We’ll also measure the heart rate and exercise metrics against a control smartwatch during physical exercise. For example, if you’re into cycling or running, you should get a cheap fitness tracker with a built-in GPS module. If you just want a device to log your workouts and track your sleep, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is your best bet.
Best fitness tracker for iPhone users
The “Ultimate Consistency Hack” is not a better algorithm, but a real human being on the other side of the screen. Having a personal trainer or fitness coach through an app brings the benefits of personal training, such as expert guidance, personalized workout plans, and motivation directly to your device. A human coach using professional personal trainer software provides the empathy, nuanced form correction, and social accountability that even the best workout apps cannot replicate with code alone. For example, the Future app combines personal training with the convenience of working out at home, matching users with trainers based on their goals. This “Hybrid Model”, where you use a professional exercise workout app powered by a real trainer, is the most effective way to ensure you never quit your fitness journey again.
Can you recommend a fitness tracker that pairs well with Android devices?
We also appreciated the tracker’s encouraging messages when we moved or reached certain goals. For a versatile, straightforward device that you can use to track a variety of activities, we love Garmin’s Vivosmart 5 Fitness Tracker. During testing, we found it provided very precise and helpful metrics for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), treadmill runs, hikes, and more. With a sleek, lightweight design, the tracker feels comfortable and unobtrusive, even when we wear it to monitor our sleep patterns. Amazfit’s Balance Smart Watch is our top overall pick due to its accuracy, comfort, ultra-long battery life, and more. During testing, we found its metrics to be extremely precise, whether we were tracking our step count, calories burned, or heart rate.
- Expert reviews often highlight the importance of tracking capabilities in workout apps to monitor progress and stay motivated.
- The latest models track steps, stairs/altitude, distance, heart rate, and more.
- Additionally, the tracker comes with built-in sleep monitoring, enabling users to gain insights into their sleep patterns, which is crucial for overall health and recovery.
- The thin, half-inch band doesn’t feel clunky during workouts or everyday use, and the Inspire 3 weighs just 0.32 ounce — lighter than a typical USB flash drive.
- At the end of the day, choose a fitness tracker that provides the features that will help and motivate you to get or stay active and that you will want to wear on a daily basis.
- The top apps also offer bodyweight workouts and routines that adapt to your available equipment, making it easy to train whether you have full equipment access at the gym or just your body weight at home.
What is Fitbit’s most affordable tracker?
Having already tested the Amazfit Helio Ring, I was eager to see how the new Balance 2 smartwatch would fare against its competitors. With a unique greige strap and gold detail around the bezel, I was impressed by the smart appearance of the Polar Vantage M3 as well as by its smart features. Sport modes are a highlight as there are 140+ workouts on board, from running, cycling and pool swimming to gym sessions and yoga, plus niche options such as HYROX. It’s extremely lightweight and comfortable and packed with useful features and training plans, I think it’s a real bargain at under £240. I loved being able to play music directly from my wrist and found it easy to sync up my headphones with the watch.
How tight should I wear my fitness tracker for accurate readings?
For users with a bigger budget who want the most advanced data, the best app experience, or the tightest smartwatch integration, these are the top options to consider. This section highlights the essential aspects that make a fitness tracker suitable for beginners. This guide will help you cut through the noise and discover the best fitness tracker that suits your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Keep reading to uncover which features you really need to get started on your fitness journey and find the ideal tracker that will keep you motivated and on track.
The Most Accurate Watch I Tested
It features a beautiful, patterned face, an aluminum bezel and case, and a 14mm quick-release band that’s much slimmer than most smartwatch straps, so you can wear it alongside other bracelets. More than just attractive, the Lily 2 can track health stats such as your calories burned, energy level, heart rate, respiration, sleep, SpO2, steps, stress, and workouts. It also offers smartwatch features such as phone notifications, music playback controls, and useful calendar and weather widgets.
Best Fitness Tracker for Off-Grid Fitness Adventures: Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED
The money saved can fund quality accessories or simply reduce your financial risk while testing whether fitness tracking fits your lifestyle. For beginners, this democratization of personal training knowledge is transformative. This evolution from measurement tool to coaching partner dramatically enhances fitness tracking benefits for users who lack extensive fitness knowledge.
