Fitness Trackers: The Best Options for Men

Maintaining an Active Lifestyle

Maintaining an active lifestyle has become a priority for many in today’s fast-paced world. Fitness trackers have emerged as trusted sidekicks on the journey to better health. These devices have evolved from simple step counters to sophisticated computers that can monitor everything from heart rate to stress levels and sleep quality. They can even act as your personal coach. The data collected by these trackers can also be shared with healthcare professionals, aiding in early detection and health condition management.

The Evolution of Fitness Trackers

While dedicated fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge 5 have improved over time, most full-fledged smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 5 have also stepped up their health and fitness tracking game. Choosing the right fitness tracker depends on many factors, like tracking accuracy, outdoor durability, battery life, ecosystem compatibility, and design. Whether you’re a gym enthusiast, a casual weekend warrior, or just someone who’s curious if a morning jog cancels out a late-night pizza (spoiler: it doesn’t), this stellar lineup of the best fitness trackers for men has you covered.

Our Picks for the Best Fitness Trackers for Men

Fitbit Charge 5 – Best Overall

The Fitbit Charge 5 makes a compelling case for itself, providing comprehensive, advanced health-tracking features. On top of that, it packs in a vibrant color OLED display, effortless mobile payments, and the convenience of built-in GPS. This impressive suite of functionalities fits into a slim, robust design that comes at about half the price of full-fledged smartwatches.

Pros:

• Comprehensive fitness tracking features
• Built-in GPS for accurate tracking
• Impressive battery life

Cons:

• Need a subscription for premium insights
• No offline music storage

Packed with all the necessary fitness tracking features and a reasonable price tag, the Fitbit Charge 5 takes the crown for the overall best buy. Regarding fitness tracking, it offers the whole shebang: heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress management, SpO2 monitoring, and a built-in GPS. Its sleek design and waterproof build make it a versatile companion for any activity, and the ECG app is a standout feature, providing valuable heart health insights. In our review, we discovered the Fitbit Charge 5 offered great battery life, lasting up to nine days on a single charge, although using the always-on display dropped the battery life to about three days. But that’s still great battery life compared to other smartwatches, ensuring you get to spend more time training and less time charging your device. It’s worth noting that you’ll need a Fitbit subscription to access some of the features available here, including guided audio-video workouts and wellness reports with personalized insights based on your sleep and activity patterns. Additionally, while the Charge 5 supports NFC payments, the Fitbit Pay app doesn’t support as many banks as Google Pay. Also, there’s no support for offline music playback via apps like Spotify and YT Music. So leaving for a run without your phone or wallet might not be possible here. Despite these shortcomings, the Charge 5 is an excellent pick for fitness enthusiasts, especially since it is mostly available at good discounts.

Fitbit Inspire 3 – Best Value

For those seeking a budget-friendly tracker without compromising essential features, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is an excellent choice. With heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and customizable exercise modes, the device empowers users to closely monitor their fitness progress. And its slim and lightweight design ensures comfort throughout the day, making it ideal for continuous wear.

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Long battery life
• Sleek, lightweight design

Cons:

• Some features need a subscription
• No built-in GPS
• Small display

The Fitbit Inspire 3 strikes a good balance between affordability and functionality, making it a solid choice for fitness enthusiasts at all levels. With its sleek design and practical features, it delivers what is essential without breaking the bank. The heart rate monitoring and overnight SpO2 monitoring provide information about cardiovascular health, while the advanced sleep tracking capabilities help improve your sleep patterns. Daily activity tracking will keep you motivated to stay active throughout the day, and the water-resistant design makes it suitable for various workouts and outdoor activities. The Inspire 3’s impressive 10-day battery life is one of its best features, ensuring extended usage between charges. And the simple no-buttons, single-swipe UI of the Inspire 3 makes it an ideal choice for beginners; however, more advanced fitness enthusiasts might miss premium features like built-in GPS and mobile payments. With many color options and various third-party wristbands available, you can personalize the device to match your style. Like all Fitbits, some of the more detailed insights and personalized recommendations need a premium subscription. Furthermore, the small display makes it really hard to read, especially while working out.

Garmin Epix (Gen 2) – Premium Pick

The epix Gen 2 is a top-of-the-line, rugged, feature-packed smartwatch tailored to dedicated athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. It offers unparalleled performance for thrilling expeditions with advanced GPS mapping, sports-specific tracking, a pulse oximeter, and days of battery life. And a bright, vibrant AMOLED display and stylish design make it as eye-catching as it is functional.

Pros:

• Robust build for outdoor use
• Advanced GPS mapping
• Long-lasting battery life

Cons:

• Might feel too heavy for everyday wear
• No LTE option available
• Expensive for casual use

Compared to other options on the list, the Garmin epix Gen 2 stands out as the ultimate outdoor adventure watch. Its sturdy metal build and a raised bezel around the display ensure it can handle the most extreme conditions; it’s also rated to withstand immersion underwater for up to 100 meters of depth. Aside from a resilient build, the device has unparalleled GPS mapping capabilities, further making it an indispensable tool for navigating off-the-beaten-path journeys. From running to swimming, the epix Gen 2 offers a wide range of sports-specific tracking modes, including thousands of Golf course and Ski resort maps as well as surfing-specific data. Plus, it comes with Garmin’s Personal Coach feature, providing personalized training plans and adaptive workouts to help you reach your fitness goals effectively. The epix Gen 2 boasts excellent battery life, lasting up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and up to five days even with the always-on display activated. In GPS mode, it can endure up to 42 hours, making it highly reliable for extended adventures. For those seeking added features, other models in the series offer solar charging, sapphire crystal protection, and even built-in flashlights. The epix Gen 2 is the perfect fit for those who crave the best in durability, advanced tracking, and uncompromising performance. However, all of this comes at a price, and the added ruggedness and long battery life end up making the watch heavier than your typical smartwatch. And the lack of an LTE variant can be a bummer for some. For those looking for more casual use or a sleeker design for everyday wear, other fitness trackers on the list may be more suitable.

Garmin Vivosmart 5 – Best for Beginners

Geared toward fitness beginners, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is an excellent choice for those seeking essential fitness tracking features without the burden of a subscription. Its user-friendly and straightforward design seamlessly fits wrists and integrates into daily routines, delivering valuable health and fitness data without complicated functionalities. And the Vivosmart 5’s 7-day battery life ensures uninterrupted tracking and convenience.

Pros:

• Sleek, lightweight design
• No subscription required

Cons:

• Small, monochrome display
• No built-in GPS
• No always-on display option

The Vivosmart 5 is a suitable option for beginners and those who prefer a more straightforward fitness tracking experience. It has a lightweight, waterproof design with a small display that’s operated by a single-touch button. While the Fitbit Charge 5 offers more advanced features and a built-in GPS at a similar price, it comes with the added cost of a subscription for premium functionalities. In contrast, the Vivosmart 5 offers all the essentials like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, SpO2 monitoring, and Garmin’s unique Body Battery feature, which analyzes stress levels, heart rate variability, and activity to give you a peek into your energy levels throughout the day. The device uses your smartphone’s GPS connection to track outdoor activities like running and cycling. However, the absence of built-in GPS and limited app support may not satisfy more advanced users.