What would the best fitness watches for men be? Those fitness tracker wristbands are often unisex, and they don't necessarily function as a watch. If I was looking to monitor my steps and calories burned, I'd be wearing one all day, then I'd like it to be a watch, primarily.
A friend of mine always wears a mint coloured wrist band which I thought was a medical identification tag for a long time, turned out to be his fitness tracker. Nothing's wrong with that, but I'd like something a bit more masculine.
There are many types of fitness watches and how you choose one should be hugely based on the functionalities. But you also want to consider whether you'll actually be using the device effectively or not. I'll tell you my example;
When I was swimming every morning, I had a chance to use a waterproof tracking wristband. It seemed useful initially - it would tell you how many laps you've done so far. You tend to lose count easily, and I always lose mine. But when I swim, I swim non-stop. Non-stop for 35 minutes, I wouldn't look at my watch while swimming - well, physically not possible. What do you want me to do, do you want me to actually "stop" at the end of the lane, lift up the goggles and check the tracker screen? And when I felt I'd done enough exercise for the morning, the usual 35 minutes had passed, it was time to get out & have a shower. So the device wasn't really "for me".
Heart Rate Monitoring
It is said that you should never rely on your wristband tracker tells you - understandably, it's only taking the pulse rate, not directly from the heart. And especially when on the move, the results can be extremely inaccurate.
OK, my husband is a cardiology nurse specialist. He actually tells me the following, which will determine what you can do with the heart rate function of a fitness tracker.
- Normal heart rate should be between 60-100. Ideally 50-70.
- Athletic people and people on medication may have a normal heart rate lower than 50.
- Maximum predicted heart rate is 220 less his age. I'm 51 years old, therefore 220-51 = 169.
- ...but ideally 85% of that. 85% x 169 = 144.
- ...It means that when my heart rate reaches 144, I've pushed myself a little too hard. That's when I should slow down. My maximum is 169, means my heart should really not beat faster than that. I should stop exercising before it reaches that number.
- When exercising, you receive your cardiovascular benefit when the rate reaches 65% of the formula, i.e. in my case 65% x (220 - 51 (my age )) = 110.
- When a healthy (athletic) person starts to exercise, his heart rate should go up gradually. And when he stops the exercise, the rate returns to base line quickly (e.g. running on a treadmill for 9 minutes and his rate is still showing 120).
- With unhealthy person, it's the other way round, e.g. running on a treadmill for 30 seconds and his rate's already 120. When he stops the exercise, it takes a long time for his rate to return to normal.
So what you could do with a fitness tracker would be;
- Check your normal heart rate.
- Providing your normal heart rate is at a healthy level, make sure it increases up to 65% of your Maximum Predicted Heart Rate for your body to receive a cardiovascular benefit.
- And make sure you don't over-exercise by monitoring the rate (not going over 85% of MPHR).
- Know how long it takes your heart rate to go up/down during and after the exercise respectively.
Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch
Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch is an all-rounder and one of the most popular fitness trackers at the moment. For multi-sport as well as monitoring all-day activity and sleep, plus call, text & calendar notifications. The features include;
- GPS Connection - with Cycling and Running modes, when carried with your phone nearby, it connects to GPS and report the distance.
- Other exercise tracking options including weights, treadmill and cross-training.
- Wrist-based heart rate monitoring.
- Comes with a recharger; 2-hours recharging time, lasting for up to 5 days.
- Basic water resistance - means not for swimming!
- FitStar workout - which I actually do, and find it effective to sustain my stamina level (7-minute workout as per the video below) You'll get an on-screen step-by-step instruction.
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Garmin vivoactive HR GPS Smart Watch
The strength of this model from Garmin is the built-in GPS. The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 8 days, and up to 13 hours when the GPS mode is on. Also waterproof. The features include;
- Waterproof - can be used for swimming!
- Heart rate monitoring.
- Counts steps, floors climbed and calculates intensity minutes.
- Monitors sleep.
- Auto activity detection - when you forget to press the start button, automatically starts to record your activities.
- With GPS, useful for any distance-related exercise such as cycling, running, golf, skiing, snowboarding and paddle boarding.
- Sunlight-readable, high-res touchscreen.
- Call, text, email, social media alerts.
- Syncs with Garmin Connect app for smart notifications and coaching.
Regular fits wrist circumferences 5.39" to 7.68" (137 to 195 mm),GPS smartwatch with a sunlight-readable, high-resolution color touchscreen. Display size-28.6 mm x 20.7 mm. I personally like the chunkiness of it, but you may find it too bulky under the sleeve.
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Withings Activité Sapphire Tracking Watch
This is a Swiss-made watch, and is more than a watch. The battery is not rechargeable and, this is definitely for those who would like some daily activity tracking, but not for intensive multi-sport use. See if the specification satisfies your requirements.
- The coin cell battery lasts for up to 8 months.
- 50-meters waterproof, tracks swimming.
