{"id":383577,"date":"2026-04-09T17:37:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/383577\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T17:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:37:13","slug":"ben-shephard-51-shares-the-budget-fitness-gadgets-he-actually-uses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/383577\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Shephard, 51, Shares the Budget Fitness Gadgets He Actually Uses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ben Shephard<\/a> isn\u2019t one to stick to a single training style. Over the past year alone, he\u2019s completed an intense strength programme for his Men\u2019s Health cover, finished his first Hyrox<\/a> (in 1:15:17), and is now deep into training for the London Marathon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So when it comes to trying new fitness gear, he\u2019s not exactly short on context. The 51-year-old recently put a selection of affordable training gadgets to the test \u2013 to see which ones are genuinely useful and which are more novelty than necessity.<\/p>\n

First up: fitness dice<\/a>. Designed to keep workouts varied, they\u2019re especially useful for anyone travelling, training without equipment or simply lacking inspiration.<\/p>\n

The set includes one die with six exercises \u2013 squats<\/a>, lunges<\/a>, burpees<\/a>, push-ups<\/a>, jumping jacks and crunches<\/a> \u2013 and another with time intervals or rep counts. That gives you 36 possible combinations. Still, it\u2019s fair to say Shephard wasn\u2019t thrilled when he rolled 90 seconds of burpees<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The devil exercise,\u2019 he says. \u2018Literally my most hated exercise \u2013 we\u2019ve established the fitness dice can fuck you.\u2019<\/p>\n

Next, he tries a resistance bar<\/a>, typically used by people dealing with golfer\u2019s or tennis elbow. Twisting the bar creates resistance through the forearms<\/a>, wrists and elbows, helping to build grip strength and support the surrounding tendons. Shephard quickly sees the appeal.<\/p>\n

\u2018As phallic as they look, they\u2019re really brilliant for loosening off. Essentially, you twist it and hold it. Being able to do something that targets all the tendons<\/a> and muscles around the elbow is really important,\u2019 he explains. <\/p>\n

He also gives a boxing reflex ball<\/a> a go \u2013 a small ball attached to a string that wraps around your head, designed to improve speed, coordination and reactions.<\/p>\n

\u2018Punch it and keep it away from my face,\u2019 he says. \u2018It\u2019s great fun, but it\u2019s terrifying. Just don\u2019t get hit in the face.\u2019<\/p>\n

Finally, Shephard tries an orthopaedic back stretcher<\/a> \u2013 something that hits closer to home given his history of back issues.<\/p>\n

\u2018A little gadget the team have given me to support my lumbar spine. It\u2019s got these acupressure points as well. You lie on top \u2013 it mimics the natural curve of your spine and decompresses all those small joints,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n

\"Fitness<\/a>\"Resistance<\/a>\"Boxing<\/a>Boxing Reflex Ball<\/p>\n

Now 18% Off<\/p>\n

\"Orthopaedic<\/a>Orthopaedic Back StretcherRelated Stories\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men\u2019s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.<\/p>\n

During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.<\/p>\n

Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running \u2013 he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark\u2026<\/p>\n

You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs<\/a> or on X @ryandabbs_<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n