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Best Fitness Watches Reviewed
Today we’re going to be going over the ten best fitness watches that are currently on the market. We think you’ll love the options we’ve chosen. Whether you are looking for something that would blow Great Aunt Gertrude’s mind or something a little more subdued in features, it’s on our list. Whether it is an analog or digital or if it has GPS capabilities, SMS notifications, or stopwatches, the items below cover a vast array of price ranges, technological advances, design structure, and capabilities. Let’s take a closer look at the ten products we’ve chosen as the best.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Features
The features are what can make or break a fitness watch. We included products in our buying guide that are rife with unique features like compasses, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, GPS technology, SMS notifications, and altimeters. But, if you don’t need access to this kind of information, do you need to purchase an option that offers all of those metrics? Probably not. This is why we also wanted to include more simple and basic options for our readers. A fitness watch does not need to be a smartwatch.
Of course, having access to these metrics can be greatly beneficial for people who thrive on data and love seeing their health and fitness levels improve. Having access to your resting heart rate at the time of purchase and 6 months down the line once you’ve completely overhauled your lifestyle can be hugely rewarding. Sure, seeing the physical changes in your body like your waist tightening up or biceps growing can be motivating. But being able to measure metrics which you cannot see, like your RHR going lower and your heart health improving, can be even more inspirational.
Connectivity
To be connected or to not be connected, that is the question. The answer? It depends on you. Do you need access to your incoming calls and text messages all the time? If so, you’ll definitely want to invest in a product that will provide you with that feature. There are a lot of them on this list.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to be disconnected from your smartphone, especially during your workouts and outdoor activities, there are options for you in our buying guide, too. It should be noted, however, most of the time you are able to turn off/on notifications for any of the items on our list.
Style
Chances are you either prefer a digital screen or an option that has the hands for telling time. Regardless of which style you prefer, we have options for you!
If you like the idea of having a fitness watch but aren’t particularly fond of the digital style that most seem to employ, you will be happy to know that there are a lot of options on our buying guide that boast an analog face. These throwbacks to the classic design are a great choice for someone who wants the benefits of a fitness watch without wearing something on their wrist that screams “ I AM TRACKING MY FITNESS!”
Some of the models in our buying guide feature display screens that can be adjusted through the application. For example, the products from Amazfit and Fitbit have watch displays that can be changed by downloading the app. With tons of options to choose from, you will never feel like you have to settle for a display that makes you anything less than excited to look at it.
Band
The band can make or break your experience wearing it. You may remember a few years back when Fitbit was in a heap of trouble because their customers were having bad reactions to the material that their bands were made out of at the time. Lots of people had burns and rashes on their wrists from their activity trackers. Thankfully Fitbit has learned from this mistake and has upped their band game so you don’t need to worry about this anymore, but band material is still something you should look at when you are choosing your fitness watch.
Some band materials are naturally more comfortable. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular options you’ll be likely to see.
Leather. Leather bands are both very stylish and comfortable. It should not irritate the skin on your wrist and won’t dig into your arm the longer you wear it. The downside of leather is that it will wear out over time. You shouldn’t get them wet or get too sweaty while you’re wearing it.
Rubber. Bands made of rubber are great for people who lead active lifestyles. They can get wet and sweaty without you needing to worry about your sweat breaking down the band. They’re often more affordable than leather and can come in a number of different colors and designs. The downsides are that it's hard to dress up a rubber band if you choose to wear your watch on a date night and that the material can cause you to sweat underneath it which may lead to irritation.
Nylon. Nylon is an incredibly comfortable band choice. It’s lightweight and can often be removed for washing purpose to prevent it from getting too smelly. They’re waterproof and breathable, making them perfect for someone who leads an active lifestyle. The downfall is that nylon bands are prone to fraying and may not last as long as other material options.
Durability
You don’t want to invest a lot of money into your new device only to have the screen become scratched or unreadable in the first few hours of wearing it. This is a big problem that we face being a society that is so hellbent on everything having a display screen. Have you ever felt personally victimized by your smartphone after dropping it from what feels like 50-feet with no breakage, only to have the screen crack when it falls off the couch onto your soft carpet? It hurts the soul a little bit when this happens, so it’s only natural that we want to ensure we’re purchasing something that is not only NOT going to break if we accidentally drop it or scrape it against a tree (we don’t know what you do in the wilderness).
It’s more than just the screen of your watch that we’re looking at when we talk about durability, though. We’re also looking at the band as well. Some band materials are more prone to durability issues than others. Take the rubber, for example. As we mentioned above, rubber is great for people who are active and do a lot of exercises, but if you don’t take care of a rubber band in just the right way, you may notice that it tears or cracks easily.
