Sports watches, also known as fitness trackers, have become immensely popular over the last decade or so. The guidance around being healthy has changed considerably as we've learned more about how the science works, and the technology assisting people to be the best they can be physically has improved.
We want to know what you think the best sports watch is and why, from Fitbits and Garmin to Apple and Samsung. Treat it like a mini-review of at least 100 words. Seven of the best entries can net $3 each!
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My pick is my trusty Fitbit Charge 4, which is still going strong after years of punishment, so until it chucks it I will stick with it before upgrading to the latest model which i think is the Fitbit Charge 6...
This is why i think the Fitbit Charge is a great fitness tracker, especially for me who is a content creator and a gamer so I dont sit around too much and keep on top of my health and fitness goals -
Accuracy and Tracking: It provides accurate tracking of various fitness metrics such as steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, floors climbed, and active minutes. This data helps users monitor their daily activity levels effectively. Also the battery lasts about a week which is ideal as i could not be bothered charging a tracker every night, especially as i enjoy the health monitoring features it gives you during your sleep!
Heart Rate Monitoring - The Fitbit Charge include continuous heart rate monitoring. This feature is crucial for tracking heart rate zones during exercise and throughout the day, providing valuable insights into cardiovascular health and fitness intensity which I love checking during a workout. It also has a simple way to measure your zones with Zone minutes being rewarded for specific times in each heart rate zone so you can easily track and hit your targets each week.
Sleep Tracking: It offers comprehensive sleep tracking, including insights into sleep stages (light, deep, REM) and sleep quality. This helps users understand their sleep patterns and make adjustments for better rest. It also tracks other health metrics when your sleeping like breathing rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, oxygen saturation and resting heart rate which is fantastic, as if you start coming down with a bug these will start to go out of your normal range.
User-Friendly Design: The Fitbit Charge is designed to be user-friendly with a clear display that shows real-time stats and notifications which you can cusomise, though i recommend you turn off getting notifications from your phone to your wrist as its just an annoyance. Now back in the day I adored the Nike Plus Fuel bands as they were so simple and small like a braclet and this is why I like the Fitbit Charge so much too as its just a simple small tracker and not a huge device so its compfortable enough to wear al lthe time including sleeping, just dont wear it too tight in bed or you may wake up with a dead arm lol!
Compatibility and Integration: It syncs seamlessly with the Fitbit app, which is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The app provides detailed analyses of fitness data, allows goal setting, and offers community support through challenges and social features. There is also a paid premium tier which I tried for free during the pandemic as they were handing out free trials to users which was cool, where it will give you even more insight in the form of a report you can download and send to your doctor if you wish. The premium tier also includes workouts and meditations for you to try. The free tier only has a small amount of the additional content available but as I use it more for tracking than actual workout planning or ideas it doesn't bother me.
Motivational Features: Fitbit Charge motivates users through reminders to move, goal celebrations, and badges for achieving milestones. These features encourage consistent physical activity and overall wellness. This is really important for me as a gamer and content creator so I am not sitting stagnant all day and get up and get moving to keep me healthy.
Water Resistance: Most models are water-resistant, making them suitable for swimming and other water-based activities. I never take mine off, so if im in the bath, shower or swimming its there tracking away!
Reliability and Brand Reputation: Fitbit has established itself as a leader in fitness tracking technology, known for reliable products backed by solid customer support and frequent software updates versus much cheaper alternatives you can get from Amazon etc, you will notice the difference if you switch down to a far cheaper tracker which feels cheaper and may not be as accurate. That being said it is not as expensive as say an apple watch as this will set you back around £140 or on sale for around £120!
Overall, the Fitbit Charge stands out as a great fitness tracker for someone like me who is sitting a lot creating content or playing videogames due to its combination of accurate tracking, comprehensive health metrics, user-friendly design, and motivational features, making it my recommend choice for people aiming to improve their fitness and health.
The Garmin Forerunner® 35 may not be the best fitness tracker out there - it doesn't track lactate threshold, offer a plethora of apps, or feature a colored touchscreen. However, it excels at what it was designed for: reliably tracking activity. It records my jogging sessions and biking, although for cycling I prefer using my Garmin Edge 530 for crucial on-the-go data visualization where even most advanced watches are useless.
Do not mind the cracks, it's on a protection layer, which I change once a year.
Released in 2016 with an MSRP of $169.99, these watches are designed as entry-level runners' watches. They feature GPS tracking, allowing them to function as standalone devices without a smartphone, which is a core feature I love. The black-and-white screen is always-on and highly visible in any lighting condition, whether under bright sunlight or in the dark with the backlight. While the resolution isn't great, the text is always clear.
