Choose a smartwatch that keeps pace with you
MONTREAL — If you’re considering asking Santa for a smartwatch, there are a few things you need to know before deciding which model to put on your wish list.
Despite record numbers of Garmins, Apple Watches, Polars and Fitbits sold worldwide, several studies suggest about one-third of users abandon their smartwatch within a year.
Admittedly, the first generation of smartwatches was rudimentary at best. The metrics were basic and the accuracy of the data questionable. And the esthetics left a lot to be desired. No one was wearing their Fitbit when heading out to dinner.
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 operated more like computers. Not only did the design become more fashion-forward, the metrics seem endless. Heart rate, nightly sleep habits, exercise and activity, calories burned and time spent sitting are just a few of the measurements tracked and logged by the latest models. Yet, despite improvements in function and fashion, not every user wears their watch 24/ 7.
Device malfunction, injury or removing the watch while on vacation can allow even the most dedicated user to re-evaluate a lifestyle governed by a smartwatch. When relieved of notifications to achieve 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 wristworn activity trackers of old. They prefer being tuned in to a few basic functions, like exercise minutes, step count, heart rate and calorie burn, versus toggling through a whole suite of features they rarely use.
Fortunately, there’s a smartwatch out there for everyone — from the metricand performance-driven athlete to the casual exerciser who wants to be gently reminded to move more every day. To help you make the right choice, here are a few pointers on how to choose a smartwatch to match your lifestyle.
FASHION AND FUNCTION
Don’t underestimate the importance of the look and feel of your smartwatch. Some are chunky and oversized, while others are sleeker in design. You can buy a watch specific to your fitness or training needs and take it off when not working out, in which case function wins over fashion. But, if you’re looking for a smartwatch to help you adopt a healthier lifestyle by tracking not just workouts, but also daily movement and sleep habits, as well as offering notifications to help you reach your goals, then you’ll want a watch that won’t look out of place in the office, on a coffee date or at a dinner party.
Also important is the wristband, which needs to do more than match the esthetic of your watch. If you wear the watch during high-intensity workouts, you’ll need a sweat-resistant band that won’t get smelly with time. The same principle applies if you’re wearing the watch in the water. Smartwatches need to fit snugly on your wrist in order for the sensors to read your pulse, body temperature and movement patterns, so make sure the band fits properly, especially when your wrist gets sweaty.
FEATURES AND EASE OF USE
Consider what metrics you want your smartwatch to track before comparing models. It’s easy to be impressed 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 need to fiddle around with buttons and dials to sync it to your needs. Some watches have automatic exercise detection, which means they recognize not just if you’re working out, but whether you’re walking, running, cycling or swimming. Once they recognize the workout, these watches automatically start gathering metrics, which saves you from stopping mid-sweat if you forgot to manually start your watch at the same time you started your workout.
Also important to note is that, unlike exercisers in more moderate climates, we Canadians are faced with the incompatibility of most smartwatch buttons and dials with mitts and gloves. So if you do your workouts outside in the winter months, you’ll want a watch you don’t need to fiddle with once you leave the warmth of your house.
You may also appreciate the health and safety features built into so many of today’s smartwatches. Fall detection, high and low heart rate and heart rhythm notifications, menstrual cycle tracking, blood oxygen levels and heart rate variability readings may seem extraneous — until you need them, which for some people has been life-saving.
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 factor in whether the watch allows you to power off some features to extend the length of time between recharging.
PRICE POINT
There are watches and price points for almost all users, starting at just over $200 and topping out at just over $1,000. In general, the more features or the more tailored it is to a specific activity, the more expensive the watch. If budget is an issue, take the time to define your needs before shopping so you can get the most bang for the buck.