The best fitness trackers for women to help you monitor your health, fitness and sleep

If you're planning on making some changes to your health and fitness this year, it's worth investing in one of the best fitness trackers for women. From monitoring vital stats during your workout like heart rate and distance covered to helping you sleep better, it truly could make the world of difference. 

But how do you find the best fitness tracker for you? Wearables like smartwatches and heart rate monitors are so personal. Your pick of the bunch may well be different from someone else's purely based on lifestyle factors and interests. For instance, there's no point in buying a watch specially designed for running enthusiasts if you don't ever plan to do a 5k. 

Most fitness trackers these days combine exercise tracking with measuring lifestyle factors. For example, you'll likely find most watches offer insights into your sleep behaviour (provided you wear the watch to bed) and your stress levels alongside tracking your essential stats during a workout, like heart rate, steps, and distance. This makes them excellent side kicks when it comes to improving your overall health. 

From the best Fitbits to our favourite Apple Watch, to help you find your favourite fitness tracker, the health team at woman&home has tested out some of the world's favourite brands to find the best of the best in each category. So, whether you're totally new to fitness tracking and want something simple or you're looking to level up and make some changes, we've got you covered. 

Our top 6 picks

The best fitness trackers for women as tried and tested by the woman&home health team

The best fitness tracker overall

Fitbit has faced intense competition in recent years with consistent new releases by Garmin, Polar and Apple challenging the capabilities of the brand. However, after testing many of these devices, the Fitbit Versa 4 remains my top choice for the best fitness tracker overall. 

It's not the most advanced on this list but it certainly covers all the must-haves, offering a buffet of fitness tracking options and lifestyle assistance features set up in an easy-to-use design at a reasonable price point. If you're looking to make any changes to your health and wellbeing this year, the Fitbit Versa 4  can help you do it. Monitor your heart rate, step count, calorie burn through the day, switch to a workout mode for specific insights into your run, walk, cycle, and gym session (or 40+ other options), and monitor your sleep and stress for better wellbeing overall. It's more accurate in its insights than previous versions and easier to use, thanks to the integration of Google, with just a couple of swipes taking you through the workout modes and lifestyle features, such as weather report, alarm setting, and more. It's also sleek, stylish, and available in multiple colours. 

All the best insights, as with many of the best fitness trackers, are available in the Fitbit app. Even the free version of the app offers all the need-to-knows, including deep insights into your workouts, night's sleep, and stress levels during the day. With six months of Fitbit Premium included in the purchase of any new Fitbit, you can test out the superb range of exercise videos (from the likes of Les Mills) and recipe tutorials, helping to bridge the gap between the four pillars of health - exercise, sleep, stress, and nutrition - unlike any other device. 

It's also one of the more versatile models on this list. While the device comes with a silicone Infinity band, several others are available to buy and the full-colour AMOLED display adds a real premium feel to the watch.

Read our full review of the Fitbit Versa 4 here. 

It's fair to say that most of Garmin's extensive fitness trackers could be included on this list. I've whittled their range down to the Garmin Venu Sq 2 for best pick though because it includes all of the key features needed in one of the best fitness trackers, with in-built GPS and app connectivity at a reasonable price point. 

While others in Garmin's extensive range may be better suited for those interested in a specific sport, for those looking to improve their fitness this year, the Venu Sq 2 is a great choice with complete heart rate monitoring, step count features, over 25+ workout modes to choose from, and sleep tracking. It's also uncomplicated, with an easy to use navigation. 

As with all other Garmin models (and Fitbit models), the most interesting insights post-workout are available in the Garmin Connect app. This includes deep insights into your workout session, such as split breakdowns for running workouts, the chance to name your exercises post-strength training session so you can track your progress with a particular exercise, and a map route analysis for those who like to exercise outdoors. All your workouts are saved here as well and users can see how their fitness level is progressing the more they exercise and even earn badges in the app as a recognition of progress. It's a feature I was doubtful of when I first started using Garmin watches but now find quite motivating - especially during low-energy periods of the year, such as Christmas and the New Year. 

The battery life of the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a feature I was particularly impressed by. I wore this watch for a week on holiday, where admittedly I was mainly tracking my steps, but I did go on two short runs and it lasted the entire seven days without needing to charge. The same could not be said for other models with similar capabilities, such as the Apple SE fitness tracker. 

Garmins' Venu Sq 2 is also a great choice for those who want to track their sleep and learn how to sleep better this year. Thanks to the lightweight design and intuitive interface, it's comfortable and undisruptive to wear in bed, with detailed insights into your sleep cycle and habits available in app. 

