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Some users prefer to have just a few basic features, such as step count, heart rate, and calorie burn, rather than switching between a whole set of features they rarely use.
There’s a smartwatch for everyone, from the metrics- and performance-driven athlete to the casual athlete who wants to be gently reminded to move more every day. Photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto
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If you’re thinking about asking Santa for a smartwatch, there are a few things you should know before deciding which model to put on your wish list. Despite the record number of Garmins, Apple Watches, Polars and Fitbits sold worldwide, several studies suggest that about a third of users abandon their smartwatch within a year.
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Admittedly, the first generation of smartwatches were rudimentary at best. The metrics were basic and the accuracy of the data questionable. And the aesthetics left much to be desired. No one wore their Fitbit when they went out to dinner.
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With so little to offer, the novelty of a wrist-worn fitness tracker quickly wore off. But that all changed when smartwatches started to look more like watches and work more like computers. Not only did the design become more modern, but the metrics seem endless. Heart rate, nighttime sleep habits, exercise and activity, calories burned, and time spent sitting are just some of the measurements that the latest models track and record. However, despite improvements in function and fashion, not all users wear their watch 24 hours a day.
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Device malfunction, injury, or taking the watch off while on vacation can cause even the most dedicated user to reevaluate a smartwatch-governed lifestyle. When relieved of notifications to meet daily movement goals and other healthy lifestyle choices, there’s a certain appeal to relying on old-fashioned intrinsic motivation to guide activity.
Others find that the abundance of new features has made smartwatches more complicated than the old wrist-worn activity trackers. They’d rather be tuned into a few basic features like exercise minutes, step count, heart rate, and calorie burn than switch between a whole bunch of features they rarely use.
Fortunately, there’s a smartwatch for everyone, from the metric- and performance-driven athlete to the casual athlete who wants to be gently reminded to move more every day. To help you make the right decision, here are some tips on how to choose a smartwatch that fits your lifestyle.
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Fashion and function
Don’t underestimate the importance of the look and feel of your smartwatch. Some are thick and large, while others have a sleeker design. You can buy a watch specific to your fitness or training needs and take it off when you’re not training, in which case function wins over fashion. But if you’re looking for a smartwatch that can help you adopt a healthier lifestyle by tracking not only your workouts, but also your daily movement and sleep habits, as well as providing notifications to help you achieve your goals, you’ll want a watch that won’t look out of place at the office, on a coffee date, or at dinner.
Also important is the bracelet, which should do more than match the aesthetics of your watch. If you’re wearing your watch during high-intensity workouts, you’ll need a sweat-resistant band that won’t stink over time. The same principle applies if you wear the watch in the water. Smartwatches need to fit snugly around your wrist for sensors to read your pulse, body temperature and movement patterns, so make sure the band fits properly, especially when your wrist gets sweaty .
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Features and ease of use
Consider what metrics you want your smartwatch to track before comparing models. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the bells and whistles, but if you’re like most users, you’ll rely on the same handful of features and never touch the rest.
The more features the watch has, the more you have to fiddle with the buttons and dials to sync it to your needs. Some watches have automatic exercise detection, which means they recognize not only if you’re exercising, but whether you’re walking, running, cycling or swimming. Once your workout is recognized, these watches start collecting metrics automatically, saving you from stopping mid-sweat if you forget to manually “start” your watch at the same time you start your workout.
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It’s also important to note that, unlike athletes in more temperate climates, we Canadians face the incompatibility of most smartwatch buttons and dials with gloves and mittens. So if you’re doing your workouts outdoors during the winter months, you’ll want a watch that you won’t have to fiddle with once you leave the warmth of your home.
You can also appreciate the health and safety features built into many of today’s smartwatches. Fall detection, high and low heart rate and heart rate notifications, menstrual cycle tracking, blood oxygen levels and heart rate variability readings may seem strange, until you need them, something that for some people has saved their lives.
Finally, you’ll need to consider battery life. If you’re an endurance athlete or outdoor enthusiast who doesn’t have easy access to a charging station, you should also consider whether the watch allows you to turn off some features to extend the time between charges.
Price point
There are watches and price points for almost every wearer, starting at just over $200 and going up to just over $1,000. In general, the more features or the more suited to a particular activity, the more expensive the watch. If budget is an issue, take the time to define your needs before you buy so you can get the most bang for your buck.
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