How to choose a fitness tracker
What started out as a simple pedometer to track steps has evolved into wearable devices that monitor everything from heart rate to sleep patterns.
Fitness trackers are an easy way to understand many of your body’s internal rhythms. The accompanying apps can help you interpret the data to make better health and fitness decisions.
With a wide variety of fitness trackers on the market, how do you choose the right one for you?
What is a fitness tracker?
A fitness tracker is a device worn on the body to track various types of physical activity and internal biometrics, and to inform the wearer of their health and fitness. Fitness trackers are usually worn on the wrist like a watch, but can also come in the form of a smart necklace, an ankle tag, or a clip-on device for the collar of your clothing.
The fitness tracker collects data about your activity and your body when you wear it and collects this data before you sync it with an app. Wearers can then access their data through the app to keep track of things like temperature, sleep, heart rate, activity level and many other metrics, depending on the make and model of the fitness tracker.
Basic fitness tracker functions
Some more advanced fitness trackers have additional features like syncing with bluetooth headphones and playing music. However, almost all fitness trackers perform the following basic functions:
Your fitness tracker can tell you how many steps you have taken in a given period of time. You can then use the app associated with your fitness tracker to view this information over time, to identify patterns in your daily activity level and adjust accordingly as you see fit.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. This can vary based on whether we exercise, smoke, feel stressed, and a number of other factors. It’s more important to track this number over time and make sure your resting heart rate stays within the normal range. Usually, the lower your resting heart rate, the more fit and healthy you are.
Your sleep patterns play a huge role in your overall health. Sleep affects our metabolism, hormone levels, mood and memory, among other things. Fitness trackers with a sleep tracker can help you monitor how much sleep you get on a regular basis and how good that sleep is.
Best cheap fitness tracker
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5: available at Amazon
Our opinion: A very affordable option with most of the features you can expect from more expensive models.
What we like: Follows a wide range of specific exercises including skipping rope, yoga, elliptical, and cycling.
What we don’t like: Some users say that it can be a little inaccurate with the heart rate monitor during freestyle training.
Best fitness tracker for accuracy
Our opinion: Highly accurate data for all types of activities and biometrics.
What we like: All the bells and whistles you’d expect from an Apple product, including voice assistance, blood oxygen sensor, EKG monitor, and customizable display.
What we don’t like: Much more expensive than other models, so it may not be the best choice for everything from beginners to fitness trackers.
Best fitness tracker for style
Michael Kors Access Gen 5 Lexington Smartwatch: available at Amazon and Best buy
Our opinion: Super stylish with great functionality. This is a great choice for those who prefer their fitness tracker to look more like a watch.
What we like: Available in a range of colors and styles, but with all the usual features you’d expect from a fitness tracker.
What we don’t like: Listed with a battery life of 24 hours, which is much less than other fitness tracker models available.
Best fitness tracker for outdoor activities
Our opinion: Durable selection of smartwatches and fitness trackers for extreme sports and difficult weather conditions.
What we like: Massively long battery life thanks to built-in solar charging.
What we don’t like: The app that comes with the watch to keep track of your metrics is a bit complicated and difficult to navigate compared to others.
Best fitness tracker for distance runners
Our opinion: Another outdoor watch with advanced GPS functionality for high-precision tracking.
What we like: Tracks both altitude and distance and includes a compass useful for running in unfamiliar areas.
What we don’t like: Some users have reported problems with some of the biometric trackers such as: B. the heart rate monitor.
Best waterproof fitness tracker
Our opinion: A “swim safe” fitness tracker perfect for tracking distance and biometrics during swimming sessions.
What we like: Waterproof to 50 meters with a highly rated fitness data interpretation app.
What we don’t like: No customization available on the watch display.
Best fitness tracker for sleep monitoring
Our opinion: A detailed look at your sleep patterns and sleep quality.
What we like: Tracks metrics like REM cycle and stress level to give you a more accurate picture of your sleep cycle.
What we don’t like: The screen is small and can be a little tricky to navigate.
Best fitness tracker for heart rate monitoring
Polar Ignite: available from Amazon
Our opinion: Highly accurate tracking of heart rate across different types and activity levels.
What we like: Tracks heart rate and all relevant biometric data and activity for an insightful overall picture of heart health.
What we don’t like: Battery life can be disappointing.
Best fitness tracker for battery life
Pebble Time Steel Smartwatch: available at Amazon
Our opinion: A great all-round smartwatch with an exceptionally long battery life.
What we like: Offers a battery life of up to 10 hours with the same functionality as other smartwatches.
What we don’t like: May be less durable than other brands, especially the wrist strap.
Lauren Farrell is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a unique mission: to help you simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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