8 Best Smartwatches, Based on Fitness Experts in 2023

Smartwatches can show you how to track your fitness goals, encourage you to include more movement into your every day routine, keep you connected with communication capabilities right in your wrist, and mean you can have fun milestones along the way in which. But not all of them are created equal, and should you’re shelling out the large bucks for this specialized device, it’s clever to weigh your options rigorously. We tapped fitness experts to learn what to search for in a smartwatch and the most effective brands to contemplate.

The best way to select a smartwatch

A smartwatch is a tool that tracks your movements and workouts and also connects to your smartphone, allowing you to text, call, and use third-party apps out of your wrist. Smartwatches are just like fitness trackers, but they provide more features given their ability to sync along with your phone. Should you’re desirous about trying one out, keep the next aspects in mind when determining which device is true for you.

Compatibility: You’ll wish to make sure that your watch is compatible with whatever smartphone you’ve got so that you may effectively sync the 2 devices.

Intended use: Your health and wellness goals will influence which wearable is best for you. For instance, in case your fundamental focus is training for a half marathon, you’ll probably need a watch with GPS capabilities, a superb battery life, and heart rate tracking, Kaila DeRienzo, CPT, an authorized run coach in South Carolina, tells SELF. Should you’re an avid swimmer or diver, you’d likely gravitate toward a water-proof watch that tracks metrics like water temperature and depth. Should you’re simply trying to incorporate more movement into your day-to-day life, a watch that keeps tab on the fundamentals like step count and exercise minutes could also be all you wish. And should you want something that tracks your workouts and provides text and calling options even when your phone isn’t nearby, then consider a watch with cellular capabilities.

Ultimately, it comes all the way down to “what sort of athlete you’re, what sort of training you wish to do, and what you do every day,” Teddy Savage, CPT, a national lead trainer for Planet Fitness in Baltimore, tells SELF.

Style: Though aesthetics aren’t every little thing, they do play a task when choosing a smartwatch. As an example, if you’ve got smaller wrists, you could feel more inclined to wear one which doesn’t feel too bulky, says Savage. Beyond that, it really comes all the way down to personal style preferences, and aspects like customizable watch bands and color can show you how to find one that matches with yours.

Accuracy: Since watch data will help guide training decisions, you would like a tool that gives accurate measurements. As an example, you could opt to slow your pace on a run based on heart rate metrics, or squeeze in one other walk after work depending in your current step count tally.

Battery life: Long-lasting battery life reduces the prospect of your watch dying mid-workout, and helps consistently track your progress. Have in mind: Smartwatches are inclined to have shorter battery lives in comparison with regular fitness trackers, so be prepared to charge them more frequently.

The Best Smartwatches

Based on expert recommendations, SELF Certified reviews, and blissful shoppers, listed below are the most effective smartwatches to support all of your exercise goals with specs on water resistance, GPS tracking, and battery life.