The start of a new year always brings with it lofty goals, inspiring resolutions and promises to oneself about prioritizing health and fitness. It’s overwhelming, to be quite honest, with social media feeds swarming about all the “it” gear, apparel and workout classes that promise to elevate your fitness routine.
Luckily, Women’s Health is here to help: Their annual Fitness Awards dropped earlier today, showcasing innovative at-home gear, a clever water bottle (that will truly help you drink more water), sports bras that actually stay in place and more.
Women’s Health Executive Health and Fitness Director Jacqueline Andriakos and her team spent the entire year trying out everything they could get their hands on in the fitness space. Their list of 60 winners promises to level up your routine in the new year.
See their top picks below across multiple fitness categories, starting at just $19.
Women’s Health Fitness Awards 2026 winners seen on TODAY
Level up your at-home gym with these dumbbells that feature an easy-to-grip exterior that’s soft on the palms, helping to prevent calluses or rough skin. Not only are they great for your palms, but Andriakos calls out a feature that offers support for your wrists too.
“The real hero feature is the square heads — they prevent wobbling and rolling, which is so important for wrist protection when you’re in high plank, doing renegade rows, or doing any stability-based training,” says Andriakos.
“We’re seeing a trend away from classic leggings toward slightly flowier gym-to-street pants, and these are such a comfortable, functional version of that,” says Andriakos referring to the Women’s Health pick for ‘Best Straight-Leg Bottom.’ “They hug in all the right places, come in tons of colors, and — bless them — they offer short, regular and long inseams, which I appreciate as a tall girl.”
This truly versatile shoe can be your new go-to for any activity — no matter if you’re an avid ClassPass user or prefer hot girl walks.
“They look sleek, they’re super bendy and comfortable, and they’re truly a hybrid shoe,” says Andriakos. “While you can tie them like regular sneakers, I love that they’re easy to slip on thanks to the heel loop—perfect for those moments when I’m holding my daughter and don’t have hands free to tie laces.”
This “no-frills” tote bag won for 'Best Gym Tote,' and is washable, meaning you can rid it of any gym-related odors alongside your used workout clothes each week. “It has all the functionality and compartments you’d want whether you’re going to and from the gym or just running around town,” says Andriakos, speaking to the bags’ versatility.
These were named the ‘Best Running Sock’ by the Women’s Health team, for their “lightweight and low-profile yet cushiony” fit.
“The biggest mistake I’ve made in the past with running socks is wearing ankle-cut and ending up with blisters or open wounds on the back of my ankles or heels,” says Andriakos. “The quarter rise on this pair means your ankle stays fully protected no matter your distance.”
“I really believe even the most mundane items can make daily habits — like hydration — feel more enticing,” says Andriakos, adding that the “window” on this water bottle helps give you visual cues on how much you’ve consumed.
Plus, you can switch out the caps for either a screw-off or straw lid, depending on your preferences. And, while the brand praises the bottles’ durability, if you happen to break it within the first year of ownership, they’ll send you a replacement.
More Women's Health Fitness Awards 2026 winners to Shop
This super-stretchy, uber-lightweight tee was named the best for workouts, per Women’s Health. It provides a little more coverage compared to your average workout top, yet remains breathable for yoga or HIIT sessions.
“This bra is hands-down the best high-impact sports bra I’ve ever tried,” raves Andriakos, further calling it her holy grail. “I can’t stand dealing with hardware, clasps or removable pads, and this one eliminates all of that — you just slip it on with zero fidgeting. It does have adjustable straps, though, so you still get a bit of customization in the fit. I also love the scoop neckline. It’s flattering and pretty without being too low-cut, and it gives enough coverage that I never feel like I’m spilling out the top when I’m jumping around during workouts. It has supported me through different life stages, too — my chest has changed sizes during pregnancy and postpartum, and it’s fit me perfectly through all of it.”
While this bra can double as a workout tank in some ways, Women’s Health awarded it 'Best Crop.' It offers medium-support, that the brand says will aid you in any run, rep and even during recovery.
Bala prioritizes “comfort and convenience” in this mat, that they created to be a one-and-done solution for when you need a basic mat for floor workouts, or an assist during planks, lunges, step-ups and more.
