A fitness tracker can be a great way to help you get -- or stay -- in shape, without the bulk of a full-blown smartwatch. A fitness tracker holds you accountable for your physical activity and typically offers health features such as sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, connected GPS and other fitness features that offer specific insights into your activity of choice. Your fitness tracking data is then shared with an app to give you a better look at your overall fitness.
There are dozens of fitness trackers to choose from, from the classic fitness tracker watch design (including the much-loved Fitbit watches and Apple Watch) to shoe insoles with activity tracking features. So we've rounded up five of our favorite trackers based on price, form and function. Keep in mind that many of them require you to use a mobile app to track your progress and set up smartphone notifications. And it goes without saying that not even the most advanced activity tracker will do the work for you, but it's definitely great for keeping you motivated.
No matter your health and fitness goals, you're sure to find an activity tracker here that will help you achieve peak performance. So if you're looking for the best fitness tracker out there, read on! And let us know in the comments if your favorite fitness tracker isn't on this list. We'll be testing more down the line and we'll be updating this list periodically.
Read more: The best budget smartwatches under $100
If you're looking for a fitness tracker that behaves a lot like a smartwatch without the extra bulk, the Fitbit Charge 4 might be the perfect fit. It checks all the boxes when it comes to health and fitness features and even goes beyond the basics with things like heart rate zone notifications during exercise and advanced sleep tracking metrics. It also has a built-in GPS tracking to follow outdoor workouts independently of your phone. If you want to keep track of your data, you'll want to download the Fitbit app, which does a great job with activity tracking by breaking down how much progress you've made and how close you are to achieving your fitness goal. This fitness tracking device can also facilitate mobile payments and the option to reply to texts and messages if you're an Android user.
If you're looking for a fitness band that's even more discreet (and more affordable), you may also consider the Fitbit Inspire 2. You won't get the built-in GPS or mobile payment options, but it has the essentials when it comes to health and fitness including heart rate tracking, automatic workout detection and a detailed sleep tracker analysis with Fitbit Premium (free for a year with the purchase).
It's also the closest thing to jewelry with a screen I've worn so far. If you feel like dressing it up, its silicone sports bands can easily be swapped out for a leather or stainless steel mesh band (sold separately). But the biggest perk: battery life. It can go up to 10 days on a charge, whereas the Charge 4 caps out at about five days if you toggle off the GPS.
For less than $40, the Mi Band 4 is the best value fitness tracker you can buy. This fitness watch packs most of the features you'd get in a more expensive fitness tracker, like an AMOLED touchscreen that's easy to see in sunlight, 24/7 heart rate and sleep tracking. Battery life is also second to none, as you'll get around two and a half weeks of use before you need to charge. The one thing this cheap fitness tracker does miss out on is workout variety; it can only detect running, walking, cycling or swimming, so any other workout like pilates or yoga would need to be tracked under the generic "exercise" type.
These $300 smart insoles can turn any old running shoe into a high-tech tracker, giving you more information about your run than any wrist-based tracker we've ever tested. Each insole has 16 sensors that detect the pressure you're putting on your foot with every step you take. Together with the app and trackers, they can measure everything from step length to foot strike balance to give you real-time feedback on how to reduce injury or improve your time.
It may be a few years old, but the cheaper Apple Watch Series 3 has everything you need in a fitness tracker but with added smartwatch features. Not only does it keep tabs on your health and activity like the rest of the trackers on this list, it also gives you access to dozens of fitness apps like Strava, Nike Training Club and Apple's own Fitness Plus, to guide you through any type of workout.
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