- Comes with both French calf leather strap and a silicone strap for sports.
- Tracks steps, run, swim, distance and calories burned.
- Analyses your sleep, with vibration alarm.
- The data will be set and visualised on its own app. Bluetooth will automatically be turned on and off only when transmitting the data.
Best Fitness Watches For Men That Are Actually Useful
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Ray,
I am so happy I found this post; Best Fitness Watches For Men That Are Actually Useful it is wonderful, I hope it helps me with some gift giving ideas for the coming holidays.
I love the sleek look and design of the Garmin HR GPS Smart Watch, they really did their homework right down to the screen resolution in sunlight.
Thanks again for this awesome resource, my best,
CannaGary
Hi CannaGary, thanks for your comment. I too love the design of Garmin HR GPS, and it is one of the most popular fitness tracker watches and also the best seller in Amazon – Amazon UK as well as USA. I personally like it especially it’s usable for swimming. Thanks again for stopping by!
I use Fitness Tracker Pedometer Bracelet Vcall.
It looks like very much it brings an extra out looking. I am very happy to wear it.
It has a pedometers that helps me to count every steps with calories burned. It is my iPhone supported tracker for this I can use my phone better.
It works as a fashionable tracker it reminds me incoming SMS, notification, alarms etc.
I very satisfied with it.
hi, thanks for the recommendation. I’ve just Googled by the name “Vcall” but unfortunately their fitness trackers don’t seem to be available in the UK. Sounds like a great stuff though, especially syncing with phone is now a vital element when choosing a tracker. Thanks again for the great info, I appreciate it.
Thanks for the best fitness watches for men reviews, I like all of them but I think I like the design of the last one Withings Activité Sapphire Tracking Watch the best. I’m a traditional kind of guy and collect analogue watches as well. I prefer watches with hands rather than digital display. I’d definitely go for Withings. Thanks!
Hi Jamie, thanks for your comment! You know what, I prefer watches with hands too for a different reason. Having grown up in Japan, watches were all Casio digital in my teenage days. Watches with hands were out of fashion, not many were found in shops and more expensive. I was already bored of quartz digital. Withings Activité looks great for everyday use and functional, I like this model. Thanks again for stopping by.
Hi, thank you for your fitness watch review. My husband is a keen walker and I bought Fitbit Blaze smart watch for his birthday last November. He’s been wearing it everyday since, loves the fact that it can connect to GPS so that he can monitor the route and maintain his fitness level. I’ve started to walk recently also. We both work in shift and are hardly able to go out walking together which is probably a good thing, I’m thinking about getting the same watch for myself. It’s a unisex model so it’s not just the best fitness watch for men but for women also. Cheers!
Hi Susan, thanks for your comment. Yes Fitbit Blaze comes in two sizes and also in various colours now, it’s great for men and women.
I agree with you about going for a fitness walk alone, I run every morning but don’t really believe in running with someone else – some people manage to chat each other during the entire exercising time, I couldn’t do that. By talking while running you couldn’t maintain the same breathing rhythm, you’d have to adjust your speed to others while everyone has their own optimal speed. I don’t think it’s the most efficient way. A fitness watch can monitor and control your own pace.Thanks Susan again for stopping by.
Hi Ray thank you for such a nice fitness watch review. I think I like Withings Activite because I don’t do hard sports and I only do jogging and some light exercise. I think it’s enough for me and I don’t like anything complicated. Battery lasts 8 months is good enough for me I can buy and replace again.
Both my partner (female) and I have Garmin Vivoactive, use it every day not only during our daily exercise but most of the day and find it useful.
As you say it’s not the most compact fitness tracker. Also we’ve had it for over a year and now we are having to charge it every other day. I guess it’s normal battery life is wearing out but I find it a little annoying.
Overall I’ll give it 4 stars out of 5.
Thanks Marcia for sharing your experience with Garmin Vivoactive. Yes, like any other devices, rechargeable battery life gets shorter especially after a year or so, and whether to have the battery replaced or buy a brand new fitness watch can always be an issue. But I’m glad to hear that you find it useful. Thanks again for your comment!
Good review. I’m thinking about getting a present for my 21 year old daughter. She likes fitnesses including jogging and swimming so I need to look around. Good site. Thanks.
Hi Syed, thanks for your comment. Great idea, although the post is titled Best Fitness Watches “for men”, these are unisex and many female users approve them. If you choose one from the list I hope your daughter will like it. Thanks for visiting.
I must congratulate you Ray for such a great post. I see a watch as a necessity. I wear it all the time and if it has something that does extra work I see it as useful and try to make use of it to full.
A fitness watch is one of my next wishlist items. I will take your advice.
Hi Fabio, thanks for your comment. I see exactly what you mean, and I do enjoy using my fitness watches. If you are willing to control your fitness level on a regular basis, it’ll definitely be useful for you. Any questions, please don’t hesitate to get back to me. Thanks for your visit!