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Why we love Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, and more

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Wellness is a buzzy word lately. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a surge in all things health, wellness, and spirituality. Juice bars are popping up, boutique studios are becoming more accessible, and are chilling us out. Self-care is becoming more of the norm too, but amidst all this hype, it can be challenging to find the right routine that promotes good exercise, sleep, vitals, and mindset. 

Fortunately, there is a potential solution to the wellness madness. If you’re determined to make your #healthgoals happen, can be a major help. These wearable devices are game changes for keeping tabs on physical and mental wellbeing. While some feature basic tracking, others come with advanced features like mileage reports and smartphone compatibility. 

Finding the right fitness tracker can be challenging with so many options. You might be an avid athlete or more of an occasional gym rat, but regardless of what your activities are, there is a fitness tracker out there for your health needs. Before your drop major bucks on a fitness tracker, there are few things to you might want to consider. 

Physical activity: What are your daily workout needs? Consider how a fitness tracker can benefit your exercise regimen. If you engage in activities like pilates, yoga, or walking, opt for a basic fitness tracker for heart rate monitoring and sleep data. On the other hand, if high-intensity workouts, including running and swimming,  are more of your thing, choose a fitness tracker that can give you vital reads and remember your mileage. 

Design: Wearables are meant to make our lives easier, yet some can be super clunky and uncomfortable. Invest in a fitness tracker that’s not an eyesore and fits nicely on your wrist. You don’t want to cut off your circulation or have it slip off while you’re on the move. Look for models that come in different colors too, so you can have one that goes with your activewear, casual, and work outfits. 

Wellness features: A fitness tracker might already monitor heart rate, but what are its other wellness features? Some trackers give you stats on your sleep patterns, daily movement, and distance after workouts. Even though fitness trackers are not meant to cure or prevent any diseases, they can give valuable insights on your physical and mental state. 

Smartphone compatibility: Your smartphone is probably one of the most important tech devices, so it might be helpful to find a fitness tracker that connects with it. If that’s the case, you can receive call and text notifications when you’re commuting, exercising, or moving around the house. This is a major plus if your prone to miss phone calls from coworkers, family members, and friends. Plus, some trackers come with smartphone apps, so you can store all your data in one convenient place. 

Power: Most fitness trackers run on batteries or need to be charged regularly. Check to see the power life of a tracker first before buying it. If it doesn’t last long, skip it and opt for another model. You don’t want to have a tracker that can’t keep up with your physical activity needs. 

Warranty: Some fitness trackers might come with a guarantee or warranty. See what their policies are on defects in materials or workmanship. If they don’t come with either, consider how often you’ll need to replace or repair them. 

Here are our top picks for the best heart rate fitness trackers. 


All-in-one hub for observing wellness stats • Connects to your smartphone for GPS assistance • Polar Flow app helps you analyze performance and plan fitness schedule

Battery life depends on how many notifications you get

Make all the #fitnessgoals happen with Polar’s A370 Fitness Tracker, which is our top pick for health observing, GPS assistance, and valuable training feedback.

1. Polar A370 Fitness Tracker

Smartphone compatibility and a variety of wellness features makes Polar’s A370 Fitness Tracker our top choice for health management.

  • Weight:
    13.8 ounces
  • Power:
    Up to 4 days
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    2 years
  • What you’ll get:
    A Polar A370 Fitness Tracker, a band, a charging cable, and a manual
Wellness versatility and smartphone compatibility make our top pick for keeping tabs on health stats. 
This fitness tracker is a heart rate monitor, calorie counter, sleep observer, and exercise logger in one convenient wearable. It provides you with your lowest and highest heart rate, calorie burn data, and a Sleep Plus feature for REM insight, so you can stay on top of your wellness game. 
Smartphone compatibility is another perk of this fitness tracker. If you’re walking, running, or cycling, it uses your smartphone’s GPS signal to help you track your route, speed, and distance. Can’t miss notifications? This fitness tracker has you covered. It works with the Polar Flow app, where you can analyze your progress, schedule workouts, and receive coaching tips right on its screen. And, you can access all your Polar Flow app activity on your mobile device. It’s that simple. 
A limited two-year warranty comes with this fitness tracker and it covers defects in materials and workmanship. It does not cover the battery, or damage caused by normal wear-and-tear. You can contact Polar if you have concerns or questions about the tracker’s warranty status. 
Amazon customer says: 

