Find the Right Wearable Tech for You

2 mins to read

How not to take the ‘one size fits all’ approach and find the right fitness tracker to match your health goals.

While health technology has developed in leaps and bounds and there’s been a proliferation of fitness activity trackers, not all are perfect for all uses. Here are the best wearables for losing weight, getting fit, competing in a triathlon, swimming or tracking your sleep quality.

Best for: All-round fitness

Fitbit Charge 2, from $249.95
Given the big thumbs-up by PC Magazine and Gizmodo as one of the best fitness trackers around, the Fitbit Charge 2 ticks all the boxes as a good all-rounder.

It can track workouts such as running, cycling, weights and yoga and produce an activity report in the Fitbit app. It also tracks incidental exercise and sleep and gives you a snapshot of your cardio fitness, based on your estimated VO2 Max, which is your maximum rate of oxygen consumption.

A mindfulness experience is also included, with personalised deep breathing sessions.

The only thing, it seems, you can’t do with it is swim – the Charge 2 isn’t waterproof .

Visit: Fitbit

Best for: Weight loss

Misfit Ray, from $139
With its sleek, minimalist looks, the Misfit Ray is a simple but effective companion for your weight-loss journey.

It does all the basics – tracking steps, distance and calories – and will vibrate after you’ve been inactive for a while . Light and restful sleep are also recorded – a useful tool for weight loss as poor sleep is associated with low levels of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin .

It’s also swim-proof and doesn’t require charging, thanks to a replaceable battery that lasts six months .

It’s compatible with the LoseIt! and MyFitnessPal apps to help you track your calorie intake and stay motivated, as well as MapMyFitness to record your workouts .

Visit: Misfit

Best for: Swimming

Garmin Vivoactive HR, $399
Not the prettiest wearable on the block, but this GPS smartwatch is water-resistant to 50m and was awarded tech site Wareable’s gold medal for swimming trackers .

Its dedicated swimming app collects information on distance, time, stroke and measures your heart rate at your wrist. Battery charge life is up to five days in watch/activity tracking mode (HR, no GPS), or up to eight hours (GPS) .

It also partners with the wifi-connected Garmin Index smart scale, which measures statistics such as weight, BMI, and bone and muscle mass to monitor your progress.

Visit: Garmin

Best for: Triathletes

TomTom Multisport Cardio, $399
Whether you’re running, swimming or cycling, this lightweight GPS training watch, designed for multisport athletes, allows you to create your own interval training program to improve speed and fitness.

With its built-in heart-rate monitor and one-button control, you can select one of five training zones to match your goal – Sprint, Speed, Endure, Fat Burn or Easy. It’s waterproof to 5 ATM (around 50m) and has a battery charge life of up to eight hours (GPS and HR) or up to 10 hours (GPS ).

Visit: TomTom

Best for: Getting fit

Apple Watch Series 2, from $529
Its built-in GPS means users can now run, walk or cycle outdoors without an iPhone as the Apple Watch Series 2 records their distance, pace and speed .

For ocean lovers, it’s water-resistant to 50m, so can be worn while surfing or swimming. The Series 2 also now includes an app for deep-breathing exercises and the Activity app is optimised for wheelchair users and has wheelchair-specific workouts .

Battery life depends on how you use it. All-day battery charge life is up to 18 hours and workout time is up to eight hours .

Visit: Apple

Best for: Sleep monitoring

JAWBONE UP3, $188
Using bioimpedance sensors the UP3 measures heart rate, respiration, body temperature and galvanic skin response to identify four stages of sleep: Wake, REM, Light and Deep.

Deep sleep is important for muscle repair and to strengthen ligaments, while REM sleep helps us concentrate and organises information we’ve learned .

The UP3 also gives you tips on how to improve your sleep and features a ‘Smart Coach’, which acts like a personal trainer to help you make healthy choices . A full charge can last up to seven days .

Visit: Jawbone