Five Fitness Wearables Created in Boston

Illustration by Jeannie Pham

For help hydrating
Nix

It’s not always easy to meet the general guideline of eight cups of H20 a day, but for those who exercise and sweat regularly, hydration is key to performance and recovery. That’s why CEO Meridith Unger, of Harvard’s Research Innovation Labs, created Nix—a single-use biosensor patch with a digital interface to be worn on your hand or arm—for athletes to gauge just how much water and electrolytes they really need. Available this summer at specialty running stores like Marathon Sports, the monitor tracks sweat rate and hydration status, providing info in real time—unlike other wearable tech that requires plugging into an app or computer.

Starting at $20 for four sensors, nixbiosensors.com.

For help controlling cravings
Pavlok 2

If you find yourself reaching for the Doritos late at night when you know you really shouldn’t, this small MassChallenge-spawned device, worn around the wrist like a Fitbit, will set you straight: It administers a mild single shock using the theory of aversive conditioning, a type of behavior training that relies on negative stimuli to eliminate undesirable actions. Set it up so you’re responsible for delivering the zap, or program it to dispense one automatically whenever your hand goes to your mouth.

$295, pavlok.com.

For help with performance
Humon Hex

Ever wonder why you feel gassed during some workouts and like the Energizer Bunny during others? With the help of Humon, a hexagonal wearable that fastens around the middle of your thigh, you won’t have to wonder anymore. By measuring the oxygen saturation in your muscles, and therefore how much energy your body is able to produce in a given day, this MIT-hatched device gives real-time feedback about how hard you should or shouldn’t push it on your next run.

$295, humon.io.

For help with pain relief
BewellConnect’s MyTens

Post-workout aches have nothing on this compact medical-grade device, designed by the Boston-based branch of Visiomed specifically for muscle stimulation and pain relief. Placed anywhere on the body and connected to an app on your phone, the product administers electrical stimulation to relax muscles, relieve soreness, and improve muscle performance.

$149, bewell-connect.us.

For help warming up
Embr Wave

Nursing a steaming mug of tea might seem like a reliable way to warm up—that is, until the tea becomes tepid and you’re back to shivering. If you never feel like you’re a degree above freezing, invest in an Embr Wave, a small wristband dreamed up by MIT scientists to help regulate body temperature. Using temperature waves to hack the way you feel, Embr warms (or cools) the sensitive skin on the inside of your wrist to make you more comfortable without changing your core temperature—about five degrees in just a few minutes.

$299, embrlabs.com.