Are you looking for best fitness tracker for gym workouts to take advantage of new innovations? Fitness trackers are an excellent way to measure your progress and get guidance on how hard you’re working. They can also be used for more than just fitness! Some have been specifically designed with the needs of athletes in mind. In contrast, others offer features that simplify daily life like answering texts or playing music when you aren’t at home–perfect if distracted living isn’t something we should strive towards.
There’s a tonne of information available about what kind might suit our lifestyles best: some suggest heart rate monitors because these allow us to make sure all parts fire correctly during intense activities; others say blood oxygen levels matter most since they show endurance capacity and some claim calories burned during exercise are most relevant.
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What are the best fitness trackers?
The best fitness trackers are more effective than just a way to keep up with your steps. They’re also tools for improving overall health and can offer insights on what you should be doing or not, depending on the time spent wearing them!
Fitbit’s Charge 4 is an excellent choice for those who want the most affordable fitness tracker. With its built-in GPS and extensive health-tracking features, it has improved sleep tracking, too!
And you can stream music from Spotify on your wrist without having to carry around Bluetooth earpieces or headphones – making this device even more accessible than ever before. Right now, if there were anything better available, I wouldn’t know what they could offer me next since both of their new models have been unveiled – but anyway, let us start by saying.
I think Fitbit makes some incredible products so long as one price range fits within $150-$200, which seems pretty attainable thanks in part due.
Best Fitness Tracker for Gym Workouts At a Glance:
- Best Fitness Tracker: Amazfit Band 5 Fitness Tracker
Which fitness tracker is most accurate?
This post will evaluate the accuracy of the Fitbit, Jawbone Up, and Nike+ Fuelband’s accuracy to determine which fitness tracker is most accurate. The post contains a detailed comparison of each device’s abilities and capabilities. The section that compares accuracy includes a graph depicting how well each monitor has predicted calories burned based on an individual’s heart rate.
Other features also have graphs depicting how each device predicted steps are taken, or distance traveled during various time intervals. Lastly, estimates for calorie burn are calculated to show which fitness tracker is most accurate in predicting calories burned per day on average.
Fitbit, Jawbone Up, and Nike Fuelband are three of the most popular fitness trackers on the market. Each health tracker records steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and heart rate. All three devices have smart functions designed to motivate users to work out. The devices can also be synced with a smartphone for a more comprehensive analysis of activity levels. In general terms, each device is similar in cost.
Jawbone Up can be purchased for $129 from their website (“Up: Track your life”). Fitbit is sold on their website for $99 or at Best Buy for $129 (“Fitbit”). The Nike Fuelband can be purchased from a retailer such as Amazon.com for $150 (“Nike Fuelband”).
Accuracy
In terms of predicting calories burned, Fitbit is among the most accurate. In general terms, calorie burn is determined by body fat percentage, heart rate, and amount of activity within a given day. If a device can accurately predict activity levels, it can properly estimate calorie burn. The device must have an accurate reading of body fat percentage and heart rate to evaluate the accuracy.
Heart rate is also very important because it can indicate whether or not the user is suffering from over-exercised muscles that may result in muscle damage. According to Fitbit’s website, the body fat percentage scale is not completely accurate. Their website states that “The Fitbit does not read body fat percentage. It will read your body fat in a certain range, but no method is perfect. As with all health and fitness tracking technology, we encourage you to take this metric with a grain of salt” (Fitbit).
The Jawbone Up also can predict calories burned per day. However, the Jawbone Up only records heart rate in “active minutes” (Nike). The device needs “5 minutes of continuous movement to classify a 15-minute workout as an active session” (Nike). Because of these limitations, the Jawbone Up does not accurately predict calories burned per day. For the Jawbone Up to correctly calculate calories burned, it would need to record the heart rate for an entire 8 hour day (Nike). Furthermore, because the device must have movement for at least 5 minutes, it cannot be worn 24/7 and can only be used as a daily tracker.
The Nike Fuelband is one of the most basic fitness trackers on the market. It only records steps taken during a given day and does not provide calorie tracking information (“Nike Fuelband” 1; “Nike”). The device also does not record heart rate. Because the Nike Fuelband only records steps taken and does not provide users with anywhere near as much information as Fitbit or Jawbone Up.
