Fitness trackers are more than just gadgets—they’re personal. Since you wear them every day, they need to be comfortable, look good, and match your lifestyle. Whether you’re into biking, rowing, lifting weights, long trail runs, or just need a nudge to stand up occasionally, your tracker should work with you. Some people prefer one on their wrist, others like it on a finger, or even tucked into a sports bra—it’s all about what feels right.
No matter your goals or routine, there’s never been a better time to find a smart, powerful tracker to help you stay on top of your fitness. We’ve researched dozens of fitness trackers for running, climbing, hiking, etc, to bring you our top recommendations.
Quick links to the best fitness trackers for easy access
- The Best Overall – Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker
- Most Affordable – Amazfit Active 2 Smart Watch with Fitness Tracker
- Best Smart Ring – Oura Ring 4 Smart Ring with Fitness Tracker
- The Best For Running – Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Smartwatch
- Best Outdoor Watch – Garmin fēnix® 8 – 47mm Smartwatch
- Best for iPhone Users – Apple Watch Series 10
- The Best for Android Users – Google Pixel Watch 3
- Best for Kids – Fitbit Google Ace LTE
- Best for Samsung Phones – SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 7
- A Smaller Fitness Tracker – Garmin Lily 2
- Best Analog – Withings ScanWatch 2
- Best Heart Rate Monitor – H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap
Best Recommended Fitness Trackers and Watches
Best Overall – Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker
- Amazon – $160
- Walmart – $123 (Discounted Price)
Even with tough competition, especially from the Apple Watch, Fitbit still stands out. Its trackers are stylish, affordable, and easy to use. They’re ideal for everyday users, not pro athletes chasing records.
The Charge 6 comes packed with Google features. The app is redesigned—cleaner, simpler, and better organized. You can now get Google Maps directions, pay with Google Wallet, and control music via YouTube Music Premium. Health features are solid, too. You can track your skin temperature, heart rate, ECG, sleep, and workouts. Battery life lasts over a week. And yes, the physical button is back! All of this costs $160 (often less during sales).
In July 2024, Fitbit rolled out key updates. Heart rate tracking got more accurate. It can now auto-detect more exercises, like spinning and elliptical. GPS is sharper, too. Some advanced tools still require Fitbit Premium at $10/month. But for a reliable, budget-friendly tracker, the Charge 6 delivers.
Most Affordable – Amazfit Active 2 Smart Watch with Fitness Tracker
The Amazfit Active 2 offers a surprising amount of features for just $100. Yes, $100! It includes all the expected sensors—PPG, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometric altimeter, ambient light, and even a temperature sensor. These track your sleep, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. There are 164 workout modes and impressive battery life. The sleek stainless steel case is water-resistant up to 5 ATM. You can wear it in pools and hot tubs with no issues.
Even more impressive? It has built-in mapping on a large, bright AMOLED screen. You can download maps, including ones for ski resorts. Amazfit also teams up with cool fitness brands like Hyrox and Wild.AI for more accuracy.
Best Savvy Ring – Oura Ring 4 Smart Ring with Fitness Tracker
Last year, Oura rolled out several updates to the Oura Ring 4. These changes make it more appealing to women, who now make up most of its users. There are new color options and more sizes to choose from. The sensors are now recessed, making the ring thinner and lighter. They also placed the sensors asymmetrically. Combined with a new Smart Sensing algorithm, the ring adjusts in real time to take better readings, no matter what your hands are doing.
The Garmin Fenix 8 is still one of the top fitness trackers. But the Oura Ring did a better job picking up on sleepless nights and extra hikes. Battery life is improved over the last version. The app is easier to use, too. A new feature called Timeline lets you add tags to your day. Oura Labs lets you try experimental tools. One lets you upload meal photos for AI analysis. Another, Symptom Radar, tracks your body for signs of illness using metrics like heart rate and temperature.
However, the best features require a $6/month membership. Without it, you only get the basic Sleep, Readiness, and Activity scores.
The Best For Running – Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Smartwatch
The best running watch is usually a Garmin Forerunner. It’s one of Garmin’s oldest and most trusted lines. Models range from the simple Forerunner 55 ($200) to the advanced Forerunner 965 ($600). Each version offers different features. Cheaper ones have basic displays and no blood oxygen sensors. But all models support multiple satellite systems and use Garmin’s training algorithms. The suggested workouts are easy to follow and adapt to your needs.
Forerunners also hold up well over time. If you find an older model on sale, like the Forerunner 255, it’s a great deal. But we recommend the Forerunner 165. It hits the sweet spot between price and features. It has a bright AMOLED screen, an altimeter for accurate mileage, and a blood oxygen sensor. Sleep and workout tracking are reliable. Battery life is solid. Garmin’s Morning Report is a great touch—it gives you a daily summary with sleep stats, weather, and readiness. There’s also a Music version for $50 more. It’s nice, but might not be worth the extra cost. Overall, the Forerunner 165 is a strong choice, even for experienced runners.