Thanks to its simplicity, the battery life is impressive - I hardly remember the last time I had to charge them, maybe once a month depending on GPS use.
One feature I appreciate is phone notifications and some app control. They work instantly, showing who's calling or which message I just received. I can even decline calls or respond, albeit with limited options.
The reason I continue using them is that they fulfill all the tasks I rely on them for. I don't need any extras; for more intensive tasks, using my phone or PC is more convenient. It's important to maintain balance and not become too addicted to gadgets. The only feature I miss is NFC payments, but I usually jog in the woods where shops aren't available anyway.
I chose the light blue bracelet for its eye-catching design. Now, eight years after its release, the watch has an almost retro look, adding to its unique vibe.
For the great outdoors? Grab a Garmin! The Instinct 2 is a tough watch with all the usual features you would expect from a smart watch, but personally I find as Garmin are aimed at those who hike, mountain bike etc so the GPS is usually very sharp I have found some more mainstream brands would lose accurate location tracking when hiking through the Peak District.
It's nice looking but also stands out with its interesting design and is great if you love Watersports etc as is resistant to up to 100m.
This one is a 'not so common' watch, that I picked up on special alongside my Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. My pick definitely has to be the
Suunto 9 Peak Sports Watch
The Suunto 9 Peak Sports watch is Suunto's flagship range of watches, with all the bells and whistles of every single other watch, whilst also retaining its down to earth focus on health.
With its waterproof design, titanium bezels, and gorgeously thin design, its simply not just a pretty face.* This watch is simply designed for peak experiences. But it's not just its hardware that makes it a brilliant watch, it's its software compatibility and direct linking with the Suunto training app.
I'm a bit of a xiaomi fan boy as i have mentioned on my phone posts, mainly because of their functionality and affordability. and the fact they care about you enough to spy on you.
here are some brief reasons why you should consider their products.
build: Xiaomi Mi Watch has a reinforced chassis and ribbed strap which matches other competitors options.
Fitness Tracking: Over 100 fitness tracking modes, built-in GPS, swim-proof design, and lightweight construction
Affordability: Xiaomi watches are priced competitively, often at half the price of competitors like the Apple Watch SE or Samsung Galaxy Watch
Battery Life: Xiaomi Mi Watch offers good battery life and feature-rich experience for its price
So i would say if it does the job the same, if it looks good and is around half the price, WHY GO ELSEWHERE!
Oh, I once had a Mi Band 1. What a wonderful device it was! Just three LED lights and a vibration motor, small, elegant, and it never missed a call! Sadly, since version 2, they added a screen, and with each subsequent iteration, the screens have gotten larger and larger, probably aiming to reach the size of the bulky Apple Watch.
For me, not to copy the bounty below, is my Titanium Apple Watch.
I can track my outdoor walking, I am now going to the gym and because of its sensors, it can track my movements, my heart rate and how many calories I am burning. It also has a built-in step sensor (obviously) and it tracks my overall walking/movement distance every day. Once I am at the gym, it starts a workout session once I start moving on say, the treadmill. One of the funny things it does is what it calls a "stand goal". Which I have often met whilst sitting down... it also have a visual aid on your watch of what it calls "fitness rings" which you can check on during the day (see image below) and touch each ring and get your exact statistics.
Of course my pick (if you saw my tech loyalty answer) is the Apple Watch!!
I just love how easy is it to use. It literally feels like your using your phone, everything is connected, you can see what your battery is on you watch from your phone. It keeps track of things like your hand washing, step counter and all the generic things sports watches do.
My fave feature is when I have my AirPods in and I’m listening to music, I can control the volume level by turning the dial on my watch if my phone isn’t near by. Another feature is when I have my watch on and I go on my phone it Auto Unlock’s as it detects my Apple Watch near. The remote camera is a game changer for taking imagery. And my watch is set to detect when it thinks I’m doing a workout and will log all the data for me.
Also this was a gift for my birthday and I have Apple loyalty!
This is my wishlist Wearable for me, besides my bias for Huawei (Yes, i do love Huawei Products) its a good wearable not just for sports but also lifestyle too! it also have a great battery and specs tho! I think im gonna buy this later this year!
also its quite affordable too $169 on Retail Price
I would love to say galaxy smart watches but i used mine for all of 3 weeks and then thought my phone does all of that plus my wrist sweated to much with that lol
Ill go for the faithful fitbit! Its small and compact , has everything you need to track steps, heart rate ect. Thats all you need why over do it with apps that yourr not really going ro use. Plus i also found it had a longer battery life.
