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A trend that does not seem to go away is the use of Fitness watches, and it is becoming increasingly popular all over the world, within all age groups. People use them to tell time, read incoming messages, check social media notifications, count steps, monitor sleep and more, and it is the perfect device for anyone who wants to make it more fun to live a healthy lifestyle, but also to keep track of important calls and more.
A quality fitness watch lets you do everything while you are on the go so that you never have to slow down or stop unless you want to. An active lifestyle is a ticket to a longer life, and a fitness watch can help you achieve your workout goals.
These are some of the best fitness watches currently on the market, and you are almost guaranteed to find one you will love.
View The Best Fitness Watch Below
1. Garmin VÃvoactive 3
When you set out to find a fitness watch to help you monitor your health and your progress, you will inevitably come across the Garmin Vivoactive watch. Why? Because it is one of the best fitness watches there are, and one that will last you for years. You can easily personalize it by downloading apps, to make sure it has everything you need for your fitness journey.
To make your life easier, you can also use Garmin Pay to make convenient payments directly from your new fitness watch, which is ideal for someone who is always on the go and who needs to get things done fast and simple. You can’t go wrong with a Garmin watch, not when it looks this sleek, modern and gorgeous, while also offering all the latest fitness watch features.
Pros:
+ Access to Garmin Pay banking
+ Personalizable with Smartphone apps
+ Automatic Garmin Connect uploads
+ 7-13 hours of uninterrupted battery time
Why We Like It – The Garmin VivoSport is a sturdy sport watch that you can easily hook up to your Smartphone, and it has apps you can download to fully personalize it.
2. Apple Watch Series 5
You can look at hundreds of fitness watches, but when it comes down to it – few things compare to the Apple Watch. The series 5 watches come with a number of new and improved functions, and you can choose between a 4mm and a 44mm case depending on what would look and feel better on your wrist.
You get optical and electrical heart sensors, a retina display that is always on, the screen size has been enlarged with 30% to make it easier to manage your incoming notifications, it has fall detection and emergency SOS, and it is so waterproof that you can even go swimming with your Apple Watch. This is the perfect watch for anyone competing in a triathlon or similar sports.
Pros:
+ Optical and electrical heart sensors
+ Retina display that never shuts off
+ ECG app and emergency SOS
+ Built-in fall detection
Why We Like It – Getting a product from the Apple Watch series is always a good call, and with this fitness watch, you get a beautiful retina display and plenty of fitness functions.
3. Timex Women’s Ironman Transit
Put on your running shoes and hit the tracks with this charming fitness watch from Timex! It has a variety of features like a resin strap that can be adjusted to properly fit any wrist, Indiglo light-up to ensure you can see the screen also when the light isn’t great, a calendar that displays both day, date and month and a 24-hour countdown timer.
Set important alarms for when you need to remember something, and don’t worry if it starts to rain or if you get a little sweaty, as this cute watch for women is made to be water-resistant and durable. If you want a fitness watch that looks different from the average Fitbit Versa or Samsung Galaxy watch – why not give this uniquely designed and colorful time-piece a chance?
Pros:
+ Date, day and month calendar
+ Adjustable 12mm Resin strap
+ Indiglo light-up watch dial
+ Athletic design with fitness features
Why We Like It – This is not only a great basic fitness watch but also an Amazon customer favorite with an affordable price tag!
4. Fitbit Inspire HR Heart Rate & Fitness Tracker
The fitness tracker of fitness trackers – the FitBit inspire heart rate monitoring watch with activity trackers such as health tracking and heartrate monitoring, and with other fitness tracking features that will make your workouts a lot more fun and productive.
It is a Sport Smartwatch that is lightweight and comfortable to wear, which looks both discrete and amazing at the same time, and it’s a sport watch you will feel proud wearing while it helps you achieve a healthier lifestyle. The FitBits apps are designed to make workouts easier and more fun, and it has onboard GPS, Smart notifications, training plans, and sleep tracker
Pros:
+ Accurate heart rate monitoring
+ Swim tracking and a GPS running watch
+ Fitbit Pay and contactless payment
+ Reliable sleep tracking
Why We Like It – The Fitbit ionic fitness tracking watch series offers reliable sleep monitoring, water-resistance for water sports and unexpected events (such as heavy rain), and it is designed to sit effortlessly on your wrist and to not interfere with your workout.
5. Garmin Forerunner 35
The Garmin Forerunner smart-watches are the ultimate running watches for someone who wants a great looking time-telling device with numerous SmartWatch features, but it can also be used without hooking it up to a phone. With the Garmin VivoActive watch, the Garmin VÃvosmart and other Garmin products, you suddenly won’t have to choose between fitness bands and classy looking watches, as this one right here gives you all in one!
The display has a high resolution which allows you to see everything crystal clear, also when you are running, and it is an activity tracking device with vibrating alerts to make sure you never miss an important phone call, message or social media notification again.
