Best Fitness Trackers For Bodybuilding & Wearable Tech (Updated 2021)
Tracking your fitness and heart rate is easy with the best fitness trackers for bodybuilders and other athletes.
Fitness trackers and wearable tech have become very popular amongst the fitness crowd in recent years for their ability to really keep you on track and let you thrive with your training and performance goals. As great tools to use for fitness, as well as style, it is no wonder why people have incorporated these into their workouts and everyday life. As great motivators, these tech aids have really enhanced the health and fitness of many as they seek a more healthy, more fit lifestyle. By wearing these watches, that constant reminder to move and stay active is great for all of your intended goals.
We’ve put together a list of the Best Fitness Trackers for 2021 so you can track your heart rate, sleep, training, and performance for the best results. With the right wearable tech, tackling your gains has never been easier with the right approach to health and fitness.
Best Fitness Trackers For 2021
Best Overall Fitness Tracker
The best overall fitness tracker will work to provide all the necessary data for your workouts while also being comfortable and versatile to not interfere with performance.
Apple Watch Series 6
Apple Watch Series 6 is something strength athletes will love. The always on retina display is 2.5x brighter outdoors with an ultra-wideband 5G chip. This watch allows you to measure blood oxygen with an all-new app sensor, as well as your heart rhythm with the ECG app so you stay on top of your vitals. The GPS and cellular mode lets you call or text without using your phone and tracking your daily activity is great so you can see daily trends. Perfect for those always on the go, this will let you stay on top of your body so you know what you need and when you need it.
Apple Watch Series 6 is perfect for athletes looking to measure their vitals during a workout while also having call, text, and GPS features.
Pros
- Tracking oxygen levels and heart is perfect for those who stay on top of their vitals
- Comfortable band and looks great for working out or for everyday living
- Great features from a quality company in Apple
Cons
- Battery life is okay
- The sleeping tracker could be way better for the price
Price: $399.00
Best Fitness Tracker For Heart Rate Variability
Heart rate variability is important and for those looking to maximize training and recovery, knowing your heart rate can greatly influence performance and proper rest.
FitBit Inspire 2
FitBit Inspire 2 is perfect for those who track their heart rate constantly. Keeping tabs on your heart rate will ensure better recovery so you don’t overtrain, as well as knowing your limits when it comes to certain exercises. This watch allows you to track your activity all day including steps, distance, hourly activity, and calories burned. With 10 days of battery life, you don’t have to worry about constantly charging and it’s waterproof capabilities go up to 50 meters. Tracking your time in the light, your sleep cycles, and resting heart rate is perfect for those strength athletes who take recovery to a whole new level.
FitBit Inspire 2 allows you to track recovery and daily activity with 10 days of battery life and waterproof capabilities.
Pros
- Heart rate capabilities are top notch, accurate, and great for judging recovery when it comes to heart rate and sleep tracking
- Good size to not obstruct workouts
- 20+ exercise modes is great for tracking goals
Cons
- The user interface can be tough to navigate
- It is not very functional compared to others on the market
- Some quality issues with the watch buckle
Price: $99.95
Best Fitness Tracker For Any Workout
A fitness tracker should work for any workout, whether that be lifting or cardio-based, and the right one will offer great features so you can get the most out of every single workout.
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple Watch Series 3 is another good option for bodybuilders and other strength athletes for it offers great features such as GPS, optical heart sensor, and elevation readings. The high and low heart rate notifications are great for judging exertion and it will also alert you to an irregular heart rhythm should one arise. Able to give you exact metrics for each workout, you can be sure of accuracy so every workout is logged exactly how it was done. Comfortable and not obstructive for lifts, Apple Watch Series 3 is another great option from Apple.
Apple Watch Series 3 is a great option for bodybuilders and those looking to have GPS, optical heart sensor, and elevation readings out of their watch.
Pros
- Comfortable to not interfere with lifts or cardio activity
- The display screen is easy to navigate
- Heart rate capabilities are great for athletes keeping track of recovery and exertion
Cons
- Watch face may be quite fragile and quality control is something to take note of
- Battery life is not great
Price: $269.00
Best Smartwatch Fitness Tracker
Having a watch with smart technology can make your life easier by offering great displays and allowing for the best features like GPS, calling and texting, and proper health sensors.
Apple Watch Series 6
Apple Watch Series 6 is something strength athletes will love. The always on retina display is 2.5x brighter outdoors with an ultra-wideband 5G chip. This watch allows you to measure blood oxygen with an all-new app sensor, as well as your heart rhythm with the ECG app so you stay on top of your vitals. The GPS and cellular mode lets you call or text without using your phone and tracking your daily activity is great so you can see daily trends. Perfect for those always on the go, this will let you stay on top of your body so you know what you need and when you need it.
Apple Watch Series 6 is perfect for athletes looking to measure their vitals during a workout while also having call, text, and GPS features.
Pros
- Tracking oxygen levels and heart is perfect for those who stay on top of their vitals
- Comfortable band and looks great for working out or for everyday living
- Great features from a quality company in Apple
Cons
- Battery life is okay
- The sleeping tracker could be way better for the price
Price: $399.00
Best Budget Friendly Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers can get expensive and we understand that. Having the right tracker at an affordable price can save you money and time without sacrificing quality.