Best Outdoor Watch – Garmin fēnix® 8 – 47mm Smartwatch
Garmin has taken the best parts of its Epix and Fenix lines and packed them into the new Fenix 8 AMOLED. It has the bright AMOLED screen from the Epix. And the long battery life of the Fenix—over two weeks on the 47-mm model in testing. It’s the best outdoor sports watch you can buy. It works with both Android and iPhone. The screen is insanely bright. Even on a cloudy Oregon winter day, it outshines other Garmin displays outdoors.
It’s loaded with features for nearly every sport. You get Garmin’s off-grid maps, SkiView for ski resorts, and golf course maps. The buttons are leakproof for diving. There’s a mic and speaker for voice commands—even off-grid. And yes, there’s a built-in flashlight. No more fumbling with your phone’s 17% battery in the dark after a late hike.
Best for iPhone Users – Apple Watch Series 10
People often keep their Apple Watch for years—and for good reason. It’s easily the best fitness tracker for iPhone users. For its 10th anniversary, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 10. It doesn’t include blood oxygen sensing due to a patent dispute with Masimo Corp. Still, it brings major upgrades.
The most notable new feature? Sleep apnea notifications. The watch uses an accelerometer and machine learning to detect breathing issues while you sleep. That’s a big deal, since diagnosing sleep apnea usually requires a hospital sleep study.
There are subtle hardware improvements, too. It’s thinner, lighter, more comfortable, and charges faster. A new water-temperature sensor adds safety for cold-water environments. WatchOS 11 also includes new health tools. “Training Load” helps you understand how your workouts affect your body. The new Vitals app makes key health info easy to access. Even without blood oxygen sensing, this is still the best fitness tracker you can get—if you use an iPhone.
The Best for Android Users – Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the best Wear OS watch for Android users. It’s also one of the best-looking smartwatches out there. It comes in two sizes. We recommend the larger 45-mm version as it offers better battery life.
This version focuses on running. It features AI-generated running plans. A new tool called Cardio Load helps track if you’re training too much or too little. Another new health feature, Loss of Pulse Detection, isn’t available in the US yet.
Fitbit integration works really well. The heart rate monitor and other health tools are accurate. You get ECG readings, sleep tracking, blood-oxygen levels, stress tracking, and more. After a rough start, the Pixel Watch 3 is finally shaping up to be the Apple Watch for Android users.
Best for Kids – Fitbit Google Ace LTE
The Fitbit Ace LTE is the first fitness tracker kids actually wear. The Ace is part fitness tracker, part gaming device, and part GPS tracker. It’s been super helpful (and fun) as my kids bounced between camp, swim lessons, and the neighbor’s house this summer. It tracks steps and helps limit screen time. It has all the usual Fitbit health sensors.
The $10/month subscription covers LTE, so you don’t need a separate phone plan. It also unlocks Fitbit Arcade—a bunch of short, active games that keep my kids moving. They can call and text through the Fitbit Ace app. You can also see their location with Google Find My. That peace of mind has made summer way less stressful.
One downside: the design is pretty kiddish. Older kids (maybe 11 and up) might think it looks too young.
A Smaller Fitness Tracker – Garmin Lily 2
If you have a smaller wrist, the Lily 2 Active is a better fit. It’s impressively compact, even smaller than kids’ smartwatches. The case is just 38 mm, while the Fitbit Ace measures 41 mm.
Despite its small size, it works like a full-featured fitness tracker. You can control it with two side buttons or use the discreet LCD touchscreen. The screen is responsive and easy to use. It has a built-in GPS that accurately tracks runs. You also get Garmin’s signature features like Body Battery energy tracking and the Morning Report, which gives you a summary of your stats when you wake up.
There’s sleep tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, and even incident detection in case you get hurt outdoors. It doesn’t have every activity profile, but it covers the big ones—running, skiing, and pickleball. Not surfing or climbing, though. It’s not as sensitive as the Oura Ring for sleep tracking, but it’s still a solid option. Especially if you’re tired of trying to stuff a giant watch under your blazer sleeve.
Best Heart Rate Monitor – H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap
Most fitness trackers have a built-in heart rate monitor. But for long, intense workouts, a separate strap gives better accuracy. Polar improved the design by replacing the loop-and-hook connector with a more comfortable buckle. They also added small silicone dots to keep it in place.
This added comfort and stability lead to more accurate readings. The monitor has built-in memory and ANT+ connectivity. You can pair it with other gear, like bike trainers. Best of all, the battery lasts up to a year without needing a replacement.
Conclusion for Fitness Trackers
No matter your fitness level, goals, or style, there’s a fitness tracker out there that fits your needs. From full-featured fitness trackers to compact rings and chest straps, today’s trackers are smarter, more accurate, and more comfortable than ever. Whether you’re training for a marathon, chasing your step goal, or just looking to stay more active during the day, the right device can help you stay motivated and informed.
Take your time, think about where and how you’ll use it, and choose a tracker that works with your lifestyle, not against it. With the options we’ve shared above, you’re sure to find one that keeps up with you every step of the way.
