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Like every piece of the equipment you wear on your body day in and day out, fitness trackers are incredibly personal. The best fitness tracker should be comfortable, attractive and fit your lifestyle, including when and how you like to work out. Do you ride a bike, row or do strength training? Do you run on the trails for hours at a time, or just want a reminder to stand up every hour? Do you want to wear it on your wrist or on your finger or put it in your bra?
No matter what your needs are, there has never been a better time to find a powerful and sophisticated tool that can help you optimize your workouts or start your routine. We test dozens of fitness trackers every year while running, climbing, walking, or just making workout videos on our iPads at night, to bring you these choices.
Updated January 2025: We have added the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED, the Oura Ring 4, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9, the Garmin Lily 2 Active, the Amazfit T-Rex 3, the Amazfit Active and the Polar Vantage M3.
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Fitness Trackers vs. Smartwatches
Don’t see anything that’s exactly your style here? Check out our guide to the The best smartwatches. While the categories may overlap, fitness trackers are less feature-rich. I’m less concerned about whether a fitness tracker can replicate every feature on your smartphone than whether the suite of health features is robust and accurate; if it can follow many activities; and whether it stays and is safe while doing many fitness activities.
Some fitness trackers will have the ability to read emails and control music, but the screens are often smaller and less bright. However, the battery life is often much better, which makes a difference, especially if you track your sleep over time. If, however, you are more interested in the option to access applications without having to pull out your phone, you may want to think about getting a smartwatch. (If you don’t want notifications, get one smart ring in contrast.)
Troubleshoot your Fitness Tracker
Having trouble with that new fitness device you just bought? Here are a few ways you can easily cure what ails you (or your device):
Make sure it fits. Optical sensors won’t work if your device slides loosely around your wrist. You can customize most devices with new straps. Make sure it fits securely an inch above your wrist.
Wash! I am horrified by how many people tell me their fitness trackers give them a wrist rash. Dry off with some soap and water after a sweaty session.
He came out from under the tree. Does your device use multiple satellite positioning systems to track your location when you start an outdoor workout? This is much more difficult to do if you are under power lines, trees, or even (gulp) indoors.
Establish a routine. There’s nothing more frustrating than opening your tracker’s app and finding out the battery died before you went to bed last night. Keep your app updated regularly. Check if your tracker is connected to your phone, and keep the chargers everywhere.
