Style -- 15 minutes ago
It feels as though tech won’t stop corroding the joy in life. There are the doomscrolls, the relentless weekend WhatsApps from work, the constant pressure to be dialled in at all hours. But, even among the chaos and dreck, there are some upshots in this sphere. In recent times, wearable tech has been a boon for the fitness universe – and, in particular, fitness trackers have done wonders in helping people sleep better, run further, and, ultimately, have a healthier existence. Below, we round up a few of our favourites.
A favourite within the masses, the Fitbit Charge 6 has drawn widespread love for its slim, easy-to-wear shape, fuss-free display and the fact it tracks all the fundamentals: steps, heart rate, calories burned and distance travelled. Insights that tell you whether you’re ready to rest or have a full-on workout are pretty nifty, and step-by-step directions from Google Maps (useful for running or cycling routes) and the inclusion of Google Wallet (perfect for buying liquids or snacks when out) are added bonuses.
This Garmin creation is a bit of a chunkier design, in that it’s produced to look like a regular smart timepiece, so it might appeal to the horology enthusiasts out there (of all the options, we quite like the prosaic-looking whitestone-case model). The battery life here lasts up to 14 days, and it really hones in on your sleep, with info on its quality, how much you truly need, what energises your body and what drains it. It also arrives with more than 30 sports apps – including for cycling, indoor swimming and activities for those in a wheelchair – already preloaded.
The Google Pixel Watch 3’s display – round, clear and vibrant – is absolutely perfect if you want a split-second glance at data during your workouts. There’s a big safety slant to this product: it’ll detect a loss of pulse and then call emergency services; it’ll share your medical details in the case of a casualty; and, for when heading out, the ‘safety check’ tracks your location and has you set a check-in timer, and if you don’t confirm that you’re fine once the timer expires, the watch will share your location with your emergency contacts.
Similar to Garmin, Withings has gone down the route of creating a conventional-looking watch – this label’s bit of wristwear, however, strips things back further by opting for a largely analogue dial. One of the key selling points is that the piece can ‘detect a potential cardiac anomaly and get a cardiovascular assessment in 30 seconds’ – and a constant temperature tracker can determine whether an illness is coming. De rigueur sleep monitoring and fitness functions are also folded into this pared-down design.
Last year, to mark the first decade since the unveiling of the OG Apple Watch, the Cupertino giant pulled the curtain off the Watch Series 10, which features the biggest display given to the venture’s timepiece (up to 30 per cent larger than previous models). The edges have a curved, organic look, and the OLED display has a wide angle, allowing for better readability if not viewing from a flush perspective. Spotting sleep apnoea is a marquee feature – and it should also be noted that with the Heart Rate app, you can get notifications for high heart rate, low heart rate and an irregular rhythm. On a lighter note, the Series 10 can also check the conditions for more than 5,000 surf spots around the world.
Whoop is discreet in design – it essentially looks like a band – and is extremely comfortable to wear thanks to its knit make-up. The common reason why people buy into the brand is for its ability to target sleep – the performance, cycles, debt and quality – and analyse your stress: there’s a personalised stress score that goes from 0 to 3, you can see how long you’ve spent in a high-stress zone each day, and certain breathwork exercises are encouraged if it’s determined that you need to relax or raise your alertness.
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