James Frew
James is Tom’s Guide’s Fitness Editor, covering strength training workouts, cardio exercise, and accessible ways to improve your health and wellbeing. His interest in fitness started over 10 years ago after being diagnosed with a chronic illness. To help manage the symptoms, he began focusing on strengthening his core, taking regular walks around the city, and practicing meditation. He also invested in fitness trackers, home workout equipment, and yoga mats to find accessible ways to train without the gym. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, James was the Fitness Editor at Fit&Well, where he covered beginner-friendly exercise routines, affordable ways to boost your wellbeing, and reviewed weights, rowing machines, and workout headphones. He believes that exercise should be something you enjoy doing, so appreciates the challenge of finding ways to incorporate it into everyday life through short muscle-building sessions, regular meditation, and early morning walks. James’ work has appeared in Live Science, Happiness, and consumer technology sites like MakeUseOf, Lifewire, and Blocks Decoded. He has reviewed headphones, fitness trackers, and smartwatches, covered events like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), IFA, and Black Hat Europe, and was named Muck Rack’s Featured Journalist in February 2021. He was a regular contributor to the Really Useful Podcast and a co-host for the Blocks Decoded podcast, and spent five years as a Listening Volunteer for the UK-based mental health charity Samaritans. Outside of work, you’ll find him out on long dog walks, listening to podcasts, and excitedly checking out each week's New Music Friday releases.
Latest articles by James Frew
![Person holding the Samsung Galaxy Ring in silver and gold](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TAZAvpbmowjCKARV7XsesT-320-80.jpg)
Best Oura Ring alternatives 2024
By James Frew published
If you're not a fan of the brand's smart rings, the best Oura Ring alternatives come with similar health and fitness tracking features without breaking the bank.
![Woman stood on a smart scale at home](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MGzeMi9KV5NTabiFtSmggh-320-80.jpg)
Best smart scales in 2024: Body composition scales for in-home use
By James Frew last updated
These are the best smart scales for weighing yourself at home and collecting health and fitness stats, according to our in-house testers.
![Shokz OpenSwim Pro on a hard surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tguMJJDDkCHQmGnuZkdiEW-320-80.jpg)
Best bone conduction headphones in 2024
By James Frew last updated
Our pick of the best bone conduction headphones are effective open-ear solutions designed to suit all kinds of activities and budgets.
![Oura Ring Gen 3 smart ring.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xqBhEgEFuLLta3ufs3psyg-320-80.jpg)
Oura Ring 4 leak confirms next-gen smart ring is on the way and could come in 2 styles
By James Frew published
The Oura Ring 4 is in the works, according to new regulatory documents. But will it be enough to fight back against the Samsung Galaxy Ring?
![Woman exercising on a NordicTrack exercise bike at home](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z95Me55j6Q2ZkfoEuvJZ6R-320-80.jpg)
Best Peloton alternatives 2024 for at-home cardio workouts
By James Frew last updated
We've rounded up the best Peloton alternatives from brands like MYX, SoulCycle and NordicTrack to help you find the right exercise bike for your home workouts.
![Man performing a forearm pillar bridge plank outdoors next to the water](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DKMturSDbJ3RH8uxkkUJcJ-320-80.jpg)
Personal trainer shares 15-minute workout to build full-body muscle and strengthen your core
By James Frew last updated
This personal trainer's short routine is designed to work muscles all over your body, strengthen your core, raise your heart rate, and boost your metabolism in just 15 minutes.
![Aventon Sinch.2 ebike parked on some grass](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbJTqoHCBELQXZWCL7wKR3-320-80.jpg)
The best folding electric bikes for space-saving rides
By Dan Cavallari last updated
We put the best folding electric bikes through their paces to help you find the right bike for your next outdoor adventure, whether you're commuting to the office or taking a leisurely ride.
![Woman working out with the BowFlex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fNe2hqo8CS2JWaiMthtjzY-320-80.jpg)
BowFlex filed for bankruptcy — should you still buy its home workout equipment?
By James Frew last updated
Following the news, many BowFlex products are on sale, but if the company gets a new owner, are your weights and machines at risk?
![James Frew working out with dumbbells at home](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zbUBqJUNZUbQevEu3QAcPY-320-80.jpg)
I'm a fitness editor — these are the 11 Prime Day weights deals under $50 you can still buy right now
By James Frew last updated
Prime Day is over, but these last-chance deals mean you can pick up muscle-building weights for less than $50 — but be quick, as the discounts could end at any time.
![A man wearing trail running shoes running on a rocky path](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ddPz28ePGW3Tp7nCEiEX39-320-80.jpg)
The best trail running shoes for men and women in 2024
By Nick Harris-fry last updated
We put the best trail running shoes to the test to help you find a comfortable, durable, supportive pair for your next off-road run.
![Woman performing a kettlebell swing outside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c8zrUzxRxyiCDGXk8borqY-320-80.jpg)
Forget burpees — you only need 20 minutes and 5 moves to build full-body muscle with this kettlebell workout
By James Frew published
This short routine is designed to work muscles all over your body, strengthen your core, and boost your metabolism in just 20 minutes with a single kettlebell.
