Fitness trackers have come a long way from just bands that tracked steps and nothing else. Modern fitness trackers have personalized heart rate zones and recovery insights, tracking everything from heart health to recovery time after a tough workout. Even flagship watches that were once terrible monitors are now a great workout buddy. Almost everything you want to do can be done through fitness tracking. Compared to many others, wearables can be personal so there’s a lot more to consider before you hit the cash machine. There’s no one fit tracker for everyone.
What are the different types of Fitness Trackers?
When choosing a fitness tracking device you’ll have to decide what style you want. Most trackers are wrist mounted but some of the models are clip-on or can be set up to track fitness. Bracelets and watches can be easily stolen from people. But these can get in the way of daily activities like sleeping or computing for example. Fitbit Charge 6 (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo) Besides the clip-on, the style has a little more popularity. Fitbit has released a clip for the Inspire 3 if the bundled bands don’t fit.
Choosing the Right Fit Tracker
Choosing the right fit tracker can be overwhelming with so many options out there. To make a decision, you need to consider your fitness goals, lifestyle and personal preferences. Here are some things to consider when choosing a fit tracker:
- Fitness goals: What do you want to achieve with your fit tracker? Do you want to track your daily steps, monitor your sleep or track your workouts? Different trackers specialize in different areas so you need to choose one that fits your goals.
- Comfort and design: Consider the design and comfort of the tracker. Do you like a sleek and stylish design or a more functional and rugged one? Make sure the tracker is comfortable to wear and fits your personal style.
- Battery life: Battery life is a big consideration. If you’ll be using your tracker for extended periods look for one with long battery life. Some trackers can go up to several weeks on a single charge.
- Health and wellness data: What type of health and wellness data do you want to track? Do you want to monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen levels or stress levels? Different trackers offer different health metrics so choose one that has the data you need.
Fit Tracker Features to Look For
When choosing a fit tracker there are several features to look for to get the most out of your device. Here are some to consider:
- GPS tracking: If you’re a runner, cyclist or swimmer look for a tracker with built-in GPS. This feature allows you to track your routes, distance and pace.
- Sleep tracking: Sleep is key to overall health and wellness. Look for a tracker that has advanced sleep tracking features such as sleep stages, duration and quality.
- Heart rate monitoring: Heart rate monitoring is a must for fitness enthusiasts. Look for a tracker that has continuous heart rate monitoring and alerts for irregular heart rhythms.
- Water resistance: If you’ll be using your tracker for swimming or water activities look for water resistance. Look for a tracker with high water resistance such as 5ATM or higher.
Best Fit Tracker for Heart Rate Monitoring
Training intelligently means taking into account heart rhythm data when planning exercises. Health features like heart rate tracking, sleep analysis and specialized metrics help users manage their overall health and wellness. You might need to lower your heart rate to burn fat or speed up an exercise. Sometimes you can increase it to get better health benefits like increased stamina. Heart rate data is slightly off compared to the Garmin Vivoactive5 chest strap.
Best if You Have an iPhone: Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 is a great choice for iPhone users. This smartwatch has:
- ECG: The Apple Watch Series 10 has a built-in electrocardiogram (ECG) that allows you to take an electrocardiogram reading from your wrist.
- Fall detection: It also has fall detection that can detect if you’ve fallen and alert emergency services if needed.
- GPS tracking: Apple Watch Series 10 has built-in GPS so you can track your runs, walks and other outdoor activities.
- Water resistance: The watch is water resistant up to 50 meters so it’s perfect for swimmers and water activities.
Best if You Have an iPhoneApple Watch Series 10
Like any equipment we wear everyday our health tracking devices can be very personal. Yes, it has to be comfortable and it should fit with your lifestyle. Are biking, rowing and lifting really necessary? How can one stand up and be heard? I want to slip shirts on my wrists? There’s no better time to start looking for tools that can optimize the workout and jump start any new fitness regime.
Apple Watch Series 9
Rating: 9.5/10 | Heart Rate Monitor : Yes : GPS : Yes : Water resistant: WR50 | Display: Retina LTPO LCD display | Battery life: 24 hours (30 hours at low power) | ECG monitor: Yes | Battery life: The iWatch Ultra has more features than its sibling the iWatch S and is cheaper than its predecessor the iWatch x 9. Most fitness trackers come with basic features like built-in heart rate monitor and GPS to cater to different user needs and budgets. Has a sleek and intuitive UI and a easy to use workout app. The tracker is behind the Garmin Venu3 and I love it because of its advanced heart rate tracking.
Best Overall Fitness Tracker
The Garmin Venu 3 is a great overall fitness tracker that has:
- GPS tracking: Has built-in GPS so you can track your runs, walks and other outdoor activities.
- Heart rate monitoring: Continuous heart rate monitoring and alerts for irregular heart rhythms.
- Sleep tracking: Advanced sleep tracking features including sleep stages, duration and quality.
- Stress tracking: Stress tracking so you can monitor your stress levels throughout the day.
Best Budget Fitness Tracker
The Amazfit Band 7 is a great budget fitness tracker that has:
- GPS tracking: Has built-in GPS so you can track your runs, walks and other outdoor activities.
- Heart rate monitoring: Continuous heart rate monitoring and alerts for irregular heart rhythms.
- Sleep tracking: Advanced sleep tracking features including sleep stages, duration and quality.
- Long battery life: Up to 18 days battery life on a single charge.
What’s the Best Fitness Tracker for the Money?
Fitness tracking systems range from $25 - $400. The basic trackers have no display so you can’t track your steps on your phone. The cheaper trackers have built in heart rate monitor and GPS. These features are for athletes and exercisers. Don’t buy the expensive tracking system if you’re just walking and not using a treadmill. If walking is your only activity there are plenty of options from $25 to $99. If you can use the fitness tracking features to track your fitness level you should spend around $99 on the tracking software.
How I Tested The Best Fitness Trackers
Best fitness trackers should have a reliable tracking system, long battery life, comfortable fit and good design. The device should support active lifestyle by having several health tracking tools and should be easy to use. Based on my experience with personal trainers and on the testing I did on these devices I found out that you’ll use the tracker less if the interface is complicated.
How to choose
Finding fitness tracking software and gadgets from smartwatches to personal devices can be tough. I’ll list down the main criteria to consider when choosing the best workout tracking software.
Are fit trackers worth it?
Yes. Fitness monitors track how much energy your body burns and how many steps you do.
How accurate is fit tracker?
It’s now FDA approved to be within 3% of a deXA-scanned device. For those who are not familiar with the procedure, DEXA scans are designed to measure body composition with high accuracy.
Which step tracker is the most accurate?
NESKLA 3D walking meters is chosen by many users for easy access, accurate tracking, affordable price and high performance. Our testing team loved the simple layout and one button functionality of this tiny phone. August 8, 2024.
How do I connect my fitness tracker to my phone?
Download Google Fit apps for your Android devices via Google Play Store. Log in to my Google account. Download the tracking software from Google Play Store. Track bands apps vary from brand.
