Best Stuff of the Year 2009: Fitness Equipment

You're going to vow to get in shape for the new year, but unless you make it fun, you're just going to quit. One way to spice up your new torture routine is with awesome gadgets. With a techy arsenal like this, you should have no problem working off the 80 pounds of turkey you'll eat between now and 2010.

Weider 40-Pound Powerbell

Anyone who has ever done a full kettle bell workout knows that they can leave you in some serious pain. Not everyone has room for a whole rack of bells in their house, though, so Weider consolidated the whole thing into one compact unit. You can go down to 10 pounds or all the way up to 40-pounds. Chances are you should stick with the 10-pounder for a while until you get the hang of it, unless you're cool with accidentally throwing a weight through your TV screen.

Garmin Edge 500

The latest installment in Garmin's kick-ass line of cycling computers is the sleekest looking by far. It mounts to the stem or handlebars of your bike and tracks distance, speed, location and elevation using GPS rather than counting the turns of your wheel. You can use it to track all of your data as well and get yourself into crazy Lance Armstrong-like shape. Or, just use it to see exactly how far the bike ride to the liquor store is.

Fitbit

If you're the type to obsess over the display on the treadmill as you chug away the miles, you'll love the Fitbit's ability to neurotically track your activities during the day. It keeps track of how many calories you have burned, distance traveled, steps taken and even how well you sleep. Then you can upload all of that data to your computer and track it via their site. It's a great way to realize just how lazy we all really are. $99

RealRyder

If you think exercise bikes are lame, no one would blame you. Unless, of course, you've introduced your sit-bones to this hyper-realistic cycling trainer. The cockpit is completely adjustable to make it fit like a custom ride, and its frame moves like a real bike as you pedal. The result is a much better training tool that will actually help you improve your pedal stroke and cycling game rather than destroying your knees.

Brodmann Blades

You probably weren't aware that there is a serious gear revolution happening in the table tennis world. These ingenius paddles fit over your hand and get rid of the handle all together. That will make your game more responsive and let you spin the ball like you're Forrest Gump. Buying them is your first step toward becoming a full-time professional table tennis hustler.