5 fitness tech products among 2021's best inventions

The fitness industry is one of the fields relying more and more on technology to cater to the needs of those with active lifestyles.

This year, five fitness innovations actually made it to the TIME Magazine's 100 Best Inventions.

If you are a health buff and working on your body is one of your New Year's Resolutions, check out these products that can help you achieve your fitness goals next year.

1. Nike GO FlyEase

The Nike GO FlyEase is the world's first hands-free running shoes. To wear it, all you have to do is slide your foot inside—no need to bend over and use your hands to keep it in place.

Instead of shoelaces, it has a tension band to make sure it will stay on your foot as you walk or run. Pretty neat, right?

While it makes things convenient for everyone, it is especially a huge help to people with mobility problems or disabilities.

"The original concept around the shoe was to support or adapt to athletes better," said Haley Toelle, the shoe designer. "And then we just quickly, throughout the process, found that this shoe was really universal."

2. Adidas Futurecraft.Footprint

Many people are becoming more conscious about their carbon footprint these days, concerned about the environment and the impacts of climate change.

To manage their carbon footprint, some people change their lifestyles and look for sustainable alternatives to the products they use every day, from toiletries to clothes.

Adidas has come up with a carbon-neutral shoe to cater to this demand. Partnering with sustainable brand AllBirds, it created the Futurecraft.Footprint, a shoe made of recyclable and natural materials.

It costs 2.94 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) to manufacture a pair. This is 63% less carbon emissions than it would take to manufacture a typical pair or shoes.

"It's not always thinking, hey we have a problem, we need to add something," said Jad Finck, AllBirds' Vice President for Innovation & Sustainability. "Can we take something away and solve the same problem?"

3. JLab JBuds Frames

Headphones or earphones? Both work just fine when listening to music or a call, but it can't be denied they can be inconvenient sometimes. Headphones can be too bulky or heavy. Earphones can hurt when used for a long time.

The JLab JBuds Frames offers a solution: a wireless device that can be attached on eye glasses, by the temple near the ear. It's not a ear bud, so it won't cause ear fatigue.

It works by directing the sound to the ears, but the "respectful" sound targets only the wearer. It also comes with a control buttons and a mic just like other devices.

Convenient for listening to music while on a jog, right? No need to worry about losing your ear buds on the street.

4. BodyEnergy Green Treadmill

Treadmill accidents sometimes happen, especially with the motorized ones. People can lose their balance and hurt themselves before they can switch off the device.

The BodyEnergy Green Treadmill reduces this safety hazard by using the user's body to power the machine. You directly set the pace—it goes only as slow or as fast as you run, just like on the ground. When you stop, it also stops.

There is no need to press buttons for control, which makes it safe for use by the elderly or people with limited mobility.

It also combines treadmill and ellipticals to allow for full body exercises, HIIT, low-intensity workouts, and stretches.

5. Tonal Smart Gym

Tonal Smart Gym is a tool used by professional athletes such as Serena Williams and LeBron James.

It looks like a touchscreen monitor, but it is a digital weights gym and pilates studio and comes with a personal trainer, coach, and spotter. It is perfect for the pandemic situation as gyms closed their doors and people were forced to workout at home.

Tonal uses electromagnetic resistance to add or reduce the weight up to 200 lbs. It also has sensors and analytics to monitor the user's movements and provide real-time guidance.

According to two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, the Tonal Smart  Gym revolutionized "how people will work out now and in the future."

—MGP, GMA News