Black Friday has become a much-anticipated event in the US, the UK, and around the world, offering shoppers an opportunity to snag a bargain on a wide range of products. But when is Black Friday, and what exactly is it?
Whether you’re on the hunt for Christmas prezzies or just fancy treating yourself to some new fitness kit, here’s everything you need to know about the global shopping extravaganza if you didn’t already, how to bag the best deals, and our favourite discounts now live and up for grabs.
Best Black Friday men’s fitness deals in the US
Bose QuietComfort Headphones – $199 (save $159)
Up your audio game for your next gym session with the QuietComfort headphones. With high-quality audio and noise cancellation, listen in total immersion with the customizable EQ and listening modes. If you like to be aware of your surroundings though, there are both Quiet and Aware options for when you need them. An impressive 24h battery life and the option to use with an in-line cable or completely wireless complete the ensemble. Choose from this stunning sandstone model, or choose from the wide range of colour options. Save a whopping 45% on the original $359 price tag and grab a sub-$200 bargain this Black Friday.
Suunto Race Sports Watch – $299 (save $100)
The Suunto Race is a tried and tested sports watch ideal for sportsmen who take part in a range of activities. Over 95 sports modes await, including gym, run, bike, and swim profiles.
Our expert reviewer Kieran scored the watch highly on its crisp AMOLED screen, breadth of training, navigation, and health features (see full review). Right now, make the most of $100 off in Suunto’s Black Friday sales.
My Protein – 40% off everything
Make the most of 40% off the entire My Protein site during Black Friday with code ‘THANKS40’. Now is the best time to restock on your favourite MyProtein products, like the popular easy-mix and protein-rich Impact Whey Protein Powder ($16.99 $10.19) and muscle-building Impact Creatine ($22.99 $11.99).
Whoop Fitness Tracker – $129 (save $70)
Now’s the time to take the plunge with Whoop as they roll out their biggest sale of the year for Black Friday. Save up to $70 on a Whoop band and annual membership, with your choice of the Whoop One, Peak, or Life package. The Whoop band tracks your fitness, sleep, strain, and recovery based on biometric insights gained through the wrist-based sensors. Monitor your health with accuracy and confidence in real-time, with the Life band also offering insight based on blood pressure, ECG, and AFib detection.
E.T.E Dual Cable Cross – $899 (save $1,100)
How about more than 50% off this full-body strength machine from Extreme Training Equipment. The dual arms can be positioned at multiple angles and adjusted up and down to perform exercises ranging from chest press, lat pulldown, bicep curl, tricep extension, low row, twist, shoulder press, leg curl and more.
Peloton Cross Training Bike – $1,395 (save $300)
There are Black Friday deals across the entire Peloton range, but we’d go for this fantastic Cross Training Bike. It features a full HD 21.5in swivel touchscreen and is now discounted by $300.
E.T.E Chest Fly Machine – $899 (save $250)
Target your chest with Extreme Training Equipment’s incline chest fly machine. The incline position provides more isolation to build more strength in your chest muscles. The arms use commercial grade bearings and the handles swivel to your desired position for a smoother range of motion, allowing you to perform a deeper stretch. There are 15 different seat adjustments to accommodate users of difference sizes too.
Best Black Friday men’s fitness deals in the UK
Beats Powerbeats Pro Earphones – £119 (save £35)
The ultimate sports headphones, the Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds are made specifically for your gym and run listening. Sweat- and water-resistant, the earbuds are designed with ear hooks for an immovable and comfortable fit. Working out with a mate? The Powerbeats allow audio sharing and up to 9h of listening time, or even longer with the included charging case. Right now, grab 27% off for Black Friday on Amazon.
Gymshark Sharkhead Holdall – £21 (save £14)
The perfect-sized gym bag for stashing your gear and post-session shake, this holdall from Gymshark has been reviewed as sturdy and good-quality. The 25L bag has a removable shoulder strap, as well as a ventilated compartment for separating your used kit or grubby shoes from the rest of your stuff. Right now, benefit from 40% off the Sharkhead Holdall in the Black Friday sales.
adidas Own The Run Shorts – £19.25 (save £15.75)
A classic adidas staple, these three-stripe Own The Run shorts will fast become one of your gym and run essentials. Made mainly from 70% recycled fabrics, the shorts are also designed to be quick-drying and breathable thanks to the aeroready technology. Two side pockets and a rear zip pocket should be more than enough for carrying valuables. Meanwhile, the elastic drawcord waist helps find the perfect fit. Right now, make the most of Decathlon’s 45% off for Black Friday.
