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5 best activity trackers
Up the ante in your fitness regimen and change the habits of a lifetime with this wearable tech
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Louise Thomas
Editor
Ever felt that you want to get fitter, but you need someone by your side telling you to get going? Short of hiring out a personal trainer, an activity tracker on your wrist can make all the difference. By keeping track of the number of steps you’ve taken throughout the day, it helps motivate you, and pushes you to reach daily goals. But with a variety on offer, it’s good to know what you’re getting in for before you strap one on.
1. Garmin VivoSmart: £139.99, amazon.co.uk
With a smooth rubber touch display with all your stats to swipe through on, the Vivosmart is not only sleek, but also unbelievably, well, smart. Once synced to your phone, it tracks your steps and burned calories, but also updates you on almost everything, from emails and instagram comments to Facebook messages to Twitter notifications.
2. Jawbone UP: £99.99, amazon.co.uk
The Jawbone is one of the best looking activity monitors out there, and it also offers a range of impressive features. By monitoring movements in your sleep, it can wake you up with a buzz at the best time in morning. It can also be used with a number of third-party apps, including one which scans barcodes to log what you’re eating, or another which automatically logs a meal whenever you post a photo of your food on Instagram with the hashtag #knowyourself.
3. Nike Fuelband: £89, store.nike.com
It might be mostly black and rubbery, but with a blocky, retro display and colourful clasp, the Fuelband strikes the perfect balance between stylish and discreet. It’s features are basic, but the small firework display you get when you hit your goal is guaranteed to give you the best feeling. The only downside is that there are rumours Nike won’t be continuing the range in the future. So unless you want to get one while it’s hot, you might want to invest elsewhere.
4. Garmin VivoFit: £86.95, amazon.co.uk
Although slightly less sexy than the Vivomart, the Vivofit is a simple, no-fuss tracker. Unlike most devices, its battery lasts a whole year, meaning that you don’t have to worry about it running out anytime soon. It’s also water resistant up to 50m, and can be paired with a Garmin Heartrate monitor chest strap.
5. Fitbit Charge: £99.16, amazon.co.uk
The sleek and tactile Fitbit Charge doesn’t have many advanced features like the Garmin Vivosmart does, but when used alongside the Fitbit app it really comes to life. If your family and/or friends also have fitbits, then you can go head-to-head in daily challenges. It can also help you set up your own personal food plan and, once paired with your phone, notify you when you’re receiving calls, with caller-ID.
Verdict:
If you’re willing to splash out then the Garmin Vivosmart is probably the best, as it does so much, and will make you feel a bit like you’re from the future. But if you want something affordable and stylish, with a load of available features, then you should go for the Jawbone.