength is a proven marker of longevity — and this is such an easy way to work on it while doing low-impact pilates, yoga or sculpt workouts.”

Both the Shop TODAY team and Andriakos are avid fans of the Oura Ring. Wear the ring to track your sleep, sickness, cycle and fitness just using the brand’s app. Plus, Oura recently released a more portable charging case to easily charge your ring while on the go. That way, you can always keep track of your health without the worry of your ring battery dying.

Your recovery is just as important as your workout itself. The Chirp RPM Mini combines the benefits of a massage gun with a foam roller to target sensitive areas with smooth, gentle pressure. “You get that percussive massage, but with a motorized rolling motion, which makes it feel a lot more comfortable and usable,” Andriakos adds. This allows for pain-free relief that’s easy to use at home or travel.

“Cooling towels are such an underrated, affordable recovery tool after a really hot and sweaty workout, or for anyone who loves heated studio classes, which are so trendy right now,” Andriakos boasts. “Mission’s cooling towels are made from soft microfiber, so they feel good on your skin, not stiff or scratchy. You just wet it, wring it out, and it instantly creates a cooling sensation that lasts for a solid hour or longer.”

Best home gym essentials, previously seen on TODAY

Physical therapist Karena Wu recently revealed to the 3rd hour of TODAY some ways you can build a gym right at home.

From relieving muscle tightness to soothing muscle soreness post-workout, this tiny but mighty massage ball offers direct pressure on points. “This is a smaller ball, so it is meant for the hands and feet, but you could still use them elsewhere on the body,” notes Wu. “These are great to travel with, and don’t take up much space.”

This multi-purpose training disc offers stability during workouts, helps engage the core, and provides other benefits in a portable design that makes exercise feasible wherever you go. “It can also be used as a seat cushion to help with posture and balance,” adds Wu.

“Kettlebells are great for adding weight and instability to challenge your core,” suggests Wu. This collection of kettlebells is each color-coded to easily distinguish each weight while you work out. Though each weight is sold separately, the kettlebells start at just under $15 to help kickstart your training.

From warming up to activating your muscles, resistance bands are a fitness essential every home gym should have. The pick above comes in various resistance intensities to suit every skill level.

“This is a smart jump rope with an app to track your jump counts, calorie and duration,” explains Wu. “The donuts add weight to make it feel like a real rope, but it is cordless, so it doesn’t scratch the ground. It is great for beginners and for in the home, so you don’t scratch your floor or hit the ceiling.”

“Sliding core discs are great for adding strengthening, dynamic movements and stability training,” suggests Wu. This set comes double-sided, so regardless of your home flooring, you can perform mountain climbers or push-ups anywhere in your home.

More fitness essentials to shop

If your goal is to achieve 10,000 steps a day, a walking pad is a practical way to get your steps in. Enjoy a quick five-minute workout while watching your favorite show or use the machine to keep your legs moving while working from home.

You don’t have to book a reformer class to take advantage of the benefits of pilates. With a pilates ball, including this option from Bala, it helps offer strength and support to build your core and beyond.

On the topic of pilates, support every movement and prevent slips with these Bombas grippy socks. They also deliver arch support, a comfortable cushion, among other perks, for a better workout.

According to the brand, the WeGym SafeGrip Square Dumbbells are designed to feel more secure in your hands compared to metal dumbbells for a comfortable grip with every lift.

Use a foam roller to assist with recovery and prevent injury after an intense workout or strength training session.

We’re constantly browsing Lululemon’s sale section. So while we’re building our home gym, might as well build our fitness wardrobe, too, like the tank above, as we scroll.

One Shop TODAY editor calls the New Balance FuelCell Rebel V5 one of her “favorite everyday running shoes” in her recent round-up of the ‘best sneakers of 2025.’ From its breathable mesh to its supportive insole, there’s a lot to love about the shoe.

From yoga to pilates, this exercise mat can assist with stability and balance during your workout.

Weighted vests were a trending topic in 2025, and we don’t see them leaving in the new year. Whether you wear one on your runs or completing chores, weighted vests add a bit of intensity to any movement and workout.

A pilates ring delivers more than meets the eye. Use it to strengthen the core, help tone your arms, among other benefits.

This new launch is made with the brand’s softest fabric yet, and a good pair of tights can upgrade any at-home workout. “These leggings have a second-skin feel and no front seams for extra comfort,” says commerce editor and producer, Julie Ricevuto. “The waistband doesn’t roll or bunch during workouts, and the stretchy and flexible fabric make them super comfortable — they’re my new go-to leggings!”

The ultimate splurge, this at-home rowing machine is worth it for those that want a full-body workout that engages more than 86% of the body’s muscles during use. It also provides immersive, on the water workouts led by expert athletes and olympians, along with personalized recommendations in order to help users get the most out of their at-home workout.

Meet the expert

Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team, along with Karena Wu and Jacqueline Andriakos, to find the best fitness essentials and accessories.

• Karena Wu is a physical therapist and the owner and Clinical Director of ActiveCare Physical Therapy.
• Jacqueline Andriakos is a personal trainer and the executive health and fitness director at Women’s Health.

How we chose

The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.

As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.

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