Whether you're reading this because you genuinely love working out or because your air fryer isn't making you feel as healthy as you predicted it would, one thing's for sure: A fitness tracker is a necessity for anyone hoping to get fit this year. But choosing a model for your specific fitness needs just isn't easy. That's where we come in to do the grunt work of researching and pass on our wisdom.
To get you started, here are 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 park run. 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. Most go past casual activity tracking to track your sleep quality, heart rate, body temperature, and even tell you if you've been exercising too hard — all of which can aid in optimal performance and overall health.
The positive impact that these high-tech bracelets and other wearable fitness gadgetry can have on your lifestyle as a whole is pretty incredible.
At this point in the game, most relatively nice fitness trackers will have a screen and can at least get calls, text notifications, and music streaming by syncing to your phone. Even the budget-friendly models will probably have some sort of health-conscious features past activity tracking, like a heart rate sensor.
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 — so no, you don't need to bring your phone along. It has GPS built-in (sometimes using cellular data, which usually just acts as an extra line on your smartphone bill) and can download apps from Spotify to Tinder. With something like an Apple Watch, you can send voice messages or take calls, or have a full conversation via iMessage.
Let's put it this way: You wouldn't be that screwed if you were stranded in the middle of nowhere with your Apple Watch, even if your phone was long gone. 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 all 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 for you?
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(opens in a new tab), Samsung(opens in a new tab), Fitbit(opens in a new tab), and Garmin(opens in a new tab).
These are the best fitness trackers in 2023.
