When searching for the right wearable device, it's important to know whether you want a fitness tracker watch or a smartwatch. A smartwatch and a fitness tracker watch have two completely different functions. While a smartwatch is designed for maximum integration with your phone, a fitness tracker watch is made specifically for gathering reliable health data and its durable hardware. One is built for communication and the latter is made for expanding the benefits of exercise.
Choosing between the two may be difficult because their functions tend to blend and overlap. The similarities between the two devices also cause their pricing to remain relatively the same. Fitness tracker watches are, from the outset and design, built for the sole goal of monitoring and optimizing your health. Picking the right one for you can be tough, so we compiled a list of the best fitness tracker watches to buy in 2019.
This list of the top ten fitness trackers to buy online was chosen with your physical fitness goals and overall lifestyle as the focus.
010-02158-00
$598.00
Analytics | Heart, stress, steps, sleep, calories, distance, & heat- and altitude-adjusted Vo2 max |
---|---|
Battery | 10 hours ~ 48 days |
GPS | Built-in |
Resistances | Snow, water, dirt, mud |
90060768
$514.43
Analytics | Heart, sleep, steps, calories, distance |
---|---|
Battery | 13 hours ~ 30 days |
GPS | Built-in |
Resistances | Water & scratches |
$439.99
Analytics | Heart, steps, distance, calories, female health |
---|---|
Battery | 18 ~ 36 hours |
GPS | Built-in |
Resistances | Water, mud, dirt |
SM-R365NZRAXAR
$149.99
Analytics | Heart, Steps, Distance, & Calories |
---|---|
Battery | 9 hours ~ 4 days |
GPS | Built-in |
Resistances | Water |
FB409RGGY
$99.95
Analytics | Heart, calories, sleep, stress & steps |
---|---|
Battery | 7 days |
GPS | Connected |
Resistances | Water & scratches |
010-01995-11
$99.99
Analytics | Heart, Stress, Sleep, Vo2 Max, |
---|---|
Battery | 7 days |
GPS | None |
Resistances | Water |
ID115Plus HR
$27.95
Analytics | Heart, sleep, calories, distance, steps |
---|---|
Battery | 7 days |
GPS | Connected |
Resistances | Waterproof* |
B07XM5PKDV
$35.99
Analytics | Heart, sleep, distance, calories, steps |
---|---|
Battery | 7 ~ 10 days |
GPS | Connected |
Resistances | Waterproof* |
A1608
$67.99
Analytics | Heart, sleep, distance, & calories |
---|---|
Battery | 30 ~ 45 days |
GPS | Built-in |
Resistances | Water |
FB414BKPK
$59.95
Analytics | Steps & sleep |
---|---|
Battery | 5 days |
GPS | None |
Resistances | Water |
Image | 1 ![]() Garmin | 2 ![]() Polar | 3 ![]() Apple | 4 ![]() Samsung | 5 ![]() Fitbit | 6 ![]() Garmin | 7 ![]() LETSCOM | 8 ![]() XIAOCHEN US | 9 ![]() Huami | 10 ![]() Fitbit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Garmin Fenix 6 | Polar V800 | Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS) | Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro | Fitbit Charge 3 | Garmin Vívosmart 4 | LETSCOM Fitness Tracker | Lintelek Smart Watch | Amazfit BIP | Fitbit Ace 2 |
Features | The Best Overall for Multi-sport Functionality | The Perfect Fitness Tracker Watch for an Amateur Athlete | Truly the Best Fitness Tracker Watch for iOS Users | The Best Fitness Tracker Watch for Swimmers | The Casual User's Fitness Tracker Watch | The Best Fitness Tracker Watch for a Comfortable Fit | The Best Choice for Those on a Budget | The Best Choice for Its Simplicity | The Best Battery Life Available | The Best Fitness Tracker Watch Designed Specifically for Kids |
Price | $598.00 | $514.43 | $439.99 | $149.99 | $99.95 | $99.99 | $27.95 | $35.99 | $67.99 | $59.95 |
Analytics | Heart, stress, steps, sleep, calories, distance, & heat- and altitude-adjusted Vo2 max | Heart, sleep, steps, calories, distance | Heart, steps, distance, calories, female health | Heart, Steps, Distance, & Calories | Heart, calories, sleep, stress & steps | Heart, Stress, Sleep, Vo2 Max, | Heart, sleep, calories, distance, steps | Heart, sleep, distance, calories, steps | Heart, sleep, distance, & calories | Steps & sleep |
Battery | 10 hours ~ 48 days | 13 hours ~ 30 days | 18 ~ 36 hours | 9 hours ~ 4 days | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days | 7 ~ 10 days | 30 ~ 45 days | 5 days |
GPS | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Connected | None | Connected | Connected | Built-in | None |
Resistances | Snow, water, dirt, mud | Water & scratches | Water, mud, dirt | Water | Water & scratches | Water | Waterproof* | Waterproof* | Water | Water |
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There are a variety of factors you need to consider before buying your fitness tracker watch. Aside from how the device looks and feels on your wrist, its core purpose is key part of your purchasing decision. This purpose can usually be discovered when looking at the five factors below.
