TIME TO MOVE

The latest fitness gadgets will help to keep your New Year’s resolutions on target

The latest fitness gadgets to help you get in shape

This is it, the year you’re going to get fit. Perhaps you’ve bought a new gym membership or upgraded your running shoes. Well, technology can help, too. Fitness trackers work on the principle that knowledge is power and that a little encouragement can go a long way. So, if your first resolution is to walk more – to hit 10,000 steps a day, say – then a tracker can keep you informed on how your day is going. If it looks likely that you’ll just miss that target, it can notify you, with a gentle hint that a brisk 15 minutes will get you there.

Some trackers buzz when you hit all of your goals. Others help you to set up competitions with friends to spur you on. Many are waterproof, so you can count your laps in the pool, and some enable you to make calls and use apps – very useful if you’ve left your phone at home. As well as counting steps, they can measure your run with GPS, work out the calories burnt and even monitor your sleep.

Here we take a look at the latest trackers and smartwatches, the latter of which incorporate tracking capabilities but usually come with extra features and more stylish looks. None of them can exercise for you, but they will remind you how well you’ve done and help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions.