Fitness bracelet: the essence of the device, main functions, selection rules, reviews

Fitness bracelets are now at the peak of their popularity. Bright, stylish watches can be seen on the wrists of many people who run, swim or just walk.

However, there are those who still do not understand what a fitness bracelet is and why it is needed. These are smart devices that will be useful for both sexes, all professions, and different ages.

They help to control the condition of the body, better understand how it works, and join a healthy lifestyle.

But before buying a tracker, you need to know what they are and what to look for when choosing.

What is the essence of the device?

A fitness bracelet (tracker, Smartband) is a device with built-in sensors that helps monitor the general condition of the body and a person’s physical activity. In addition, the gadget shows the user how his body reacts to stress and helps monitor progress. Not everyone knows that such a device helps novice athletes and simply active people choose the appropriate type of load, and correctly alternate between wakefulness and rest. Now, in general terms, it becomes clear what a fitness tracker is and why it is needed.

Fitness bracelets look like small headbands or clips. Interestingly, such a device, depending on its design, can be worn on the arm, neck, shoulder, clothing, belt, ankle or shoe. A fitness bracelet may or may not have a display. Not all people understand why it is needed. The screen displays information about the user's activity, such as steps taken, heart rate, calories burned, etc.

Important! Smart watches without a screen last longer in battery mode, but have fewer functions. Devices with a display need to be recharged more often, but their capabilities are much greater.

In addition, sports watches look stylish, which is important for fashionistas.

Thus, the essence of a fitness bracelet is that it monitors the user’s health and helps him become closer to his ideal.

Once you understand what a fitness tracker is, you need to find out why it is needed.

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The best manufacturers of fitness bracelets

The minimum cost of wearable no-name gadgets is from 400 rubles, the price of trackers from well-known manufacturers is higher, but their functionality and reliability significantly exceed the capabilities of cheap models. Popular brands of fitness bracelets in 2022 are:

• Xiaomi is the most famous manufacturer, thanks to which wearable sports gadgets have turned from exotic goods for computer geeks into a convenient and practical device. Mi Smart Band was the first model on the Russian market equipped with an NFS module.

• Huawei/Honor. Since the gadgets belong to the same company, they are similar in functionality. Honor bracelets are distinguished by wide functionality and convenient software (but all its functions are available only to owners of smartphones from the Korean class=”aligncenter” width=”700″ height=”421″[/img]
• Garmin are expensive, high-end, professional-grade devices.
• Amazfit — bracelets from Huami, a subsidiary of Xiaomi, which are not inferior in quality and functionality to the “senior” line.

• Samsung Galaxy - gadgets ideally compatible with smartphones class=”aligncenter” width=”700″ height=”427″[/img]
• Jawbone - fitness trackers without a display.

Smart watches and fitness bracelets are different devices . Smart gadgets have their own operating system and can be used autonomously, while bracelets and trackers only collect data - the smartphone decrypts and analyzes it.

Why do men and women need a gadget: basic functions

A fitness bracelet is needed not only by professional athletes, but also by office workers and students who spend most of their time sitting. It is urgent for people who want to lose weight, tone their body, be more active, and monitor their health to quickly understand what a fitness tracker is and why it is needed.

Experts distinguish the following main functions of a fitness bracelet:

• Counts steps, distance traveled, reminds of long-term inactivity. Using an accelerometer (a sensor for measuring acceleration), the user finds out how many steps he walked, what distance, how much time was spent on it, and calories burned. Every day you will want to increase your performance, which will have a positive effect on your figure. If you sit for a long time, the tracker will begin to vibrate, prompting you to get up and exercise or walk;

This is interesting! Some fitness bracelets allow you to share your sports achievements with friends and see their results. And the spirit of competition, as you know, works wonders!

