Best Smart Workout Trackers 2020 – The Best Sports Watches and Fitness Trackers

Industry wearable fitness activity companions began to take shape only recently, although the first wearable heart rate monitor dates back to 1965, when Dr. Yoshira Hatana and Polar Electro present the first meter of its kind. However, the segment of the modern exercise tracker was just born in 2009, when the company Fitbit introduced the first generation of its followers. With this, a new market segment began to emerge.

In the next decade they are fitness trackers became recognized market category, which annually generates ten billion dollars. The extreme popularity in this sector has also resulted in fitness trackers becoming more accurate, more durable and more compact, while offering an increasing number of additional features and functionalities in interesting packages with increasingly affordable prices. Because rapid development it is difficult to separate the "latest" from the best in these industries. This is exactly why we reviewed the market of this type this time wearable fitness devices and prepared for you a list of those that we think are good and worth your money. We were also a little pragmatic and adapted to the Slovenian customer and his wallet. This is also why we did not choose the "most expensive" but the most universal.

But let's move on to the basics and see what the modern "companion" of fitness in 2020 is and what it should have?

Key qualities of good fitness trackers 2020

Good sensors for monitoring activity

Modern activity trackers are equipped with a bunch of sensors. That's how they measure heart beat and number steps taken. Besides gyroscopes, magnetometers and accelerometers, have built-in GPS and barometer. Together, these sensors allow you to track the speed, height and distance of your workout. Some high-end fitness trackers are also equipped with sensors to detect skin temperature and heart rate variability. They work like a kind of EKG device. The best can even measure oxygen saturation in the blood.

Robustness before beauty

Because modern fitness trackers can be with the help of Bluetooth and mobile applications are connected to smartphones and tablets, the screen is not in the foreground. It is the biggest consumer of energy. Many specialized trackers are designed to display only basic information. Also so that battery life is as good as possible. A good screen is therefore not a priority, but luxury! But robustness is important!

Good connectivity and great software

Although almost everyone will body tracker ready to transfer measurement data about physical activity to a mobile device, the applications in which this information is stored can differ greatly in terms of functionality and user interface. In addition to simply tracking metrics like steps taken or heart rate, several premium trackers come with apps designed for long-term analysis of your training sessions, so we can show you your progress trends. It is important above all device connectivity with the most popular applications such as Terrible or other specialized applications for monitoring exercise. Software is not a negligible factor in the choice.

Excellent battery life

Battery is definitely extremely important. If a while ago fitness trackers could only record exercise or two, now it's nothing unusual if the battery lasts a week or two. Because it's really not pleasant if you go to training and you run out of "energy" during the exercise. The more "sporty" and spartan the watch is at first glance, the longer the battery life will be. The biggest consumer is definitely the screen of your smart exercise meter. The battery is one of the components smart watches, which is among the most important.

Endurance

As fitness trackers are designed to measure a variety of activities, they are expected to face extreme situations, which come with practice. This is also why it is completely common for manufacturers to use polymers, composites and light metals to make extremely durable yet lightweight devices. All fitness trackers and sports smart watches are also always waterproof. This has become the basic standard. Many of them are in "rubberized" and durable protective cases watch screen.

And the price?

Fitness trackers were once considered high-end innovations reserved for the most die-hard exercise enthusiasts. But the popularity of this segment brought more than a crazy drop in prices. So you can get a fully capable meter for 50 euros. But if you pay more, you get more anyway! Both form, functionality and design. Just like everywhere else in life. Really good gauges cost around 100 euros. This is the entry price into the world of sports smartwatches.

Style

There is certainly something for every taste in this segment, so the first thing you should ask yourself is whether you will wear this type of watch or bracelet all the time, or only during your favorite activity. Accordingly, you then decide on which activity meter you will afford, or which one suits your lifestyle. As long as it's yours exercise extremely intense and you need an extremely durable device, then it is better to choose one that will withstand all the "abuse" that this type of exercise brings. But if you only enjoy recreation from time to time, then you should definitely consider a honey hybrid a smart watch and sports followers.

The selection was exceptional in this paper as well pragmatic and adapted Slovenian market and I demand Slovenian buyers. We have also made a selection among the products when they are available on Amazon.de and they can be with you the next day after ordering. This is also why the selection does not include the ultimate products, but focuses on one product in each category.

The best fitness trackers and sports watches 2020

The most basic, but still excellent activity tracker

Fitness tracker: Fitbit Charge 4

Extraordinary a simple exercise bracelet, which surprises with its functionality and good price. At the same time, this is a device from an old manufacturer 2009 started the segment of activity measuring devices! Experience counts a lot here. Fitbit Charge 4, which was presented at the beginning of the year 2020, is the brand's latest and greatest personal health and fitness tracker. It is available in four colors and with a variety of woven and composite strap options.

It features a seven-day battery life, built-in GPS, Fitbit Pay (NFC), color touch screen with customization and music library control Spotify. It is also completely waterproof. In addition to tracking steps and the number of "floors" walked, this tracker also boasts functions such as Smart Track for automatic exercise recognition, caloric expenditure measurements and exercise intensity analysis aimed at those who want to really monitor the results of their daily training sessions.

