10 Things to Look for in a Fitness Tracker

How to pick a comfortable, efficient and useful device

Here are 10 things to look for in a fitness tracker.

Trio Images/Getty Images

By:

Bill Gibson

En español

Published August 25, 2016

Fitness trackers come in various shapes, sizes and materials. And they’re made for nearly everybody, whether you’re a serial triathlete or a fit wheelchair user.

Most fitness trackers cost between $50 and $250. More expensive models usually include built-in optical heart rate monitors and GPS.

If you’re shopping for a tracker, here are features that experts and users advise looking for:

1. Ease of use

It shouldn’t take a lengthy manual to understand how the device works, but instructions should be clear and complete enough to easily set it up and use it daily.

2. Distance vs. training gauges

If you simply want to know how many steps you take, look for an all-day tracker. These generally measure steps as well as stairways climbed, duration of the exercise and calories burned. If you want to go beyond measuring distance to get details on the speed, pace and stride associated with your steps as well as the path traveled, look for a training tracker. These models can provide data tailored to swimmers, golfers, skiers, weight lifters or marathon runners.

3. Calorie counter

Some trackers automatically tell how many calories you’ve eaten and even how many of those calories came from carbs, fat or protein.

4. Heart rate monitor

This allows you to control the intensity of your workout. In general, monitors that strap to the chest and transmit information to the tracker are more precise than sensors applied to your wrist.

5. Display size

Bigger displays provide easier navigation through various functions. Advanced trackers show words, numbers and symbols on a watch-face display. Others share data using an LED light display or through an app. When you sync the data onto your smartphone or computer, the tracker’s companion app not only archives the information but also helps interpret and analyze it. Consumer Reports advises shoppers to preview the tracker’s companion app in the Apple App Store or on Google Play to make sure it lives up to expectations.

6. Comfort and style

Many bands have slats or another way to adjust to your wrist. Some can be clipped to your clothing, which may be more comfortable to wear. And some are designed for the style conscious.

7. Wireless technology

Unfettered by cumbersome wires, this allows quick and easy connections to phones and other devices through special apps.

8. Water and sweat resistance

Moisture can shorten the life of the tracker. Some trackers are just splash-proof. Others can withstand a hardy shower or even swimming.

9. Sleep tracking

A good tracker can monitor the length and quality of your sleep. Some track movement and sleep patterns and sync wirelessly with a mobile app to keep track of the data they collect.

10. Battery life

Some are more energy-efficient than others and can be used longer without charging or replacing the batteries. Battery life can stretch from one day to several months. A tracker with a color touch screen and lots of sensors will need to be charged more frequently than a simple band with a few LED lights. Some trackers are rechargeable, and some run on the coin cell batteries often used in cameras and calculators.

Not sure what to do with your old tracker? Send it to RecycleHealth.com, a non-profit that collects donations of wearable activity trackers that are no longer in use and provides them to underserved populations.