By Mashable | Created at 2025-03-02 11:48:31 | Updated at 2025-03-10 14:12:13
1 week ago
Overview
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Unfortunately, you can't buy the motivation to get your butt in the gym (or to do any kind of exercise). But, you can buy a great fitness tracker to help light a fire under your ass to take more than 500 steps in a day. And hey, that's not nothing!
The conversation around fitness has changed quite a bit over the past few years (as made clear by Every Fashion Brand Ever releasing a line of matching leggings and sports bras). We can thank the self-care revolution for this one. Actively monitoring your fitness progression isn't just for athletes or people training for their hometown's 5K. It's a building block of wellness that people are baking into their daily groove, just like keeping up with a skincare routine or eating your vegetables.
Ever since the pandemic closed most gyms for an extended period of time, home fitness and smart home gyms are having a moment — and we don't think they're going anywhere, even though it's safe to fight with sweaty strangers over the last elliptical again.
Fitness trackers fit really nicely into this widening self-made fitness market, which is one of the main reasons they've become so popular. Yes, they're a cool gadget, but beyond building up your tech arsenal, fitness trackers can help people find their way into self-care and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Here are just some of the features that a good fitness tracker can offer you:
Workout tracking
GPS tracking
Virtual rewards for staying active
Sleep tracking
Recovery suggestions
Mindfulness apps
Heart rate monitoring
Menstrual cycle tracking (which may be problematic in certain cases)
Body temperature measurements
Blood oxygen monitoring
Fall detection
Phone calls and notifications from your wrist
Tap-to-pay
Access to music
When it comes to exercise, they're the next best thing to having a trainer — suggesting workouts, watching your heart get stronger, and letting you know when it's time for a breather — all on your own time. Whether your preferred form of exercise is the gym, a long run, a few laps in the pool, a 10-minute workout on YouTube, or a casual walk around the neighborhood, it'll be there to record all of your PRs and motivate you with new challenges.
It's not just the time that you're sweating that matters: Restorative exercises and recovery are just as imperative to keep an eye on. At-home yoga could be therapeutic on your days off from HIIT, with meditation sprinkled in to keep stress or anxiety from eating at your will to get off the couch. A great fitness tracker can help with both of these things, as well as lay out a recovery plan when your body needs to rest — a constant reminder to love yourself just as hard as you push yourself.
This type of mindfulness isn't always easy, and the best fitness trackers are the ones that will keep you in check throughout your workout as well as the rest of your day. Casual activity tracking, trackers that monitor your sleep (sometimes going as deep as times spent in each stage of sleep), heart rate, body temperature, and blood-oxygen levels can provide insight into how much energy you can put toward a workout on a given day. They'll also give you a head's up if you've been exercising too hard — all of which can aid in optimal performance and overall health.
Read our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.
Who it's for:
If you don't want a small smartphone on your wrist at all times, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a simple, easy-to-use pick for a fitness tracker. Whether you're low-tech and need something for basic health and fitness metrics, or you just don't want to spend a small fortune on a smartwatch, the Inspire 3 offers everything you need and nothing you don't. It has a comprehensive suite of health and fitness tracking features, a slim, low-profile design, and a straightforward user interface that makes it a great pick for most people. And, at sub-$100, it's budget-friendly, too.
Why we picked this:
During testing, reviewer Sam Stone mentioned that nearly every function worked perfectly. From step tracking to sleep monitoring to automatically detecting workouts, Stone said that "the Fitbit Inspire 3 fit seamlessly into my existing workout routine, and seeing some analytics even pushed me to work harder in some cases."
Stone noted that the battery life of the Inspire 3 was a bit shorter than advertised, and he also had some slight issues with the SmartWake feature and heart rate monitoring during incredibly sweaty workouts, though neither were dealbreakers. Potential buyers should also note that the Inspire 3 does not include GPS functionality like the Fitbit Charge 6.
"Sure, there are one or two kinks that could be worked out," said Stone. "But overall, it’s an incredible device that is super helpful for someone hoping to get into a fitness routine or push themselves that much further at the gym.
Whoop 4.0
Best for sleep and recovery tracking
Read our full review of the Whoop 4.0.