The options in our buying guide have been not only been tested by us but also raved about by thousands of other current users. We wanted to make sure that we included only the best and most durable options in our buying guide so we scoured through thousands of reviews to choose the products that are least likely to break suddenly. In fact, many of the products on our list are made to be put through the wringer.
10 Top Rated Fitness Watches
1. Apple Watch Series 4
Apple is one of, if not the most, well-known tech brands in the world today. The Series 4 is the best fitness watch on the market today for iOS users which really helps to solidify Apple’s position as the leader in wearable and smartphone technology.
This fitness tracker watches is a fantastic choice for people who have some health issues or concerns that they need to monitor. It’s great for measuring and tracking heart rates. The proactive monitoring system will notify you if it senses a low or high heart rate as well as if it detects any irregular rhythms. It’s equipped with fall detection as well as Emergency SOS, a fast and easy way for you to call for help and send alerts to your emergency contacts in the event of an emergency.
This option has your back no matter what type of workout you’ll be doing while wearing it. First of all, it can automatically detect when you’ve begun a workout. It provides runners with metrics like cadence and pace alerts so they can hit their PBs over and over. If you do a lot of workouts in the gym, the Series 4 can connect with compatible gym equipment, allowing you to keep the metrics you need to know about (heart rate, speed, calories, etc) in sync between the equipment and your device.
2. Timex Ironman Classic 30
You may not immediately consider Timex fitness watch to be synonymous with fitness, at least not in a market that is dominated by the likes of Fitbit and Apple, but the Ironman Classic 30 is a great option for someone who doesn’t need all the bells and whistles of a more 2019-esque option.
The Ironman Classic 30 is a throwback to the Timex's of yesteryear – with a bit of a twist. You no longer need to resign yourself to a life of black wrist watches. This product comes in an array of different color options included, but not limited to - black/lime, silver/blue, white/silver, pink/textured gray, blue/lime and more.
This fitness tracker watch has a number of useful features that we think consumers we love. These include a stopwatch with 30-lap memory, perfect for the serious runner who wants to track their times. It also has an alarm feature, a backlight, and a countdown timer. The Ironman Classic 30 is sealed in a way that even makes it resistant to water up to 100 meters. With 10-year battery life and probably the most affordable price tag of all of the products in our buying guide, you can’t go wrong with this model from Timex if you’re looking for something on the simpler side.
3. Samsung Galaxy
What would our top three products be without the other big name in tech gear – Samsung? The Galaxy is not as advanced or in-your-face as Apple, but it’s still a very viable option for someone who prefers the look of an analog watch but still wants the features of a smartwatch.
This fitness watch features built-in health tracking that you can keep tabs on through your Bluetooth connection. It is able to measure your heart rate, track how many calories you’re burning and give you an insight into how well you’re sleeping. This watch is also designed to sense and monitor your levels of stress so you can then guide yourself to a more relaxed state using the breathing techniques build into this product.
This charges wirelessly and will last days on a single charge. It’s available in different colors (black or rose gold for example) as well as different face style so you can find something that suits your personality.
4. Casio W96H-1AV
Here we have another fitness watch on our list that has more of a classic, analog design than many of the newer options that are hitting the market. Step away from your smartphone and smartwatches with the Casio W96H-1AV while still being able to reap the benefits.
This fitness tracker watch from Casio providers users with the sportiness of a digital fitness watch with the dependability that brands like Timex and Casio have become known for. The battery in this bad boy is going to last you a whopping 10 years. Sure, maybe you don’t get all of the tracking metrics of a new-fangled device, but for someone looking for simplicity and efficiency, this product has your back.
The first thing you might notice about this option is its incredibly cheap price point. This is to be expected with a product of this nature. Without all the bells and whistles of a smartwatch, you go back to bare bones and won’t need to drop an entire paycheque on this. If you’re in the market for something that is going to be able to tell you the time with stopwatch capabilities, this is the right one for you!
5. Garmin Instinct
If you know that you’re notoriously hard on all of your gear, you’re going to want to read more about the Garmin Instinct fitness watch tracker. This model is rugged in design and is constructed to be able to withstand even the toughest of environments.
It is equipped with a 3-axis compass, a barometric altimeter and GPS capabilities so you will be able to know where you are when you’re out in nature. You can use this watch to monitor your heart rate as well as the activities you’re doing and the amount of stress you’re under. It also features smart notifications so long as you connect the watch with your smartphone.
If you do a lot of outdoor adventuring, like hiking for examples, you will love the TracBack feature that is in this device. It will allow you to return along the same path you took so you won’t need to worry about getting lost in the wilderness.
