How to choose supplements, recovery tools and home gym gear

We review the buying experience and the product, not medical effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start a supplement, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or are buying for a child. With that said, there is a lot you can check yourself before you buy, and the store policies table at the end compares return terms across the brands.

Supplements: what "FDA" does and doesn't mean

The FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they go on sale; the company selling them is responsible for that. The FDA's guide to dietary supplements explains the rules, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements has a plain guide to what you need to know. In practice:

• Look for independent testing. The USP Verified mark means a product was tested to contain what its label says without harmful levels of specified contaminants. NSF Certified for Sport also screens for substances banned in sport, which matters if you compete. Neither mark says the product works.
• Read the dose, not the name. Compare the amount of each ingredient per serving. "Proprietary blends" list ingredients without amounts, so you can't compare them.
• Watch claims. "Supports" or "helps maintain" claims come with a disclaimer that the FDA has not evaluated them. Claims to treat or cure a disease are a red flag.

Brands such as Ritual and Transparent Labs publish full ingredient amounts on their pages; use those to compare against others.

Protein, electrolytes and energy

For protein from Promix, Momentous or Huel, compare grams of protein per serving and price per serving. For electrolyte mixes from LMNT, Liquid I.V., Nuun or Skratch Labs, compare sodium and sugar per serving: they vary widely, and the right amount depends on how much you sweat. Pre-workout and energy products such as GHOST can carry a lot of caffeine; the FDA's caffeine guidance is a useful daily ceiling to add up against.

Massage guns and recovery tools

For massage guns and recovery devices from Therabody or Hyperice, compare stall force (how hard you can press before it stops), noise, battery life and the attachments included. Check the warranty length and whether the battery can be replaced, since it is usually the first part to wear out.

Home gym equipment

For racks, benches and dumbbells from REP Fitness, BowFlex or Synergee:

• Measure height and footprint, including room for the bar and for you to move around it.
• Check weight ratings for racks, benches and pull-up bars against what you plan to lift.
• Factor in freight. Heavy equipment often ships by freight, and returns can carry restocking fees and high shipping costs; the table below shows what each brand charges.

Earplugs, sleep and first aid

Reusable earplugs from Loop list a noise reduction rating; compare models by that rating and by fit. For first aid and trauma kits from Medical Gear Outfitters, check what the kit contains against what you are likely to need, and take a training course for items such as tourniquets.

How to save in this category

Subscriptions usually give the biggest saving on supplements, protein and electrolytes, and bundles or larger tubs lower the price per serving. Check how to pause or cancel before you subscribe, and don't let a discount push you into a bigger supply than you will use before it expires.