The Garmin Venu 2 is a fitness tracker by heart and function though. It's definitely one for those who want a device to monitor their fitness that also has a clockface, as aside from being able to receive notifications, check the weather, set an alarm, and pay via Garmin Pay, there aren't too many features to assist daily life. 

Read our full review of the Garmin Venu Sq 2 here. 

The Fitbit Charge 6 is the newest Fitbit on the market and an approved Charge model, released late in 2023. It's a huge improvement from the Fitbit Charge 5, offering 60% better heart rate monitoring (according to the brand themselves). For those who want a one-and-done tracker that covers everything with ease - from recording workouts, step count, sleep and stress habits to lifestyle assistance with voice dictation and even in-built GPS with turn-by-turn navigation - this is a great choice. 

All those features make it sound like an advanced tracker but that's far from the case. The Fitbit Charge 6 is easy to use with all the essential information available on the home screen, including your heart rate and a pick of other features - anything from distance covered that day (runners, you'll be pleased to hear that) to calorie burn. Any other feature, including workout modes, is available with just a couple of swipes. So whether your goal is to simply do more steps or you want to train for a marathon, you're covered. And just like any other Fitbit, all the key insights are available to view in the app. 

The only downside to the Charge 6, in comparison to other Fitbit devices like the Versa 4, is the small screen. I found it very hard to view my statistics on the move with this device, especially when walking or running, and I had to stop to check my distance as the screen. However, in turn, the smaller design keeps the device discreet on your wrist so sometimes it's not even obvious you're wearing a fitness tracker and it sits among the more affordable trackers on the list at just under £130. 

Read more in our full Fitbit Charge 6 review

The best fitness tracker for beginners

New to fitness trackers? If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE is likely going to be a great option for you. Not only does it rival the newest Apple Watch, it works seamlessly with other products in the brand's range. The SE combines all the best parts of the more advanced trackers in the range, you essentially get a premium tracker with all the essentials and more for a lower price. 

Whether you're looking to improve your step count, start a new activity, or boost your overall wellbeing this year, the fitness and health-tracking features on this device (which are in line with the Series 6) can help you get there. You'll find classic heart rate monitoring features, step and general activity tracking, and a huge range of workouts to choose from. Everything from running to cross-country skiing. If you're new to exercise generally and looking for a little motivation, you may also find the activity-monitoring rings beneficial, which encourage users to move, exercise, and stand a little more often throughout the day. You can also record the time you spend asleep, provided you wear the watch at night, but this is limited so for more detailed insights (such as sleep cycles) the Fitbit Versa 4 is a better option in my opinion. If you're undecided between the two, considering weighing up Fitbit or Apple Watch more generally before buying. Alternatively, if sleep tracking is a priority for you, it's worth weighing up the Oura Ring vs Apple Watch as this unique device focuses on rest and recovery.

When it comes to using the Apple Watch SE in daily life, there are a couple of exciting features to make life a little easier, including faster voice dictation processing so anything you use Siri for will happen a little faster and complete with the iPhone means you can control (almost all) your favourite apps with a touch on the screen. This includes Spotify, Strava, and Google Maps for planning outdoor workouts. 

In exchange for the lower price, however, the watch does remove a couple of features from its offering. This includes software like WhatsApp connectivity and hardware, including the ECG and blood oxygen saturation monitoring (which isn't too important unless you're monitoring these for health reasons), and the always-on screen. The always-on mode means the face is always lit up, which lowers the battery but turns the tracker into more of a standard watch, so that's something to consider before buying. If you'd like to explore other options from Apple, I recommend the Apple Watch Series 9 for an advanced tracker with in easy-to-use software and design. 

The best alternative fitness tracker

Not all of the best fitness trackers have to be watches. With the same Bluetooth connectivity, comfortable straps, and easy-to-use functionality heart rate monitors are a great alternative. These sit under on the line of your sports bra strap along your chest and monitor your heart rate this way, offering similar metrics (such as ) to a wrist-worn tracker.

The metrics are all available to view on the Myzone app, both at a glance during the workout and after it ends, so you won't lose your stats even if the monitor becomes disconnected from your phone. It has the longest battery life of any device on this list, given that the Myzone MZ-3 is powered through a removable battery within the casing, rather than via USB. 