• monitors sleep and wakes you up on time. A person's well-being and health depend on how he sleeps. If you do not remove the gadget from your hand at night, then in the morning it will show how long deep/shallow sleep lasted, analyze the data and give recommendations on how to improve its quality. And thanks to the “smart alarm”, the device wakes you up with vibration during REM sleep;

• measures pulse. Thanks to the built-in heart rate monitor, the tracker allows you to determine your heart rate, which is very important during training. If the permissible limit is exceeded, the device will notify the user by vibration;
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• encourages you to watch your diet. The gadget calculates calories burned during physical activity. There are models with a food diary. To maintain it, you need to scan the barcode of the dish or products consumed, then information about the nutritional value will appear, and the application will show graphs of calories spent and consumed;

• replaces a personal trainer. Using a fitness bracelet, you can keep a training calendar. And thanks to the Smart coach option, you can improve your athletic performance. The tracker has all the resources to achieve your goals.

After studying the basic functions, it becomes clear what a fitness tracker is and why it is needed.

But there are several more interesting options that make the fitness bracelet even more useful:

1. Alerts. After pairing with a smartphone, notifications about calls and SMS, as well as messages from social networks or instant messengers, will be sent to the gadget’s screen.

2. GPS support. Advanced models are able to clearly determine coordinates, record the route, and compare it with maps using a smartphone.

3. Autonomous work. Some fitness bracelets can work without recharging for several months. As a rule, the more functions a tracker has, the more often it needs to be charged.

4. Water resistance. Expensive models continue to work even in water; they usually have a “Pool Swimming” function. But most trackers are simply protected from splashes and dust, and they cannot be put into water.

The design of fitness bracelets is different, for example, classic models are suitable for everyday and business style, a bright tracker can be worn for training, a party, or the beach. Anyone can choose the appropriate option. And the screen of many models is resistant to dirt, so it will be easy to deal with fingerprints on the display.

What types of devices are there and how do they differ?

The sporting goods market includes fitness bracelets and smart watches. We have already figured out the purpose of the first devices, but what a “smart” watch is and why they are needed still needs to be understood.

Few people know that fitness bracelets are divided into 2 groups:

1. Trackers are gadgets with a limited number of options, for example, measuring heart rate, steps, and sleep tracking. They are presented in the form of thin straps, watches, and clips. Some models are moisture resistant.

2. Smart bracelets are multifunctional gadgets. The list of basic options is supplemented by indications of calls, SMS, alerts, and GPS. Most models have a screen.

Now you know what trackers and smart bracelets are, and why they are needed.

A smart watch combines the functions of a watch and a fitness bracelet; it is, in fact, a small computer. If the device is used in conjunction with a smartphone, then it shows calls, SMS, is used for voice control, launches applications on the mobile device, etc. Also, smart watches can be used independently; they can be used to make calls, send SMS, take photographs, play audio files, etc.

This is interesting! Based on their intended purpose, they can be divided into general-purpose and sports “smart” watches. The former have basic functions, have access to the Internet, and are synchronized with the phone, while the latter are supplemented with sports functions.

Now you know what a smart watch is and why you need it.

The main differences between bracelets and fitness watches:

Now you know why both gadgets are needed, what functions they have, and you can make a choice.

Benefit

So, what is a fitness bracelet for? The main purpose is to increase the effectiveness of training.

Track activity

With it, you can track your daily physical activity: the number of steps taken, distance in kilometers and calories burned. People who are seriously involved in sports and focused on results (losing weight, building muscle mass, weight control) know exactly how many steps they need to take per day.

If the daily norm is 15,000, but the fitness bracelet shows only 13,000 at the end of the day, you urgently need to go for an extra walk or turn on the treadmill. Otherwise, at the end of the probationary period there will be no result.

It's the same with calories. How can you go to bed if you haven’t achieved an energy deficit during the day? This indicator allows you to decide whether you can eat an extra apple at night or if it’s too much and you’ll have to starve until the morning.

Monitor indicators

A fitness bracelet allows you to keep your physical condition under control: pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation. Why do breakdowns occur and the initially designed training programs are not completed? Because they incorrectly calculated the intensity - and already at the 5th minute of the lesson, the heart jumps out of the chest and suffers from shortness of breath. And then, after a couple of such experiments, the doctor forbids self-torture. The sports gadget reflects biological indicators and allows you to select a pace so that they remain within the normal range. As soon as your heart rate starts to go off scale, you need to slow down.

Or, for example, the goal of jogging is to lose weight. In this case, it is recommended to keep your heart rate at an average of 130 beats per minute (plus/minus taking into account age, weight and other individual characteristics). If this indicator changes in any direction, the fat burning process will slow down significantly and the workout may be in vain.

