The Gadgets That Actually Moved the Needle
Not every health purchase is worth it. Here’s a personal look at the investments that actually improved my consistency, recovery, and performance — and the ones that didn’t.
Over the years, I’ve spent money on plenty of things in the name of health.
Some were worth it.
Some weren’t.
I wanted to pick a couple to highlight some keys to look at when making decisions or looking for ways to upgrade.
I'm sure like many of you, there are loads of purchases you've made to pursue your health and I could point to many of them as significantly valuable for me. Some of the big ticket items (I'll talk about those in a future post) have made a difference, especially when you look at the cost per use, but I wanted to walk through a couple specific gadgets that help convey some common ideals. We all love new toys to play with, but that money (and time) does add up that could be applied elsewhere.
The most recent of the three was my search for a small blender I could use that was more convenient then my Vitamix and could handle smaller portions. I primarily wanted to use it for mixing various things into my coffee (creatine and protein powder) so I started with a frother but that lasted only a couple weeks (if that). I then went for a rechargeable stick blender for the convenience of not having a cord, but consistent usage also wore that down. So the third purchase was a corded stick blender, that while I initially thought was overkill turned out to be the right tool for that and other uses. Trying to go with the cheapest solution was not only frustrating but time wasting.
One of the items I've probably had the longest (close tie with my Vitamix) is my rice cooker. This is one of those single use tools (yes I could use it as a steamer and probably a couple other things, but I don't) that I use at least once a week, and it does that one thing very well. I'm sure I could cook rice but the "set it and forget it" not only makes it idiot proof, but also allows me to multi-task and simplify bulk cooking. The ability to simply cook different grains (quinoa is my current favorite) with various spices and liquids allows for variety without creating any more stress in the kitchen. This is one of those, don't complicate the situation just find the tool that does the job.
Finally I wanted to mention a pretty niche purchase, but I think the applicability of tools like it will make it translatable for everyone. This purchase is the Stryd Footpod, and specifically the Duo model (I'm still on the previous version, not the latest 5.0 model) that attaches to both shoes while running. I've always been drawn to tools the provide data, and one of the key points for Stryd is its ability to monitor wind contributions (or challenges) such that there's a quantitative measure of how much the wind is impacting a run. Not a tool I use during the run, but helps me correlate how I felt during the run to the data such that I can better tune my perception of my effort levels. And then through my last two injuries, having a pod of each foot allows for the measuring of each individual impact such that I could better understand if I was favoring one over the other. Again, a tool I used post run to understand how I was progressing not only physically through my rehab but also did that track how I was feeling. Do I use all the data Stryd provides every run? No, but the availability of it for those key times are invaluable, and when it comes to race day pacing, power is an awesome metric to use.
So why did I pick these 3 items? I feel like in a nutshell you should look at the following when making a purchase to improve your health:
Is it the right tool for the job? Don't skimp out if you plan to use it frequently.
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one - don't overcomplicate something that doesn't need it.
When looking at tools that provide data, make sure the data is actionable - allowing you to learn or make better decisions.
The best purchases I’ve made didn’t promise transformation — they supported repetition.
Health isn’t built on hacks. It’s built on consistency.
If you’re considering that next gadget, ask yourself: “Will this make consistency easier?”
👉 If you want help identifying high-leverage moves in your own plan, let’s talk — or subscribe to The Wellness Forge for practical guidance.