Many popular step challenge apps integrate seamlessly with wearables, making it even easier to track your progress and stay motivated.
What are the benefits of using a wearable device for step challenges?
- Easy Tracking: These devices automatically track your movement with ease throughout the day removing from the count any incorrect calculations.
- Additional Features: Aside from the usual step counting, many devices include in their offer other benefits such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and other benefits that touch on health-related activities.
- Increased Accuracy: As earlier stated, some phones already have built-in apps that help with some of these challenges, however, these wearable trackers prove more accurate than most of them.
- Motivation Drive: The device helps not only with tracking but also with accountability. It provides real-time progress updates and notifications keeping you accountable and motivated.
Popular Smartwatches and Wearable Trackers
- Samsung Galaxy Watch: This provides Android users with the best solution possible and distinctive features. It also comes with a fashionable and up-to-date design suitable for all tastes. The price ranges from $200 upward.
- Apple Watch: As the name goes, it is perfect for iPhone users. It is a premium smartwatch coupled with health and fitness features. The price ranges from $250 upward.
- Fitbit: A unique feature of this is its ability to fit all kinds and manners of budget and needs. It is also renowned for its easy application and social features. The price ranges from $50 – $300 upward.
- Xiaomi Mi Band: This is a budget-friendly fitness tracker providing users with simple step tracking and major features. The price ranges from $30 – $50
- Garmin: Its features include a thorough fitness challenge mixed with advanced data analysis and a steady and accurate GPS tracking system. The price ranges from $100 – $500 upward.
What should I consider when choosing a step tracker or smartwatch?
- Budget: This is one of the most important factors to consider. When deciding on the wearables to settle with, just your desires and wants are not enough, you also must check your spending limit. These devices vary in price and you must go for the one that matches your budget.
- Battery Sustainance: You must also consider how often you intend to recharge the device for. Some are powered with a strong and sustainable battery span while some are not. Checking the battery life of the device you intend to go for is a must before purchase.
- Features/ Characteristics: As stated above, some of these devices go beyond just step tracking to include health metrics. You must check your needs and wants before choosing any, do you want just a step-tracking device or would you appreciate an additional health metric?
- Style: With the existing trends and designs present in the world today, you might want to check your tracker if it fits into the world’s standard of fashion. Endeavor to pick a design that goes well with your aesthetics and is something you will enjoy wearing daily.
- Compatibility: Make sure to also check if the device you are going for works in line with your smartphone’s operating system whether it be an Android or an iPhone.
What are the pros and cons of using a step tracker?
Below, we will be taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a wearable step-tracker. The peos are as follows:
- Seamless Integration: Most wearable apps can blend well with notable step challenges apps aiding their seamless integration.
- Goal Setter: Effective tracking of progress is tailored down to an organized goal setting. With the help of these tracking devices, your progress can be recorded and kept for daily boost and motivation
- Sideline Benefits: Trackers monitor and evaluate all manner of training metrics which include not just the steps but also heart check, cholesterol level, blood oxygen level, and calorie consumption. It can also be used to check your speed rate and distance.
- Activity Awareness: One of the reliable benefits of trackers is their ability to give you valuable insight into your daily activities. It enables you to know how much effort is required and if your commitment to it is enough or is lacking.
- Sleep Analysis: Sleep is a major contributor and must not be taken for granted. A good amount of sleep aids your progress and provides a better result.
Cons
- Cost: If not calculated appropriately, trackers can be just another cash-eating device especially when you pick those with a high cost and maintenance.
- Comfort: As portable as they might appear, they can be inconvenient for some to carry around, especially during sleep.
- Power: Some of these devices require regular charging and lookout which might not appear comfortable for users.
- Ability to Malfunction: Trackers also can be inaccurate. It means that they can be affected by movements unrelated to steps thereby causing a fuss in your update.
Connecting Your Wearable to Apple Health or Google Fit
For specific instructions on connecting each device to Apple Health or Google Fit, please refer to the following guides:
- Connect your Fitbit with Apple Health or Google Fit
- Connect your Gramin with Apple Health or Google Fit
- Connect your Suunto with Apple Health or Google Fit
The Reaction Club app can receive step data from both Google Fit and Apple Health. Some wearable devices, such as Fitbit, can be integrated directly with the Reaction Club app for seamless tracking. By connecting your wearable device to either Google Fit or Apple Health, your step data will be synced automatically with the Reaction Club app.
In summary, wearable trackers and smartwatches have made challenges easier, better, and more fun to apply, although it has their downlines. We have been able to understand the strengths and obstacles faced on both sides.
