Five best activity trackers for every budget

Updated

Spring is the perfect time to start a new fitness regime. Whether you run, jog, or walk, the warmer weather and lighter evenings makes it easier to exercise outdoors. Invest in an activity tracker (to measure your steps, calories and heart rate) and it will help you set goals and keep you motivated.

See also: Walking burns more calories than previously believed

See also: An hour's walk can cancel out eight hours behind a desk, scientists say


1. Fitbit Charge 2
The Fitbit Charge 2 (£99.95 - £246.30) has all of the great features found on the Charge HR, but with an OLED display that is four-times as large. Sleek-looking and easy to read, it has heart rate monitoring (including resting heart rate), and measures steps, distance, floors, active minutes, calories and sleep. To motivate you to stay active throughout the day, the Charge 2 sends out reminders to take 250 steps each hour.

Serious runners will like how the tracker links to the GPS on their smartphone to offer detailed data on pace and distance while you're pounding the streets, as well as recording a map of your route in the app.


2. Garmin Vivosmart HR
Like the Fitbit 2, Garmin's Vivosmart HR (£129.99) features a heart rate monitor, automatic step activity, sleep tracking and smart notifications. With a wrist-based sensor and clean display, it's a strong contender with Fitbit. Spend a bit more on the Vivosmart HR+ and you'll get GPS thrown in.

3. Withings Steel HR
If you're looking for something you can wear every day, the Steel HR (£112.39) wins on the style front. The watch comes with a digital display and tracks steps, heart rate and more, automatically synching the data to your smartphone app.

Real-time heart rate info is shown on the display during your workout, while more detailed data, such as time spent in heart rate zones, can be viewed in the app.



4. Misfit Ray Fitness and Sleep Tracker Watch
If you want a lightweight activity tracker with a long battery life, try the Misfit Ray (£79.97). The stylish band comes in a range of colours and tracks all the important stuff (steps, calories, miles, and sleep). With its intuitive app and solid feature set, it's a good option for the price.

5. Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse
If you're on a budget, the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse (from £16.99) is a good choice. Recently improved (it now has a tougher band and heart-rate sensor), it tracks the important stuff for less than £20.

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