The 5 Best Activity Trackers – Wristbands
The Best Activity Trackers with Display.
Last year was an incredible fitness tracker year. A lot of new products and updated versions of existing ones was presented to the consumers. So far in 2015 we haven’t seen a lot of new products but the long awaited Fitbit Charge HR is one of the gadgets fans were pleased to see.
I have collected five of the best activity trackers conveniently for you here if you are in the process of buying yourself a new tool for motivation and measuring your activity. These ones are all devices worn on the wrist only which I personally think is the best way to wear fitness trackers. Other variants are detached smaller thingies which both fit inside watchbands or is attached with a clip. An upcoming ‘best of’ article will cover those.
Also Read: Top 10 Fitness Trackers
The criteria for showing up on this list is that the product act as a 24/7 activity monitor which measures at least steps, distance, sleep cycle and calories burned. Heart Rate monitoring is not necessarily a feature on such bands but since this list is supposed to show you the best ones, some of them will naturally have an either built-in or external HR monitoring sensor. This is one of the functions that show up in more and more newer activity trackers. I have also chosen those with display even if there are many without like Jawbone Up24.
Fitbit Charge HR
1. Fitbit Charge HR
Fitbit Charge HR is a fantastic all day activity monitor – maybe the best on the market today. The sturdy designed gadget keeps track of your steps, flight of stairs, distance, calories burned, sleep and much more. It’s an advancement from its little brother, the Charge, with built-in optical Heart Rate sensor which is awesome for training. Read why heart rate sensors are smart here.
The metal latch design is new which make it impossible to lose. Paired with a phone you, first of all, get to see all the statistics in the easy to use Fitbit App, but you’ll also get advantage of the Caller ID function and see who’s calling you right on the bands OLED display. Another cool feature is the silent vibrating alarm clock that wakes you up in the morning.
Check out this article if you want to know more about this activity tracker.
Key Features:
- Tracks everything you need
- Heart Rate Sensor built in
- Sturdy design
- Automatic sleep monitoring and silent alarm
- Caller ID
- Water resistant (not waterproof)
Conclusion:
This is a perfect tracker for active people who love training. It tracks everything you need and has some cool functions. I would say this product is perhaps the best personal fitness tracker you can get. The price is available on Amazon right now and it is rated as a best-selling product with over thousands of positive reviews. That counts for something.
Garmin VivoSmart
2. Garmin VivoSmart
I really like the design of the Garmin VivoSmart fitness band. It’s sleek, not flashy and suits every style. The gadget keeps track of your whole day of activity and also gives you a reminder when you’ve been sitting still for too long which is not good for your body.
Goals are set automatically for you in the Garmin Connect app, with the AutoGoals function and are adjusted when needed. This one has not built in Heart Rate sensor, but a chest strap sensor is possible to purchase.
It comes with a few different options for the inside coloration and if you are swimmer this one tackles water and depths up to 50 meters.
If you want to read a longer article I suggest you check out my review on the VivoSmart on this page. Also, take a look at my article on its predecessor the VivoFit. The main difference between these two fitness trackers is the battery capacity. While the VivoSmart must charge up after 6-7 days the VivoFits battery lasts for a whole year.
Key Features:
- Steps, distance, and calories burned monitoring
- Sleep tracking with silent alarm
- Smart Notification when paired to a phone
- AutoGoals function
- Waterproof (50m)
Conclusion:
With a nice design and a lot of functions, this one is a sure winner. It’s waterproof and can handle showers and pools with no problem. Check the price and possible discounts on Amazon.
Interesting: 8 Best Heart Rate Monitors for Women
Nike+ FuelBand SE
3. Nike+ Fuelband SE
Nikes fitness band is a few years old now, but it’s still a favorite among training enthusiasts. The display with 100 white and 20 colored LEDs give you feedback on steps and calories burnt. It has a simple sleep tracking function and is water tight enough for showering.
It has a fun feature called Win The Hour which you can read about here and is a great motivational tool for getting you on the move. You will be rewarded in the app with trophies when you reach goals. Your daily goals are reached when the colored bars is showing its green color.
Through the Nike Connect software and community, you’re able to find other people to compete against on running routes, and if your buddy has a similar device, it’s even easier.
Key Features:
- Cool design in a variety of interior colors
- Nike Sessions
- ‘Win the Hour’ function
- Tracks steps and calories
- Very motivational thingy
Conclusion:
This activity tracker is not as advanced as the previous on this list, and the price might be a bit high too in comparison. Buy the band on Amazon if you are a Nike fan. This gadget might be something you should have in your collection.