Enjoy nice bonuses

Fitness bracelets are loved by many for the additional features that their branded devices provide. For example, all weight loss dieters and athletes know how important sleep is for a healthy lifestyle. However, the general advice to sleep 8 hours a day is not always relevant. As scientists have proven, the duration is determined individually for each person. Plus, you need to correctly calculate when to go to bed and what time to get up, so as not to disturb the deep sleep phase. This gadget will automatically do all this and wake you up at the most opportune moment.

Some bracelets allow you to connect to social networks or create local accounts and post the results of your workouts for everyone to see. Since others are also actively doing this, a competitive moment arises, which provides additional motivation for training. Using this function, you can also find a partner for morning jogging in your city or for visiting a fitness club together.

Thus, fitness bracelets are useful for:

• losing weight;
• training;
• introduction to a healthy lifestyle;
• tracking health indicators.

In principle, we can say that absolutely everyone needs fitness bracelets in order to see specific figures for their daily activity and health indicators. For some, even the laziest, this becomes an incentive to get off the couch and go for a walk or give up their favorite burger.

Which one is better to choose?

The choice of a sports gadget depends on the person’s goals. To choose the right device, you need to determine the main goal, for example, losing weight or increasing muscle tone. After this, you should carefully study the functions of the gadgets.

The functionality of weight loss trackers is quite wide. You can purchase a gadget with a large number of options, for example, counting calories, steps, heart rate, etc. The main thing is that the device motivates you to constantly improve your sports results.

Sports gadgets should also have many sensors that will track important indicators, for example, heart rate, steps, sleep stages. It is better to buy devices that allow you to choose different training modes.

First, you should pay attention to the main functions, and then to additional ones, for example, displaying notifications.

For sports

If you regularly play sports, then choose a fitness bracelet with the following set of functions:

• pedometer;
• counting calories burned;
• heart rate tracking;
• activity statistics during different types of physical activity;
• sleep monitoring.

First of all, the gadget must track the user’s movements; for this it must have a built-in accelerometer (direction of movement sensor), a gyroscope (determines the location of the wearer, takes into account the speed of movement), and an altimeter (determines the height, for example, during a jump). The more sensors a gadget has, the more information it will provide about the user’s activity.

Interesting! A standard fitness bracelet is suitable for almost all sports: running, track and field, weightlifting, swimming. However, in the latter case, it is worth choosing waterproof devices with protection class IP67/68. Clip-shaped gadgets are more suitable for runners.

For active sports, you can choose both inexpensive fitness trackers with basic functions and more advanced multifunctional gadgets:

1. Huawei Fit is more suitable for running.
2. The Fitbit Flex 2 can be used for a variety of workouts, including swimming.
3. The Asus ZenWatch 3 is a smartwatch that is suitable for serious athletes as it can withstand any load.
4. The Garmin Vivosmart HR will keep you moving.
5. Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is an economical, multifunctional bracelet that is suitable for beginner athletes.

If you are seriously involved in sports, then choose specialized sports devices.

For weight loss

A weight loss device should have the following functions: counting steps, steps, distance traveled, tracking heart rate and sleep, etc. In addition, it is important to install a special application on your device that helps you create a diet and workout plan, for example, Calorie, Yazio, Lifesum. These programs are suitable for almost all fitness bracelets. They help adjust your diet based on physical activity.

Best bracelets for weight loss:

1. Fitbit Flex is suitable for people who do running and cardio exercises.
2. Jawbne UP3 allows you not only to lose weight, but also to monitor your health.
3. Garmin Vivosmart HR has many functions that help you lose weight (counts heart rate, steps, distance, calories, etc.).
4. Sony Smartband 2 helps you lose weight faster.

These devices will help you achieve your goal faster and make your body slimmer and fit.

Analysis of results

The collected information will only be useful if the user can view it and receive a full analysis. Manufacturers of smart bracelets today offer different solutions for this: displaying data on the device itself, displaying information in a smartphone application, or full-fledged analytics and training recommendations on the manufacturer’s website. Famous brands allow you to upload information not only to their own services, but also to international resources, where there are entire communities of athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. In this case, the user will be able to share his results and communicate with like-minded people.