“Absolutely love this! FINALLY upgraded from the Polar FT4 and I am soooo happy that I did! So far, I’ve used this in a Zumba, BodyPump, and CXWorx class in addition to a normal weight training session. It doesn’t get in the way doing clean and presses etc like my FT4 did and it still gives accurate info without the strap. Screen quality is great although I feel like I will definitely need to purchase a screen protector. 10/10 hands down. I researched for days and compared compared compared. My only regret is that I didn’t buy this sooner. Surprisingly enough, I was also able to figure out the Polar Flow fairly quickly which is super beneficial to understanding my workouts!”


Easy dashboard access for daily health progress • Comes with 15 different exercise modes • Connects with smartphone for call and text alerts

Font size on screen could be small • You’ll need to buy extra wristbands if you want to switch up your look

Fitbit’s Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker provides an easy-to-navigate screen and no-fuss wellness features to take your daily sleep, workouts, and vitals to the next level.

2. Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker

  • Dimensions:
    1.6 x 4 x 8.9 inches
  • Weight:
    4.8 ounces
  • Power:
    Up to 7 pounds
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    45-day guarantee and 1 year warranty
  • What you’ll get:
    A Fitbit Charge 3, classic wristbands (both small & large), and a charging cable
Ease-of-use is a major factor in the wearable equation and makes wellness monitoring a breeze.
It’s personal dashboard makes navigation seamless, because you can see an integrated view of your health data. You’ll get up-to-date information on your heart rate, calories burned, steps taken, REM sleep rate, and reminders to move throughout the day. 
While you’re working out, you can select one of 15 exercise modes, including circuit training, biking, running, yoga, and more. If you’re a swimmer, this fitness tracker is waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can track your laps in the pool. 
This fitness tracker conveniently connects to your smartphone too. Access the Fitbit Health and Fitness App to improve sleeping habits and receive workout guidance. Plus, you can receive call and text notifications right on the tracker’s screen. 
Fitbit provides a 45-day guarantee and one-year limited warranty for this fitness tracker. If you’re not happy with your purchase, you can return it and request a refund. The one-year limited warranty is valid for certain cases and you’ll need to contact Fitbit to see if your model is eligible for repairs. 
, an Amazon reviewer, writes: 

“This is my first Fitbit and for six whole days and nights I’ve been very impressed. I got it mainly for pulse and sleep issues. Someone wrote it is off 20 bpm but others say they tested it against devices and it is pretty spot on. Hope so. Love the sleep tracking! I have to agree with another reviewer who complained about font size and my 73-year-old eyes could sure use bigger, brighter figures…..but I can manage. I am a non-techy guy and feel the whole process these past 6 days as been easy and pretty intuitive. For $150 I get to know my pulse and have great sleep tracking that the $500 Apple Watch would not give me.”


Athlete-friendly training feedback for races • Built-in activity profiles for accurate exercise stats • Garmin Connect app is smartphone-friendly • Get notifications on your screen

You’ll have to buy a heart rate strap separately for recovery advisor

Garmin’s Forerunner 735XT Smartwatch offers advanced training feedback, built-in activity profiles for sports, and wrist-based heart monitoring for athletes.

3. Garmin – Forerunner 735XT Smartwatch

With sport-specific settings, advanced training feedback, and a connected app, Garmin’s Forerunner 735XT Smartwatch is the perfect fitness companion for athletes.

  • Dimensions:
    44.5 x 44.5 x 11.9 mm
  • Weight:
    1.4 ounces
  • Power:
    24 hours
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    1 year
  • What you’ll get:
    A Garmin Forerunner 735XT Smartwatch, a charging/data clip, and a manual
Athletes can’t have the conventional wearable setup and is the ultimate fitness companion for not-so-basic workouts. 
Whether you’re biking, running, sprinting, or strength training, this fitness tracker gives you dialed-in data to help you perform your best. It comes with a comfy strap that’s durable enough for whatever your workout flow is, so no need to worry about it falling off. 
In addition to wrist-based heart monitoring, this tracker provides ground contact time balance, vertical ratio, and stride length for next-level training feedback. There are built-in activity profiles for various workouts, so you’ll know your performance stats are genuinely based on real-time conditions. Download the Garmin Connect app too if you want to work on your personal record or connect with other users in the greater fitness community. 
It’s compatible with Android and iPhone models, so you can receive notifications on your screen when you’re working out and store exercise insights on the Garmin Connect app as well. 
When you buy this fitness tracker, you’ll get a one-year consumer limited warranty. Contact Garmin directly if you have any questions about tech support and registering your tracker. 
Best Buy customer writes: 