It can only estimate calories burned based on how many steps were taken. The Nike Fuelband is the least accurate fitness tracker on the market because it can predict nothing more than step activity. The device cannot predict how many calories are burned based on heart rate or other metrics. Although some fitness trackers on the market may not be as accurate, they provide far more data predicting calorie burn and overall health.
Steps Taken
Jawbone Up is one of the most accurate fitness trackers on the market. The Jawbone Up can record steps taken and estimate distance traveled and calories burned per day. Over a given period, it has been proven to be more accurate than Fitbit when tracking steps taken during a week full of activity. In a study conducted by market research firm Experian, Jawbone Up was shown to be more accurate than the Fitbit when counting steps taken (“Gadgets That Keep Track”).
In this study, participants were all given a Fitbit and asked to record their steps taken for 14 days. A total of 81 test subjects participated in the study. Both devices were tested against a “precise pedometer,” and Fitbit was found to be 8.2% less accurate than Jawbone Up (“Gadgets That Keep Track”).
In addition to step tracking accuracy, Jawbone Up allows users more insight into how many calories have been burned by analyzing oxygen consumption during exercise. This metric is known as VO2 max, and it can also be used for heart rate training. It is a better predictor for overall fitness because it also considers speed, age, and fitness level.
According to Jawbone Up, VO2 Max “is more related to cardiovascular fitness than calorie expenditure” (Jawbone 11). Furthermore, “VO2 max is the best indicator of performance in endurance sports such as distance running and cycling because VO2 capacity is directly related to maximum oxygen consumption – which drives energy output and time spent exercising” (Jawbone 11).
Nike Fuelband is also known for its accuracy with step counts. Nike reports that their device has a 99% accuracy rate for counting steps during a given day (Nike). Nike does not record heart rate on the Fuelband device. Thus, the device analyzes how many calories are burned by how many steps are taken during a given day.
The Nike Fuelband comes in two versions: Nike Fuelband (Red) and Nike Fuelband (Black). The Red version is designed for people with a hilly area and good muscle tone. Therefore, it is better for running, biking, and walking on slight inclines. The Black version is designed for people with a flat area and average to minimal muscle tone. Because of these differences, the Black model can be used for walking or jogging on flat surfaces (Nike).
Cost
Fitbit offers several different models of their devices at varying prices. Both the Fitbit One and Fitbit Flex are available for $59.95. Both the Fitbit Zip and Fitbit One are priced at $99.95. The Fitbit One was recently priced at $139.95, but it is no longer available on the website (Fitbit). The Jawbone Up has a much lower price tag than both devices. The Nuo offers three colors, including black, tortoiseshell, and violet-blue (Nuo). It retails for a very low $40 per unit and can be purchased on the Jawbone Website or Argus Stop by using the code “70U7348” (Nuo).
The Fitbit Ace is the most expensive fitness tracker on the market. It retails for $250 and comes in black (Fitbit). The device has a similar design to the One and One Flex; however, it is much larger than both. It also has an hour-long reminder to move each day (Fitbit). In addition, some extra features only include the Ace lineup, such as being able to see how far you ran during a given day and being able to set intervals (“Fitbit How”). It was recently priced at $150, but it is now not available on the website (Fitbit).
The Nike Fuelband has the lowest price tag on the market. The only version is the Nike One which retails for $149.95 (“Nike Fuelband” 3). This model is available in black, blue, red, and white. In addition, each unit comes with a free pair of wireless headphones from Beats.
Technology
There are two different electronic sensors used in today’s fitness trackers: optical and accelerometer (Nike). Optical sensors measure distance traveled by the photography of light reflected through light detectors such as a CCD or CMOS sensor (Nike). Accelerometers use gyroscopic force to measure distance traveled by changing the angle of a rotating wheel (Nike). There are differences between optical and accelerometer technology—however, it is not always a clear-cut answer as to which technology is better.
Nike states that optical sensors tend to be less expensive than accelerometers and can track up to 120 activities for up to 36 hours (Nike). Accelerometers can detect smaller movements and can be used without needing direct contact with the body. Both technologies require very little battery power and are usually rechargeable via USB (Nike).
