Run Nerd Awards: Best Fitness Tracker

Published April 17, 2014 07:07PM

The fitness tracker industry keeps growing, with new companies and devices entering the market every month. We narrowed the choices down to our four favorites. As part of our first annual Run Nerd Awards, here are our picks for best fitness trackers.

Hot features: This unassuming bracelet with a built-in accelerator helps you get a serious handle on your health. Calories burned, steps taken, distance covered, sleep logged and more are delivered to the sync-able smartphone app.

Cool Extras: Bluetooth functionality gives iPhone users the option of receiving call alerts directly to the band.

Best fit for: Runners looking to lose weight—or become more active overall—would be hard-pressed to ﬁ nd a better feedback tool.

Note: Originally we picked the Fitbit Force as our best overall, but it has since been taken off the market. The Flex has a smaller display on the band but has the same overall features, bluetooth capability and platform.

Hot features: Pretty as a pendant, this tracker looks almost jewelry-esque. But don’t let the brushed aluminum face fool you — through unobtrusive lights, this quarter-sized device can tell you your steps, distance and calorie burn.

Cool Extras: The watch battery lasts for four months(!) with no recharging necessary.

Best fit for: Goal-oriented fitness folks who cringe at the thought of wearing a rubber wristband around the clock.

Hot features: Advanced tools turn your bod into a straight-up science experiment. This tracker stands apart by measuring heart rate, skin temperature and perspiration to give you a 360-view.

Cool Extras: “Healthy habits” challenges make fitness a game by rewarding you with points as you creep closer to your goal.

Best fit for: Techies who are interested in maximum info—and don’t mind wearing a slightly bulky band.

Hot features: This device ups the ante on your basic step-tracker by delivering a rough estimate of how many calories you burn and the distance you traveled.

Cool Extras: If you choose to wear it 24/7, the device will track your sleep as well.

Best fit for: he reasonable price makes this device work for runners who want to try out the activity-tracker lifestyle without a major cost commitment.
$60, ihealth.com