What truly makes the Myzone MZ-3 a winner in my eyes though is the effort feature. Once you've been wearing the monitor for a while, it will calibrate itself to your heart rate and offer an effort percentage for each exercise session. In my opinion, this makes the device an excellent choice for anyone looking to actively improve their fitness through tracking as it measures how well you're progressing through the weeks. Less effort for the same activity this week compared to a month ago = improved fitness. Other, more advanced devices like the Garmin HRM-Fit don't offer the same.

Although I think it's a great tracker for anyone looking to monitor their fitness in another way, the downside is that it doesn't have an in-built GPS system. However, as you have to take your phone with you to monitor your stats from the device anyway, this doesn't feel like a big issue. 

Read our full Myzone MZ-3 review here. 

The best minimalist tracker

Given that an ever-growing number of people are wearing fitness trackers, it's no surprise that the demand for discreet, minimalist styles has gone up. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is an excellent option for a low-key design with all of the features you need to improve and maintain your fitness.

There are three colour choices available with the Fitbit Inspire 3: black, bright pink, or orange. While the last two may be more maximalist, the overall smaller size of the watch, the thinness of the straps, and the black colour choice mean it's still the most minimalist design on this list, with the Fitbit Luxe coming in close second.

Plus, it's still an excellent fitness tracker - whether you're looking to complete 10,000 steps a day, start training for a specific sport, or record your sleep and stress metrics. The Inspire 3 is complete with all fitness tracking essentials, with over 20 different workout modes to choose from and available in a quick swipe of a finger on the small screen. Glancing down at my wrist, I can see my step count, heart rate, and calorie burn immediately, along with the day's date and the time, importantly. 

The only downside to this watch, in comparison to other models, is that it doesn't have an in-built GPS. This means you have to carry your phone with you whenever you want to record an exercise on the move, which slightly takes away from the minimalist approach to fitness tracking. However, if you're just looking to make small lifestyle changes or workout indoors then this isn't a problem.

Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review here. 

The best fitness tracker bracelet

There's no doubt Fitbit's latest model, the Fitbit Luxe, is the most stylish fitness tracker out there right now. Complete a gold chain bracelet style, I find this special edition design fits seamlessly in with any wardrobe choice and could easily be mistaken for a piece of jewellery. However, there are also three coloured bands to choose from if the gold isn't your style that offer a discreet look. 

Using the Fitbit Luxe you can keep track of your daily steps, distance covered, calories burned and stairs climbed. From the watch face, you can also monitor your heart rate, start recording workouts, set alarms and take a few moments out for gentle breathing meditations. While you can't see it on the face of the watch, the Luxe will track your sleep as you snooze and give you a detailed sleep analysis with a sleep score in the Fitbit app the following day. Via the app, you can also track weight, menstrual cycle, mindfulness, stress levels, and water intake. And, the Health Metrics section will give you a detailed run-down of your average breathing rate, heart rate variability, and skin temperature. 

For such a small device, the features it offers are pretty impressive. While we liked the small, slim and lightweight design of this fitness tracker, it might be a little too small for some. Plus, there's no side button for turning on the home screen or pausing workouts - unlike the newer models, such as the Fitbit Charge 6. Instead, to do this you have to double-tap the touchscreen. 

Read our full Fitbit Luxe review here.

The best fitness tracker for cardio exercise

For those looking to reap all the benefits of running, cycling, or hiking, the Garmin Forerunner 945 is a great option. While traditionally a watch for advanced runners, I've found it's suitable for just about anyone who enjoys cardio exercise in the outdoors. 

Basic fitness tracking data and health stats are easy to view on your wrist with the touch of one side button and include daily step count, calorie burn, floors climbed, stress levels, and body battery (similar to Fitbit's Readiness Score, which is only available with the Premium version of the Fitbit app). In the same panel, you can see your training status (with 'Productive' meaning you're making improvements), any unanswered notifications, change a song that's playing via Spotify, and view the weather and sunset time. It's the perfect blend of a smartwatch and fitness tracker for those happy to invest serious money in their pick of the best fitness trackers. 

Plus, with map features on-wrist you can pre-program a route via the Garmin app and send it to your watch, making navigating the outdoors on the move that much easier.

For those who like to keep their fitness tracking simple, this isn't the watch for you. The Fitbit Versa 3 or Charge 6 also have features to make navigating and recording cardio easy too, so they may be better options. 

I've been using the Garmin Forerunner 945 for over a year now and I've still not used all the features it has to offer, but with so many to be had, this is my number one choice for staying on top of my fitness as I spent a lot of time exercising outdoors. However, as all Garmin watches connect seamlessly to Garmin heart-rate monitors, you can use treadmills and indoor bikes without an issue with this watch as well. 

