How to choose the right fitness tracker for you

As more and more people are gravitating into the fitness space, the interest in tracking fitness data is fast becoming a priority.

Gone are the days when sports watches were spotted only on the wrists of professional or semiprofessional athletes.

There is an abundance of information that smart watches now provide, besides the simple time and date. They track information as basic as the number of steps per day to as complex as splits per kilometre during a run, for example.

Information that can be extracted from these devices varies but can include:

• Time and date.
• Type of exercise.
• Duration of exercise.
• Distance.
• Speed (average and current).
• Heart rate (average and current).
• Calories burnt.
• Number of steps.
• Sleep duration.

Picture: iStock

These watches can also track a variety of different exercises:

• Swimming.
• Cycling (outdoor and stationary).
• Running.
• Hiking.
• Weight training.

The market now offers more than 20 different brands. The main players in the game of fitness trackers used to be Polar, Garmin, Suunto, Fitbit and Tom Tom.

Now the latest trend is cellphone brands that have officially added fitness-smart watches to their stable of gadgets. The likes of Apple, Samsung and Huawei now have their own fitness trackers that are competing in this space.

With so many different options on the market, how does one choose a device that is suitable? My advice is to avoid being swayed by “specials” or the latest gadget. First, think about your fitness journey, what it entails and what data you want to have access to.

For example, if you are a casual walker, perhaps a watch that tracks steps and distance is all you need. If you are a triathlete who swims, cycles and runs, a multisport fitness watch is what you need.

Picture: iStock

Most of the current brands have a number of different models that target different needs. The Fitbit brand offers the biggest variety by far with its range of 17 different models – Fitbit Versa, Ionic, Charge 3, Alta HR, Alta, Ace for Kids, Flex, Flex 2, Zip, Inspire HR, Inspire, Charge 2, Balze, Surge, Charge HR, Charge and One.

Digital Trends has released the best fitness trackers for 2019 based on different variables. The best fitness tracker overall is the Fitbit Charge 3. The best for android users is the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro.

The best for iPhone owners is the Apple Watch Series 4. The best hybrid watch is the Withings Steel HR Sport. The best for runners and outdoors is the Garmin Vivosport and the best budget fitness watch is the Fitbit Flex 2.

The great thing about using fitness smart watches is that they can be used as a monitoring tool for your fitness goals. Most create graphs and tables where you can track your improvement over time.

At the end of the day, it depends on your goals and how much of an investment you are able to make to acquire the most suitable fitness device for you.

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