The Beijing Olympics has seen the world once again fall in love with athletic pursuits. Although the athletes make it look all too easy, more and more of us are taking to the streets, fields and pools in a bid to get fit. This article looks at the latest weird and wonderful items to hit the lucrative sport equipment market, offering an impartial and expert assessment of the products.



Golf is supposed to be a relaxing and fulfilling pursuit however as many of us know for the wrong reasons it can turn into all out warfare, especially when playing inter-office rounds. If you are looking to get a head start in your golf game then the D2 Swing Trainer might be the piece of sports equipment that you require. It is a balanced club which distributes weight via strategically placed weights that make it hard to back swing incorrectly.

It cost 100 US dollars and is available in three payment instalments and it does improve your swing however is only available from the US currently. Many golf pros who swear that they have not received endorsements from the company in question, have been endorsing the product since the launch. It might not be worth the money as a product however any edge you can get is good.

NuMetrex have launched the next generation of heart monitoring equipment for those of us who are brave enough to test just how unfit we are. The predeceasing item of sports equipment was the heart monitoring sports bra, which used sensors in the bra to monitor and transmit information to the accompanying watch which displays the data instantaneously.

The latest addition uses the same technology however leaves a bit more to the imagination, as it is modelled as a tank top. Unfortunately if you are of the Y chromosome persuasion then it is not for you, unless you are in the habit of wearing clothing for women. As far as sports equipment goes this is pretty cutting edge and comes with a lovely array of colours to match your gym kit.

If you are one of those gym users who are not too enthusiastic about getting your heart rate up but love the sauna and steam features that the gym has to offer then this product could be for you. The PS1 Home Sauna is a simple flat-pack sauna kit that can be folded and put away after use. It looks like something Houdini might have been tied in before he was dropped into shark infested waters, but it is practical and easy to use.

Providing no-one is actually going to see you in it then it is an ideal way to save on unneeded gym membership. It costs 150GBP so it is not particularly cheap and it can be a bit of a pain to dry before storage, however all you have to do is fill the generator with warm water and away you go. It is a great way to relax after a run or a hard day at the office however you need some space for it to be effective.