Top 10 Best Fitness Trackers for Monitoring Physical Activity

Using modern gadgets simplifies the monitoring of health and body condition during active sports. Many active individuals use various smartphone applications, but fitness bracelets stand out as a separate category. In this article, you will learn why this device is needed, what functions it performs, and whether it is necessary to use a tracker while exercising.

Why Do You Need a Fitness Bracelet?

Many mistakenly believe that this gadget is only for professional athletes. In reality, the device is equally useful for people with sedentary lifestyles who want to lose weight, tone their body, and monitor their health.

Can you do without a fitness bracelet? Yes, a non-professional athlete doesn’t necessarily need one, but its usefulness is hard to overestimate. It is especially helpful for those who monitor their diet, health, and weight. It helps track calories consumed and burned, as well as daily activity. With a tracker, a person can monitor every step and any changes in their health.

When starting a fitness journey, tracking your heart rate is very important. This is particularly relevant for those who begin running. The older a person gets, the more important it is to monitor heart rate fluctuations.

Key Features and Functions of Fitness Trackers

A fitness tracker can:

• Count steps. An accelerometer tracks daily physical activity. Long periods of inactivity cause the device to vibrate and prompt movement.

• Monitor sleep quality. If worn overnight, the bracelet displays the duration of light and deep sleep. It also provides recommendations. A smart alarm wakes you during the light sleep phase, making waking up easier.

• Measure heart rate. A heart rate monitor tracks your pulse. This is crucial during workouts. If limits are exceeded, the device vibrates.

• Show calories burned. This is calculated during physical activity. Advanced models include a food diary and barcode scanner, allowing comparison between consumed and burned calories. This helps adjust your diet or activity level to create a calorie deficit.

• Create workout plans. Trackers feature training calendars, motivating users to stay active. Smart bracelets let you plan, execute, and track workouts.

• Share progress and view friends’ results, which fosters healthy competition and motivation.

Advanced models can function as music players, ECG monitors, stress and oxygen level detectors, respiration trackers, sweat and body temperature sensors, and GPS devices. Some even include medication reminders.

Top 10 Fitness Trackers

High-quality fitness bracelets tend to be expensive but offer reliable performance and accurate tracking. Budget options may come with issues such as:

• Inaccurate readings for heart rate, blood pressure, or steps. For example, a person at rest may be shown to have an elevated heart rate.

• Poorly functioning smart alarms. Inexpensive models may activate during slight movements, rather than optimal sleep phases.

To avoid such issues, choose trusted brands known for quality. When selecting a tracker, consider design, build quality, compatibility with your smartphone, feature set, and battery life. If you’re buying your first device, this list will help.

Xiaomi Mi Band 6

An ideal budget model with all standard functions. It features a stylish design and interchangeable straps. It measures heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress, and also shows call notifications and weather forecasts. It lasts up to three weeks with light use. However, it lacks GPS and a smart alarm.

Honor Band 6

Looks more like a smartwatch, making it appealing to those who dislike the traditional bracelet look. It is waterproof, tracks sleep, and has many sensors for tracking workouts, steps, and heart rate. However, it lacks NFC and GPS.

GSMIN G20

This chest-worn tracker offers accurate ECG readings. It includes all core functions listed above and also has special modes for gym machines, cycling, and running. It does not have NFC or water protection.

OPPO Band

OPPO’s first fitness band includes 12 sports modes and measures blood oxygen and heart rate. It shows the weather, has a built-in alarm, stopwatch, and alerts for calls and messages. However, NFC only works in China.

Fitbit Charge 4

A high-quality American-made tracker ideal for 24/7 use and sleep tracking. Controlled via a touch screen. Downsides include limited battery life (up to 7 days) and a monochrome display.

Samsung Galaxy Fit2

Includes all basic sensors and is ideal for casual athletes. It tracks sleep and offers 90 sports modes. Battery life is 12–15 days. It lacks GPS, NFC, and a blood oxygen sensor.

Garmin Vivosmart 4

Best suited for gym enthusiasts, particularly women, with a stylish design. It counts exercise reps and tracks energy levels and heart rhythm. The downside is its high cost (2–3 times more than others on this list) and short battery life (up to 7 days).

Active ECG 3

Offers a wide range of features and sensors. Can be worn on the wrist or chest. Measures ECG and blood pressure, counts steps and calories, tracks distance, calls, and messages, and includes a smart alarm. Lacks water protection, and the notification text is very small. Battery life is also short.

AMAZFIT Bip Lite

A lightweight version of the original, styled like a smartwatch. Suitable for swimming up to 30 meters and includes all essential sports functions. Long battery life (30–45 days) is a major plus. However, it doesn’t support third-party services like Strava and Endomondo.

Huawei Talkband B5

Unique for its Bluetooth headset function. It includes all necessary standard features. However, it lacks GPS and cannot be used while swimming.

Final Thoughts

The best fitness tracker should match your workout type and include all the necessary features. Avoid buying unknown, cheap brands, as they often produce inaccurate results. It’s better to invest a little more in a reliable, high-quality model.