Everybody these days wants to be fit, healthy and involved in physical activities like running, swimming, brisk walking etc. We also want to monitor daily effects of these activities on our body to keep us on the right track. Fitness bands are possibly the best devices to monitor your health-related activities with accuracy. These fitness bands constantly measure vitals like quality of sleep, step count and the heart rate. The fitness band market is flush with competitive devices, most of which do a pretty good job of basic health tracking. These bands also keep you updated about the happenings around you and are therefore more than just fitness trackers. Here, we showcase some of the best fitness bands in terms of design, features, and software — all of which are important for monitoring health.
FITBIT CHARGE 2
Fitbit Charge 2 helps to monitor the pure pulse continuous heart rate which makes it easy to maximize workouts, better track calorie burn and get a snapshot of cardio fitness level. Apart from this, the device also measures all day activity and also has auto sleep tracking which lets the user see how your whole routine adds up. User can also record workouts with multi-sport modes to see real-time workout stats on screen or rely on smart track to automatically record select exercises for you. The large OLED display helps the user stay connected with call, text and calendar alerts apart from allowing you to stay active with reminders to move as well as find moments of calm with personalized guided breathing sessions. This fitness wearable also comes with customizable clock faces and interchangeable bands. Fitbit Charge 2 is priced at Rs 14,999.
SAMSUNG GEAR FIT2
Samsung’s offering in this market is the Gear Fit2. This gadget uses a wide range of tracking sensors to closely monitor activity levels including steps taken, calories burned, heart rate and sleep quality. It can even automatically identify different types of physical activities such as running, cycling, working out on the elliptical and more. The Gear Fit2 is water-resistant and features a curved full-color Super AMOLED screen that displays real-time activity stats along with texts and other alerts from your Android smartphone. Users can even accurately map their running with the built-in GPS. Gear Fit2 comes with black wrist band and has another larger band that fits wrist sizes between 6.1 and 8.2 inches. It is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and most other Android devices. Samsung Gear Fit2 is priced at Rs 13,990.
MICROSOFT BAND 2
Microsoft Band 2 has a curved AMOLED screen beneath Corning Gorilla Glass 3. This fitness wearable can measure altitude as well as monitor gym workouts, running, cycling, golfing and other sporting activities. It is also capable of counting steps and tracking sleep. Band 2 has features like heart rate sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, gyro meter, GPS, ambient light sensor, skin temperature sensor, UV sensor, capacitive sensor, galvanic skin response and the new barometer. This fitness band also comes with advanced sensors that track data specific to running, biking, and golfing. Technology from Microsoft Health gives actionable insights based on your data. Microsoft claims Band 2’s lithium-polymer battery can last up to 48 hours and takes less than 1 hour and 30 minutes to charge. Microsoft Band 2 is priced at Rs 19,525.
JAWBONE UP3
The design of Jawbone UP3 is bracelet-like and stretched unlike the common watch-like design. It is lightweight and slim with integrated sensors that automatically track resting and passive heart rate. UP3 comes with a physical button at one end and the 2.5mm headphone-jack shaped charger at the other. The unique feature of the device is the one which records passive heart rate (the heart rate while a person is sitting idle). UP3 also tracks the consumption of food, drink, calories and nutrients. It also uses the UP app’s food score to help the user know if he is eating right. A feature called smart coach gives personalized guidance through an understanding of heart rate and detailed information about sleep stages and other activities. This fitness wearable also connects the user with friends and family so that they can reach their goals together. Jawbone UP3 is priced at Rs 11,998.
UA BAND
UA Band comes loaded with 1.36 inch PMOLED touchscreen. The Band and its straps are made up of flexible silicon which makes it sweat proof and water-resistant. UA Band measures sleep, resting heart rate, steps, and even workout intensity when worn with UA Heart Rate. Band also features a display that can stay on during workouts and doesn’t require the users to push buttons. This gadget is compatible with Bluetooth Smart and can connect with UA Record as well. It is especially designed for those who are into blood-pumping jogging or people who just don’t want to channel much thought into operating a touchscreen. The device also detects sleep patterns automatically by tracking changes in your heart rate. UA Band is priced At Rs 8,244.