Who it's for:
For people interested in in-depth sleep and recovery tracking, the Whoop 4.0 gives more data points than any user could wish for. The sleek tracker measures your daily activity strain, heart rate, sleep quality, and more to give you a daily recovery score. You'll fill out a questionnaire each day that helps you see how different factors (like alcohol and stress) impact your overall recovery. This tracker doesn't have a screen, which means fewer distractions during the day, but it does require a $239 per year membership, which adds up in comparison to other trackers that are a one-and-done purchase.
Why we picked this:
During testing, reviewer Sam Stone didn't mind the lack of a screen with step and heart rate tracking that most other fitness trackers tout, and was instead able to stay more focused on his workouts while testing the Whoop 4.0. Stone also noted that Whoop's habits journal helped him note the effect of alcohol on his sleep and habits that affected his mental health. Though Stone mentioned that parsing through all the data that Whoop offers was "akin to taking the SAT," he also says that the Whoop 4.0 "is a fitness band that is built to create a workout routine that will stick."
Check out our full Oura Ring 4 review.
Who it's for:
Known for its sleep tracking features — including a negative temperature coefficient sensor that scans while you snooze — the Oura Ring 4 is a low-profile fitness tracker that gives users in-depth info about their sleep, workouts, recovery, mindfulness, and more. Former Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon gave the Oura Ring a 4.5 out of 5 on the Mashable scale, reporting that it's a fantastic alternative fitness tracker as long as you're using an iOS-compatible device. "Although I adore the Oura Ring 4, my recommendation is dependent on which device you have. I've tested the Oura Ring 4 on both my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra as well as the iPhone 16 Pro Max — and this beastly little wearable appears to be more compatible with one over the other," she wrote. Come for the meaningful, accurate tracking metrics, and stay for that stunning metallic finish (which stood the test of time way better than the Oura Ring 3, which very quickly scratched up).
Why we picked this:
The Oura Ring 4 has plenty of style, but thankfully, it's also got a lot of substance. Because it uses your finger's pulse to track your heart rate rather than your wrist like most other fitness wearables, you end up getting much more direct and accurate metric tracking altogether — whether you're crushing a workout or fast asleep. "My Oura Ring 4 is still 'figuring me out,'" Gedeon wrote. "But based on what it knows of me so far, it's done an impressive job. For example, it can pick up on my stress quite well — showing an uptick of anxiety during work hours and more relaxed readings after hours while I'm watching Love Island USA on Peacock with my fiance."
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Oura Ring 4, though, is the built-in AI advisor that can contextualize your tracking data for you and can give suggestions to help you become an overall healthier individual. "The AI advisor accurately pointed out that I have challenges with sleep, with a bad habit of going to sleep too late. Plus, it said that I have high activity levels, but being more consistent would be helpful," Gedeon reported.
While we obviously loved our time with the Oura Ring 4, there is one caveat: It's at its best when paired with an iPhone rather than an Android device. Gedeon tested the wearable using both types of smartphones, and said that the Oura experience was way more seamless and bug-free on iOS. Also, be aware that you'll have to pay a $6 monthly fee once you get your Oura Ring 4 to use the device to its full potential. "Overall, the Oura Ring 4 is a wellness powerhouse with a sleek design and cutting-edge AI that takes personalized health tracking to the next level," Gedeon concluded in her review.
Oura also claims it can tell users when they're getting sick before symptoms even show up, and says it can predict menstrual cycles accurately based on temperature variability. Though Mashable staff hasn't tested those last two features, Oura is definitely at the top of its game when it comes to wellness and prediction features.
Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.
Who it's for:
If you're already knee-deep in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch Series 10 will easily integrate into your lifestyle. The Precision Finding feature is ideal for iPhone users who are constantly losing their phones, and it comes with 64 GB of storage, making it great for folks who like to store a lot of music on their watch. If you have a Series 6 or earlier Apple Watch, we recommend springing for the Series 10 upgrade.