FitBit Versa 3
FitBit Versa 3 is a great watch for battery life with 6+ days so you don’t ever worry about it dying on you. The Active Zone feature uses your resting heart rate to gauge effort so you can raise or lower your intensity depending on the reading. Enhanced heart rate technology is great for keeping track and it is able to track your nightly blood oxygen levels for enhanced recovery. Since cardio for bodybuilders can be quite helpful for those big gains, the built-in GPS is perfect for tracking pace and distance for whatever your chosen form of cardio may be. With great battery and comfort, your lifts just got even better.
FitBit Versa 3 is a great fitness tracker with 6+ days of battery life and the ability to track your heart rate and blood oxygen levels for the best recovery.
Pros
- Enhanced heart rate readings and blood oxygen levels is great for those keeping track
- Battery life is solid
- Nice display screen that is easy to navigate
Cons
- Some troubleshooting problems may arise
- Sizing of the bands may be challenging for some to find a comfortable fit
Price: $228.49
Best Fitness Tracker For Analytics
Those really into fitness want to understand all areas of their health and training and a watch with the proper analytics can give you all that vital information as easily as possible.
Whoop 4.0
Whoop 4.0 is a great watch for those looking to hard core track their analytics as they work to get the most out of their training and performance. The Strain Coach is a great feature to quantify how well your body recovers each day, something strength athletes need as you push yourself to the max while staying as healthy as possible, and a Sleep Coach will measure your sleep for optimal recovery. It will provide recommendations for you as well to assist with your recovery goals. Heart rate can connect to any device and is accurate as you judge intensity levels for certain exercises. This lightweight and waterproof watch can offer accurate data on your body to optimize training, recovering, and sleep so your bodybuilding gains never suffer.
Whoop 4.0 is for those athletes looking to track all the analytics for their workouts with the most in depth coverage of all the data.
Pros
- Great for very active people who want the most up to date data on their recovery, sleep, and progress
- Sleeping feature is great to promote better recovery
- High quality product from a reputable company in Whoop
Cons
- Not for those who want limited information
- It is a monthly membership fee, not a one time purchase
Price: Based on membership options, ranging from $18 (18 months), $24 (annual), and $30 (monthly)
Benefits Of Fitness Trackers
The benefits of fitness trackers and wearable tech are great for keeping you on track and staying true to your goals. Benefits of these fitness aids include:
- Motivation: Keep you on track with your heart rate, steps counted, miles run, and calorie burn so you stay motivated to continue your journey (1).
- Goals: Many allow you to set goals so you stay on track with everything you want and need (2).
- Sleep: Tracking your sleep is often overlooked and is very beneficial for your recovery and overall daily functioning.
- Accountability: Challenge your friends and family or stay accountable for yourself as you watch your progress unfold.
How We Choose The Best Fitness Trackers
When looking for the best fitness trackers, we look at a number of factors because you deserve the best when trying to maximize your health and performance. We first look at durability and comfort of the product. You deserve to have a watch that will withstand abuse from your workouts and everyday use. It should also be comfortable on your wrist for you need to be able to move and have functionality when performing all workouts. We then look at features included like the quality of the screen, heart rate variability, and different programs around sleep and tracking your workouts. Lastly, we look at price. We know these products can get expensive but with the right approach, it is easier than ever to find an affordable watch that can get the job done.
FAQ Section
What is the best fitness tracker for men?
Apple Watch Series 6. In looking at all features, as well as comfort, longevity, and durability, this watch is a great option for all your desired needs.
What wearable tech helps most with recovery?
FitBit Inspire 2. This watch has great features when it comes to tracking heart rate and is able to alert you when signs of overtraining appear.
Can wearables track muscle fiber activation and engagement?
Wearable tech is impressive in that it can track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep cycles, all of which are accurate and really aid in your training. The option to choose a workout is also there so it can track your movements for each respective exercise.
Do fitness trackers help with sleep?
Wearables do help with sleep in that they can track your sleep cycles for optimal recovery. They will also track your time in the light so as to not ruin sleep or give you a hard time falling asleep.
Which fitness trackers provide comfort for weightlifting?
Apple Watch Series 3 and Whoop 4.0. These two provide great comfort for weightlifters. The snug fit allows for minimal to no slipping, yet loose enough for free movement when it comes to exercises that require wrist mobility.
Wrap Up
Fitness trackers and wearable tech have really boomed lately in popularity and for good reason. Tracking all of your vitals is great for those looking enhance strength gains, sleep, and recovery while offering great features like GPS, call and text options, and music. For strength athletes and bodybuilders, your rest and recovery is equally as important as your time in the gym and should not be neglected. Look into a good quality fitness tracker and see what they can do for your bodybuilding and strength goals today.
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
References
- Segar, Michelle L. (2017). “Activity Tracking + Motivation Science”. (source)
- Pourzanjani, Arya; Quisel, Tom; Foschini, Luca (2016), “Adherent Use of Digital Health Trackers Is Associated with Weight Loss”. (source)
