Fitness Bands – Buying Guide for Beginners

Whether you’re planning to purchase the fitness band or activity tracker from online or offline stores, there are some features you should consider before making a purchase.

 1.Style or Form Factor

The first thing anyone notices when you wear a Smart band is the looks. Most popular brands offer premium look and feel.

You can get the wearables in different forms – clip-ons, bracelets or watches.

The most ideal ones are the bracelets with premium rubber material, which are firmly attached to your wrist and provide better tracking.

2.Activity Tracking

The main purpose of a fitness band is to track your daily activities like steps, distance, calories, sleep etc…

Almost all the activity trackers calculate your basic activities like walking, running and sleep.

a)Steps Tracking

Using the built-in pedometer or accelerometer, a fitness band tracks your steps with 90 to 95% perfection. The accuracy also depends on the brand and the sensors they use in the tracker.

b)Calorie Tracking

Calorie counting is pretty easy when your steps are accurately tracked. The band displays the number of calories you’ve consumed by measuring the steps taken or stairs climbed on any particular day.

Some advanced trackers come with special algorithms to analyze your current bodyweight and provide suggestions for better health improvement.

c)Sleep Tracking

Most smart trackers are also able to track or monitor your sleep routine using a 3-axis accelerometer to sense any movements during the night time.

It also displays statistics like how much time you’ve slept, deep sleep and light sleep etc…

d)Heart Rate Monitoring

A decently priced fitness band usually comes with a heart rate sensor and it helps in monitoring your heart rate during activities or workouts.

It is very beneficial for those who’re trying to lose weight or improve their workout performance, especially the athletes or bodybuilding enthusiasts.

3.Advanced Tracking Features

There are some popular fitness tracker brands like Fitbit, Garmin, Amazfit that offer advanced features to improve the accuracy of tracking.

a)Built-in GPS

Some fitness bands with built-in GPS, though expensive than the regular ones, will track your steps and distance more accurately.

It can even track your speed, number of laps taken and exact location using the Global positioning system.

It is very beneficial for those who prefer running outside, especially the athletes or fitness enthusiasts.

b)Blood Pressure Monitor

If you’re suffering with low/high blood pressure issues, then the ideal solution is to track your BP at regular intervals and make changes in your food accordingly.

Luckily, there are some advanced activity trackers that can monitor your blood pressure directly from your wrist without having to carry separate BP monitors that are bulky.

You can check your results either on your Smartphone or laptop. Some bands also send your data to the doctors (connected) for further analysis.

 4.Swimproof or Water Resistant

While most basic fitness trackers are water-resistant (sweatproof or splash proof), there are some popular brands that also support wearing those bands for swimming or while taking a shower.

See the specs carefully if you want swim-ready smart bands.

5.Mobile App

Almost all the fitness tracker bands come with the support to be synced with your Smartphone via the dedicated mobile application.

You can view all your stats like steps, calories, sleep, heart rate etc…daily, weekly, monthly or yearly using the mobile app.

6.Usage Type

If you’re an athlete or sportsperson, then you should definitely consider buying the fitness band from popular brands like Fitbit or Garmin as they provide a more accurate tracking using the built-in GPS and other advanced sensors.

And, if you’re a regular gym goer or occasional jogger, the basic smart bands are more than enough for your needs.

So, spend wisely based on your usage type.

7.Compatibility

As we’ve mentioned earlier, all the trackers support Bluetooth connectivity for connecting to your Smartphone wirelessly.

Most popular brands support both Android and iOS mobiles. So, you don’t have to worry much about the compatibility issues.

Some bands can also be synced with 3rd party fitness apps for additional analysis. Read the specs carefully.

8.Battery Life

Activity trackers are usually designed for prolonged wear and so the battery life plays a crucial role.

Most trackers come with Li-ion batteries that lasts for a minimum of 5 days to 30 days, depending on your usage and lifestyle.

If you use the basic features like calorie tracking, then the band will last very long. But, if you regularly use the HR monitor or GPS, then the battery will last for only a couple of days.

You can charge these bands by connecting to a USB port on the laptops or charger or power banks.

9.Pricing

As mentioned earlier, the advanced fitness trackers are usually costlier when compared with basic fitness bands.

As a thumb rule, basic smart bands start from Rs.2000, while the advanced trackers start from Rs.7000.

Conclusion:

That’s all friends! Hope, the list of best fitness bands in India will come handy for you in choosing the right activity tracker according to your requirements and budget.