When I first began my wellness quest and began looking for the finest fitness trackers, I was familiar with a few wearable step counters, like the pedometer, Fitbit, Polar, and, more recently, the Apple Watch. At the touch of a button, these wireless wearable "bracelets" provide high-tech exercise and health measurements.
I had no idea there were so many tracker brands, and I felt as overwhelmed as when I walked along the cereal aisle.
With so many fitness trackers to choose from, how do you know which one is best for you? Below, I'll offer my expertise and studies to assist you decide by removing the uncertainty and overwhelm.
It was also interesting to learn that Abraham-Louis Perrelet, a horologist and inventor, invented step counting in the early 1700s. Tomas Jefferson is thought to have invented the first mechanical pedometer.
Dr Yoshiro Hatano, a Japanese professor at Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, invented fitness trackers (or wearable health devices) in 1965. His research provided a means to reduce obesity and resulted in the development of the Mankoe-Kei pedometer, which translates to “10,000 step metre.”
Fitness trackers and, more lately, smartwatches have advanced significantly. With so many different styles, features, and price ranges to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the ideal option. Which of the several options available is the best? And how do you make your decision?
Let's take a quick look at some of the most well-known brands, as well as the similarities and distinctions between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. Let's also consider the benefits and drawbacks of wearable trackers to determine if they help or hinder motivation.
Fitness Trackers vs. Smartwatches
There is some overlap between the two, but if you want to keep things simple and focus purely on your fitness and daily activities, the fitness tracker is the way to go. Both also provide an app experience for reviewing various health statistics.
The smartwatch, on the other hand, takes it a step further by transmitting notifications and updates from your phone to your wrist. If you want a more in-depth technical study, I'll point you to the brand's website.
Keep in mind that each brand may have several goods, each delivering something slightly different depending on when it was introduced to the market. Here are some of the top fitness trackers and smartwatches available.
The best thing about these wearables is that they all measure your health and fitness, from the most basic to the most sophisticated. Let's examine a few statistics to see how each compares to their rival.
1. Fitbit
Prices range from $80 to $200.
Battery life: up to 6 days between charges
Fitbit, which was founded in 2007, provides nine various models and 21 items, ranging from a simple clip-on pedometer to fitness wristbands to the most cutting-edge high-tech smartwatch. Each watch can satisfy the needs of basic use to high-tech statistical analysis and is simple to set up, sync to the app, and use right away.
2. Apple Watch
Prices range from $199 to $429.
Battery life is limited between charges; charge every two days.
The Apple Watch is a multipurpose fitness tracker and phone that you wear around your wrist. Apple Watch, which debuted in 2015, comes in two variants with a slew of tech specs that update yearly.
The prices are exorbitant. It takes some time to get used to all of the bells and whistles, but this watch offers many unique features that other manufacturers don't have. If you're a multi-tasker searching for a watch that can practically prepare your dinner, this is the one.
3. Samsung Galaxy
The prices range from $60 to $350.
Battery life between charges varies between 2.5 and 4 days.
Samsung debuted its first fitness bracelet, a simple activity tracker, in 2014, followed by the smartwatch. This brand provides all of the above specifications with two versions to choose from (each with yearly revisions).
One feature distinguishes it from the competition: it is the first smartwatch to measure body composition, specifically weight, skeletal muscle, body fat mass, BMI (Body Mass Index), water, and BMR (Baseline Metabolic Rate).
4. Polar
Prices range from $90 to $500.
Up to 4 days of battery life between charges
Polar is a sports science and technology on your wrist, not just a fitness tracker. Polar provides heart rate monitors, fitness trackers, and GPS sports tracking devices.
This watch is ideal for athletes who want to improve their athletic performance as well as exercise aficionados who want to improve their general health. They are the market leaders in heart rate monitoring and have developed patented Smart Coaching technology. This technology converts your training data into personalised, practical training recommendations.
5. Timex
Prices range from $45 to $180.
Battery life is extended to 12 to 14 days.
Timex, the forefather of smartwatches, debuted in 1994 with a timepiece designed for NASA space flight. Timex has it all, from calorie counting, stopwatches, step counters, and distance travelled to Ironman wristwatch capabilities with GPS tracking.
This one is for you if you are a runner, biker, or swimmer who is only interested in the fundamentals. These watches were built to last with a tough construction (Aluminium Alloy Case and Gorilla GlassTM).
It is also one of the most fashionable fitness watches on the market, with the most affordable smartwatch on the market, costing only $180 when compared to other renowned brands. This watch should cover all of your health measures and have a long battery life between charges.
6. Garmin
Prices range from $149 to $1,149.
Battery life between charges varies between 5 and 50 days. (Yes, you read that right.)
Garmin Smartwatch, created in 2014, is the market leader in GPS wearable monitoring devices as well as high-performing sporting data tracking watches. The Garmin Enduro (designed for endurance athletes and ultra-marathon runners) has a battery life of 50 days, making it one of the best brands.
Garmin is also a good alternative if you aren't the athletic kind and want to keep off the grid while tracking your activity. However, be sure to know what you want before spending, as Garmin's price point can be rather high due to the premium materials used in its design.
There are two items on the market that are worth noting because they focus on how your body functions so that you are well-rested and ready for your next workout. We concentrated on multifunction health and fitness gadgets with fitness and wellness applications. But what about healing? Meet Whoop and Oura Ring.
7. WHOOP Fitness and Health Membership
The monthly subscription is $30 (extra premium upgrades are available).
4 to 5 days of battery life between charges
WHOOP, which was founded in 2011, is a fitness and recovery monitoring app. It continuously tracks your sleep, recovery, and everyday effort and provides detailed recommendations on how to improve your performance.
This tracker is a clear winner if understanding when to push harder or rest is critical to boosting your performance. When you become a member, you will receive the most recent WHOOP wearable for free—every time a new generation is introduced.
8. The Oura Ring
Price: $200
Between-charge battery life: 4 to 7 days
The Oura Ring, which was formed in 2013, focuses on sleep quality and recovery rather than exercise or everyday activities. Tracking your mobility, heart rate, and temperature to determine how well you are sleeping and healing your body is one of the features.
Final Thoughts
The goal of health and wellness trackers is to raise awareness about the importance of raising one's daily activity level while also providing a useful tool for tracking crucial health and non-health-related statistics. Make a list of the main characteristics that you will consistently keep track of and are interested in, and this may help you decide which best fitness tracker to use.
It is absolutely up to you whatever one you choose, and you may spend months investigating every detail. The most essential thing is to not get bogged down in the intricacies and to keep progressing.
