Back on track Theres a huge range of wearable fitness gadgets on the market, designed to keep track of all sorts of activities from walking and cycling to exercise classes and swimming. Here weve selected a few smart devices that could help motivate you to keep active, or even inspire you to set new challenges Words: PHIL LATTIMORE Garmin Vivosmart 4, 119.99 Best for: All-round fitness tracking What is it? Garmin produces a huge range of fitness-tracker devices to suit most budgets and needs. The Vivosmart 4 is an attractive fitness and wellbeing tracker with plenty of functionality to encourage a more active lifestyle. It offers auto step counting, running and swimming trackers, and a wide range of gym fitness-tracking gadgetry to record your activities. Also, it features sleep monitoring with REM sleep tracking and can gauge blood-oxygen saturation levels during the night with its wrist-based sensor. Other fitness and health monitoring tools include: wrist-based heart-rate monitoring; all-day stress tracking; a relaxation breathing timer; and a body energy-monitoring function to indicate the best times to rest and be active. Its integrated gadgetry and software can also assess your ongoing fitness levels, and sync with a Garmin Connect app on a smartphone or tablet. It has a slim design with fashionable wristbands in multiple colours and a readable, touch-sensitive display that adjusts to light conditions. n Available from: garmin.com/en-GB Xiaomi Mi Band 3, 27 Best for: Those on a budget What is it? A budget fitness-tracking wristband thats a good value option for people who are looking for a more basic device. Its movement sensors offer a step counter for walking or running, and there are heart-rate sensor and sleep-monitoring functions built in. It has a small, swipecontrolled screen that displays data (and the time), and with a lightweight, slimline silicone wristband, it weighs just 20g. Battery life is around 20 days between charges and its waterproof. The device will also sync with a smartphone Mi Fit app, so you can keep track of your activities. Great for people looking for a fitness tracker that supplies the basics plus a bit more at a wallet-friendly price. n Available from: amazon.co.uk Huawei Band 2 Pro, 39.99 Best for: Wallet-friendly fitness What is it? A neatly designed slimline wristband fitness and activity tracker thats a great-value budget buy. It features builtin GPS for location tracking, as well as step counting, sleep monitoring, heart-rate monitoring, and a breathing-coach feature. It also has a running coach should you be more active and can record and sync your data with a smartphone app. A small but readable screen keeps you informed of your activities or heart rate, and its swim-proof. The Band 2 Pro can also be controlled by touch or wrist movement gestures. An entry-level fitness tracker thats great for swimmers. n Available from: johnlewis.com Fitbit Alta HR, 79.99 Best for: Style-conscious fitness lovers What is it? A smart-looking activity tracker from the brand that first popularised this type of personal fitness wearable fitness band. The Alta HR ticks the list for step counting, distance monitoring (though theres no GPS), automatic workout activity recognition and calorie-burn calculation. Theres also sleep-monitoring gadgetry and an optical heart rate tracker to keep tabs on your cardio fitness. It has a small but clear tap-controlled display that feeds info as you exercise, and reminds you to move. It isnt swim-proof its splash-resistant so its not suitable for pool activity. The Alta HR can wirelessly connect to a smartphone/ tablet device via the user-friendly Fitbit app to sync and display your detailed performance data. Its an attractive and solid fitness tracker that, with its heart-rate monitoring and sleep functions, offers more than simple step counting. n Available from: currys.co.uk and johnlewis.com Apple Watch Series 4, from 399 Best for: Those who want it all What is it? The Apple Watch offers far, far more functionality than your average activity tracker with a price that reflects this. But if youve got the budget and desire for a high-end smartwatch, this device can provide a dazzling array of apps to monitor fitness, health and wellbeing. Its built-in sensors and GPS enable it to track all types of activities, such as walking, cycling, running, swimming, gym workouts, yoga and hiking. It has a user-friendly touch-control system, along with detailed graphics and a screen thats easy to read. It has an integrated electrocardiogram heart-rate monitor that provides fitness tracking and an alert for low and high heart rates, plus fall-detection and emergency SOS notification options. Its available with a snazzy range of wristbands and finishes, and offers a range of alerts, controls and different functions when hooked up to an iPhone or iPad. A device for people who primarily want a high-end, do-it-all smartwatch, rather than simply a fitness tracker though the Apple Watch does offer a fantastic health and fitness package. n Available from: apple.com/uk Moov Now, 61.59 Best for: Simple movement tracking What is it? The Moov Now is a screenless, motion-sensing, multi-activity monitoring device that straps onto your wrist or ankle, and connects wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet device to work with a downloadable app. The sensors enable detailed movement-tracking data to be sent and viewed on the phone as youre exercising or simply walking, while a range of audio and video-guided fitness coaching programmes can be followed on your smart device. Weighing just 15g, it can be used for monitoring running, walking, swimming (it can even identify the stroke youre using), cycling and other activities. It can also monitor your sleep patterns and provides fitness updates, including calories burned. This device offers plenty of stats for activities. However, as it doesnt have a screen, it doesnt give immediate feedback, so may not appeal to everyone, particularly if youre just after a a step counter. n Available from amazon.co.uk