If you're looking to lose weight, increase your physical activity, or simply improve your overall health, a personal activity tracker can help you reach your goal. Seeing how much activity you do (or don't) get, day-by-day and week-by-week, could motivate you to start taking the stairs or walking the dog an extra lap around the block. At the very least, it will make you more mindful of your activity level, which is a huge first step to getting fit.
The devices on the market today are highly evolved cousins of pedometers from yesteryear. They're much smarter, more accurate, and do a whole lot more than measure how much you walk. Paired with a companion Web account, mobile app, and maybe a few auxiliary devices, they give you better insight into the habits that make up your lifestyle, including sleep, calorie consumption, heart rate, blood pressure, and more.
If you're shopping for your first activity tracker, you'll find the market is flush with choices. The problem, however, is making sense of which tracker will be best for you.
Take a look at my article on how to choose a fitness tracker that's right for you for more help on that front.
Whether your health goals are modest or you're hoping for a full fitness transformation, using a personal fitness tracking device can go a long way toward helping you understand if the exercise and health habits you keep are contributing to the new you.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
Basis Carbon Steel Edition
$199 direct
$149.99 at MyBasisTech and fitness enthusiasts, as well as anyone who regularly rides a bicycle, should check out the Basis Carbon Steel Edition, as it's by far the most interesting activity tracker on the market. It can automatically detect when you're walking, running, and bicycling. This watch measures steps taken and calories burned, but adds a heart rate monitor that takes your pulse day and night right through your skin. The Basis also measures skin temperature, perspiration, and sleep. An online account focuses on habits more than raw data, which is another interesting and intriguing twist. For high-end wrist-worn trackers, the Basis is our Editors' Choice. Read the full review ››
$199 direct
$149.99 at MyBasisTech and fitness enthusiasts, as well as anyone who regularly rides a bicycle, should check out the Basis Carbon Steel Edition, as it's by far the most interesting activity tracker on the market. It can automatically detect when you're walking, running, and bicycling. This watch measures steps taken and calories burned, but adds a heart rate monitor that takes your pulse day and night right through your skin. The Basis also measures skin temperature, perspiration, and sleep. An online account focuses on habits more than raw data, which is another interesting and intriguing twist. For high-end wrist-worn trackers, the Basis is our Editors' Choice. Read the full review ››
Fitbit One
$99.95 direct
£79.99 at Argos.co.ukThe Fitbit One is a super-smart pedometer that tracks how many steps taken, stairs climbed, distance traveled, calories burned, and quality of sleep. For its accuracy, wonderful display, and lovely form (it slips comfortably and discreetly onto the front of a bra strap), it's an Editors' Choice for clip-on activity trackers. One special feature is the "silent wake alarm," which causes the Fitbit One to vibrate at whatever time you set to wake you without waking your sleeping partner. It does not have any included heart-rate detection technology, however, like the Basis does, but it costs half as much. The One's companion Web account at Fitbit.com lets you add more information about your body and health, like what you've eaten and your weight, as well as other activities that the Fitbit can't track on its own, such as bicycling. Read the full review ››
$99.95 direct
£79.99 at Argos.co.ukThe Fitbit One is a super-smart pedometer that tracks how many steps taken, stairs climbed, distance traveled, calories burned, and quality of sleep. For its accuracy, wonderful display, and lovely form (it slips comfortably and discreetly onto the front of a bra strap), it's an Editors' Choice for clip-on activity trackers. One special feature is the "silent wake alarm," which causes the Fitbit One to vibrate at whatever time you set to wake you without waking your sleeping partner. It does not have any included heart-rate detection technology, however, like the Basis does, but it costs half as much. The One's companion Web account at Fitbit.com lets you add more information about your body and health, like what you've eaten and your weight, as well as other activities that the Fitbit can't track on its own, such as bicycling. Read the full review ››
