Which fitness tracker is best for you?

There are a lot of different fitness trackers to choose from, making it hard to decide which is the best one for your needs. Before you start researching, have a think about what you want to track and the types of exercise you do. For example, are you a runner who wants a fitness watch to track your runs in Strava? Or maybe you’re training for a triathlon and want accurate performance metrics?

Let’s explore five exercise trackers made to suit a range of needs.

Apple watch series 9: best for iPhone users and general health tracking

This smartwatch is ideal for the Apple fans. It not only tracks fitness but analyses your general health too. It’ll also help you get all the health benefits of walking daily by completing your daily activity rings.

Unique features for iPhone users

This watch has benefits specifically for those with an iPhone, such as:

• It easily locates your watch from your iPhone.
• It seamlessly integrates with Apple Fitness+ and other Apple services.
• It offers simple notifications to stay connected to calls, messages, or emails - without the need to actually pick up your phone.
• Features 'tap to pay'. Post-run coffee? Easily pay with a tap from your wrist.

General health monitoring

Your health and fitness relate to each other. This fitness watch also offers a wide range of health monitoring features, which may be suited for people with health concerns. These features include:

• The Blood Oxygen app measures your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), helping monitor respiratory health and detect early signs of issues like sleep apnoea.
• The fall detection feature senses hard falls and can automatically notify emergency services if needed.
• The watch continuously tracks heart rate, sending high and low heart rate notifications to alert users of potential issues, such as unusually high heart rates during inactivity.
• Using body temperature and cycle tracking, it provides ovulation estimates, making it a good fitness watch for women who want to track their menstrual cycle.

Fitbit Charge 5: best for budget-conscious users focused on metrics

Those who want detailed health tracking on a budget, including beginners to intermediate fitness enthusiasts, this is a great option for you.

Affordable Option

The most affordable of the five fitness tracker watches we reviewed; this one goes for around $166.80 - $229.95 in Australia.

Comprehensive features for budget-conscious users

• Built-in GPS to track your pace and distance.
• EDA sensor to detect electrodermal activity, which allows you to manage your stress and mindfulness.
• SpO2 sensors for monitoring blood oxygen levels.

Garmin Forerunner 265: best for runners and serious athletes

This smartwatch is for runners and serious cardio enthusiasts who are obsessed with performance metrics. A good companion to have for your next Cycle Burn class.

Advanced features for runners

Garmin watches are seen as a runner’s watch, despite the fact they have the ability to track lots of other activities too!

• Advanced running analysis provides in-depth insights into your running form, such as stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation, helping you improve efficiency and reduce injury risk.
• The race predictor estimates your finish time for various race distances based on your training history, enabling you to set realistic goals for events like marathons.
• PacePro helps you maintain an optimal pace by offering real-time guidance, adjusting for changes in elevation, so you can manage your effort on hilly courses effectively.

Whoop 4: best for those going through recovery

The Whoop 4 is best for individuals, particularly athletes, who want to focus on recovery, strain, and sleep rather than strenuous activity. It doesn’t even have a screen, which many users find useful in preventing distraction.

Specialised recovery features

• Whoop 4 measures your strain/stress on the body, helping you understand the level of exertion and whether you’re balancing activity and recovery effectively.
• This watch excels in sleep tracking, offering detailed insights into your sleep cycles, duration, and disturbances. It provides recovery scores based on sleep quality, which is critical for maximising your physical and mental recovery.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6: best for Android users and versatile fitness tracking

Android users rejoice - there’s a powerful smartwatch for you. Like the Apple Watch, it offers both casual and advanced fitness tracking for a variety of activities.

Good variety of features

• Seamless Android integration with notifications, calls, and apps.
• Equipped with a BioActive sensor, the Galaxy Watch 6 tracks various health data, including ECG monitoring, blood pressure, and body composition analysis (like skeletal muscle mass and body water percentage). These features provide a complete picture of health, which is particularly beneficial for those who are looking to monitor body composition changes rather than focusing solely on weight.
• It even has built-in coaching and exercise detection making it easier to smash your smart goals this year.

Create a plan and track your fitness goals with Virgin Active

As we’ve discussed, you’re spoilt for choice with the range of exercise watches available. Before you run out and buy a shiny new fitness tracker, why not chat with a Virgin Active Personal Trainer to discuss which goals you’d like to track?

Our professional Personal Trainers specialise in everything from weight loss, muscle gain and holistic wellness to functional fitness, pre and post-natal and sport-specific training. They’ll help you create a 4-week action plan you can track you progress against. Kickstart your wellness journey with a PT session at Virgin Active today.