Fitness Trackers (6 products)

A fitness tracker is a wearable piece of technology designed to monitor, track, and record an array of fitness-related metrics about your physical activity.

Many fitness trackers include some or all of the following features:

• Integrated GPS and location tracking
• Heart rate monitoring
• General health metrics like calories burned, minutes active, and steps taken per day
• Workout recordings
• Body Mass Index calculations
• Sleep quality monitoring.
• Health-related alerts (e.g. abnormal sleep patterns, inactivity alerts, etc.)
• Activity history - day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year
• Elevation levels - good for tracking workouts such as hiking, stairs, cycling, etc.

Many fitness trackers come with a wealth of features that can include those listed above.

To ensure you get the one you want, take time to list what matters to you most about a fitness tracker.

For example, maybe a significant portion of your fitness regimen involves swimming or water-related activities. In that case, you’ll want a fitness tracker with solid waterproofing.

If you prefer your fitness trackers to be a set-and-forget affair, then you may want to opt for a fitness band with a minimal interface. They often have a longer-lasting battery that you don’t have to worry about recharging every day.

There are fitness trackers that can measure physical symptoms of stress or include more stress-relieving activities like deep breathing, which can be ideal if your fitness tracking is for both your physical and mental well-being.

A good approach is to list the top 5 to 10 features you need out of a fitness tracker and then see which options match those needs the closest.

Many fitness trackers come with waterproofing capabilities, but the extent will differ between devices. Some fitness trackers may only be water-resistant while others may be waterproof to specific depths.

For example, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 has a water rating of 5 ATM. ATM in this case refers to atmospheric pressure. In essence, the 5 ATM rating means the Vivosmart 5 is capable of withstanding water pressure equivalent to a depth of around 50 metres.

In practice, this means that a fitness tracker like the Vivosmart 5 is best suited for surface-level swimming or swimming in a pool, for use in the rain and snow, and can withstand splashes or having a shower. These are water resistance levels that will work for most people.

For activities that require greater water pressure resistance, you’ll need to look at fitness trackers with ratings of 10, 20 or even higher ATM resistance.

Having a fitness tracker on hand for your workouts is one of the best ways to get more out of your efforts without the presence of a personal trainer.

With a fitness tracker, you can get live data on your heart rate and how many calories you’re burning. You’ll also receive clear guidance on what fitness zone your heart rate is in during a workout (e.g. aerobic, anaerobic, etc.).

You can often set up fitness trackers to provide guidance and benchmarks, such as hitting your target distance on a run or cycling session.

Many fitness activity tracker watches also help you combat a sedentary lifestyle.

If you work a desk job during the day and don’t move much, a fitness tracker can provide you with reminders to get up and stretch or take a few minutes to walk around. This helps you develop healthier life habits that will support the overall effectiveness of your devoted workouts.