Winner in the value for price category

Amazfit T-Rex

If you are looking for a watch for which you will pay very little money, but you will get practically everything, you have come to the right address. For years already Amazfit offers "timers", which are excellent activity trackers, but also serve some sweets. It has 12 military certificates and is resistant to harsh environmental conditions, namely it is resistant to heat up to 70 °C, and cold down to -40 ° C. It is waterproof and records 14 different sports activities. It promises up to 20 days of battery use and 20 hours of use with continuous recording of sports activity with high-quality GPS manufactured by Sony. In a special promotion right now, with an additional discount of 30 euros, it costs only 109 euros.

Categorically the best for Apple brand believers

Apple Watch 6

If you are looking for an "all in one" solution and are a smartphone user Apple seems to be right Apple Watch your only possible choice. Its biggest drawback is its durability, which can be solved with special "covers" of the watch, which successfully protect it during major sports efforts. Although this year's smart watch - Watch 6 - is not an extraordinary leap into the future, the 6th generation of the Apple Watch brings some important innovations in the field of recording exercise and health. The latter push it among the best activity trackers. Apple Watch Series 6 it has a new sensor that also measures blood oxygen levels – using an app Blood Oxygen, which allows the user to take measurements on the fly or monitor the level even while sleeping. The heart rate monitor has also been improved, which is now quite small EKG. Apple is launching a new subscription service for virtual fitness classes called Fitness+. The service is integrated with iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices, but Apple says it's built for users Apple Watch. Namely, the watch monitors the quality of the exercise performed with its entire "set" of sensors and thus encourages the user to progress and perform the exercises correctly.

Categorically the best for Android users

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

Again smart watch, which through its development has become one of the better products for monitoring exercise. It is not as robust as devices of a specialized nature. But if you're looking for a fusion of both worlds, it will be perfectly adequate for the average non-professional athlete. Galaxy Watch 3 offers many new experiences in monitoring health and well-being. A new blood oxygen (SpO2) function measures oxygen saturation over time for sports and wellness needs. To ensure help in the event of a fall is never too far away, Galaxy Watch 3 it also offers a new fall detection feature that detects a possible fall and sends a notification to emergency contacts. Maintaining a sports routine can be difficult, but a smartwatch will help you with that too. The run analysis function provides real-time feedback, while training reports help improve training performance and reduce the chance of injury. To track your cardio progress, you can access the VO2 measurement, which show your oxygen level. You will also be able to exercise from home - the application Samsung Health namely, it includes the library s 120 different video exercises, among which you will undoubtedly find the right exercise for you. The Galaxy Watch 3 is also equipped with the most advanced functions for sleep monitoring and management. It's waterproof and has everything the best activity trackers have. The problem is a somewhat poor battery that requires frequent charging.

A tactical activity tracker at a good price

Garmin Instinct

Series of watches Garmin Instinct is a series in which real men will find themselves. Otherwise, it resembles Casio watches, but it contains all the goodies that Garmin watches bring. Proverbially those that you will find on the wrists of individuals with a really good condition. The series includes several different watches, including one that draws energy from solar cells. They all have the so-called US Army standard. Different subseries of the Garmin Instinct line also have the Instinct Tactical model, intended for soldiers, which has a so-called "stealth mode" that prevents signal detection GPS. All watches contain practically all sensors, from recognizing different sports to measuring heart rate and other functions. It's all nicely connected in the Garmin support app. What is important is that the watch has up to 14 days of independence from the power source and up to 16 hours full GPS functionality. The great advantage of the Instinct series is also the price. This one starts around250 euros. You can get the Garmin Instinct Solar, which is also powered by solar energy, for 390 euros. We added the watch to the selection precisely because of its moderate price and otherwise excellent functionality.

A fierce entry-level model for a crazy price!

Garmin Forerunner 45

Garmin Forerunner 45 is the successor to the excellent Forerunner 35, which we rated some time ago as the best entry-level running watch. Despite the high quality of its predecessor, the Model 45 is an impressive and very interesting upgrade, with perhaps the key feature being the brand new integration with Garmin Coach. This allows you to upload training plans to the watch for events such as marathon or a half marathon. The program then guides you through all the sessions and creates a training plan and even gives you a prediction of what you could achieve on competition day. 45 it has a built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor and tracks many other activities in addition to running. In addition to the Forerunner 45, Garmin also introduced the 45S model, which has the same features but is slightly smaller to better fit slimmer wrists. Garmin Forerunner 45 is one of the better buys.

The legendary G-Shock is also smart

Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000-1er

Is it the best activity tracker? No way! But it is definitely the most legendary and in a way nostalgic. It still delivers the durability expected from the G-Shock brand. This means that the "timer" will also work without problems 200 meters under water. At the same time, all the functions that a modern sports meter must have are on the "board". Maybe one of the key features, for example, is that it has GBD-H1000 outdoor temperature gauge. It also has a pretty accurate altimeter, digital compass, calorie counter, etc. It's all supported by an app that's pretty simple, but sufficient. What needs to be pointed out is the fact that the watch is partially powered from solar energy and thus extends the time of autonomy. This is also why the battery life is excellent or above average.