There’s never a bad time to start a new fitness routine or improve on an existing one. And while we can’t all afford a personal trainer to get us through the reps and work towards 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 wide-ranging. You might be looking to shift a couple of kilos or work towards a marathon. Either way, a fitness tracker can help. In fact, you don’t need to be training at all to see the benefits. They’re great for providing rolling data on all kinds of wellness and health metrics, such as sleep and body composition.
The tricky business is picking one that suits you. We all have different lives and schedules, and each fitness tracker is made for different lifestyle requirements. And with so many brands and models, you want to find one that suits you — not to mention your budget. Fortunately, 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 progression isn't just for athletes or people training for their local parkrun. It's a factor of wellness that people are building into their daily groove. The best fitness trackers are the ones that will keep you in check throughout your workout as well as the rest of your day. The positive impact that these high-tech bracelets and other wearable fitness gadgetry can have on your lifestyle as a whole is pretty incredible.
What can fitness trackers do?
Fitness trackers have gone way beyond just step counting and heart rate monitoring. Depending on the spec, fitness trackers can monitor and feedback on your sleep, blood oxygen, energy levels, stress, body temperature, menstrual cycles, BMI, and more. In terms of actual fitness, they can give your workout plans, track calories burned and fitness progress and coach you towards smashing your personal best. Fitness trackers with GPS can also track runs and set routes for you. Oh, and you'll also get smartphone compatibility, including text and call notifications.
What's 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 an expanded picture of the data it collects, and usually requires a phone for GPS and music, too. A smartwatch is essentially your phone, but on your wrist. It has GPS built-in and can download apps, from the likes of Spotify to Tinder. With something like an Apple Watch, you can send voice messages or take calls, or have a full conversation via iMessage.
But for people strictly focused on black and white fitness metrics or people who want a hands-off tracker that doesn't require a super-involved setup process or daily charging, we'd make the case that a fitness tracker without high-end connectivity is the smarter, more cost-effective choice.
We've included a selection of both fitness trackers and smartwatches on this list.
Are fitness trackers waterproof?
Any respectable tracker should be able to accompany you on a run in the rain without breaking down. At this point, almost every tracker goes past splash and sweat resistance to hit a 5 ATM rating, meaning the device can withstand pressure equivalent up to 50 metres (164 feet). These should be fine to wear in the shower, in the ocean, or in a hot tub.
Swimmers have a bit more to consider than the waterproof rating. Look for a tracker with built-in GPS that can not only follow you underwater, but accurately track your laps and pace. Dedicated modes for pool swims and open water swims are ideal. Even the most rugged, most swim-friendly watches and trackers probably aren't suitable for extreme water sports or activities that involve high-velocity, deep submersion.
What is the best fitness tracker?
There are a whole lot of models out there for you to consider, with something for everyone and every budget. We have taken stock of everything on the market to bring you a selection of the very best devices, including fitness trackers from top brands like Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin.
These are the best fitness trackers in 2024.