If you have a Series 7, 8, or 9, though, you may want to consider holding onto it for the time being. Like the changes from the Series 8 to 9, the update is pretty negligible. In Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder's review of the Apple Watch Series 10, he noted that while the display on the new watch is certainly bigger and better, the continued omission of a blood-oxygen monitor and a very minor update to the device's battery life doesn't make it the best upgrade pick if you're already an owner of one of the more recent generation models. Still, if you want the latest and greatest from Apple, the Series 10 Watch is certainly that.
Why we picked this:
Though it doesn't look too much different than its predecessor, the Series 10 comes with a solid screen improvement from the Apple Watch Series 9, making it easier to read in direct sunlight and causing less squinting when looking at it in the dark. It's bigger and slimmer, which is always a welcome improvement for something that you'll be wearing on your wrist for hours at a time. Apple's latest watch also features the new S10 SiP chip, a 64-bit dual-core processor, and a four-core Neural Engine, which brings a bit more processing speed with it when compared to the Series 9. It's worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 10 is still being sold without a blood oxygen sensor, due to an ongoing patent dispute.
Each fitness tracker in this roundup was hands-on and vetted by various Mashable staff and contributors, putting every single one through its paces to reach a final verdict. At a minimum, each testing period involved inspecting the device's overall build quality and comfort upfront, and then incorporating each tracker into our respective lifestyles, from how we exercise to how we sleep.
We paid special attention to specs like battery life, the robustness of tracking data including sleep and exercise, any companion app's user interface and synergy with the device itself, as well as any extra features (like the Oura Ring 4's AI assistant, for example). Other features like built-in GPS/cellular support and advanced water resistance scored high marks in our book.
Frequently Asked Questions
A fitness tracker is essentially a bracelet or other type of wearable (like the Oura Ring) with sensors that send data to your phone to provide an expanded picture of the data it collects, and usually requires a phone for GPS and music. A smartwatch is essentially a fitness tracker plus your phone, but on your wrist. It has GPS built-in (sometimes using cellular data, which usually just acts as an extra line on your smartphone carrier bill) and can download apps. With something like an Apple Watch, you can send voice messages or take calls, have a conversation via iMessage, and get all your social media notifications to your wrist.
Anyone who said "screw it, I'm dropping $2,000 on an exercise bike" over the past few years would probably like to know which tracker can best log their cycling data.
If you already have an indoor bike, check to see which watches or software the bike is compatible with. For instance, the Peloton bike features Apple GymKit integration for Apple Watches and can also be synced with a Fitbit account. NordicTrack's iFit also offers two-way Apple Watch integration. Most modern trackers and watches are equipped with an accelerometer to accurately measure "distance" on a treadmill.
Any respectable tracker should be able to accompany you on a run in the rain without crapping out. At this point, almost every tracker goes past splash and sweat resistance to hit a 5 ATM rating, meaning the device can withstand pressure equivalent up to 50 meters (164 feet). These should be fine to wear in the shower, in the ocean, or in a hot tub.
Swimmers have a bit more to consider than the waterproof rating. Look for a tracker with built-in GPS that can not only follow you underwater, but accurately track your laps and pace. Dedicated modes for pool swims and open water swims are ideal. For more guidance on fitness trackers for swimming and other water sports, check out our roundup for the best waterproof fitness trackers.
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
The robot vacuum beat in particular has cemented itself as Leah's main ~thing~ across the past few years. Since 2019, her expertise has been perpetually bolstered by the meticulous eye she keeps on robot vacuum deals and new releases, but more importantly, her hands-on experience with more than 25 robot vacuums tested in her own home. (This number has probably gone up by the time you're reading this.) That at-home testing is standardized through Mashable's robot testing guide — a granular scoring rubric for assessing all aspects of owning and using a robot vacuum on the daily — that Leah created herself.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, sleep, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
When he's not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on X at @iamdylanhaas, or send him an email at [email protected].
Jae Thomas is a Colorado-based Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in pet tech, smart fitness gear, finding the perfect gift, and sourcing the top deals on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Jae has worked at Mashable since 2020, where they've written countless deals roundups and product reviews. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote food and lifestyle content for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.
When they're not testing products or writing about online shopping, you'll find Jae whipping up an elaborate meal, hiking, camping, or training their dogs, Miso and Dashi. Reach out to them on X at @jaetaurina or by email at [email protected].