“I am very happy with my Garmin 735xt. It gives me more stats and info than all the other fitness watch I’ve tried. I got it for the multi-sport functions for triathlon training. It could be a little complicated if your not very tech savvy, but once you figure out the menus it’s amazing!!! I have not taken it off other than to charge a few times in two weeks. The sleep data is very good info to have each morning. Battery life is amazing in normal watch mode, and GPS mode seems to drain battery as stated by Garmin about 12 to 14 hours. This is the ultimate fitness watch for the person that does a lot of multi-sport exercise.“


Basic tracking features at an affordable price • 14 exercise modes for your various fitness activities • Veryfit Pro app keeps your fitness data in one place • Receive calls, text, and social media alerts with the tracker

If you don’t feel like forking over a lot of cash, Microtella’s Fitness Tracker is budget-friendly and packs in all the wellness insight perks.

4. Microtella Fitness Tracker

Microtella’s Fitness Tracker is affordable, monitors your heart rate, and comes with 14 different fitness settings for personalized workout stats.

  • Dimensions:
    3 x 3 x 1 inches
  • Weight:
    4 ounces
  • Power:
    Up to 7 days
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    None
  • What you’ll get:
    A Microtella Fitness Tracker, a band, and a USB charger
Wearables don’t always come cheap, but will give you great heart monitoring, sleep stats, and more helpful health insights.
Basic features include a 23-hour heart rate monitor, a calorie counter, a sleep tracker, a sedentary reminder, and daily distance stats. 
For fitness, this tracker comes with 14 different exercise modes that vary from football to tennis. You can specifically monitor your activity by sport and use your smartphone’s GPS to map out your workout routes. This tracker will share the duration of your workouts too, so you can work on your personal record every time. For additional help, the VeryfitPro app keeps all your workout insights in one convenient place. 
Can’t miss notifications? Just connect your smartphone to this tracker for incoming call and text alerts. This tracker also accepts notifications from other social media platforms, including Facebook Messenger and Twitter. 
, an Amazon reviewer, says:

“Microtella fitness band is the best smart band I have owned. I’ve tried other fitness trackers in the past, but this one is definitely on top. The packaging was very professional and explains very well the features of the fitness band. I like the design and how easy it is to charge. No cables are needed. The app integration is so seamless and using the fitness tracker requires no effort at all. It automatically starts working once you put it on. It keeps track of your steps, calories and sleeping patterns, and shows it on a graph.”


Water-friendly design for swimming and other pool sports • Wrist-based heart monitoring technology for HRV and VO2 max • Easy-to-read display for fast navigation • Works with smartphones for analyzing health stats

You’ll have to pay extra for screen protectors

Headed to the pool? Garmin’s vivoactive 3 is a great fitness tracker that’s water-friendly and includes a preloaded data app for swimming workouts.

5. Garmin vivoactive 3

  • Dimensions:
    1.7 x 0.5 x 1.7 inches
  • Weight:
    1.44 ounces
  • Power:
    5 to 10 days
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    1 year
  • What you’ll get:
    A vívoactive 3 fitness tracker, a Charging/data cable, and manuals
Love swimming? is a great fitness tracker for your water-friendly workouts. 
In between laps, you can use its wrist-based heart monitoring to observe heart rate variability (HRV) and estimate your VO2 max. There’s 15 preloaded sports apps on the tracker, including swimming, so you can track your physical activity and improve personal records every time. Plus, you can use the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone to analyze your daily swim exercise. 
Unlike other fitness trackers, this model is safe for the pool and showers, so you don’t have to worry about it getting ruined in water environments. Plus, the Garmin Chroma Display on the tracker is easy to read and features a Side-Swipe interface for quick scrolling and navigation. 
Garmin includes a one-year warranty with this fitness tracker. You can contact Garmin if you have questions about what’s covered and how to file a warranty claim. 
Amazon reviewer says: 

“I love this watch! Very light weight. Water resistant. I hardly ever take it off. Battery lasts a long time and charges very quickly.”