Best fitness tracker for running
Ensure your tracker supports your smartphone’s operating system, whether it’s iOS or Android. Packed with health, fitness, and safety features, Apple’s Watch Series 10 is our recommendation if you want a high-tech smartwatch that easily integrates with your iPhone. During testing, we wore this watch while running, weight lifting, and sleeping and loved that our health and workout data instantly synced to our iPhone. And our notifications and updates were delivered accurately and in real time. We also appreciate the very responsive touchscreen and the fast-charging battery. If you want to track your sleep patterns to improve your rest and recovery, we recommend Amazfit’s Bip 6 Smartwatch.
The importance of tracking progress over weeks and months cannot be overstated. Daily fluctuations are normal—some days you’ll crush your goals, others you’ll fall short. This data-driven validation helps beginners understand their fitness journey trajectory and maintain motivation through inevitable plateaus.
How we test fitness watches
IPX7 rating protects against splashes and brief submersion (handwashing, shower) but not swimming. 5ATM rating (50 meters) is suitable for swimming in pools or open water, and 10ATM rating (100 meters) handles swimming plus water sports. Even with appropriate ratings, rinse the device with fresh water after pool swimming (chlorine) or ocean swimming (salt water) to prevent sensor damage. Most budget and mid-range trackers offer at least 5ATM, making swimming tracking accessible to beginners. These expanded capabilities transform fitness tracking benefits from exercise-focused to comprehensive wellness support. Beginners increasingly recognize that fitness exists within the larger context of overall health, and modern trackers reflect this holistic perspective.
If you frequently find yourself too tired to exercise, the Vivosmart 5’s Body Battery metric can monitor your recovery and tell you the best time to work out. There are several things to consider when choosing a fitness tracker, but it gets trickier when you’re trying to find a cheap one. That’s because you’re working with a smaller budget, which means you can’t exactly go unimeal review on goodmenproject for the best money can buy. Luckily, quite a few affordable fitness trackers will see you through most of your health, fitness, and wellness needs.
The following experts helped us better understand what key features to look for when shopping for a high-quality option and potential https://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm flaws to be aware of. We also asked about specific fitness trackers they would recommend and took their input into account when choosing which trackers to test. While we select products independently, expert input helps inform our decisions. Another useful feature includes the watch’s Track Back functionality, which uses the built-in GPS to direct you back to the start of your trail run, hike, or ride. We also loved that the watch synced seamlessly with our earbuds and smartphone, delivering messages accurately and in real-time.
With Fitbit devices, you have the opportunity to enter your bedtime and wake time manually in the morning, in case you forget to enable the setting at night. A big barrier between the low-cost trackers that flood one end of the market and the pricier premium options comes in the form of built-in GPS. Some have GPS to better track running, walking and cycling workouts outdoors. The SE 2 is Apple’s cheapest up-to-date offering, and unlike most of the entries on this list, it’s a true smartwatch.
What’s more, the Epix Gen 2 can go upwards of six full days without needing a recharge, even if I’m using things like the built-in GPS each day or wearing it to bed to track my sleep. I’ve gone on multi-day camping trips and still had more than enough battery left on my trip home. You may be excited about your new device and all it can do, but you’re also new to its quirks. Over time, you’ll get to know the outliers, the readings that seem off. Your tracker will start you out with a default goal, probably something like 10,000 steps a day.
The Best Fitness Trackers
And with 5-7 days of battery life, it outlasted that kale we swore we’d eat after buying this thing. Grab this tracker if you want a reliable, easy starter for checking your steps, sleep, and just how stressed you are about both. Jen Zeltwanger, ACSM-EP, is an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist and Verywell Fit writer. She has lots of experience with in-home and outdoor fitness and tracks it all wearing an Apple Watch. Jen knows what works and what to look for when shopping for fitness products, and she prioritizes products that are easy to use, versatile, and of high quality. Best for dedicated runners and athletes who value precise pacing, detailed training insights, and customized tracking features.