Fitbit Flex
$99.95 direct
$99.95 at AmazonThe Fitbit Flex is Fitbit's slightly lower cost wrist-worn activity tracker, compared with the now-recalled Fitbit Force, and while it's not as advanced as its successor, it's still a pretty capable device. It's extremely similar to the Force, but doesn't have an OLED display or the ability to track stairs climbed, and the tracker component itself can pop out of the band, so be careful not to lose it. The benefit of the removable tracker, however, is that you can swap out the bracelet to change its color. It wirelessly (and effortlessly) syncs to your computer, iPhone, or Android phone, which is extremely convenient. The included sleep tracking and silent wake alarms are useful features, too. Fitbit has my favorite Web dashboard for monitoring your fitness, and its line of trackers tend to be compatible with many other apps and services, a huge plus. Read the full review ››
$99.95 direct
$99.95 at AmazonThe Fitbit Flex is Fitbit's slightly lower cost wrist-worn activity tracker, compared with the now-recalled Fitbit Force, and while it's not as advanced as its successor, it's still a pretty capable device. It's extremely similar to the Force, but doesn't have an OLED display or the ability to track stairs climbed, and the tracker component itself can pop out of the band, so be careful not to lose it. The benefit of the removable tracker, however, is that you can swap out the bracelet to change its color. It wirelessly (and effortlessly) syncs to your computer, iPhone, or Android phone, which is extremely convenient. The included sleep tracking and silent wake alarms are useful features, too. Fitbit has my favorite Web dashboard for monitoring your fitness, and its line of trackers tend to be compatible with many other apps and services, a huge plus. Read the full review ››
Jawbone UP24
$149.99
$115.99 at AmazonThe Jawbone UP24 is sleek, comfortable, and light to wear on the wrist. When it comes to monitoring your sleep, it knows the difference between light and deep sleep. It also has the best vibration alarm system I've seen, which reminds you to move if you've been idle too long, or that you can set to wake you within a window of time so that it only vibrates when you're in light sleep, not deep sleep. The Jawbone UP24 requires a mobile device (Android or iOS) because it can't sync with your computer. This tracker also doesn't have a display on it, so you'll be looking at your smartphone a lot. The design of the wristband also makes it easy to catch on your clothes. Read the full review ››
$149.99
$115.99 at AmazonThe Jawbone UP24 is sleek, comfortable, and light to wear on the wrist. When it comes to monitoring your sleep, it knows the difference between light and deep sleep. It also has the best vibration alarm system I've seen, which reminds you to move if you've been idle too long, or that you can set to wake you within a window of time so that it only vibrates when you're in light sleep, not deep sleep. The Jawbone UP24 requires a mobile device (Android or iOS) because it can't sync with your computer. This tracker also doesn't have a display on it, so you'll be looking at your smartphone a lot. The design of the wristband also makes it easy to catch on your clothes. Read the full review ››
Fitbit Zip
$59.95 direct
$48.69 at AmazonThe petite Zip is a lower-cost option from Fitbit. You get the same great experience on the Fitbit website, where all your data is displayed and you can log other fitness information, but you lose the ability to track stair climbing. And there's no wireless syncing with the mobile app (it does still sync wirelessly with a PC or Mac, though), and the silent alarm that's included in Fitbit One and Fitbit Flex is absent here. It uses a watch battery, so there's no need to charge up the device every so often. If cost is your primary concern in choosing a fitness tracker, Fitbit Zip may be an ideal option.Read the full review ››
$59.95 direct
$48.69 at AmazonThe petite Zip is a lower-cost option from Fitbit. You get the same great experience on the Fitbit website, where all your data is displayed and you can log other fitness information, but you lose the ability to track stair climbing. And there's no wireless syncing with the mobile app (it does still sync wirelessly with a PC or Mac, though), and the silent alarm that's included in Fitbit One and Fitbit Flex is absent here. It uses a watch battery, so there's no need to charge up the device every so often. If cost is your primary concern in choosing a fitness tracker, Fitbit Zip may be an ideal option.Read the full review ››
