Here are the fitness trackers I actually recommend
Why do you want a fitness tracker? This is the first question I ask any time I’m asked to recommend a device.  The number-one rule of wearable tech is that it has to be something you actually want to wear. So inst...
Why do you want a fitness tracker? This is the first question I ask any time I’m asked to recommend a device.
The number-one rule of wearable tech is that it has to be something you actually want to wear. So instead of molding yourself to a device, it’s better to pick something that isn’t too hard to slot into the life you already lead. The tech specs will fall into place once you’re honest with yourself about who you are and where you’re currently at. You can always revisit your choice once you’ve leveled up, but buying for who you want to be someday isn’t helpful.
Are you a couch potato who wants to hit 10,000 steps a day? Are you a gym rat who prioritizes lifting heavy? Do you have absolutely no idea, but have a vague vision of six-pack abs and know you have an Android phone? There are a zillion permutations, but in my experience, people typically fall into a handful of categories.
Here’s what I recommend for each.
Casual wellness seekers
It’s nigh impossible to escape the barrage of health metrics and scores these days. But if it’s possible, you’d like to. All you really want is credit for the activity you do and some insight into how your sleep is, screw the bells and whistles. Also, you’d be caught dead wearing a hockey-sized puck on your arm. If that’s you, I’d recommend a Fitbit Charge 6 or an Oura Ring 4. Both work regardless of what phone you have and are good at getting you the basics with minimal overwhelm.
Oura Ring 4
Score: 9
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to Buy:
The Oura Ring is the more stylish of the two. It’s the better option if you’d prefer to keep your wrist free or would rather notifications stay on your phone. I vouch for shelling out a smidge extra for the ceramic version. (In my years of testing, I find the metal finishes scratch easily. Whatever you do, skip rose gold. It doesn’t hold up well.) It’s a little more annoying to get, and I don’t advise skipping the sizing kit. Your fingers will swell and shrink depending on the weather, so you want to see how a ring size fits over 24 hours. I’d also keep this in mind if you plan on losing a significant amount of weight. I hate that it comes with a $6 monthly subscription, but it’s a good product, and as far as wearable subscriptions go, it’s among the most affordable.
Fitbit Charge 6
Score: 7
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to Buy:
Go for the Fitbit Charge 6 if you’d like to see the time or stats while exercising. This is also the pick if you want a few notifications or don’t want to rely on your phone quite as much. It’s much easier to leave your phone in a gym locker with a Charge 6 and lift weights — you don’t want to do that with a smart ring. Oura is the more premium feeling of the two, but there are plenty of ways to dress up a Charge 6 with third-party straps. None of the metrics are behind a paywall anymore, though if you want access to Google’s experimental AI coach, that’ll set you back $10 a month or $80 a year.
Honorable mentions: I dig Withings’ hybrid smartwatches, which are a great blend of simple tracking and style. The new Pebble watches also feel right for those yearning for 2015-era simplicity.
A one-stop smartwatch
This type of person needs a bit more functionality from their fitness tracker. It’s about feeling alright leaving your phone behind because cellular and emergency calling are options. When you’re not being active, it’d be nice to easily set timers, check a weather widget, unlock your laptop, or perhaps quickly view the feed from your doorbell camera. In that case, a smartwatch is the way to go.
This is when your phone matters. If you’ve got an iPhone, I’ll point you to the Apple Watch SE 3. Android users, may I interest you in a Google Pixel Watch 4?
Google Pixel Watch 4
Score: 8
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to Buy:
I recommend the $249 SE 3 because it offers the best bang for your buck feature-wise of all the new Apple Watches. If you want the bigger screen and advanced health features like EKGs, look for a refurbished Series 10 in a nicer material. (The Series 11 is fiiiiine, but the difference from the Series 10 is negligible and you might as well save a lil extra.) However, I don’t recommend the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for most people unless that’s the look you’re going for, you work out a lot, and you want the biggest battery / screen possible.
Apple Watch SE 3
Score: 9
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to Buy:
Now for Android. Arguably, if you have a Samsung phone, you could go for the Galaxy Watch 8. But I was more impressed by the Pixel Watch 4’s approach to repairability, feature updates, and AI implementation. As a caveat, I’m not a fan of AI fitness and health features, but of the ones I’ve tested so far, Google’s is among the best.
Honorable mentions: For Android users who want superior battery life, check out the OnePlus Watch 3.
Fitness fiends, you know who you are
Hi, friends. How’s your Whoop band or eight-year-old Garmin holding up? I’m guessing you already know what you want to buy and don’t really need me to list out the pros and cons of a Garmin, Coros, Polar, Whoop, or one of the Ultra smartwatches. Game recognizes game, and yeah, I agree, the price increase starting with the Garmin Fenix 8 is banana-balls bonkers.
You don’t really need my opinion here, especially since I suspect a good chunk of you keep DC Rainmaker bookmarked. (He’s great! I’m also a big fan.) Just in case, here are some of my thoughts on some of the products and brands in this space.
Garmin Forerunner 265S
Score: 9
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to Buy:
- I’m a huge fan of the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is my platonic ideal for a running watch. I also enjoyed the Forerunner 970 if you want a bit extra, but as a petite-wristed person, I prefer the smaller Forerunners. I also think the Forerunner line is a much more budget-friendly alternative to the Fenix while also keeping much of the same features and functionality. That said, if you can splurge a bit, a newer Garmin with the flashlight is well worth it.
- I’ve liked Coros watches on the whole. Battery life is incredible, but as my colleague Liz Lopatto noted in her Nomad review, the app isn’t as well equipped for adventurers as it is for runners.
- The only people who should give a whoop about Whoop are athletes — I stand by that in my review of the latest device. That said, I’ve found its newer health features to be dubious. The Whoop age feature is my villain origin story, and its forays into wellness have left me a tad concerned.
- The Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra are good devices, even if the latter is fugly on my lady wrist. The Ultra 3 is my current daily driver because my garbage eyes love a giant screen, the interoperability with my other gadgets is convenient, and the superior notifications are a godsend for my work life. To me, that’s worth the trade-off in battery life since I constantly switch between wearables anyway. But in another life, one where I don’t do this job and spend more time training, I think I’d be a Garmin Forerunner gal.
- You don’t need an Oura Ring, but it is kinda helpful if you really want to prioritize recovery metrics and are committed to a Garmin, Coros, or some other smartwatch. (Garmin’s sleep tracking has never been my favorite, though it’s improved over the years.) I’ve run the numbers, and even with the subscription, I find dual-wielding an Oura and a smartwatch more cost-effective for my needs over a period of three to five years than a Whoop. And since I know you Garmin heads tend to keep your devices for an average of eight years, I think the math works out similarly.