There are always good Black Friday deals on fitness equipment, from home gym kit like weights and treadmills to smartwatches and fitness trackers. However, there’s so much on offer, and so much conflicting advice about what to get, that it’s difficult to know what to buy.
I’m here to help. If you’re over 50, or you’re buying for someone that’s over 50, the kinds of products you’ll look for are different to someone buying fitness equipment in their 20s and 30s. We’re looking at longevity-orientated equipment, simple set-and-forget fitness trackers and low-intensity exercise and recovery tools.
• Shop Amazon’s full Black Friday sale
I’ve been a fitness writer for 10 years. I’ve written for magazines and websites such as Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Women’s Health, Fit&Well and many more, in addition to being TechRadar‘s Senior Fitness Editor for many years. Below are my fitness kit recommendations for older adults, and the best Black Friday deals on them right now.
1. Fitness trackers
The best fitness trackers are unobtrusive devices that help the user monitor their health. It’s not just about how many steps you’ve taken that day – although that’s very useful information to keep you hitting your fitness goals – but it’s also about overall health.
Many fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge 6 have ECG and sleep tracking functionalities that can help you keep an eye out for signs of atrial fibrilation and sleep apnea, making them great for spotting and treating these conditions early. You can check out the deal below, or shop our list of the best Fitbit Black Friday deals.
Record-low price: While the Fitbit Charge 6 has its fair share of price drops, it’s not every day you see it hit a record-low price. It’s got up to a week of battery life, ECG functionality to keep you abreast of your heart health, and good sleep tracking credentials. Best of all, it’s now under $100. View Deal
2. Walking pads
One of the dangers of retirement is the risk of sliding into a sedentary lifestyle. When it comes to low-impact, low-intensity activity, it’s hard to beat walking – it’s what our bodies are designed to do, after all. The best under-desk treadmills or walking pads are perfect purchases to facilitate this – easy to slide under a sofa or bed when not in use, and great for getting your steps in while watching TV.
Nab a cool 30% off the Urevo Spacewalk E4 treadmill, which we rated “ideally suited for small offices and bedrooms” due to its portability. It retains a spacious belt in spite of its small footprint, so it’s an ideal cozy cardio solution if you just want to get your steps in at home. View Deal
3. Resistance bands
I recommend resistance bands to everyone who exercises, but especially older people. For my money, they’re the best-value fitness kit considering how cheap they are. I gifted my dad a set of bands, and he uses them regularly to put more power into his golf swing. I use the Fitbeast bands I’ve linked below.
With a bit of imagination and the included door-hook, you can replicate almost any exercise machine in the comfort of your own home, and work every muscle group. They’re a lot safer to use than weights as there’s very little risk of injury, and it’s extremely important for adults to maintain muscle in later life, as strength is directly proportionate to heart health and injury risk.
Five bands of varying tension strength, two handles for comfort, a door hook, and a booklet featuring a set of exercises. Stand on the bands and curl, pull or press them upwards to work your arms, loop them around your thighs and squat, use them as stretching aids, work up to pull-ups… they’ve got tons of uses for all fitness levels. View Deal
4. Massage guns
The best massage guns aid in recovery, reduce soreness and improve range of motion. If you’re buying for someone that frequently complains of stiff shoulders, a sore lower back and so on, a massage gun is like buying a voucher for unlimited massages for the price of one device.
The Theragun Sense’s triangle shape allows the user to hold it in different positions, making it easier to hit hard-to-reach muscle groups.
Save a hefty $100 (33%) on the Theragun Sense, a massage gun which offers follow-along in-app routines to help alleviate common aches and pains. We rated the Theragun Sense as the best all-round massage gun on the market in our review, giving it five stars. View Deal
5. Yoga mat
Finally, stretching is just as important as cardio and strength when it comes to a healthy, lifelong body. Range of motion is a challenge for many older adults as muscles and joints stiffen up with age: regular stretching is a great way to not just combat this, but also to encourage circulation. It’s why yoga is so popular with so many age groups.
A good yoga mat is essential, and although expensive, Liforme yoga mats are well-known as some of the best non-slip, eco-friendly mats on the market.
The Liforme Travel Yoga Mat is comprised of non-toxic, high-durability ‘gripforme’ materials that are also non-slip. It’s B Corp certified, so it’s met high standards for sustainability, and is embossed with an alignment grid for guidance during practice. View Deal
Today’s best Black Friday deals – quick links
- Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
- Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
- Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
- Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
- Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
- Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
- Lowe’s: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
- Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
- Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
- T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
- Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
- Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor
