JadeW

One of the best fitness trackers is always firmly strapped on my wrist. I rarely go anywhere without one. I wear it when I run, to the gym, when I sleep, in the office and even when out for dinner with friends. Wearable fitness trackers have seriously evolved over the past decade: no longer just offering a measly step count, fitness trackers can help you make informed decisions about your health and fitness.

From heart rate tracking and stress management to telling you exactly how long you spent in various sleep stages, GPS tracking and specific activity tracking features (yes, you can log everything from HIIT and yoga to reformer Pilates, stand up paddle boarding and open water swimming), the best smartwatches offer real-time data straight to your wrist – and sync everything to your smartphone, too. It has never been easier to monitor your fitness, set goals and adjust your recovery levels.

And thats not all. Fitness trackers are great if you’ve signed yourself up to a 10K, marathon or triathlon (and you need something to track your training), but they also serve as the perfect source of motivation and accountability for beginners. Sat hunched over your laptop all day and not taken a break? Your watch will remind you to move. Not got enough quality sleep? Stress levels high? Your watch may tell you to take it easy. Lots of fitness trackers offer reminders and notifications to keep you motivated and engaged – and lots sync to third-party platforms, like Strava and Training Peaks, so you can celebrate your achievements with friends and help you stay consistent with your fitness routine.

Best fitness trackers 2023 at a glance:

How we tested:

As someone who runs roughly three to four times a week, the following running watches were tested on short easy plods, speed sessions, tempo sessions and long weekend runs, all whilst training for a half marathon. I looked specifically at their long battery life, how big they are, whether you can swim in them, GPS and the number of health features they offered – from temperature sensors to heart rate sensors and strength training monitoring.

How to choose the best fitness tracker for you:

First of all, you need to work out what you want to use your fitness tracker for. Are you looking for something that primarily tracks steps, monitors heart rate, measures sleep, or tracks specific exercises, like running? This will help immediately rule out some fitness tracker.

Then you need to consider the design. From wristbands to smartwatches (and even rings) fitness trackers come in various styles. Your best buy will suit your lifestyle. Do you need an always-on display? Will you enjoy wearing this everyday?

Once you’ve decided on the type of tracker you want, it’s good to consider smartwatch features like: display (do you prefer a touchscreen to buttons), specific features (do you need advanced features like music control or Apple pay), compatibility (some fitness trackers may only work with iOS or Android) and, of course, budget, as prices can vary widely depending on the brand.

Keep scrolling for our full pick of the best fitness trackers for women in 2023 to make your life easier and healthier.

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