Whether you’re a runner, swimmer, biker or superspy, there’s a fitness tracker out there for you–here’s how to find it
ALERTS
A tracker’s screen can give notifications of texts, calls, emails and other events on your phone.
STEP COUNT
A tracker like the Fitbit Charge 3 will use accelerometers to estimate how much you’ve walked.
HRM
A heart-rate monitor uses a sensor on the back of the tracker to continually take your pulse.
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Take the first step
Deciding which features you need and which you don’t–is the best place to start. A basic tracker like the Xiaomi Band 3 will keep tabs on your steps and how many calories you’ve burned (and it’s water-resistant, so safe for the shower), but more advanced models will have features like GPS– useful for phone-free route-mapping.
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Xiaomi Band 3
£27 / mi.com
Follow your heart
Not all trackers monitor your heart rate, but it can be worth investing in one that does. Keeping an eye on your ticker is a great way to gain some insight into your overall health and see how your fitness is improving over time. TheApple Watch Series 4 monitors your heart throughout the day and will alert you if it detects any issues. O Get this: Apple Watch Series 4 £399 / apple.com
Fit for purpose
There’s more to a tracker than what it does and doesn’t track: it’s also worth thinking about how practical a band is for whatever activity you’re doing. If you’re swimming, of course, you need to check the water-resistance; and if you want to get really active, opting for something rugged and compact–such as the Withings Pulse HR– would be a sensible choice.
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Withings Pulse HR
£120 / withings.com
Health screening
A budget tracker like the Fitbit Flex 2 doesn’t have a screen, relying instead on your smartphone to show you how you’re doing. To decide if you’d be better off with a screened model, consider whether you want to see your progress during workouts in
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Fitbit Flex 2
£50 / fitbit.com
Lasting benefits
The differences in battery life among trackers are huge. The MoovNow is a great option for long-term use as its battery can last an incredible six months.
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Moov Now
£60 / moov.cc