Hybrid accessory for time and tracking • Monitors heart rates with three modes • Alexa integration for all the smart home feels • Long battery life

You’ll have to eventually replace the battery

Add some tech to your exercise regimen with Nokia’s Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch that features Alexa integration and three different heart monitor modes.

6. Nokia Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch

  • Dimensions:
    9.7 x 1.4 x 0.5 inches
  • Weight:
    8.2 ounces
  • Power:
    25 days
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    1 year
  • What you’ll get:
    A Nokia Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch and a CR2 battery
is a sweet hybrid of style, functionality, and cutting-edge wellness tracking. 
As a smartwatch and fitness tracker in-one, this sleek model tracks your heart rate in workout mode and monitors day and night heart rate for improved stats. It’s around the clock fitness tracking automatically notes your walk, run, and swim distance, plus the number of calories burned in each workout. Plus, you can analyze your sleep patterns with this tracker, which has a Smart Wake-Up feature to help you better your cycle. 
But, that’s not all. Unlike other models, this fitness tracker goes above the typical smartphone compatibility. It’s Alexa-friendly, meaning you can enable the virtual voice assistant to give you fitness stats with a few voice commands. 
The battery life is also important to point out, because you’ll get 25 days (No, kidding!) of battery use. That’s way more than similar models on the market. 
This fitness tracker comes with a one-year limited warranty. It does not cover normal wear-and-tear and you’ll have to contact Nokia if you need help filing a warranty claim. 
, an Amazon customer, writes: 

“I simply love this product. It fits around my wrist just right, and I feel comfortable at all times. I’ve always liked to wear watches that look classy and simple. I get to have the best of both worlds between a fitness tracker and a classic watch. The wristband is silicon but the watch itself is made with sturdy materials such as stainless steel and thick glass. I also love that the battery lasts a long time. I charge it once every few weeks. I haven’t taken it off ever since I bought it. I simply love it. I’m thinking about buying another one just to have it as a backup in case I lose or break this one, years down the road. I really feel like this product will last beyond the one year mark.”


Functional and stylish design • Try out ring size beforehand with Motiv Sizing Set • Provides most fitness tracking perks

Doesn’t come with screen notifications

Stay on trend and enjoy wellness monitoring benefits with the Motiv Ring, a stylish upgrade from the conventional fitness tracker.

7. Motiv Ring

  • Dimensions:
    4.5 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
  • Weight:
    1.6 ounces
  • Power:
    Up to 3 days
  • Smartphone Compatibility:
    Yes
  • Warranty:
    45-day guarantee and 1-year warranty
  • What you’ll get:
    A Motiv Sizing Set, a Motiv Ring, and two slim charging docks
Wearable can be super clunky at times, so why not opt for the fashionable and functional
First, let’s talk about the design. It comes wrapped in a titanium shell that’s durable, waterproof, and has a shade that pretty much goes with every outfit. Whether you’re going to cycling class or late brunch, this fitness tracker is versatile enough to wear to multiple occasions. 
On the tech side, it has many of the same benefits as other models: heart rate monitoring, calorie counting, and sleep tracking. Plus, you’ll have access to the Motiv app that displays your exercise activity, distance traveled, and fitness goal progress, 
Ordering this ring is really easy too. Motiv will first send you a sizing set, so you can order the right fit. When you’re done, add your size to Motiv.com, and you’ll get your customized ring in as little as two business days. 
Motiv’s ring comes with a 45-day warranty where you can exchange or return it and after that period, the model is eligible for a one-year warranty. Contact Motiv for tech troubleshooting and warranty inquiries. 
Amazon reviewer says: 

“I bought a Motiv Ring to replace a Fitbit that unfortunately broke after it went through the washing machine. I wanted something that was unobtrusive but fully functional in terms of fitness tracking for my elliptical exercises, didn’t need to be recharged everyday like most smartwatches, and could hopefully do things like sleep tracking. Motiv checked all the boxes, and you don’t look like a fitness buff or tech geek when you wear it. The app answers all your main questions with cards that summarize what your activity has been, and battery life lasted about four days.”

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