HOW TO CHOOSE A FITNESS TRACKER

Introduction:

A fitness tracker is a must-have for anyone looking to get in shape or stay healthy. Not only do they track your heart rate and steps taken, many fitness trackers also monitor sleep and calories burned. With so many different fitness trackers on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to choose a fitness tracker.

FIND YOUR “WHY” AND GO FROM THERE

It can be difficult to stay motivated when it comes to fitness. That’s where fitness trackers come in. They provide feedback and data that show your progress and help keep you accountable. But with so many fitness trackers on the market, how do you choose the right one for you? The first step is to find your “why”. Why do you want a fitness tracker in the first place? To lose weight? To train for a marathon? To improve your sleeping habits? Once you know your why, it’s easier to figure out what specs and features you should prioritize. For example, if your big why is to train for a marathon, you’ll want a fitness tracker with built-in GPS. But if your ultimate goal is to improve your sleep, you may not need a tracker with GPS at all. You’ll want a tracker with long battery life, perhaps a SpO2 sensor to monitor your blood oxygen levels.

UNDERSTANDING SENSORS AND FITNESS JARGON

When it comes to choosing a fitness tracker, the most important thing to understand is the sensors. All fitness trackers have a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect motion. This is what enables them to track your steps, track your movement, and measure distance traveled. However, beyond that, the features and capabilities of fitness trackers can vary wildly. So what should you look for when comparing trackers?

Nearly all modern fitness trackers include health tracking features like heart rate monitoring. This is done with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. PPG sensors use green LEDs to shine light through your skin and measure how much light is absorbed. The amount of light absorbed varies depending on how much blood is flowing through your veins at any given time. By measuring how much light is absorbed at different points on your wrist, PPG sensors can calculate your heart rate.

OVERALL HEALTH VERSUS HARDCORE TRAINING

When it comes to choosing a fitness tracker, there's a wide range to choose from that cater to all sorts of activity levels and goals. If you're someone who is very active and outdoorsy, companies like Garmin and Polar are well known and have a wide range of products that will suit your needs. If you're more interested in overall health and wellness, Fitbit offers a range of devices that are better suited for those priorities. They have entry-level devices for people who are just starting out, as well as more health-oriented trackers that come with features like breathing reminders, guided meditation, hydration and food logging, and period tracking. So no matter what your fitness goals or level may be, there is a tracker out there for you!

DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT A SMARTWATCH INSTEAD?

So you're thinking of buying a fitness tracker? That's great! But do you actually want a smartwatch instead? The thing about fitness trackers is they're often lacking on the connectivity front. You're likely not going to find them including LTE, robust third-party apps, or contactless payments. If you're looking to leave your phone at home, you might be better off with a smartwatch that has decent health features. The Apple Watch Series 7 is a great example of this. It has a ton of health tracking and wellness features but also cellular models so you don't need to carry your phone while you exercise. You can stream music directly to your wrist.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT COMFORT

When it comes to choosing a fitness tracker, comfort is key. Make sure to browse your options and check the size and thickness of the watch, as well as the materials it’s made from. If the tracker isn’t comfortable, you won’t wear it, and that defeats the purpose! Comfort is especially important if sleep tracking is a priority for you. You don’t want to buy a big, hulking tracker, only to wake up in the middle of the night determined to take it off. Many people often have trouble sleeping with wrist-based trackers, so you might also want to look into non-wrist-based sleep gadgets like the Oura Ring.

Conclusion:

There are a lot of fitness trackers on the market these days, and it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. But don't worry, we're here to help!

First, you need to ask yourself why you want a fitness tracker. Do you want to track your overall health, or are you more interested in hardcore training? If you want something that can also double as a smartwatch, then you should definitely consider a model that has those capabilities.

But most importantly, make sure that the fitness tracker is comfortable to wear. You'll be wearing it all day (and sometimes all night), so it's important that it feels good on your skin.