GARMIN vívofit 4

Expect to pay: £60

THE VÍVOFIT IS Garmin’s entry-level tracker – but it’s still highly impressive. From the off, it feels more like it’s dedicated to rugged outdoor use than its peers, thanks to its ergonomically curved design and tough-yet-flexible silicone sheath. The big selling point though is the battery life: there’s no charger, just an inbuilt battery that will last a year (slightly less with intensive use) before it needs replacing. There’s no GPS or heart rate monitor (which is why the battery life is so good), but it will give you all your basic step, mileage, calorie and sleep stats when synced to the Garmin Connect app, which is fussy but thorough. The screen is tiny but at least it’s always on, so no prodding or wristflicking is required, and the single simple button controls all its operations so there’s no faffing with a touchscreen. It also works fine in cold, wet conditions and I’ve taken it for quite a few swims with no hassle. Plus there are nice-tohave functions like a quick-glance weather widget, timer and phone finder, and a red bar which builds across the screen the longer you’re inactive as a reminder to get moving. So while there are cheaper options which offer more functions (such as heart rate monitoring), the ease of use and accuracy of the vívofit more than justify the reasonable pricetag. It’s popular for a reason.

INFO: Weight: 25g Battery life: At least 9 months Waterproof: Yes App compatibility: Garmin Connect, Strava, MyFitnessPal Website: garmin.com

+ Accurate, easy to use, outstanding battery life

– No GPS, tiny screen, lacks some functions found on cheaper rivals

ACCURACY: ★★★★★

TOUGHNESS: ★★★★★

EASE OF USE: ★★★★

APP: ★★★★

BUY IT IF: You want a simple but reliable activity tracker for steps, miles and calories, with no charging hassles.

‘Sales of these things soared in lockdown as we yearned for fitness and freedom, and now they’re as much a part of modern life as a posh coffee or a box-set binge.’