Fitness is one of the most meticulously recorded metrics. Today, success is measured in everything from beats to miles per minute. You don’t have to be a mathlete to compete with the fitness hipsters. Today, with the rapid advancement of technology and fashion, gaining a numerical advantage is simple.
And for that, praise the tech gods. The strange man in the gym wearing a heart rate monitor on his chest like a disco Terminator is no longer there. A glance at the wrist is required to examine nearly every indication of exertion. However, the question that baffles both gym rats and runners is: what should I look out for when purchasing a fitness watch?
Easy, according to Kerry McCarthy, Runner’s World magazine’s gear editor. A good fitness watch needs to meet a few basic requirements; nothing more is necessary. This is his list of critical tracking metrics and advice on making the most of the data.
THE STATS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
LENGTH OF STRIDE
Mo Farah covers over two meters of ground with each stride because of his big legs and incredibly flexible hips. You should aim for a distance of one to one and a half meters with each step, though yours is probably less than half of that. If it’s longer, you’re overreaching, which might result in damage unless you’re also a yogi. Shorter suggests you’re fussing, which wastes energy.
CADENCE
Here’s a superior behaviour you should strive for. The ideal pace for elite runners is 180 strides per minute, which is what they all do. It’s more likely that yours is about 160 if you’ve never looked at it. Attempt to increase your foot turnover rate to become your most proficient runner.
HEART RATE
“While many online algorithms are available to assist you in determining your target maximum heart rate, the traditional formula of 220 minus your age remains a sufficient guide for novices.” Therefore, your maximum heart rate should be 175 if you’re 45 years old. At that point, you start to lose your mind. It would help to run between 50 and 60 per cent of your maximum for easy, steady runs.
RANGE VS AVERAGE PACES
“Change your watch from “average pace” to “present pace” if you find it challenging to maintain consistency throughout each kilometre. Average pace tends to smooth out peaks and valleys and may provide the impression of control. Then, this may be adjusted on most devices to provide a reading once per second. This implies that if you’re disorganized like Phoebe from Friends and have never noticed, you’ll now see the pace reading dramatically fluctuating as you go. Try to defuse this situation.
WHICH WATCH IS IT?
Now that you know the benefits of a tracker, it’s time to update your watch. Naturally, reluctance in this case makes sense—the choice poses a bit of a sartorial conundrum for those aware of the trend.
Do you go all in, like a carefree maverick, set aside all expectations, and get a functional item dedicated to fitness so that everyone knows you can perform burpees at any time? Or should you choose a more traditional approach and check out one of the well-known watch companies’ ventures into fitness fashion?
Fortunately, depending on your objectives, you can accomplish both. Fitness and fashion are merging in the centre. Except for black ties, many stylish trackers now fit into most wardrobes, and even the most prestigious Swiss watchmakers are including tracking features sophisticated enough to take Fitbit to a footrace.
THE BEST BRAND NAMES FOR COMMITTED FITNESS WATCHES
FITBIT
Fitbit has been perfecting its midrange product line for some time, which has allowed it to create fantastic, reasonably priced watches that are perfect for the average person. Even while it’s doubtful that you’ll see one on a professional athlete, a Fitbit can still keep up with your goals for peak physical fitness.
The brand’s Alta HR is a strong competitor for your wrist, thanks to the recent addition of heart-rate monitoring technology. It’s an inconspicuous accessory because it’s packed into the slimmest chassis available, according to the manufacturer, especially considering the majority of subdued colour selections.
You may anticipate receiving information on steps taken; distance traveled, heart rate, calories burned, and total amount of activity within a seven-day battery life. Fitbit devices can also provide sleep data if that’s your thing.
POLAR
Polar started producing heart-rate monitors in 1977 before your mother became obsessed with achieving her 10,000 steps daily. Professional coaches use its cutting-edge tools to monitor athletes’ performance in almost every discipline, so you can be sure it will assist you in setting a new personal best.
Although the company produces entry-level units, its success can be attributed to its premium trackers. Consider recovery tips, integrated fitness assessments, and training plans tailored to individual sports.
Combine it with GPS technology that beats the others so you can track routes and lengths with greater accuracy and without using your phone. However, you can use Polar’s tailored training plans for middle- to long-distance running, provided via instructions on your watch, if you sync it with the phone app.
The typical functions of a wristwatch are also included, such as social media notifications and call and message alerts. This is your device if you frequently participate in races and want to be able to access your messages while training.
SUUNTO SPARTAN ULTRA
Things are now becoming serious. Diligent monitoring. Significant functionality. Significant cost. Since the 1930s, Suunto has been producing devices meant for outdoor performance. The company uses a GPS fix rate of one second for the most exact tracking available.
Granted, the Suunto Spartan line is among the priciest, but for good cause. It is the preferred solution for weekend warriors and serious athletes due to the vast array of available tracking possibilities.
Additionally, there is respect for aesthetics. The Ultra boasts a titanium bezel for protection, a colour touchscreen, and various available colours. Its inclusion in the Outdoor Gear Awards has earned it multiple design accolades. This watch’s multifaceted discipline features, which include 80 distinct sports modes with measurements unique to each, are its unique selling point.
With that, you can use heatmaps to locate other people’s well-traveled paths, map and identify new routes, store and beat personal records, and let the watch’s integrated navigation system lead you anywhere you need to go.
