Pedometers are a thing of the past now that high tech fitness bands have taken over the health market. While much of society finds it difficult to dedicate time to personal fitness, these watch-like bands track users’ steps, water intake and sleep patterns.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80 percent of adults do not get the recommended amounts of exercise each week and globally, 1 in 3 adults are not active enough said the World Health Organization (WHO).
Following are a few fitness bands to consider when shopping for holiday gifts that will hopefully motivate users to get moving.
Fitbit Flex: $99.95
Pros
- Great battery life
- Light and stylish
- Interchangeable color bands
- Syncs to smartphones
- Silent vibrating alarm
- Lower in cost
- Available in two sizes
Cons
- No display
- Not equipped with an altimeter
- Said to read inaccurate step counts at times
Jawbone UP24: $149.99
Pros
- Sleek and thin
- Tracks sleep in detail
- Connects with other fitness smartphone applications
- Hypoallergenic TPU rubber wristband
- Available in three sizes
Cons
- No display
- Sleep mode isn’t automatic
- Requires a smartphone
- Not waterproof
Microsoft Band: $199.99
Pros
- Tracks steps, workouts, runs, calories burned, heart rate and sleep
- Has some smartwatch capabilities
- Loaded with customized features, including GPS tracking
- Great battery life
- Very responsive display
Cons
- Bigger in size
- Requires a smartphone
- Lacks computer syncing
- Said to be a bit uncomfortable to wear
Garmin Vivosmart: $169.99
Pros
- Contains remote controls for music
- Doesn’t look like a typical fitness tracker
- Vibration alarms when sitting too long
- Measures miles, steps, calories burned, active time, and sleep
- Waterproof
- Smartwatch notifications
Cons
- Can’t engage with smartwatch notifications
- Sleep tracking manually activated
- No audio alert
Runtatstic Orbit: $199.99
Pros
- Measures steps, distance, calories burned, and sleep
- Waterproof
- Includes belt clip and two wrist bands
- Sharp display
- Display indicates progress
Cons
- No calorie counting component
- Requires a smartphone
- Doesn’t track weight
- No weekly or monthly view of data, only daily
- Does not connect to heart rate monitor directly