Runtastic Orbit
4. Runtastic Orbit
Finally a tad cheaper fitness activity tracker than the ones above. The Runtastic Orbit tracks a lot of stuff like steps, activity duration, calories and sleep cycles. The OLED display gives you the time and works as an alarm.
The Runtastic Orbit is tailor made for tracking activity 24/7. It also acts as a second screen for the Runtastic apps and shows you distance and elevation. It is waterproof down to almost 100 meters (300 feet) which are unique and impressive for an activity tracker at this price level.
Key Features:
- Tracks your daily progress
- Waterproof to 100 m (300 ft)
- Sleep tracking with clock and alarm
- Good price
- Works with the MyFitnessPal app too
- Clock
Conclusion:
It’s quite incredible what you get in this functional gadget. It’s cheaper than the previous ones on the list, and the waterproofing is impressive, even if normal people probably won’t need it to go so deep. Purchase it on Amazon if you want. It is a good idea to click in and read some more user reviews.
Polar Loop
5. Polar Loop
Polar Loop has a sturdy design in black, purple and blue colors. It comes as a one size fits all with the possibility to cut the band itself if you have smaller wrists. The display is normally off when tracking which makes it a stylish and anonymous wrist band.
By touching a button you can see how many steps you have taken today, how many calories you have burned and how much you need to move to reach the goal for today. It has automatic sleep monitoring too.
A cool feature is that the sensors understand if you run, walk or just doing stuff in your home. The Polar Flow app for smartphones and tablets give you a very nice graphical breakdown which gives you a good impression of how you slept and moved through the day.
A longer article about the Polar Loop is available right here.
Key Features:
- Sturdy nice design
- Comfortable to wear
- Can pair up with HR sensor
- Easy to use
- Nice app
- Clock
Conclusion:
I’m very satisfied with my Polar Loop even if there are some things it doesn’t monitor. It’s in the same prize segment as the one above on Amazon.com. This is the perfect band for beginners or people who want to check how much they move in a day. The result my surprise you, but with an activity gadget like this you will be motivated to move just a little bit more than before to reach your target.
Isn’t that cool?
Read: Do I Really Need An Activity Tracker?
Questions?
I have previously written an article on why you should own a wristband activity tracker, so if you are uncertain if you really need one read that first. 🙂 Don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comment sections or write about your own experiences. Are you agreeing with me that these are the best activity trackers?
A very thorough, honest and well written review !
I found it very informative and quite helpful.
I will bookmark your blog, keep up the good and honest work you have going on here 🙂
Thanks Kjell Roger for your kind comment. Check in regularly for new cool stuff. 🙂
I have been researching activity trackers over the past week. My uncle has been trying to sell me on the fuelband for a while now, but I agree with this post that the fitbit charge is the superior. Great overview of the best products on the market currently.
Thanks for your comment! Fitbit Charge HR is clearly the best among new trackers today. Nothing wrong with the Nike+ Fuelband, but its beginning to be an old star on the fitness gadget sky now and Nike themselves has stated they will discontinue the band and focus on new stuff.
Hello! Great review my friend, I was just about to buy one of those and lucky for me that I found your review. It’s much easy for me now, thanks and keep up the good work.
Thanks Doru! Glad you liked my comparison of these products. 🙂
I love Wearable Technology! This is a great article, it’s really given me something to think about! HTC are going to be releasing Their own version the HTC GRIP. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about that one! 🙂
I love it too! 🙂 Cool you enjoyed my article. The HTC GRIP is a very interesting wristband tracker too. I will write an article on that one soon. It supposedly has built in GPS which is pretty cool and a rare feature on such bands.
Wow! Fitness trackers have really come a long way in just a couple of years — who knew? Thanks so much for this info; I’m almost in the market for one…
You’re welcome! Hope my page can help you decide. 🙂
I have had a few different activity trackers in the past and I prefer to wear it on the wrist. I was thinking about trying the Polar Loop and now I think I might.
Polar Loop is a great tracker. I use it myself daily. I like how it manages to distinguish between walking, running and sleeping automatically.
Nice overview of fitness trackers. I have been thinking about getting one. Thanks for bringing different options together!
Thanks for your comment! I will write more of these posts in near future targeted specifically towards swimmers, runners, gps trackers etc.