Serious Shredz Diet Protein Powder 4kg – £35.99 (save £24)
This popular protein powder from The Bulk Protein provides 21g of quality protein in each 30g scoop. Serious Shredz protein powder is designed to support those looking to shred and lean out. The nutrition profile combines low-carb and low-sugar, with high-protein and high-fibre as the ultimate shredding combo.
Made to help you feel full, the powder contains slow and fast-digesting soy and milk proteins (vegan version here), along with satiating fibre. Flavours include strawberry, double chocolate, salted caramel, banana, cookies and cream, vanilla. Each 4kg tub provides a huge 133 servings, and to really get your money’s worth, grab 40% off now for Black Friday.
Renpho Power Massage Gun – £65 (save £74.99)
Excellerate your recovery post-workout with a massage gun to relax tight muscles, stiffness and to help prevent injury. This massage gun from Renpho is currently over half price for Black Friday and uses percussion therapy to deliver six different massage intensities via the high-torque motor. In the neat travel box, you’ll also find six different massage heads to effectively target different muscle groups.
NordicTrack Select-A-Weight Dumbbells – £299 (save £200)
This adjustable set of dumbbells from NordicTrack is all you need to train with dumbbells from 5kg to 25kg in weight – plus it’s now 40% off for Black Friday. Easily adjust the weight you want to train with by moving up in 2kg or 2.5kg increments to match your workout plan. With the NordicTrack dumbbells, you get 15 weights in one package. Between sessions, stow the weights neatly away in their matching storage trays for safekeeping.
OEX BLUE Men’s Peak Track Pants – £55.97 (save £14)
With winter nipping at our heels, these track pants from OEX BLUE are a great, comfortable sports pant for the gym, runs, or just lounging at home. A good fit is prioritised with the drawstring waistband and ankle zips suiting all sizes. Meanwhile, a slit just above the knee allows for extra breathability and range of movement during fast efforts. Streamline and sleek, benefit from a nice 20% off during the Black Friday sales at Millets.
Renpho Aeria Boot – £149.99 (save £120)
Take your recovery to the next level with the transportable Aeria Boot. The boot uses controlled external compression and rhythmic pressure to boost blood flow towards sore muscles, taking away toxins and replenishing oxygen. The Aeria covers the thigh, calf, and foot, with 16 different compression levels and eight massage modes to suit your needs. Highly portable, the Aeria can travel with you on the plane or fold up in your bag. Plus, it’s also now 45% off in the Black Friday sales – while stocks last.
Under Armour SlipSpeed MegaFade – £67.97 (save £67)
There’s up to 50% off many items on the UA website this Black Friday, including these UA SlipSpeed shoes, which feature a collapsible heal to convert them instantly from run mode to recovery mode. We tested an earlier version of these UA Slipspeed shoes and are still big fans.
Quella Varsity Cambridge Classic electric bike – £1,499 (save £100)
British bike manufacturer Quella has cut £100 off its entire bike range, including this lovely Varsity single-speed electric bike, which I fell in love with when I tested it recently. Complete with vintage detailing to make you swoon, along with high-quality components and build, there’s a lot to love about this Varsity bike.
Bloxx Backpack – £74.99 (save £25)
Bloxx is offering 25% off all its bags for Black Friday, including this 35L gym bag, which I was so impressed with, I had to make room in our best gym bags guide for it.
What is Black Friday?
Originating in the US, Black Friday has evolved into something of a global phenomenon. Unofficially kicking off the holiday shopping season, the retail frenzy has become a pre-Christmas tradition, with most major brands and department stores slashing prices and offering promotions on goods to convince people to splurge with their last paycheck before the holiday season.
Coined in Philadelphia some time in the ‘60s, the term Black Friday refers to how retailers moved from the red and ‘into the black’ – in other words, turned profitable, thanks to the sales and promotions on offer. The ‘80s and ‘90s saw the widespread adoption of the event as retail giants like Target and Walmart fuelled the shopping frenzy, offering huge, unmissable discounts on big-ticket items.
