by Clarissa Hartley

[[A closeup shot of a woman fastening a sleek fitness watch on her wrist, over a yoga mat and water bottle, reflecting her readiness to crush her workout.]

As the great outdoors beckon us to stay active and keep pace with our fitness goals, an athletic timepiece can enhance our workouts enormously. Indeed, narrowing down the vast selection of exercise trackers to choose the right one for you can be daunting.

The perfect chrono-helper varies per person, based on the preferred activities and expected insights. Runners might long for a gadget with a cardiograph and data analysis to measure split timing and recovery period. Swimmers might prefer a waterproof timer to tally pool lengths or open swims, while hiking enthusiasts might favor a tool with navigation and a GPS tracker. A device that also includes text alerts, social media, and fitness tracking capabilities takes the game a notch higher. Consequently, we put five of the latest exercise timekeepers under scrutiny to examine their comfort, usability, and functionalities to support your decision.

Key Features to Consider in Fitness Timers

Our standards in seeking the perfect fitness tracker for your active lifestyle included a mix of functional and aesthetic considerations:

1. Cardiograph and Sleep Timing – State-of-the-art electro and optical detectors, fixed under the dial, measure pulse directly from your wrist and track sleep patterns as well. Some watches also identify warning signs for atrial fibrillation by observing irregular heartbeat patterns. Additionally, many tools incorporate stress level and energy reserve timing.
2. Navigation – Possessing GPS tracking is crucial for outdoor enthusiasts and ambitious adventurers dreaming of completing the Three Peaks challenge. Some models even suggest routes to help you find your way.
3. Sports Modes – For multi-sport enthusiasts, particularly triathletes, a tool that can switch between sports modes is crucial. This feature comes in handy if strength training is followed by swimming or a brick session – a combination of swimming, running, and cycling.
4. Battery Life – Without an enduring battery, you might find your timer dying at the most inconvenient moments – like within sight of the marathon finish line or just when you are about to reach the summit. Long battery life, coupled with effortless charging, is a vital requirement for fitness trackers – particularly in cases of an emergency.

With these benchmarks in mind, we examined several cutting-edge fitness trackers. Below, we unveil our top five picks to redefine your workout in 2023 and beyond.

Best Sports Watch: Polar Grit X Pro

Priced at £439, this watch encompassed all our desired features with a robust build and extensive functionality. The Polar app was simple to set up and sync, and it quickly uploaded activities to Strava. The all-day wearable was impressively durable and demonstrates long battery life. However, it could feel slightly heavy if worn continuously.

Best Entry-Level Watch: Honor Band 6

Light, easy to wear, and priced at £44.99, the Honor Band 6 offers 10 workout mode capabilities, added with automatic workout detection. Its battery life was phenomenal, lasting for days, and provided a user-friendly experience.

The Most Fashionable: Amazfit GTR 3

At £149, this mid-range sports watch offers an array of activities to select from, although we encountered some issues with the blood oxygen measuring feature. Its design was appealing, making it a winner in the fashion department.

Day-to-Day Fitness Tracking: Samsung Galaxy 4

Priced from £249, this watch offers extensive customization options and useful functional features, including menstrual cycle tracking and stress level monitoring. It also has an effective water lock function for outdoor use.

Best for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 55

At £179.99, this device features a ‘train with Garmin’ tool which offers coaching for various run distances. It also has LiveTrack for real-time activity and Stress Level Monitoring to estimate recovery times and stress levels.

In summary, amidst a sea of options, the right athletic timesaver is there to help you meet your fitness goals head-on. Whether it’s hiking or swimming, running or strength training, your perfect match is one button away.

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