This New Class Of Fitness Trackers For Women Might Be The Best Yet

This New Class Of Fitness Trackers For Women Might Be The Best Yet

Do you wear multiple fitness watches, or is that just me? In my defense, there are so many flashy fitness trackers and smartwatches on the market, it’s hard to choose just one. The year 2022 brought a new wave of watches focused on balance and overall health with so many genius stats, they are essentially a life coach/personal trainer/assistant wrapped into a chic bracelet.

Much more than an arm party, fitness watches for women come pre-loaded with offerings designed to make your life in and out of the gym a little easier and healthier: Track your sleep, monitor your menstrual cycle, listen to music, pay with just a tap of your wrist, jump in the water for a swim, get alerts when you should take a rest day, and sooo much more. (Psst! For more top-notch gear, check out the WH 2022 Fitness Awards.)

That said, while there are tons of pros to each and every watch on the market, there are *definitely* certain aspects of trackers that are absolutely essential from an exercise perspective. Which ones? Heart rate, sleep, and recovery tracking are a top priority, says Rebecca Kennedy, a certified trainer and Peloton instructor. “Features like steps are fun to see, but they don’t provide much context for how to approach your workouts, sleep etc.,” she says.

What’s more, wearing your fitness tracker has the potential to make you move a little bit more IRL. People get 1,235 extra steps a day and close to 50 extra minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week when they regularly wear fitness trackers, per a 2021 meta-analysis of 121 studies (with primarily female participants, btw) published in the British Medical Journal.

Now, ready to find the best fitness tracker to meet your workout goals and needs? Check out some of the top picks of 2022, as recommended by trainers, athletes, and Women’s Health editors alike—and get ready to meet your new favorite workout buddy.

Amazon / Christine Giordano