“It is genuinely beautiful — and I know that sounds funny when talking about workout equipment, but you really do use the gear that appeals to you,” says Andriakos. “I love aesthetically pleasing equipment, and this mat has those chic curved edges and comes in that trendy foldable style.”
Vuori is a viral brand — with searches for store locations spiking 180% over the past month alone. These leggings are designed with recycled materials, but that doesn’t mean they compromise on moisture-wicking and multi-stretch features.
“They’re incredibly comfortable (and flattering) with the perfect mid- to high-rise waist, and there are no uncomfortable elastics or drawstrings,” says Andriakos.
Want a versatile pair of leggings that will carry you through any and all workouts? Women’s Health recommends this now award-winning pair, for its moisture-wicking fabric, range of sizes and comfortable, high-rise fit.
“I get a comment every single time I wear this fleece,” says Andriakos. “I’ve washed it dozens of times now, and it still feels just as soft, even after going through the washer and the dryer. I also love the elastic at the waist because you can cinch it for a more flattering, cozy look while keeping in extra heat. It’s stylish, eye-catching and helps me feel put-together in my activewear life.”
Chirp is also a Shop TODAY-favorite brand (their roller was a Gift We Love in 2025!), so its safe to say we weren’t surprised to see it earn another award, this time for their miniature massage gun.
“The Chirp Mini massager blends the percussion of a massage gun with the rolling motion of a foam roller,” says Andriakos. “It provides targeted relief to sore body parts and with three adjustable speeds, it’s gentler than other techy massage tools but still allows you to get meaningful relief.”
“The Power Pilates Kit from BetterMe is a bit an investment, but it is a worthwhile one — you get so much bang for your buck!” exclaims Andriakos. “The kit includes mini loop bands in both fabric and rubber, hand weights, grip socks, a Pilates ball, a Pilates ring and a weighted power ring. Basically everything you’d need for a traditional strength-focused resistance workout or a Pilates-sculpt session. It’s all compact equipment too, so if you’re traveling or packing a few things for on-the-go workouts, this bundle is incredibly versatile, so you never need to miss a workout."
Women’s Health Fitness Awards 2025 previously seen on TODAY
Does sweat drip into your eyes or your hair get disheveled while working out? The Gymwrap 2.0 Headband promises to wick away sweat as you exercise. That way, you don’t have to worry about sweat getting into your eyes or your hair falling loose. The headband also has Evapocool fabric to keep it breathable, cool and ventilating while you wear it.
If you’re like us and have a growing collection of water bottles, you might want to add this Bala Bottle to your round up. Not only will it keep your drink cool, the booster ring on the cap can be used to mount your phone.
Remain hands-free during your runs with the SPI Running Belt. According to the brand, it’s a favorite amongst marathoners. And unlike some running belts on the market, the belt offers ample space and no bounce as you run.
According to the brand, this sandal absorbs 37% more impact than traditional footwear. Meaning, you should experience less stress on the knees, ankles and other joints as you recover. There’s also sizing for men, too, here.
Rhone’s Revive Pocket Leggings promise movement with ease. From its stretchy fabric, anti-odor technology, supportive waistband and oh, the phone pocket (of course!), these leggings should help you move about confidently during your workouts. Choose from this bright plum color above or one of their 15 shades, including black and navy from their core line.
Although the brand doesn’t have an option for men, they have some workout joggers available.
Meet the experts
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. These items were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Jacqueline Andriakos and the Women’s Health team.
- Jacqueline Andriakos, NASM-CPT, is the Executive Health and Fitness Director at Women’s Health, certified personal trainer and former group fitness class instructor.
How do you add Shop TODAY as a Preferred Source on Google?
Google’s new Preferred Sources feature allows users to manually select their favorite publishers and news outlets for a more customizable experience tailored directly to the reader. Once you’ve opted to receive our content, you’ll begin seeing more of our recent and trending articles displayed within your Top Stories news feed.
The easiest way to add us as a preferred source is to click here and type in “TODAY.com.” Once the box is checked and you’ve refreshed the page, Shop TODAY content will start appearing in your feed.
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. For this particular article, the Women's Health team submitted a list of their Fitness Awards winners, from which we chose products to feature on the show.
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. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