Pros:
+ Compatible with Garmin Connect Mobile
+ Can be used without a Smartphone
+ Heart rate tracking feature
+ Available in black, white, blue and lime
Why We Like It – Would you like quality at an affordable price? These trackers and watches have everything in one, and the improved display makes it easy to see the time and any notifications also while you are working out.
6. Michael Kors Access Sofie Heart Rate Smartwatch
This is perhaps not what you would expect a fitness watch to look like, as it looks more like a glamorous timepiece you would wear to a fancy event, but it is actually one of the best and nicest looking fitness trackers you can buy! Fitness smartwatches come in many shapes and sizes, and this one simply happens to be made for someone who wants to look their absolute best also when working out.
It has NFC payment methods, GPS activity tracking, heart rate tracking, app notifications, weather notifications, it is compatible with iOS and Android, and comes in several different colors. It is not made for swimming or submersion in water but resists sweat and water splashes if needed.
Pros:
+ Receive smartphone notification
+ NFC payment methods
+ With 300 mAh Battery
+ Customizable watch faces
Why We Like It – Keep track of your daily activity, your third party apps and more with this watch with a colorful screen that can be changed and customized for your liking.
7. Timex Ironman Essential 10
If a cheap fitness tracker isn’t what you are after, and if you rather have a sports watch you can use for all types of activities, and that will also look good for a business meeting – perhaps the Timex Ironman Essential 10 could be the right option for you? It is water-resistant down to a total of 330ft so that you can wear it in any weather and for any activity, and the 40mm black resin case is large and impressive looking.
Enjoy features like 10-lap memory. Alarms, 100-hour chronograph, digital display, Indiglo backlight dial and a resin strap that can be easily adjustable to fit comfortably on any wrist. There is also a stop- and start the watch, to help you time yourself during workouts.
Pros:
+ Water-resistant to 330 feet
+ 10-lap memory and 100-hour chronograph
+ 16mm adjustable resin strap
+ 40mm grey and black resin case
Why We Like It – These waterproof fitness trackers are so much more than just a device to use when you work out, and the accurate time-telling along with the sporty and attractive design makes it an excellent all-round watch.
8. Letsfit Fitness Tracker
The LetsFit tracker tracks sleep, oxygen levels, has a heart rate sensor and a step-counting feature, and it is a watch active individuals with Android, iOS and other mobile operating systems can use. The built-in USB charging means you can charge it up whenever you need to, either with your laptop or by connecting it to a wall plug, so that you can always track your health and your progress when you are out and about.
The sleep tracking feature on this automatic activity tracker for kids is superior to that of many other brands, and it is done through the VeryFitPro app which can be downloaded to both iOS and Android. Choose between standard black, or a more vivid color like blue, purple and pink, to get a tracker you can wear with pride to monitor your health.
Pros:
+ Sleep monitoring through VeryFitPro App
+ Quick-charge function to charge in 1-2 hours
+ Available in black, blue, purple and pink
+ Option for Sedentary reminders
Why We Like It – This may be a small and discrete fitness tracker, but you can manage everything – such as reading texts, checking notifications and more – directly from the screen.
9. Garmin vÃvofit Jr 2, Kids Fitness/Activity Tracker
It is not just adults that benefit from having a fitness watch to keep track of their sleeping habits, physical activity and more, and it can be a great idea to introduce a child to one of these products early on! The base for a healthy lifestyle is set early on in life, and what better way to lead a good example than to have your kid have a fitness watch too, just like you?
These fitness trackers are swim-friendly and shockproof, and they come in fun and colorful designs with logos from famous movies like Frozen, Star Wars, and Spiderman. Let your children enjoy the fun of walking to school by letting them track how many steps they’ve taken, how far they have walked and more, and help them see how fun it can be to stay active and healthy.
Pros:
+ Colorful and child-friendly designs
+ Available with a stretchy and adjustable band
+ Customizable digital color screen
+ 1-year battery life with no need to charge
Why We Like It – Kids love these fun and colorful wristbands with fitness features, and they are designed to be easy to use even for small children, and easy to put on and take off.
10. POLAR IGNITE
Round dial, durable resin strap, and many useful fitness functions make this an instant favorite in households all over the world! An interesting feature is the daily training guide – the Polar Fit Spark Daily Training Guide – which will help you stay inspired and motivated to continue bettering your health and routines.
It has built-in GPS (connected GPS), music storage, heart rate tracks and it receives texts, incoming phone calls and social media notifications for you, to help you stay connected no matter where you are, and also when out running or when working out at the gym.
Pros:
+ Polar’s Sleep Plus Stages analysis
+ Polar Fit Spark Daily Training Guide
+ Built-in GPS function
+ Sleek and modern design
Why We Like It – A modern looking watch like this will be an instant conversation starter, and it has all the important fitness watch features like sleep tracking and GPS, just like a FitBit Versa Lite or a Samsung Galaxy Fit fitness watch.
