By Lauren Walker
Fitness trackers have become a popular way to help you move more, sleep better, and improve your overall health. A definition on www.pcmag.com gives this explanation of a fitness tracker: “A wrist-worn device that can detect some combination of walking steps, running distance, heart rate, sleep patterns and swimming laps. Fitness bands interact via Bluetooth with an app in a mobile device that configures the device and downloads the wearer’s activity data.”
If you have been sitting on the fence, wondering if you should spend the money and invest in a fitness tracker, there are some affordable brands out there that come in under a hundred dollars. Investing in a more expensive tracker may offer more options but it all depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what features are a must have. The fitness trackers listed below are examples of two trackers that would be ideal for someone on a budget.
- The Tech Radar website rated “Moov Now” very highly. The best feature is the price. At $59.99 Canadian, it’s affordable for most. It’s compatible with Andriod phones and connects wirelessly through Bluetooth. The battery life is amazing and lasts for up to six months. It’s able to track repetitions and monitor calories burned. The waterproof feature is ideal if you’re a swimmer. It provides feedback on your workout so you know how you can improve upon your performance. The downside is that it doesn’t feature a heart rate monitor or touch screen, and some the features cost extra.
- If you’re looking for longer battery life (12 months), this is the brand for you! Compared to “Moov Now”, the battery life of the Garmin Vivofit 4 is much longer. The Garmin Vivofit 4 comes in around $79.99. This brand uses a regular watch battery, which doesn’t need to be recharged. It comes with a button that will cycle through steps, time, weather, calories burned, and distance travelled. You’ll need to use the APP on your IOS or Android phone for more detailed information. It doesn’t come with a touch screen and the display is smaller. The clarity of the screen is clear and is easy to read at night by holding down the button. The cost is reasonable and the wrist bands are interchangeable as well.
Before investing in a fitness tracker, here are a few key things to remember:
- Cost doesn’t necessarily mean quality
- Decide what features are important to you
- Be careful of extras that you have to pay for
- Warranty and return policy
- Will you actually use it?
You’ll find that no matter what the price tag, each device has its own list of pros and cons. Do your homework, before investing. Make sure it’s affordable, comes with the features you care about, and it’s easy for you to use.
Happy tracking!