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"A smart watch serves as an extension of your smartphone, offering a range of personalised features and functionalities in a compact and wearable form."
The world of fitness wearables has evolved rapidly. Gone are the days of stopwatches or 'sports watches' that could only track your step count. We have now entered a new era of wearable fitness tech that can do way more. From tracking your sleep patterns, and heart rate, to delivering workouts, phone calls, and music straight to your wrist, they're not short of cool tech and metrics.
But with so many impressive capabilities, it can be hard to know which is right for you. In this guide, we'll explore the different types, (activity trackers, smart watches, and GPS watches) to specific features to look out for. Let's help you choose a watch – your next health companion, shall we?
What are the different types of sport watches?
What is the difference between a smart watch and an activity tracker?
What features should you consider in a sports watch?
How do you choose the right sports watch for your activity?
What are the different types of sport watches?
Activity tracker
An activity tracker (or fitness tracker) is designed to monitor and analyse various aspects of physical activity, providing users with valuable real-time insights into their health and fitness. These sleek devices typically include sensors that track metrics such as steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned, and sleep patterns.
More advanced models may incorporate heart rate monitors, GPS, and altimeters to offer a comprehensive overview of overall well-being. Activity trackers often sync with dedicated mobile apps, allowing users to set fitness goals, monitor progress, and receive personalised recommendations based on their activity levels.
Smart watch
A smart watch might not be as slimline as an activity tracker, but what it adds in size it also adds in performance. Going far beyond its primary function of telling time, a smart watch serves as an extension of your smartphone, offering a range of personalised features and functionalities in a compact and wearable form.
With the ability to sync with your mobile device via Bluetooth, or through a data network, a smart watch provides real-time notifications for calls, messages, and third-party app alerts, which is great for those who are looking to reduce the constant phone-checking but still need to be kept up to date.
Many models are equipped with features similar to an activity tracker, including health and fitness tracking sensors which monitor various metrics such as heart rate, steps, and sleep patterns.
Smart watches also facilitate voice commands, enabling hands-free interactions through virtual assistants like Siri or Google Assistant. Different models will offer different features, but some features may include GPS navigation, contactless payments, music playback, customised watch faces, and apps.
GPS watch
A GPS also known as a running watch, is usually geared towards runners, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes such as swimmers, cyclists, and rowers who are looking for in-depth data to help them train.
Like a smart watch, these too generally include basic fitness tracking features – steps, sleep, and heart rate monitoring – but due to the integrated GPS functionality, they can also allow you to accurately map your routes, pace, and distance without the need for a smartphone. With real-time tracking, runners can analyse their performance, set goals, and track improvements over time.
Many of the high-end models often offer additional features such as maps, customisable workouts, interval training, and compatibility with various third-party running apps.
What is the difference between a smart watch and an activity tracker?
These terms are often used interchangeably and for good reason. Some models can come as a hybrid option and many of the features overlap, but the most vital difference between the two is their primary purpose. Activity trackers have been designed to help users to monitor their physical activity like tracking steps and sleep to help them work towards their fitness goals, while smart watches typically offer more personalised information and act as an extension to your smartphone.
What features should you consider in a sports watch?
This comes down to personal preference and budget. But before you buy it's a good idea to think about your non-negotiables, the deal breakers, first. Depending on what's important to you, you may need to forgo certain features to fit within your price range. Here's our list of key features to consider.
- Smartphone Compatibility: Ensure the smart watch is compatible with your smartphone's operating system (iOS, Android, etc.) and can deliver notifications for calls, messages, emails, and app alerts directly to your wrist. Some smart watches are designed exclusively for specific platforms, so you'll want to make sure you can sync the two devices first.
- Design, Display and Build Quality: Aesthetics aren't the be-all and end-all but if you're going to be wearing it daily, you may want it to fit with your style. Consider the design, size (especially for your wrist size), and materials, including watch bands and accessories to suit your taste and a build that aligns with your durability preferences.
- AMOLED (Active Matric Organic Light Emitting Diode) watch faces: Display better visibility in direct sunlight (great for outdoor use) and provides richer colours, contrast, and higher brightness levels than LCD screens.
- Battery Life: If there's one feature that needs extra careful consideration, it's this one. Battery life can differ greatly from model to model, so it's a good idea to check the battery life based on your usage patterns – especially if you want it for a long-distance run or multi-day expedition. Some sport watches may require daily charging, while others offer longer battery life, so it's a good idea to compare.
- Fitness and Health Tracking: If fitness tracking is important, look for a smartwatch with built-in sensors for heart rate monitoring, GPS navigation, sleep tracking, step counter, calorie tracking, and other relevant metrics. Heart rate monitoring while great, isn't perfect with accuracy. So if you want more precise heart rate tracking, it might be a good idea to consider purchasing a stand-alone heart rate monitor.
- Music control: Most watches will offer the ability to control the music that's playing from your phone, while some will offer the added feature of being able to download music straight to your watch and play via Bluetooth. It's important to note, this can greatly affect storage and battery life.
- Water Resistance: Most watches will be either splashproof or waterproof – some might not offer any water resistance at all. So if this is a deal breaker, it's a good idea to look at the water resistance rating, especially if you plan to use the smartwatch for swimming or other water-related activities.
- Connectivity: Check the connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity. Some smart watches offer standalone capabilities without needing a smartphone nearby.
- Apps and Customisation: If this is important to you, check the range of apps and whether it allows for personalised watch faces and widgets. This will give you the freedom to customise and show only the data you want to see.
- Storage and Memory: Check the storage capacity if you plan to download music or apps directly to the smartwatch. Sufficient memory ensures smooth functioning.
How do you choose the right sports watch for your activity?
Most sports watches will have a multi-sport mode where you can switch between activities (say running, cycling, hiking, strength training, and more), and do a lot more than track your daily burn.
Running and cycling:
A sports watch will track time and distance, but you most likely will want to look at one with GPS capabilities to help map your route. Other features to consider would include running metrics, as well as heart rate monitoring. A solid battery life when on GPS mode should be non-negotiable.
Swimming:
Consider features specific to swimming such as water resistance, lap tracking, heart rate monitoring, as well as swim stroke, and length detection.
General fitness:
Now it's not to say you can't have a watch that has it all, but if you just want it for general fitness and are mindful of budget, an activity tracker can help you monitor calories burnt, steps taken, and sleep quality to help you strive for daily improvement.
After a little more? Then the ability to record workouts can be an invaluable tool for any fitness enthusiast looking for performance gains. Many watches will now offer modes specific to workouts as well as offering you personalised workouts based on your previous workout data, as well as the targets (HR, distance, pace) you want to hit.
Ready to shop?
Check out our full range from leading brands where you can compare model specs and features side-by-side, or head in-store where you can speak to our friendly rebel staff to help you choose the perfect pair that's right for you.