Before long, the scene shifted from crowded stores to the digital world – following the nature of the market – and that’ll be why Black Friday remains a highly anticipated day, with retailers across the board drawing hordes of eager shoppers to online marketplaces and department stores alike.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday traditionally takes place every year on the day after Thanksgiving in the US. So it’s like the American version of the Boxing Day sales in the UK.
Black Friday normally falls on the fourth Friday in November, and since this is typically most people’s last pay cheque before the Christmas holidays, it’s become known as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.
This year, officially, Black Friday will take place on 28 November, but you can expect big deals from as early as 21 November.
How long do Black Friday deals last?
Black Friday deals typically start on the day after Thanksgiving, which is 28 November this year. While the length of these sales varies among retailers, the deals often extend beyond the Friday and continue on for a good week or so. Many stores, especially online retailers, launch early Black Friday promotions ahead of the main day and some continue to do so through the weekend that follows.
In recent years, the trend has shifted towards week-long or even month-long Black Friday events. It’s pretty standard these days to see Black Friday deals at the advent of November. Online retailers are also known to introduce flash sales or hourly deals. If there’s something in particular you are looking to buy in this year’s Black Friday sales, it’s worth checking your preferred store’s promotional calendars or signing up for its newsletter, as the duration can vary. That will help ensure you get enough time to grab a good bargain or two, but more on that below…
When is the best time to shop Black Friday deals?
The best time to shop Black Friday deals is typically on the day itself: the Friday after Thanksgiving. However, as mentioned earlier, many retailers initiate sales earlier in the week, and online deals may start even earlier.
Some of the most sought-after deals are available during doorbuster events, often in the early hours of Friday. Then there’s always Cyber Monday, the following Monday, which originally came about as the Black Friday of online shopping, but now seems to have been merged into the same Black Friday weekend. To maximise your savings and grab the best deals, try to be strategic, plan ahead and monitor pre-sales – doing so will help you capitalise on specific time-limited promotions.
How to bag the best Black Friday deals
It might be easy to dismiss some of the sales you spot during Black Friday as underwhelming, with reduced sale prices not seeming all that cheaper than usual. This is common, as some retailers will overegg their RRP prices on price tags or stickers so that the reductions seem more appealing (a practice known as “price anchoring”).
However, if you’re well prepared, eagle-eyed and willing to put the effort into finding some bargains, it’s more than possible to save some decent dosh on the items on your list and make the most of this pre-Christmas shopping bonanza.
Here are seven top tips for grabbing the best Black Friday bargains:
1. Plan ahead
Start by making a list of the items you want to purchase. Whether it’s tech gadgets, clothing, home appliances or boring Christmas gifts like socks for your uncle Bob, knowing what you’re looking for will help you stay focused and avoid splurging unnecessarily on impulse buys.
2. Set a budget
Before you dive into the Black Friday sales, decide how much you’re willing to spend. Sticking to a budget will prevent overspending and eventual buyer’s remorse.
3. Do your research
Look up the products you plan to buy in advance. Read reviews, compare prices and familiarise yourself with the regular retail prices of the items you’re interested in. This way, you’ll recognise a genuine deal when you see one.
4. Follow your favourite retailers’ socials and newsletters
Many retailers send out exclusive deals and early access offers to their newsletter subscribers or social media followers. Sign up for your favourite stores’ newsletters and follow them on their social platforms. That way you’ll be the first to know about any Black Friday promotions they might be doing.
5. Use price comparison tools
Online price comparison tools and browser extensions can help you find the best prices across various retailers. They provide real-time price comparisons, helping you identify the most cost-effective option. Coupert is a particularly good one.
6. Get up early or stay up late
Black Friday sales often start at midnight or in the early hours of the morning. If you’re serious about scoring the best deals, set your alarm early. Make sure you have the right browser tabs open, ready to be one of the first to shop.
7. Consider Cyber Monday
If you don’t find what you’re looking for on Black Friday, don’t forget about Cyber Monday, which takes place the following Monday. Originally created to encourage consumers to take advantage of the online deals and discounts available after the Thanksgiving weekend, this is essentially just a continuation of the Black Friday sales but with a focus on online shopping. Still, it’s worth having a look to see if your top retailers have made any further markdowns.
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