The most successful combination is a combination of all three display options. Actual data can be viewed on the bracelet (for example, while running), more extensive information will be displayed by the application on the smartphone, and the website will provide a full assessment and comparison with previous workouts and advice for the future.

Most popular models

To make choosing a quality fitness bracelet easier, you need to study the list of the best sports gadgets:

1. Xiaomi Mi Band 3 can work without recharging for about a month, has a bright screen that displays all important training parameters and alerts. It is waterproof and allows you to control your music on your phone.
2. IWOWN i5 Plus is simple, compact, has basic functions (counts steps, calories, wakes up, shows notifications), and also allows you to control the phone's camera. However, there is no heart rate monitor.
3. The Garmin Vivofit 3 only has basic features, but it is capable of up to a year of battery life. It has an accurate pedometer, is not afraid of water, and reminds you of inactivity.
4. Lenovo Watch 9 is compact, waterproof, counts calories, heart rate, steps, tracks sleep, etc.
5. Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro allows you to accept/reject calls, allows you to dive into water up to 50 m, control your audio player, etc.
6. Xiaomi WeLoop Hey S3 works without recharging for 30 days (without GPS), is waterproof, allows you to control music playback and much more.
7. Huami Amazfit Bip lasts about 45 days without recharging, has a bright touch screen that displays information about physical activity, and is not afraid of water.

These are the best fitness bracelets that will help you join a healthy lifestyle.

How to choose the right one

To make the right choice of a sports gadget, you need to consider the following nuances:

1. Decide on a goal, for example, when losing weight, choose simple devices with a pedometer and calorie counting.
2. Decide on a list of functions. For beginner athletes, gadgets with a basic set of functions are suitable, while professional athletes need additional options, for example, a GPS sensor, barometer, lux meter, etc.
3. Protection from moisture and dust. This function is needed by people who constantly wear the device or often swim in the pool.
4. Phone compatible. Find out if the fitness bracelet syncs with your smartphone.
5. Battery life.
6. Availability of a screen.

Also pay attention to the design of the fitness bracelet; this parameter depends on personal preferences.

Is it worth buying

Most users are satisfied with the purchase of a fitness bracelet; they note the stylish design of the devices, the ability to monitor physical activity, receive notifications from their phone, etc. For example, Huawei Color Band A2 looks great, is easy to use, works quickly, but there are problems with the accuracy of heart rate measurement and some applications:

They write about Xiaomi Amazfit Cor that it is a multifunctional tracker that copes with its functions perfectly, shows the weather, and works offline for a long time:

Many users are satisfied with the performance of Xiaomi Mi Band 3 (including former owners of Mi Band 2):

Interesting! According to most reviews, the fitness tracker is a useful accessory with few drawbacks.

Kinds

By functionality:

• multifunctional - with additional options;
• with limited functionality - with basic sensors.

By gender:

• female - with an elegant, stylish design, sophisticated, made in bright colors (Smart Bracelet H2 and QW16, Smart Band X6 Metal Gold, A80 Smart Watch, MyPads I9);
• men's - with a discreet, minimalist design, mostly black or dark blue.

Men's and women's fitness bracelets are no different in functionality.

By cost:

• mass market (from $15 to $50): Fitbug, BQ, Xiaomi Mi, Belsis;
• middle market (from $50 to $120): Jawbone, Huawei TalkBand, GearFit, Sony;
• premium (above $120): Fitbit, Mio Fuse, Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, Polar A360 HR (Russia).

It is impossible to differentiate between smart trackers that are used exclusively for training and those that help you lose weight. All models combine both functions.

Main conclusions

Now you know what a fitness bracelet is and why you need it. These devices help monitor physical activity and progress, adjust training and nutrition according to the results obtained, and monitor health status. There are trackers, fitness bracelets and smart watches on sale. To lose weight, you need to choose simple devices with a pedometer and calorie counting. For serious sports activities, you need a gadget with a large number of sensors that will provide more information about your activity. When choosing a device, you need to pay attention to the following nuances: purpose, functions, compatibility with the phone, autonomy, presence of a screen. According to user reviews, fitness bracelets are reliable assistants that will help you lead a healthy lifestyle and be in trend.

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