The best fitness tracker for indoor workouts

In most ways, the Polar Instinct 3 is similar to other fitness trackers on the list - especially the Fitbit Versa 4. It offers useful data and insights around workout sessions (heart rate zones, calories burned, pace, etc), daily movement, and sleep. This watch is the pick of the bunch for indoor workouts though, given the range of on-screen workouts available, the design of the device, and other new features added to the Polar Instinct 3. 

Features such as the Work-Rest guide make indoor workouts - such as indoor cycling, group exercise classes, and strength training - easy with this watch. It's a unique program that uses your heart rate to determine whether you're rested well enough from your previous set of strength training or HIIT movements to start the next one. While it does appear in the app rather than on the watch, it's a feature that can help to improve your fitness and I found it really helped me get the most out of my workouts, especially when I only had a limited amount of time to exercise. 

For those new to the gym in 2024, it's a real winner as the Ignite 3 can create personalised workouts for you based on your fitness level and previous exercise history. You can play these straight from the watch and receive instructions on the correct form alongside it, helping you gain confidence in each movement. 

If you like to do swimming as a workout, this is also the watch for you. The Polar Instinct 3 is particularly good at measuring heart rate underwater compared to other devices, meaning that statistics from the session are likely to be more accurate. The swimming metrics can also automatically record your swimming style, pace, distance, strokes, and rest times, for a better overall picture.

Another reason the Polar Instinct 3 is a great watch for working out indoors is that it's very comfortable to wear. Thanks to the incredibly lightweight design (weighing just 35g in total), I forgot I was even wearing it on a couple of occasions and had to double-check my wrist. The straps and face are also thinner than many of the other best fitness trackers so the device stays out of the way as you move your arms, brushing them against fitness equipment and your clothing. It's discreet in colourways too, with the brightest being a sleek purple. 

The downside of the Polar Instinct 3 becomes obvious when you take the watch outdoors though. For some reason, the GPS seems to lack accuracy - a problem that's been reported by other users as well. It's surprising considering that Polar is a general leader in this area, so I hope an update will arrive soon to remedy this problem on an otherwise superb device.

The best fitness tracker without a screen

The WHOOP 4.0 is the best alternative fitness tracker around. Instead of just recording the basics, it focuses on pulling together metrics around your heart rate, session duration, and effort to focus on offering two key pieces of data: strain and recovery. That's how much pressure your body has been under and how long it's going to take you to get back to feeling your best. With these metrics in mind, you can plot the improvements in your fitness and find out when is best to exercise for you and your needs. 

Given this, it's understandably one of the more advanced fitness trackers on our list and a great option for those who have a specific goal in mind, such as training for a goal. For example, completing a particular distance in running or cycling. For those looking to improve their sleep hygiene and learn how to reduce stress as well as doing this, it's even better.

As the device doesn't have a screen, all the insights from your workouts are available in the app. Here, you can see some basic fitness tracking insights as well, so it's not completely different to other options on this list. For example, you'll be able to see your maximum and minimum heart rate and how many calories you burned per session. Provided your phone's GPS is enabled and you have it nearby when you're on the move, you can also record the route you run, cycle, or walk, and look back on it in insights later via the app. 

For me, the only downside to the WHOOP is that it works on a subscription plan. Although, many other alternative fitness trackers - like the Oura Ring - have the same business model. While the wristband and device itself are 'free', you receive them on sign-up to a plan that starts at £16 per month (£384 for two years, payable upfront). For the same cost, you could have several other options on this list that would see you well past the two-year mark, making it a premium option. 

Read our full WHOOP 4.0 review here. 

The best fitness tracker app

MyFitnessPal makes it to the top of the list of apps for fitness tracking because there's no need to connect your watch to the app for it to work, unlike many other of the best fitness apps out there. It can use your phone's built-in motion processor to log the number of steps you do per day and you manually log your exercise sessions (type: cardio, strength training, or a workout routine; description; how long the session was in minutes; calories burned; and start time). From there, you can view your progress over the last week in the 'Weekly Digest' tab. 

For 2024, MyFitnessPal has also added several new features, including the Weekly Report and some sleep tracking features, with data pulled from your phone's health app (e.g. Apple Health). 

Needless to say, as the app doesn't take factors like your heart rate into account, the fitness tracking insights won't be as seamless or detailed as you'd get with any of the watches or heart-rate monitors on the list. However, if you're looking for a free option and one that you have full control over, as you can manually update it yourself, then this could be a good option. In my opinion, this app is also best for those who have a nutrition goal over the next year or so - whether that be to lose weight without dieting or improve protein intake. 

