Manufacturers design various MP3 players specifically for workouts.
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MP3 players come in all shapes and sizes, allowing a user to pick a product that suits him best. A market exists for workout-specific MP3 players, with some including extra features, such as personal fitness options, clips to make the players wearable, and more. Here are a few of the top models on the market.
Masc Chukka
This MP3 player truly distinguishes itself as a workout-specific device. Powered and charged by motion, even small movements will produce electricity for the MP3 player's battery. A user can twirl the device around the fingers or attach it to a belt for running. The device contains beads that imitate worry beads, designed to increase hand dexterity and to power the device. Changing tracks and volume requires motion of the beads, as opposed to merely hitting a button. The player can hold 2GB and on a full charge the battery can run up to 12 hours.
Yamaha BodiBeat
Yamaha's BodiBeat advertises itself as a combination MP3 player and portable fitness device. It senses and synchronizes music to the movement of a workout, making it ideal for running, walking and other rhythmic exercises. It also detects a user's heart rate, so when a heart begins beating faster, the device chooses a song with a faster tempo to match the increased heart rate. It claims to take much of the guesswork out of cross-training and endurance exercise. The BodiBeat holds 512MB and comes with four workout modes.
Phillips GoGear
The Phillips GoGear possesses a clip, allowing a user to wear it during a workout. Advertising durability along with superior sound quality, the GoGear can hold 8GB of data and supports various audio formats. Using the Phillips Songbird software, the GoGear also provides an FM radio and a built-in microphone. With its rechargeable battery capable of 22 hours of play, this MP3 player can accompany a user on even very long workouts, making it ideal for marathon and other long-distance runners.
Apple iPod Shuffle
The Apple iPod provides various models of MP3 players but the one most convenient for workouts remains the iPod Shuffle. It comes with a wearable clip and large clickable buttons for easy use. It provides a feature called VoiceOver, where the iPod Shuffle will speak to a user, telling her the name and artist of a specific song. It can tell her the percentage of battery life remaining and the names of playlists, making it easy to switch between them. The iPod Shuffle hold 2GB and can speak to a user in 25 different languages.
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