For approximately ten years, fitness trackers have evolved from a fad into a lot more than just a trend. It is pretty certain that this device is here to stay; especially when taking a look at the data from Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey. This survey reveals that 1 out of 5 American adults use wearable trackers or health apps to enhance their fitness routine.
If you have considered getting one in the past or are just now thinking about it and want to learn more about the different models and what they exactly track and monitor, this guide created by the research team at ConsumersAdvocate.org has a ton of information that can help you find “the one”, the fitness tracker that suits your needs and lifestyle without making a whole in your pocket.
Below you will find just some of their top picks:
Xiaomi Mi Band – Best for Affordability
Generally, if something sounds too good to be true, there’s usually a catch. But in this case, we promise this fitness tracker is worth it for being just $40. On top of that, the Mi Band doesn’t only cost less, but it also offers just as many apps and features which include smartphone notifications, sleep quality and heart rate monitoring, inactivity alerts, reminders, and even music streaming (amazing!).
The Mi Band is slim-fit, easy to adjust, and is made up of durable materials like aluminum alloy and thermoplastic elastomer. Contrary to other fitness trackers, it has a locator option within the mobile app which makes the band light up if you ever lose it (a feature we all need!).
The exact cost of the Mi Band isn’t on its website, but consumers can still locate and purchase it from differente online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay.
Fitbit – Best for Motivation
Fitbit really took the tracking aspect of this device seriously. They are designed to track almost every part of your day and show you how even the smallest change in your daily routine can create big changes to your overall health and fitness goals. So technically, parking further away, taking stairs vs elevator, etc. can be a big game changer. This is very helpful and meant to attract those who aren’t usually super into fitness. It will keep motivation levels up by measuring how those little victories count and ultimately impact your goal substantially. It’s like having your own personal trainer right there on your wrist to motivate you, in a way.
The Fitbit Ionic also has on-screen workouts and memorizes over fifteen exercise modes to keep things upbeat and challenging (in a good way, of course!). On the other hand, those who are planning to integrate their fitness trackers into their day-to-day lifestyle will probably benefit from the Fitbit Versa 2 – it includes Fitbit Pay for on-the-go payments, voice commands, Amazon Alexa, and more useful features that make certain things easier on the daily.
Polar – Best for Athletes/Training
The Polar A370 is no joke, it is specifically designed for those with the most demanding fitness workout out there. For $150, this tracker can last up to four days on a single charge. It also has GPS tracking, phone notifications, sleep tracking, and 24/7 heart rate monitoring (insane, we know!). You also get access to the stats and graphs that chart your progress with clinical-like accuracy. If you really wanna go the extra mile, you can get the hybrid smartwatch version, which includes even more applications and tracking options for $100 more. However, please keep in mind that this brand is designed specifically for more serious fitness and committed athletes, so the tracking log can be a bit overwhelming if you are a beginner.
There’s no excuse to be a couch potato
You’re probably right, during social distancing it’s way easier to hit play for next episode of the series you are currently watching on Netflix than to actually stay committed to fitness, but it’s this type of technology that can keep you motivated so you can stay on top of your physical and mental health during such stressful times. We can assure you that there are plenty of ways to get moving at home or outside (responsably) and there’s even a higher chance that you’ll find a fitness tracker that suits your specific needs and lifestyle, it’s the best time to try new things and methods, and also find new ways to keep yourself motivated for a happier and healthier you.
Check out ConsumerAdvocate best fitness tracker guide if you want to read the whole of the rest of the reviewed models.