Misfit Shine
$119.95
$99.99 at Best BuyElegantly stylish and petite, the waterproof Misfit Shine may be the most unassuming fitness tracker we've tested. The Shine has the standard three-axis accelerometer you'll find in most activity trackers, but no altimeter for logging stairs climbed. The best feature in the Shine is its ability to discern between walking, running, swimming, and cycling (although the last two require an extra step for tracking). You use the app (iOS only for now) to change the activity mode and sync, however, so if you're not an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch user, the Misfit Shine isn't for you. Similar to the Fitbit Zip, the Shine doesn't have a charger. There's a watch battery inside the device that lasts about four months. Read the full review ››
$119.95
$99.99 at Best BuyElegantly stylish and petite, the waterproof Misfit Shine may be the most unassuming fitness tracker we've tested. The Shine has the standard three-axis accelerometer you'll find in most activity trackers, but no altimeter for logging stairs climbed. The best feature in the Shine is its ability to discern between walking, running, swimming, and cycling (although the last two require an extra step for tracking). You use the app (iOS only for now) to change the activity mode and sync, however, so if you're not an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch user, the Misfit Shine isn't for you. Similar to the Fitbit Zip, the Shine doesn't have a charger. There's a watch battery inside the device that lasts about four months. Read the full review ››
Nike+ FuelBand SE
$149.00
$132.99 at AmazonIf you liked the original Nike+ FuelBand and are looking to upgrade, the FuelBand SE is a fine choice. The design of this sporty bangle is the highlight. It's a hard black bracelet with a rubberized texture and retro-chic dot-matrix display that's invisible most of the time. Press a discreet button, and you can cycle through your data: steps, calories burned, the time, the number of hours that you were active at least five consecutive minutes, and "fuel," which is Nike's own unit of measure for activity. The "fuel" thing may seem arbitrary at first, but over time, you'll notice your daily average and can aim to earn more fuel points—but you need some time to develop that context. It doesn't track distance, stairs, or sleep, and the mobile app is iOS-only. You can sync the Nike+ FuelBand SE to a computer, however. Read the full review ››
$149.00
$132.99 at AmazonIf you liked the original Nike+ FuelBand and are looking to upgrade, the FuelBand SE is a fine choice. The design of this sporty bangle is the highlight. It's a hard black bracelet with a rubberized texture and retro-chic dot-matrix display that's invisible most of the time. Press a discreet button, and you can cycle through your data: steps, calories burned, the time, the number of hours that you were active at least five consecutive minutes, and "fuel," which is Nike's own unit of measure for activity. The "fuel" thing may seem arbitrary at first, but over time, you'll notice your daily average and can aim to earn more fuel points—but you need some time to develop that context. It doesn't track distance, stairs, or sleep, and the mobile app is iOS-only. You can sync the Nike+ FuelBand SE to a computer, however. Read the full review ››
Samsung Gear Fit
$199.99
$149.99 at AmazonIt sure is gorgeous, but the Samsung Gear Fit is more of a companion to a Samsung phone than a standalone fitness tracker. What's unique is that the Gear Fit combines the features of a fitness tracker with the convenience of a smartwatch, letting you see incoming text messages, for example, on the vibrant touchscreen display. Truly active people will find the Gear Fit is difficult to use when they're out and about jogging, bicycling, and so forth because the touchscreen is so sensitive. It may be worth considering, however, if you're a Samsung devotee. Read the full review ››
$199.99
$149.99 at AmazonIt sure is gorgeous, but the Samsung Gear Fit is more of a companion to a Samsung phone than a standalone fitness tracker. What's unique is that the Gear Fit combines the features of a fitness tracker with the convenience of a smartwatch, letting you see incoming text messages, for example, on the vibrant touchscreen display. Truly active people will find the Gear Fit is difficult to use when they're out and about jogging, bicycling, and so forth because the touchscreen is so sensitive. It may be worth considering, however, if you're a Samsung devotee. Read the full review ››
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