You should choose your fitness tracker watch by considering your fitness goals first. Ease of use is something to consider when buying a device based on your lifestyle.
If you're a frequent gym-goer, devices with timers that are easy to set will help you get more from your routine. Some devices are even able to automatically detect the type of exercises you’re doing.
Other devices don't have many bells and whistles. Instead, these fitness tracker watches come with a simple list of features because they designed for casual users in mind. These devices are for the office worker who just wants to get notified when they should stand up and stretch, as an example.
Having clearly defined goals of what you want to accomplish with your exercises first (weight loss, bodybuilding, gaining a competitive edge, etc.) is suggested before purchasing any product on this list. If you define your goals first, you will know which features on a device are necessary for your success.
Fitness trackers should mainly be chosen on the specific lifestyle goals you have and the analytics you care about tracking play a big role in your decision making process. You don’t need something high end if you aren’t an athlete and you just want to stay fit after working in the office.
Data is collected by the amount and type of sensors in the device. Accelerometers, magnetometers, and heart rate sensors are some of the sensors that fitness tracker watches have now.
These sensors help you get more accurate data when you're swimming, running, sleeping, and at rest. With that said, there are different categories of data that someone may want to track on a daily basis, including but not limited to:
Most fitness tracker watches use an optical heart rate monitor that tracks pulse through changes in light. Although they are not as accurate as chest straps, wrist-based heart rate monitors are more convenient for all exercises.
Having a fitness tracker watch that reports reliable heart rate data is vitally important for knowing when you are overtraining or undertraining. Measuring your heart rate helps you determine whether or not your exercises are effective.
The battery life when choosing your fitness tracker watch can be a dealbreaker if it's too low. If you don’t mind having to charge your device’s battery every 18 to 24 hours, then this isn’t a concern.
However, athletes who go on long hikes or who camp, people who tend to forget to charge their devices, and those who don’t want to worry about charging their fitness trackers would prefer something that has the ability to run for days on end.
There are two types of GPS options in a fitness tracker, connected GPS and built-in GPS. If your fitness tracker has connected GPS, you have to carry your phone around with you or have it near you while you are exercising. For athletes who don’t want to carry their phone around, finding a fitness tracker watch with built-in GPS functionality is a necessity.
Having a built-in GPS allows you to go on hikes and outdoor runs and track your distance overtime; with connected GPS this isn't possible. If you workout at the gym and do most of running on treadmill, then having connected GPS is a more suitable option for you.
Having a device that is resistant to certain environments will bring peace of mind when you’re going about your exercise routine. Water resistance up to 50 meters in depth is the most common one to look for and should be expected if you are going to swim or simply shower while wearing your fitness tracker watch.
Certain fitness tracker watches are built with gorilla glass displays to prevent scratching. There are other resistances to look for if you are doing more extreme sports. Resistances to snow, sand, dirt, and mud are needed if you are going to do obstacle course racing or go skiing down a mountain.
Your fitness goals don't (and shouldn't) end at just owning a fitness tracker. Here are some other products you can use to achieve maximum health.
There are so many options to pick from, which is an amazing thing. With the array of options available online, finding a fitness tracker watch that fits your budget and lifestyle has never been easier.
When making the right choice for you, it all comes down to:
Fitness tracker watches have revolutionized how we approach exercising. The right device is waiting for you and we hope that this list helped you find it!
Author: Kenny Soto
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