It's also more of a general fitness-tracking app. If you have a specific sport in mind and want one of the best workout apps to help you develop your fitness and skills in this area, there are other, better options to choose from. For example, anyone looking to try running as a beginner may find the Runna app to be very helpful (I certainly did when training for my half marathon), but it does only cover this activity. 

How we tested the best fitness trackers for women

To find the best fitness trackers for women, we tried a selection of devices from leading brands - such as Fitbit, Garmin, Apple, and Polar - and considered what you need to know before buying a fitness tracker. We tested each tracker over several months while doing various activities, from Nordic walking and trail running to yoga for beginners and sweaty HIIT workouts. We weighed up the pros and cons of each fitness tracker and considered the following: 

• Features: Simple fitness trackers can monitor daily steps, heart rate, and sleep cycles, while more advanced trackers have smartwatch features that allow you to make contactless payments, stream music, answer texts via your watch screen, and even take an ECG reading on your wrist. 
• Tracking ability: We considered how well each tracker helped us monitor our health and wellbeing, from daily activity, workouts, sleep and menstrual cycle on both the tracker's watch face and in the relevant app. Some brands provide a more detailed analysis in-app, while others require you to have a subscription to access more data. 
• Ease of use: No one wants to spend weeks figuring out how to use a fitness tracker when there's working out to do, so only trackers that were at least relatively simple to use made it onto the list. 
• Design: At the end of the day, a fitness tracker is supposed to be worn every day. So the design was something we considered carefully. We also considered how well the trackers fit, how long the battery lasted and how long it required to fully recharge. 
• Budget: The price of fitness trackers can vary greatly but they are usually around the £100 to £800 mark. To make sure there was an option for everyone, we tested a range of fitness trackers to include both affordable buys and premium options.

How to choose a fitness tracker

• Goal: When choosing your pick of the best fitness trackers, it's important to understand what your end goal is. Do you want to take up a new sport like running or cycling as a workout? Or do you just want to improve your sleep, step count, and general health metrics? Your overall goal for the next year or so should dictate what watch you choose.
• Lifestyle: Fitness trackers should fit relatively seamlessly into your lifestyle and what you wear outside of exercise, otherwise you may not wear it as often as you need to for the most accurate results. So, consider the design of the tracker - do you want a classic watch that sits on your wrist all the time, for everyone to see? Or do you want something a little more discreet? That's the choice between the Fitbit Inspire 3 and Apple Watch, for instance. 
• How often you plan to wear it: If you only plan to wear your fitness tracker while you're working out, a heart-rate monitor like the MyZone may be a better option than a watch. But if you want your fitness tracker to go everywhere you do, a watch will be a significantly more convenient and comfortable option. 
• Versatility: For those planning to wear their fitness tracker in daily life, it's worth considering how versatile the watch can be. For example, can you replace the straps on the device easily to change the overall look, feel, and design when the occasion calls for it? 
• Basic vs advanced: One of the most popular phrases in fitness circles is 'start where you are', which means not moving too quickly when it comes to changing up your lifestyle. So, when choosing one of the best fitness trackers, consider whether a more basic (like the Fitbits) or advanced option (like the Garmin Forerunner 945) would be more suited to you right now. 

Are fitness trackers worth it?

Yes, if you plan to improve your fitness levels or maintain your current activities then a fitness tracker can be a valuable tool. "Typically, these devices collect daily data and convert it into statistics like how many steps a day you've done, as well as calories burned and sleep quality. Some research shows that by keeping track of metrics like these, you can significantly improve your health," says David Wiener, training specialist at fitness platform Freeletics.

Indeed, a review by Loyola University looked into several studies examining the effect of fitness trackers on exercise motivation and found that the devices were most than a fitness accessory - "they are a motivational tool that can help improve physical activity". The researchers concluded that the devices do this by offering various psychological techniques linked to behaviour change, such as social support, rewards, badges, notifications, and feedback.

From a fitness perspective, monitoring progress can be motivating for achieving goals, and also help you understand whether you are working out in the right zone to meet them.

However, it is very individual whether they will work for you. "It entirely depends on what your lifestyle is like and what you plan to use the device for," says personal trainer Caroline Idiens, founder of popular fitness app and platform Caroline's Circuits. "Some advanced versions now offer a whole health analysis, so if it's to aid you in leading a healthier lifestyle by measuring your heart rate, blood pressure, or body fat, then it's great," she says. 

