Gadgets

Aqua Sphere Zip Fins
In common parlance here: flippers, but the Zip Fins' most notable departure from the obvious are their split blades. The theory is these openings allow efficient water flow and so reduce ankle fatigue, i.e. there is less resistance, of course. It does mean swimmers can go for longer and should be able to get a more beneficial, fuller leg workout. The adjustable socket strap is comfortable Neoprene and it has an open heel. Aqua Sphere Zip Fins $30 from nytro.com

MYO Controller
"Unleash your inner Jedi." Now there's a advertising line to catch the geeky eye of many would-be Obi-Wans. New to the market, the MYO is an armband which lets you control various Bluetooth-enabled electronic devices, like laptops with a series of hand and arm gestures. It reads the electrical impulses in your muscles from specific moves and combined with an accelerometer of sorts, decodes your semaphoric instructions, as if using a mouse or regular remote control. May the force prevent Disney from suing them over that line. MYO Controller preorder for $150 from getmyo.com

Ciclotte Exercise Bike
When a product is positioned as "luxury fitness", alarm bells should start ringing. It's probably time to exercise. Some financial self-control, that is. The Ciclotte is certainly gorgeous-looking compared to the average exercise bike, a low base admittedly. It features an epicycloid transmission system (but then you probably realised that already) – the gearing is inside the outer ring. There's a marine version for using on your yacht, don't you know, and its colours can be customised to your specifications. Ciclotte Exercise Bike €8,300 from ciclotte.com (list prices exclude VAT it seems)

Tom Kelly
betweenideas.blogspot.ie