If trainers could choose just one gadget

Gadgets and machines have become as embedded in the fitness culture as sneakers and sweats. Although it’s possible to get a decent workout with nothing more than a couple of dumbbells and a jump rope, high-tech contraptions help exercisers work smarter, not harder.

We asked three trainers for their must-have selection and the best ways to incorporate it into a fitness program.

Pete McCall, a San Diego-based trainer and exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, chose a heart rate monitor.

Gina Lombardi, a Los Angeles-based personal trainer, selected a vibration plate.

And Ramona Braganza, a Los Angeles-based personal trainer and member of the Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute, opted for a pedometer.