What's the difference between a fitness tracker and smartwatch?

Fitness trackers and smartwatches are very similar in many ways. Some say that the key difference is whether the watch can operate without being connected to a phone - if it can then it's a smartwatch and if it can't, it's a fitness tracker. 

Fitness trackers undoubtedly tend to have fewer features but they are primed to focus entirely on tracking your fitness achievements, whether that's your running distance on a basic level or sleep quality and recovery time on more advanced trackers. Smartwatches, on the other hand, offer more features and can be an on-wrist extension of your mobile phone. For example, they may allow you to listen to music, check the weather, answer text messages and calls that come to your phone, and receive notifications from social media. 

These days though, the boundaries between smartwatch and fitness tracker are very blurred. Advanced fitness trackers, like the Garmin Forerunner series for instance, will offer many smartwatch features - such as notifications, weather reports, and music playback. Equally, smartwatches - like the Apple Watch - are perfectly capable of recording your exercise, sleep, and even stress activities to more than just a basic level. 

If you're struggling to decide between the two, consider which part of your day-to-day life you want to prioritise with the purchase: fitness goals or general health and wellness. For the former, you should opt for a fitness tracker (like the Fitbit Charge 5 or 6, for instance) and those looking to focus on the latter may find a smartwatch more (like the Apple Watch Series 5) suitable. 

What are the disadvantages of a fitness tracker?

While we've detailed all the many wonderful features and advantages of wearing a fitness tracker, there are some disadvantages too. Over my years of testing these devices, I've found these to be the key ones to consider:

• Fitness trackers are not 100% accurate: Even the most advanced trackers don't claim to be completely accurate when it comes to measuring data like heart rate, steps, and calories burned - and even distance in some cases. This makes them difficult to rely on sometimes when you have a particular goal in mind and if you feel your tracker may be a little off. 
• Fitness trackers don't consider every activity the same: These devices are all about measuring statistics so a run will offer more feedback in the distance, time, speed, calories burned, and heart rate data than doing yoga every day would. That doesn't mean they are not equally valuable activities - but your fitness tracker may suggest otherwise. 
• It's easy to get a little obsessed with the data: Fitness trackers often have notifications to 'reward' users when they hit a certain goal or milestone, whether that's 10,000 steps in a day, sleeping a certain number of hours, or burning a certain number of calories. Understandably, everyone works differently and every day is different, yet it's easy to become fixated on these goals, which can lead to working out when really your body is telling you to rest.
• Fitness trackers can demotivate you: As noted, fitness trackers aren't entirely accurate. They also struggle to measure certain activities more than others. For example, many devices find it harder to measure stationary activities like running on a treadmill vs running outside, potentially offering incorrect (and demotivating) data at the end of your session.
• Cost: Having the best tech costs money and much like mobile phones, fitness trackers can range from budget-friendly prices to jaw-dropping amounts, and the more you get invested in having accurate data, the more you may want to re-invest in the best of the best and the accessories to go with it. 

Should you wear a fitness tracker all the time?

There's nothing wrong with wearing a fitness tracker every hour of the day and night if that's what you want to do. Are fitness trackers worth it if you don't wear them all the time? Perhaps not. Wearing your watch or device for most of the day and evening will be the best way to get the most accurate data possible, especially if you're focused on learning how to sleep better or monitoring your step count. However, it's not necessary for most people who just want an overview of their health. 

Wearing a fitness tracker 24/7 may also get a little uncomfortable as the strap for the watch is likely going to be made of fabric, plastic, or silicone which traps water (and sweat) fairly easily from my experience. Depending on the quality of the material, this can lead to an uncomfortable, itchy rash. If this happens, take your fitness tracker off right away and give your skin some time to breathe. 

Can fitness trackers monitor blood pressure?

Yes and no. “They can be brilliant at monitoring a wide variety of things, but the jury is still out on blood pressure readings,” says Wiener. Indeed, Idiens says they are not as accurate as using a medical-grade sphygmomanometer - the device a doctor would use - and trackers should be for workout motivation only. "Readings on your upper arm are better than your wrist, and they can be movement-sensitive," she says.

However, trackers may still have a place if you're worried about your blood pressure. “The pros are that you can check your blood pressure anywhere, anytime, which can give you a better picture of heart health without having to go to a doctor," notes Idiens. "So they are great as guidance, including for flagging things like high blood pressure, but do make sure you do a thorough research of which device you are getting and take your device to a doctor's check-up to see how it compares.”