![James Frew performing a kettlebell Cossack squat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ddivDQ6FoQjEdV7UbZohuQ-320-80.jpg)
I tried 50 kettlebell Cossack squats every day for a week — here's what happened
By James Frew published
I decided to switch my dumbbell workouts for a single kettlebell move to boost my balance, strengthen my core, and improve my posture. Here's what happened.
![Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 on a person's wrist](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qbkk7PqUkg8KXsjzE8wPMK-320-80.jpg)
Amazing Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 deal brings price down to $24 — how to get yours
By James Frew published
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 isn't even in stores yet, but you can already pick it up for less than $25 with Samsung's incredible trade-in discount.
![Composite of a woman riding the Peloton Bike Plus and a man riding the NordicTrack S22i Studio bike at home](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rnxisg2jzWieQamNYoaxxn-320-80.jpg)
Peloton vs. NordicTrack: which exercise bike should you buy in 2024?
By James Frew last updated
If you're after an exercise bike, comparing Peloton vs NordicTrack is a good place to start. Here's how to the two fitness brands compare on hardware, classes, and costs.
![The Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring with a side-on view](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fpEdn2Q5ey2RC8dng8Ybd5-320-80.jpg)
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs Oura Ring — everything we know so far
By James Frew last updated
Samsung its sights set on Oura's crown with the much-anticipated Galaxy Ring, but how do the two activity tracking smart rings stack up?
![Samsung Galaxy Ring](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qnMetsCf6Zt4MgdBTugGL-320-80.jpg)
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Everything we know about the new smart ring
By Dan Bracaglia, Mike Prospero last updated
Samsung's new smart ring makes it debut at Unpacked. Here's everything we know so far.
![Samsung Galaxy Ring](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qnMetsCf6Zt4MgdBTugGL-320-80.jpg)
3 Samsung Galaxy Ring health and fitness features I'm actually excited for
By James Frew last updated
Samsung confirms the Galaxy Ring, available in 9 sizes and 3 colors, with an impressive array of health and fitness capabilities. Here are our top takeaways so far.
![Oura Ring Gen 3 smart ring held between a person's fingers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xqBhEgEFuLLta3ufs3psyg-320-80.jpg)
Samsung's Galaxy Ring is on the way, Oura launches new AI features to stay ahead
By James Frew last updated
The new Labs feature, Oura Advisor, brings actionable, personalized insights to help boost your wellbeing, but is it enough to compete with the upcoming Galaxy Ring?
![Man working out on an exercise bike at home](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fPjqEEcnFQEpa65Rqdds9C-320-80.jpg)
We've tested the best exercise bikes to help you boost your fitness at home
By James Frew last updated
review The best exercise machines are designed to work muscles all over your body, get your heart pumping, and boost your metabolism without leaving the house.
![Leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in forest green on a teal background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kMu9GQN8AJAUDRPQ6HFsc3-320-80.jpg)
Samsung announces new BioActive sensor for Galaxy Watch 7 ahead of Unpacked — here’s what it can do
By James Frew published
Samsung's BioActive sensor is at the heart of its smartwatches, and the upgraded edition could bring improved accuracy and more advanced features to the next generation of Galaxy watches.
![The iPad Pro 2024 on a bench](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TvwS5YbPuy8rPtoHBSUQCg-320-80.jpg)
Apple's entire 2025 iPad lineup just leaked, including new M5 iPad Pro
By James Frew last updated
Apple's device identifying code suggests that we'll see an upgraded iPad and iPad mini next year, alongside an M5-powered iPad Pro.
![Woman doing sit-up with a dumbbell](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MPavznxygN3GxSHTpZKGPW-320-80.jpg)
Strengthen your core and build full-body muscle with this 5-move dumbbell abs workout
By James Frew last updated
This short dumbbell workout is designed to strengthen your core and work your upper and lower body to boost your balance and improve your posture in just 5 moves.
![Man wearing Skullcandy Dime 3 earbuds outside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9S3swGULrWaz8HhwZP4GoB-320-80.jpg)
We've tested the best cheap running headphones for exercise on a budget
By Nick Harris-fry last updated
These cheap running headphones make an excellent companion, whether you're into casual jogs, speed training or marathons.
![Woman performing a push-up on an exercise mat outside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6ZAxvMRqbRUMMdQBg8U8g-320-80.jpg)
Forget sit-ups — build a stronger core and boost your balance with this 8-minute bodyweight abs workout
By James Frew last updated
This fitness instructor's short equipment-free workout is designed to work your whole body, build core strength, and raise your heart rate without a weight in sight.
![Sasha Hanway performing a unilateral deadbug](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f79gTpRiC6Gq62hqcjrKCj-320-80.jpg)
You don't need planks to build a stronger core, just this 4-move bodyweight abs workout
By Jennifer Rizzuto last updated
This short routine is designed engage the deepest muscles in your core to help boost your balance, improve your posture, and increase your stability without a plank in sight.