Hello healthy: Finder reveals the top-rated brands for health and fitness

2021 is gearing up to be the year to get into shape, with the majority (51%) of Australians saying they want to lose weight or improve their fitness.

To help Aussies reach their goal, Finder has today revealed the best-rated brands for health and wellness products as voted by Australian consumers in the 2020/21 Finder Retail Awards.

In a category full of big-name brands, ASICS came out on top for running shoes. The footwear retailer received a coveted 100% recommendation rating from consumers.

Apple was the best-rated brand for smart watches while lesser-known Amazfit took out the fitness tracker category.

Kate Browne, retail expert at Finder, said 2020 was the year of the virtual workout, with many Aussies stocking up on health and fitness products so they could work out at home.

"Stay at home orders meant many of us were doing HIIT classes in our kitchens and converting our garages into home gyms.

"If you're making a big ticket purchase like a rowing machine or treadmill, it can be hard to know which brand is best. That's why we put this question to consumers who already owned these products to find out which brand was best."

Consumers named NordicTrack is the best-rated home exercise cardio equipment brand and Nick Cheadle Fitness the best-rated online fitness program brand.

For those with the option to head in-venue, Fitness First was named the best rated gym chain.

Browne noted that there's more to health than just salads and treadmills.

"With one in two Australians looking to get fit or lose weight in 2021, what you weigh and perhaps how far you can run are not the only pieces of the health puzzle.

"Looking after your wellbeing overall is key and that can be different things for different people. For some that means a 10km run on a Saturday morning but for others it can be remembering to drink enough water, wearing sunscreen or going for a walk in a good pair of shoes."

Best-rated health and fitness brands as recommended by Aussie consumers, with commentary from Kate Browne

Running shoes: ASICS

"If you're keen to hit the ground running this year, pick up a pair of ASICS. Recommended by 100% of Aussies polled, ASICS topped the list for comfort and also received high scores for durability and design," Browne said.

Online fitness programs: Nick Cheadle Fitness

"With high scores across the board for features, customer support, effectiveness and value for money, Nick Cheadle Fitness has taken out this year's award for the best online fitness program brand."

Home exercise cardio equipment: NordicTrack

"NordicTrack's home exercise cardio equipment scored well across the board for quality, features and ease of use. It's also recommended by 93% of Aussies."

Gym chain: Fitness First

"Recommended by 96% of Aussies, Fitness First was the gym to beat. Boasting personal trainers, classes, and more than 70 clubs across Australia it's easy to see why Fitness First is beloved by its customers."

Bicycle: Trek

"Top-rated for performance, Trek is the best bicycle brand according to Australians. It also rated well for reliability and design."

Fitness tracker: Amazfit

"Move over Fitbit, there's a new sheriff in town. With the best scores for design and value for money, Amazfit is the best-rated fitness tracker. It also rated highly for features."

Smartwatch: Apple

"Given that it dominates the smartwatch category, it's not surprising that Apple has taken out the award for the best smartwatch brand. Scoring top marks for design and high scores for battery life and features and functions, it beat out other brands such as Fitbit, Garmin and Samsung."

Multivitamins: Elevit

"Elevit is the best-rated multivitamin brand for effectiveness and value for money, helping it take out this year's award. It's also recommended by 100% of Australians," Browne said.

Methodology

In determining these winners, Finder worked with leading data, insights and consulting company, Kantar, to interview over 3,000 Australian consumers. To find the most popular brands in each category, customers were asked about a range of products they purchased in the last 3 months to 3 years (depending on the category) and their level of satisfaction with each product across a number of sentiment pillars.