It seems like every company makes a fitness tracker these days. Even Amazon has created one, and that adds to the seemingly endless stream of no-name brands offered on its website. However, aside from a few big names like Fitbit and Garmin, most consumers are unaware of all that is out there.

Smaller names like Oura and Whoop have earned some buzz by ditching screens entirely and focusing on very specific metrics, while the line between smartwatches and most other fitness trackers has become increasingly narrow. blurred.

I’ve worn just about every fitness tracker available, and I’ve sweated at least my own weight trying them out. Below is the list of trackers worth considering, whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or you’re well on your way.

A Note About Testing

No fitness tracker is best for all users. We all value different things, so these picks are ordered by their different strengths. The best fitness trackers for most people are usually relatively inexpensive, around the $200 mark. They last about a week between charges, have built-in GPS, support blood oxygen monitoring, offer music storage and provide free (not paid) actionable health data.

The short(er) version

• Both best fitness tracker for the widest range of people are the Apple Watch SE other Garmin Venu Square. The newest one Venus Square 2 doubles the battery life of the original, but costs twice as much as its predecessor. Simply put, at the ~$200 mark, the Apple Watch SE and Venu Sq provide the best bang for your buck. Both have built-in GPS, accident protection, music storage, the necessary heart rate sensor, and free access, practical health knowledge. The Venu Sq has a blood oxygen sensor, which the SE lacks, as well as six days of battery life, compared to a single day on the Apple Watch. A big reason the Apple Watch is on this list is watchOS 9’s advanced running and swimming dynamics.wolf” scores (the Venu Sq lacks running dynamics but calculates swolf), among a handful of other activity and tracking expansions. Otherwise, the two devices are a pretty close match. Both can connect you to a library of various workouts; Garmin’s is free and mostly text (though it does include demo videos), while Apple has a $10 monthly subscription fee to access trainer-led videos and shows.
• he runner-up is Fitbit Charge 5. It offers perhaps the highest value of any tracker on this list, with sensors for ECG, blood oxygen, heart rate, built-in GPS, and an always-on display, all for less than $130. It also has its fair share of useful features, like sleep profiles to help you understand your unique sleep traits and daily preparation, which not only assesses your readiness to exercise every day, but also suggests specific workouts, yoga routines, or mindfulness routines from Fitbit’s own library of content. But that library, like many features (including daily preparation and sleep profiles), is protected by fitbit premium, which comes free for just six months. Another potential drawback is Fitbit’s history of product quality concerns. The Charge 5 only has one confirmed connectivity issue this is affecting some users, and the company’s solution seems to have reduced the incidences, although not completely. Still, for all that it offers, especially for beginners, it could be a good option for many.
• Our picks for the more elegant The trackers include the deluxe fitbit, which looks like jewelry in certain colors. It offers a lot of what the Charge 5 does but without a built-in GPS or ECG sensor. It also comes with six months of Fitbit Premium for helpful health insights and exercise suggestions, making it a solid fitness tracker for casual or beginner-level tracking. Garmin Vivomove Series It has some of the best hybrid watch technology on the market. Its hidden display illuminates as the clock hands realign to offer unobstructed tap-and-swipe menus and alerts. Bolstering its value is Garmin’s extensive suite of free metrics and health insights. The Vivomove series has a small range of devices to choose from for different needs, but they all have a more traditional and formal watch look.
• Fitbit Inspire 3 is he best tracker under $100. You won’t find built-in GPS or music storage at this price, but the Inspire 3 offers great value for the beginner/casual fitness enthusiast, particularly since it includes six months of fitbit premium. Information on sleep and exercise, along with a library of exercise and mindfulness content (more than 200 of each), are great tools for new athletes to learn and stay engaged. Even better, Fitbit’s daily workout feature recommends workouts from this library every day. That helps put this tracker well above its weight class.
• he The best watches for running, cycling and swimming they’re inside Garmin Forerunner Series. deliver advanced run other cycling metrics (certain running dynamics require a heart rate monitor with chest strap), GPS, music storage, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen readings and exceptionally useful training features. You can map and navigate runs or bike rides on your wrist, use personalized training suggestions to train for a specific race on your calendar, and keep track of you training progress other impacts (aerobic, anaerobic, recovery) with meaningful and easy-to-understand proprietary metrics. Garmin’s suite is my favorite training toolbox on the market, and the forerunner 955 other 255 build on that with a new preparation for training Refined and expanded training features and tools. he 945 LTE it even adds a cellular connection to enhance the safety features of the emergency service. Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, or swimmer, there’s a Forerunner watch that can help you train more efficiently.
• if you are a hikers, skiers, boaters or outdoor adventurers of any kind, from Garmin phoenix, epixeland quatix The watches offer the best combination of high-end, sport-specific hardware and features. These highly rugged watches have all the best features discussed in the Forerunner series and build on them with solar charging, stronger materials like titanium, and even LED flashlights on some models. multi-frequency GPS, dedicated navigation and navigation tools, 10 ATM water resistance, and on-device topographic maps of roads, trails, and ski resorts are some of the standout features you’ll find in this series of watches. Battery life ranges from two weeks to a month in normal, but advanced modes power modes and solar options can extend that even further.