6. Garmin Fenix 3 HR
In the sixth spot on our buying guide, we have another option from Garmin. The Fenix 3 HR has a whole host of features that will appeal to beginner and advanced fitness fanatics alike.
This fitness watch is equipped with a wrist-based heart rate monitoring system. This will allow the watch to track your heart rate accurately without having to fumble with an annoying chest strap. Similar to the previously reviewed Garmin product, the Fenix 3 HR also has TracBac, a 3-axis compass and barometer built-in.
One thing we really loved about this product was its visibility in outdoor settings. Often times with smart watches you are not able to read the screen in the sunlight. The Chroma Display that Garmin outfitted the Fenix 3 HR with coupled with the LED backlight will allow you to be able to read your screen no matter what kind of lighting situation you’re in.
This is water-rated for up to 100 meters so, yes, you can go swimming in it! It boasts a battery life of forty hours on UltraTrac mode or 16 hours when you have the GPS enabled. If you choose to use it in smartwatch mode, you can go up to two weeks before needing to charge it.
7. Fitbit Versa
We can’t very well have a fitness watches buying guide without including at least one product from Fitbit. This company was the leader in fitness trackers for a very long time, and for good reason. Their line-up is extensive and ever-changing.
The Versa offers users 24/7 heart rate and activity monitoring. If you wear it while you sleep, it will offer valuable insights into your sleeping habits and even provide you with an in-depth look at how long you were in each stage of sleep for.
You can use this fitness watch to access a number of different applications that will provide you with weather monitoring, relaxation techniques, brain gains and exercise programs to follow. You can receive phone call, text and calendar notifications if your connected smartphone is nearby. Women can access female health tracking via the Fitbit application to know where they are in their cycle and predicted days for their period and ovulation.
While the screen of the Versa might look big, this watch actually has a really low profile design so you won’t find it catching on your clothing.
8. Amazfit Bip
Though Amazfit may not be a household brand name like Fitbit, Samsung or Apple, there is no reason to discount the Bip. This affordable fitness watch is a viable option if not for its low price tag than for its extremely impressive and long 30-day battery life.
The Bip is available in four beautiful colors, providing an extension of your personal tastes and style. It’s a lightweight watch that you can wear all day without any problems thanks to its bright and always on screen.
The Bip fitness watch has a host of interesting features such as heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, a built-in GPS system, sports modes, notifications for texts/e-mails/Facebook alerts, compass and barometer. We think you would be hard-pressed to find a similar product with all of these features at a price point as low as this.
9. Garmin Vívomove HR
We couldn’t help but include another option from Garmin on our list. They’re one of the leaders in the world of fitness and GPS so it’s only natural that their products appear more than once in our buying guide.
Vivomove HR has an extremely attractive analog design. It’s available in 9 different color and design options including gold with a leather band, onyx with a suede band, rose gold with a suede band, rose gold with a black silicone band or silver with a seafoam silicone band. We love that Garmin knows not everyone has the same taste in band material and that they offer leather, silicone, and suede for their band options. The bands are interchangeable as well, so if you choose a leather band and then decide you want to try a silicone option instead, you can do so easily.
When it comes to features, Garmin really pulled out all the stop. The Vivomove HR has music controls, smart notifications so you can stay connected with your friends/family without needing to pull out your smartphone to receive messages, heart rate monitoring, stress tracking and even relaxation time. It will allow you access to such data as your steps taken, calories burned, how far you’ve walked, your current heart rate and your VO2 max.
10. Withings Steel HR
Finally, in our tenth place spot, we have this option from Withings. The Steel HR is a great option for someone who prefers the look of an analog device but still wants all of the delicious benefits of a smartwatch.
This option offers its users a whole host of beneficial features. It is equipped with heart rate tracking so you can keep an eye on your resting heart rate over time as well as what your heart is doing during your workouts and sleep. It is equipped with a workout mode and (connected) GPS so you can access data like how far you’ve gone during your workout as well as what your elevation and pace were.
People who like to feel connected at all times will love that you can receive smart notifications. Whether you’re receiving calls, texts, or event notifications, you’ll be able to know what’s going on at all times.
The Steel Sport HR is water resistant up to 50 meters so you can take it with you in the shower or pool without worrying about destroying your investment. It boasts a 25-day long battery life and durable construction that will last no matter what activities you’re wearing this for.
Sources
- , How much should the average adult exercise every day?, Health
- , 7 Health Benefits of Wearing Fitness Trackers, Health
- , Pros and Cons of Watch Bracelets and Straps, Product Info