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Best Father's Day gifts to combat dad bod

Hey, Dad! Want to get fit? Of course you do, and here are several ways you can!

Vanessa Hand Orellana CNET Senior Editor
As head of wearables at CNET, Vanessa reviews and writes about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the team seven years ago as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site and then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. When she's not testing out smartwatches or dropping phones, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family.
Clifford Colby Managing Editor
Clifford is a managing editor at CNET, where he leads How-To coverage. He spent a handful of years at Peachpit Press, editing books on everything from the first iPhone to Python. He also worked at a handful of now-dead computer magazines, including MacWEEK and MacUser. Unrelated, he roots for the Oakland A's.
Expertise Tech from browser security to password managers and government programs from mail-in voting to federal assistance
Vanessa Hand Orellana
Clifford Colby
3 min read
applewatch-series4-nuevo

The Apple Watch 4

Apple

With all the things a dad has to keep track of, getting fit, staying healthy and eating better can easily drop off his to-do list. Here are a few gift ideas to help Dad stick to an exercise plan, keep track of his health and fitness and make smart -- and tasty -- meal choices.

Note that these products and services are independently chosen by our editors. CNET may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

Read More: Best gifts for dad these holidays 2019Bar gifts that are chic and under $100 | Best gifts for foodies in 2019

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Amazfit Bip does all the basics you'd expect from a smartwatch for a price that's hard to beat. It mirrors phone notifications, calendar alerts and reminders to help keep Dad on track and doubles as a fitness tracker with a built-in GPS and heart-rate monitor, and it offers water resistance. It's not the fanciest of watches, with a plastic frame and simple design, but it makes up for it in battery life. It can last anywhere from one to four weeks on a charge, depending on use. 

Read the Amazfit Bip review.

If looks are important, then the Fitbit Versa might be the better bet. Its $199.95 price tag may seem like a splurge next to the Amazfit Bip, but it's still on the lower end of the smartwatch price spectrum, and it's a more forward alternative. Choose from three finishes and a variety of watch straps to match your dad's style. Aside from your basic smartwatch and fitness-tracking duties, the Fitbit app also gives Dad access to personalized dashboard to keep tabs of weight, sleep, exercise and friends' and family members' activity. The Versa is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. 

Read the Fitbit Versa review.

If you want to go all-in on a watch for Dad, the Apple Watch Series 4 is it. The Series 4 is the fastest, most connected and best overall smartwatch around. Along with health and fitness tracking, the latest Apple Watch has high and low heart-rate detection, fall detection with SOS trigger and an FDA-cleared ECG app for more detailed heart readings. Plus, it's handsome and will look great on Dad's wrist.

Read the Apple Watch Series 4 review.

Battery Life Rated up to 9 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 -- splash-proof)

For a sportier, trendier take on the AirPods, try the Powerbeats Pro. Apple's latest wireless earphones are more expensive than their AirPod counterparts at $250, but they boast better sound quality and a tighter fit and they're sweatproof, which means they'll hold up to those intense workout sessions at the gym. They come in four color options and include their own charging case. 

Read the Powerbeats Pro review.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Activ5 is billed as "A tiny gym in your pocket." About the size of a hockey puck, the Activ5 is more sophisticated than it looks. It's designed to create an isometric workout as you apply pressure to either side of the device -- essentially squeezing it -- using various parts of your body.

You connect your iOS or Android phone to the device, and a free companion app (pictured) tracks the amount of pressure you apply to it. With a little gamification, the app guides you through short workouts that you can do anywhere. It seems a little expensive at $140, but it gives you more of a workout than you'd think, given its tiny size and simplistic shape.

Watch the Activ5 Smart Isometric Device video.

For dads who handle the family cooking, an Instant Pot might be just the thing to expand menu options without a lot of effort. It's like a pressure cooker and a slow cooker had a baby and added some tech. You can make anything from popcorn to a healthy fish dish in less than an hour and without a lot of fuss, letting Dad focus on other parts of a meal. Its built-in sensors regulate pressure and temperature, while its timer keeps food from overcooking. 

What's the best Instant Pot to buy?.

Screenshot Freshly.com

If the goal is to give Dad -- and the whole family -- healthy meal options, a meal delivery service can help. There are plenty of options to choose from, but Freshly is a great pick for a busy dad and family because it provides healthy meal choices that are ready to eat (just heat in the microwave). It has a rotating menu of over 30 dishes to fit every dietary need, with subscription plans starting at about $45 a week. 

Best meal kit delivery services.

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