Fitness trackers will track your daily activities in terms of steps and calories burned through your movements. You set a goal of how active you want to be, for say a week or a month, and the fitness tracker will give you a rough guide as to how to achieve your goals. There is a wide variety of fitness band available, in terms of shapes and sizes and brands available.
There are a few things you should keep in mind while buying a fitness band
Know your Goals
Before you buy a fitness tracker, you should know what you can do with it while also being realistic about your goals. Fitness trackers motivate people to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle. If you like a particular activity, like swimming, make sure the activity tracker and the software are compatible. Those new to exercise, or those just looking to move, will get everything they need from a basic tracker that tracks steps and calories. However, those regularly active will want a device with more advanced features, such as heart rate monitoring or sleep tracking.
Choose the right design
While most trackers wrap around your wrist, some dongles clip on to your clothing and are more comfortable. Wrist strap devices are the most common. Some have LED display while others take a screen-less, minimal approach.
Water-resistant
If swimming is one of your primary forms of exercise, you’ll need a waterproof fitness tracker. But it’s also something to consider if you want a device you don’t have to worry about when taking a shower or washing up. Every time you take an activity tracker off, there’s a chance to forget to put it back on, and that means inaccurate tracking all day.
Smart Features
Some fitness trackers will notify you of incoming calls or messages on your wrist, so you don’t need to stop and get your phone out. A couple also allows you to do things like remotely control music playback on your phone. Others boast features that might let you leave your phone at home when you go for a workout. Thanks to local storage for your workout music or the ability to control external devices such as action cameras.
Compatibility
Fitness trackers are designed to sync with your smartphone, but you should know whether your tracker will work with your handset. Most fitness trackers sync with iOS and Android, but Windows Phone compatibility is rare.
Applications
Most of the fitness trackers have a companion app that holds all your synced data along with some additional features. Food logging is a big one; many apps let you keep track of your diet by estimating the calories and nutritional facts of all the food you chomp on.
It’s always wise to check the comments from users of the app and never purchase without reading our reviews first 😉
Display Screen & Size
Opt for a band that has a built-in display through which you can keep an eye on your fitness goals and time without firing up a phone app. If you think that, while exercising, you would be able to handle touchscreen then go for LED or OLED display, if you want rough and tough use, then go for button operation.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
The difference between smartwatch and fitness bands?
There’s a lot of confusion over what makes a fitness tracker versus a smartwatch. Currently, fitness trackers focus on collecting and measuring health data. Smartwatches, on the other hand, are primarily designed to provide smartphone notifications, though many also offer fitness tracking features; otherwise, there is no such difference.
What are the essential features every fitness band should have?
Steps tracking
An easier way to track your activity level is by logging in the number of steps you take. The most accurate way to track your steps is to track them with an accelerometer or GPS. With this type of tracker, you would have more options of where it can be worn — from in a pocket to on your wrist. Using this information and your personal data, some activity trackers can even calculate your calories burned.
Heart Rate Monitor
Heart rate monitoring technology has shifted up a gear, and now these monitors and HRM running watches are no casual fitness trackers.
Stairs climbed
Some activity trackers, to record the number of steps you’ve climbed each day, feature a built-in altimeter. It is another way to monitor your activity and to meet your fitness goals. Some activity trackers, using this information along with your personal data, can also calculate your calories burned.
Distance traveled
Keeping track of the distance you’ve traveled is another way to work toward your fitness goals for activities like cycling, hiking, and most obviously running. A variety of activity trackers can also calculate the distance you’ve gone with the help of an accelerometer or GPS.
Calorie counting
Activity trackers calculate calories you have burned in a variety of ways. Using your heart rate to determine the calorie count is one of the most accurate ways because it takes into account your exertion. Other trackers use their equation to calculate this value — based on steps logged and stairs climbed. You might also input your weight and age to create a more custom calculation.
Sleep quality and alarm clocks
Many trackers, with the help of an accelerometer, can also monitor your movement to determine sleep patterns. Some trackers require you to change them to sleep mode to perform this function. With this information, trackers will describe your sleep quality based on your sleep patterns. Some find trackers come with a silent alarm that will vibrate to wake you up.
Tracking progress online
Further, making it easier to follow your progress, some trackers can download your information on a tablet, smartphone, or a laptop. You’ll find trackers that use both Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to transfer data, whereas others would download the information through a USB. Once the information is downloaded, apps will be able to analyze your progress, offer you personalized workout plans, compare stats with friends, and much more. Apps are created to function in a variety of operating systems, so you’ll want to make sure the tracker’s app is compatible with your tablet or smartphone’s operating system (such as Android, iOS, etc.).
What is the battery life of a fitness brand?
Battery life is often an essential factor in mobile devices, but this isn’t quite as important when it comes to fitness bands. With some exceptions, the majority of fitness bands will offer several days of run time. And in some cases, you will be able to get a week or even two weeks between charges.
What are the best Brands available for buying a fitness tracker?
Currently, the market is flooded with a vast number of options. Some of the premium brands for fitness bands are; Fitbit, Samsung, Jawbone, Amazfit, Xiaomi, Sony, Honor, GOQii, Garmin, Misfit, Fitgen, and many more. Choose a brand with the right presence in your local region in terms of the service center and support.