SAMSUNG
With its Tizen operating system, Samsung has made significant progress with its smartwatches and, most importantly, has produced a model suitable for almost every need, catering to casual wearers and die-hard fitness enthusiasts. This is one of the few areas in which the Korean tech giant has truly challenged Apple.
The flagship model, the Gear S3, continues tracking everything you could want, including speed, altitude, acceleration, and heart rate. However, the Gear Fit 2, which also has a built-in GPS, is more than adequate for males needing data to stay motivated.
GARMIN
While Garmin caters to a wide range of sports enthusiasts, including novices and competitive athletes, this brand is primarily used by experienced runners, bikers, and swimmers. Its VO2 Max function, which calculates the amount of oxygen consumed per minute per kilogram of body weight (sounds complicated, but it’s a great tool to assess athletic performance), has impacted other wristwatch manufacturers.
One of the most incredible models available is Garmin’s standard bearer, the Vivoactive 3, which excels in heart-rate tracking and GPS functionality. Garmin offers a watch for nearly every sport, including golf, triathlons, skiing, rowing, and the Vivoactive.
APPLE
Although fitness monitoring is just one of many capabilities on Apple smartwatches, they are helpful for anyone committed to exercising. The Activity app is for daily movement, while the Workout app is for working out. Now running Series 3, the Apple Watch divides its fitness functions between these two apps.
Like most Apple products, it’s pretty easy to use. In other words, the Activity app provides you with a basic quota of movement, standing, and calories to burn; on the other hand, the Workout app tracks your real-time exercise information, including duration, distance, and pace.
THE BEST BRANDS FOR FASHION-FITNESS WATCHES
TISSOT
Tissot is typically a solid starting point for purchasing a dependable watch without going over budget. The brand’s T Sport collection of timepieces delivers normally traditional-looking timepieces with sporty functionality while retaining all the characteristics of exquisite watchmaking artistry.
The PRC 200 is an enhancement over the favourably received Tradition Chronograph. Although the former has a far more sporty aspect up close, its understated design complements even the sharpest ensembles. Conversely, the latter appears more of an integrated chronograph fashion watch.
With this option, there is a watch for any circumstance. Its chronograph measures 60 seconds, 30 minutes, and 1/10 of a second—complete with a split function if necessary—can be used for job functions or to test the Swiss dependability.
MONDAINE HELVETICA 1 SMARTWATCH
It looks like this is just a regular watch, but it has brains running in the background. It has a simple display with a subdial resembling a standard clock. The words “Smart Swiss Made” in the middle of the face are the only thing that would let you know it has innovative features.
The feature comes in the form of an app. There’s no doubt that the Helvetica 1 is bright, even though it’s 90% watch. You can use the buttons on the watch to start tracking your exercise and sleep and to see your activity progress.
Inside the app, you can see how your profile is broken down and how far you’ve met your sleep and exercise goals. If you want a stylish watch with extra features, you won’t find a better one than this. But it can’t compete with something like a Suunto Spartan.
TAG HEUER CONNECTED
The Tag Heuer Connected is like the Batman of watches—it’s as stylish and low-key as Bruce Wayne, as ready for action, and full of gadgets as Batman. And no other watch entirely hides its superhero side like this one. You can make it look like any other watch, and the OLED touchscreen can even be set to show the classic analogue look you’d expect from a Tag.
When you go modular, you can customize your watch even more. If you want to test its fitness features, you can have it strapped with metal, leather, or rubber (Batman would approve, too). Tag is a real competitor because it has an Intel processor, which makes it much faster than the average high-end smartwatch.
It has a built-in accelerometer, gyroscope, tilt detector, haptic engine, and GPS to keep track of your movement while you’re on the go. There’s even mobile payment if you need to pick up something to eat on the way home from the gym. Plus, having such an excellent screen for Google Maps on your wrist makes it feel like you’re in the future.
SKAGEN
This less well-known Danish watchmaker makes some of the most aesthetically pleasing exercise wearables on the market. Its hybrid trackers look so good that you might think they are just regular watches.
In reality, they only track steps, distance, and calories. The brilliant Falster watch looks more high-tech with its digital screen and comes with Google Fit already installed, so you can track your fitness while doing different sports.
But because they don’t have GPS and heart-rate monitors like other brands’ trackers, Skagen models are best for casual (and stylish) exercise.
MONTBLANC
The famous German watchmaker has started making high-end smartwatches. In 2017, they released the appropriately called Summit. In 2015, they also developed the intelligent e-strap, an interchangeable strap connecting phones and tracking activities.
Summit is meant to be a high-end smartwatch. Its design is reminiscent of a classic, retro look that makes it feel like an old-school mechanical watch on your wrist. However, it has cutting-edge features, such as the Runtastic heart-monitoring app. A mountain-shaped tracker that shows your daily progress also helps you keep track of your exercise goals.
SWATCH
Swatch is one of the most well-known watch brands in the world, but it didn’t want to make the same exercise watch as everyone else. Instead, it made the bright Touch Zero One, designed to track volleyball activity. Yes, that’s right, volleyball. The Swiss watch company does support volleyball, so it’s not entirely out of the blue.
It also tracks distance, calories burned, steps taken, and claps. After that, it came out with the Touch Zero Two. Swatch is doing its own thing, but if you want to be the next Iron Man, this might not be the right smartwatch line.
