like every piece Like the gear you wear on your body day-to-day, fitness trackers are incredibly personal. The best fitness tracker should be comfortable, attractive, and compatible with your lifestyle, including when and how you like to work out. Do you bike, row or do strength training? Do you run on the trails for hours at a time, or do you just want a reminder to stand up every hour? Do you want to wear it on your wrist or your finger or clip it to your bra?
No matter what your needs are, there's never been a better time to find a powerful, sophisticated device that can help you optimize your workouts or jump-start your routine. We test dozens of fitness trackers every year while you run, climb, hike, or just watch workout videos on your iPad at night to provide these options for you.
UPDATE January 2025: We added the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED, Ora Ring 4, Xiaomi Smart Band 9, Garmin Lily 2 Active, Amazfit T-Rex 3, Amazfit Active, and Polar Vantage M3.
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fitness tracker vs smartwatch
Don't see anything here that's exactly your style? Check out our guide to best smartwatchWhile the categories may overlap, fitness trackers are less feature-rich. I'm less concerned about whether a fitness tracker can replicate every feature on your smartphone than whether the suite of health features is robust and accurate; If it can track multiple activities; And if it stays on and safe while doing various fitness activities.
Some fitness trackers will have the ability to read email and control music, but the screens are often smaller and less bright. However, the battery life is often much better, which makes a difference, especially if you're tracking your sleep over time. However, if you're more interested in the option of accessing apps without taking out your phone, you may want to think about purchasing a smartwatch. (If you don't want any notifications, get one smart ring instead.)
Troubleshoot your fitness tracker
Are you frustrated with that brand new fitness equipment you just bought? Here are some ways you can easily cure your (or your device's) ailment:
Make sure it fits. Optical sensors will not work if your device is moving loosely around your wrist. You can customize most devices with new straps. Make sure it sits securely about an inch above your wrist.
wash it! I'm horrified by how many people tell me that their fitness trackers are causing rashes on their wrists. Wipe it down with a little dish soap and water after a sweat session.
Get out from behind the tree. Does your device use multiple satellite positioning systems to track your location when you start an outdoor workout? This is much harder to do if you're under power lines, trees, or even inside (gulp).
Set a routine. There's nothing more frustrating than opening your tracker app and finding out that it ran out of battery before you went to sleep last night. Keep your app updated regularly. Check if your tracker is connected to your phone, and keep charger Everywhere.