Fitness Watch Buyers Guide
You have probably heard about fitness watches and fitness trackers, and perhaps you’ve started feeling like it is time to get one yourself? You are probably right! A fitness watch is a great way to not only tell time but to keep track of things that will essentially help you understand your body and live a healthier life.
A fitness watch measures blood oxygen levels, heart rate, how many steps you take per day, how far you walk, sleep patterns and much more; some do all of it, others only have a few of the features, and it is important to understand what a fitness watch is before you set out to buy one. This will also be helpful when trying to decide which fitness watch is right for you, so let’s go over a few useful tips.
What a Fitness Tracker Does
Sensors are usually used to measure these things like heart rate, pulse and more, and it will do this both as you go about your day or when you head to the gym to work out – it is amazing what modern technology can do! Fitness watches and the technology used to make them has advanced massively over the past few years, and you can now get devices that can handle things people didn’t even dream of only a while back.
Having a sleep tracker, for example, can tell you a lot about how much rest you are actually getting during the night, something that has a surprisingly big effect on your overall fitness results as you work out.
Physical body movements like how many flights of stairs you have climbed in a day, how many steps you’ve taken etc. etc. tends to be measured with an accelerometer, to give you reliable results you can then use when setting up your exercise plans and goals.
A fitness watch will almost always show social media notifications and incoming calls and messages, plus have several other features. You may recognize some of these features from modern Smartphones, but the phone does not compare to a watch when you exercise, as it can sometimes be hard to bring a phone with you.
The Difference Between a Fitness Watch and a Smartwatch
A basic fitness tracker uses sensors to monitor things like your heart rate, how many minutes a day you are active, how many steps you take, how far you walk, how long your workout sessions last and how much sleep you are getting – basically everything you need to take your workout routine to the next level.
A Smartwatch, on the other hand, will often have all this and more, and you will be looking for a Smartwatch if you want your new watch to show when someone is calling you, if you receive a message, to listen to music, check social media notifications and such. Smartwatches are synchronized with a smartphone, usually, and is, therefore, able to do more.
If you are just looking for basic information regarding your daily routines, you are likely fine with a basic fitness tracker, which are often cheaper, but if you want to get as much as possible both out of your watch and your exercise sessions – aim for a quality fitness smartwatch instead. It is all about you and your needs, but now you know what the difference is. Not all fitness trackers are smartwatches, but most smartwatches tend to have the features of a basic fitness tracker.
Different Fitness Watch Styles
When you buy a fitness watch, you will quickly notice just how many different versions there are, and how many designs, shapes, and colors there are to choose from. The Galaxy Fit looks very different from a Fitbit Ace, for example, and there are so many models that it is almost hard to keep count.
The most important thing when you choose a fitness watch is, of course, the features, and to make sure it can do everything you want for it to do. When this is settled, however, it is time to look at the style and the design.
You will have to decide if you want a watch that looks more like a regular watch – with the traditional round dial and wide strap, or if you would rather have something more of a fitness tracker, which is often more similar to a thin bracelet with a digital display. A more classic type watch might be a better option if you also want to use your fitness watch when you go out, when you work or when you go into important business meetings, while a slimmer version might be more suitable if you need a lightweight fitness watch that you will barely notice is there.
Important Features
Again, what features are important depends on what you plan to use your watch for. If you tend to sweat a lot, if you are likely to go running in rain or if you want to be able to wear your fitness watch when swimming – double-check to make sure the product you are considering is actually waterproof or at least water-resistant. Most fitness watches will have this feature, but it is always a good idea to make sure before you make your purchase.
The next thing to consider is the display. Do you want a fitness watch with a digital display? Do you want a touch screen or are you okay with button controls? Color or no color? There is a sea of options out there, and don’t forget to consider display size as well, as this will have an effect on how easy it is to navigate and use the different features.
Other things to look for are GPS functions, altimeter and heart rate trackers, as these are essential things in a good fitness tracker or watch.
Are all fitness watches waterproof?
No. Most quality fitness watches are water-resistant, but not necessarily waterproof. Make sure you check this for any product you are interested in, as it differs from product to product.
Do I need a Smartphone when using a fitness watch?
In some cases you do, yes, but there are fitness watches that can be used without connecting it to a cellphone (smartwatch).
Conclusion
Everyone can benefit from a fitness watch! There is a common misconception that fitness watches are only for those who are sporty or who work out frequently, but a fitness watch can also be a great device for someone who does not work out at al. It can be eyeopening to see how much we actually walk and how much we sleep and rest, and in many cases, a fitness watch can become an inspiration to start leading a healthier life.
Expert Tip
Base your decision both on functions and on looks, as you want a watch that you can wear daily, to properly benefit from all its functions.
Did You Know
It is never too late to change your routines and to become healthier, and acquiring a fitness watch could be the inspiration you need.