Fitbit One uses an optical sensor to measure the distance traveled during exercise. The device was designed with a greater focus on accuracy and tracking different activities (Fitbit). The One unit has three LEDs that light up during exercise. When any of the lights turn red, Fitbit recommends that you stop exercising and allow the device to reset. The One counts steps taken and keeps track of how much time spent exercising using a combination of accelerometer technology and GPS technology to determine the distance traveled as well as calories burned (“Fitbit”).
Jawbone Up measures distance traveled using an accelerometer-based system and a more accurate method for counting steps. It can accurately count up to 30,000 steps per day to gauge total fitness levels (BearWear). The device can tell time, track sleeping patterns, and monitor the number of calories burned even after exercise (“Gadgets That Keep Track”).
Nuo makes use of a magnetometer to determine the distance traveled. The tracker calculates the distance by counting the number of times it moves from left to right. It lets users know how far they have walked/jogged (Nuo). The Nuo comes in two different types: Nuo – Black and Nuo – Tortoise Shell. The black model is perfect for flat areas, but it does not measure steps (Nuo). The tortoiseshell model is designed for people with a hilly area and good muscle tone (Nuo).
Comfort
Whichever tracker you choose, a certain level of comfort and design goes with it. To keep users from wearing the device during the night, it has been designed to sleep-track to keep users aware of how much they move through the night (“Understanding”). Most devices can be worn under clothing and not have any issues sliding out of position.
However, some users may feel uncomfortable wearing a device on their wrist instead of other areas such as around the waist. Jawbone was an early company that made a genuinely effective wearable for fitness trackers. They created their Up band with a focus on comfort and accuracy. The device adjusts to your body’s movement and senses when you are moving. As a result, the Up keeps your wrist in the ideal position for maximum comfort (BearWear).
In terms of design, all of these fitness trackers have one thing in common: a clear display that is easy to see and read (“Gadgets”). Because these devices are meant for fitness purposes, they usually have colors that match the colors found on athletic wear. For example, Nike has released three different bands made up of shades from black to red that match the colors found on athletic wear. Additionally, Nike has also released a watch for their Fuelband that looks like an athletic watch with a clear screen on the front. The screen allows users to see their progress throughout the day (“Gadgets”).
The Fitbit One unit is designed to be extremely accurate and durable at the same time. It comes in black with a blue band with a soft plastic stitch (Fitbit). It has large text on display to read even when moving. The device comprises two pieces instead of one large piece found in other devices, including Jawbone Up, which makes it much easier to use during exercise (“Fitbit”). It has an indicator light that lights up whenever it is attached to users’ wrists and shows the current date, time, and the wearer’s weight (Fitbit).
The Nike Fuelband works by using a hidden sensor under the band. The tracker has three different monitors: green, yellow, and red. The green monitor represents the amount of time spent sleeping, while the yellow monitor represents how many calories are burned during exercise.
As a result, users can track their steps and their progress (Nike). It has an indicator light that lights up when attached to users’ wrists so that it is easy to see when they are wearing it (Nike).
The Jawbone Up has three lights located on the face of its unit: two small blue lights and one large red light (BearWear). The user’s overall progress can be seen at a glance by reading the flashing lights. Each time one of the blue lights flashes, it represents that 10 percent of your daily goal was achieved. By reading all three blue lights, you can tell that you have reached 100 percent of your daily goal.
The red light stays on as long as users are moving. When they are not moving and are sitting down, the device automatically goes into sleep mode to conserve battery power. It is important to note that the number of steps taken will not be correct if the device is in sleep mode (“Gadgets”). Since it takes more steps to walk a mile than running, compare your steps with the actual distance traveled.
The code from which the algorithms on these devices are derived came from real-life research done by University of California Berkley researchers to get information about calorie burn and the length of time an individual with different fitness levels spent exercising (McGuire).
The purpose behind keeping track of this information was for companies like Nike and Fitbit to create extremely accurate devices. It was also used in research studies to study how various activities affect the heart (McGuire). The goal of this research is to keep people active by reducing their risk for heart disease and decreasing the amount of time they spend sitting down or being sedentary (“Understanding”).
In short, it is fairly easy to find a device that fits you perfectly, whether you are an athlete or someone who likes to exercise. With so many different brands, it cannot be easy to trust which brand will fit you best. However, getting the most out of your fitness and health tracking device becomes easy and fun once you find your perfect fit.
