There’s never a bad time to start a new fitness routine or improve an existing one. And while we can’t afford a personal trainer to get us through all the reps and work toward those goals, remember this is the 21st century — there are other options. Most notably, enlisting the help of a fitness tracker.
It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a tracker for the first time or upgrading your current model, the benefits of these little training buddies are extensive. You might be trying to shed a few kilos or work towards a marathon. Either way, a fitness tracker can help. In fact, you don’t need to train to see the benefits. They’re great for providing rolling data on all kinds of fitness and health metrics, like sleep and body composition.
The tricky business is choosing the one that suits you. We all have different lives and schedules, and each fitness tracker is built for different lifestyle needs. And with so many brands and models, you want to find one that suits you—not to mention your budget. Luckily, we’ve done some research and put together this roundup of fitness tracker options, along with some helpful pointers.
Do you need a fitness tracker?
Actively monitoring your fitness progress isn’t just for athletes or people training for their local parkrun. It is a factor of fitness that people are building into their daily routine. The best fitness trackers are the ones that will keep you in check during your workout as well as the rest of your day. The positive impact that these high-tech bracelets and other wearable fitness devices can have on your lifestyle as a whole is incredible.
What can fitness trackers do?
Fitness trackers have gone beyond just step count and heart rate monitoring. Depending on the feature, fitness trackers can monitor and provide feedback on your sleep, blood oxygen, energy levels, stress, body temperature, menstrual cycle, BMI, and more. In terms of real fitness, they can track your exercise plans, calories burned and fitness progress and train you to your personal best. Fitness trackers with GPS can set runs and routes for you. Oh, and you’ll also get smartphone compatibility, including text and call notifications.
What is the difference between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch?
A fitness tracker is essentially a bracelet with sensors that send data to your phone to provide a detailed picture of the data it collects, and usually a phone for GPS and music as well. requires A Smartwatch Essentially your phone, but on your wrist. It has GPS built-in and can download apps, from Spotify to Tinder. With something like the Apple Watch, you can send voice messages or take calls, or have an entire conversation via iMessage.
But for those strictly focused on black-and-white fitness metrics or those who want a hands-off tracker that doesn’t require a super-involved setup process or daily charging, we’d make the case that higher-end connectivity A fitness tracker without is the smarter, more cost-effective choice.
We’ve included a selection of both fitness trackers and smartwatches in this list.
Are fitness trackers waterproof?
Any respectable tracker should be able to run with you in the rain without breaking down. At this point, almost every tracker surpasses splash and sweat resistance to hit the 5 ATM rating, meaning the device can withstand the equivalent of 50 meters (164 feet) of pressure. They should be fine to wear in the shower, in the ocean, or in the hot tub.
Swimmers have more to consider than waterproof rating. Look for a tracker with built-in GPS that can not only follow you underwater, but accurately track your laps and speed. Dedicated modes are ideal for pool swimming and open water swimmers. Even the toughest, most swim-friendly watches and trackers may not be suitable for extreme water sports or activities that involve high-velocity, deep immersion.
What is the best fitness tracker?
There are many models for you to consider, something for everyone and every budget. We’ve stocked everything on the market to bring you a selection of the best devices, including fitness trackers from top brands like Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin.
These are the best fitness trackers in 2024.
