The inauguration of the National Steps Challenge back in 2015 might’ve been your first introduction to fitness trackers, but did you know that these health gadgets are actually a great tool for forming better habits?
Fitness trackers do so by measuring and monitoring daily activities we often take for granted. Apart from the number of steps we clock, newer fitness trackers can now track the hours of sleep we get as well as our resting heart rate, providing clues about our overall health levels.
Some of these fitness trackers can also trigger habit-building reminders; to get off your seat and move about or drink water regularly.
They can even earn you some vouchers, if you’re so inclined to join the now-permanent National Steps Challenge (tracked via the Healthy 365 app: click here for a guide on how to link up your third-party fitness tracker to the app).
Best of all, these health gadgets are exceedingly affordable nowadays. Here is our list of five affordable fitness trackers, ranked in terms of wallet-friendliness.
Advertisement
1. Actxa Tempo 5C
The homegrown Actxa Tempo 5C is one of several no-frills fitness trackers provided by the Health Promotion Board. It is also commercially available on e-shopping platforms for an affordable $26.
The improved version of the 4C is said to boast improved tracking accuracy compared to its predecessor. Tracked metrics include your daily step count, blood oxygen level, sleep quality and heart rate through various intensity zones.
Its battery – which takes three hours to fully charge – is capable of running non-stop for “approximately five days”. Not bad considering the price – you can even change the straps if you like.
2. Axtro Fit 4
Here’s another budget-friendly option that you might’ve received when you signed up for the National Steps Challenge. The all-day Axtro Fit 4 fitness tracker – an upgrade from the previous Axtro Fit 3 – is similarly water- and sweat-resistant with all the basic functionalities like heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen and step tracking you’d expect.
The $40 sport watch has a slightly heftier battery life of around “five to seven days”, and purportedly charges to full in a decently speedy two hours. It is also available on online shopping platforms.
3. Decathlon CW500 M Multisport HRM Smart Watch
Sport-focused big box store Decathlon is now in the business of smart fitness trackers. Enter the Decathlon CW500 M Multisport HRM Smart Watch, a well-priced entry-level timepiece with a price tag of $59.90.
Like most other watches in the list, it too tracks your steps, sleep and blood oxygen with some extra metrics like calories burned and a stress-meter to boot.
The best part about it is probably its water resistance of up to 5 ATM, meaning you can wear into the shower and the swimming pool without a problem. It lasts for up to a week on a single charge, and is available in black, green, white or blue.
4. Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Weighing in at $54, the newest Xiaomi Smart Band 9 fitness tracker (available online here) is undoubtedly one of the most value-for-money options on our list.
It pairs a larger screen (1.62in versus 1.3in for its cheaper counterparts) with an expansive suite of fitness-related functions apart from the standard sleep, heart rate and step counter to satisfy ardent exercise junkies.
For example, the lightweight 15.8g watch carries over 150 different sports modes, tracking key metrics like maximal oxygen uptake and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption to provide informed training recommendations.
The watch boasts a customisable strap and hardy aluminium alloy frame, has an excellent battery life of 21 days (compared to 14 with its predecessor, the Smart Band 7), with a charging time of around just one hour. It is also water-resistant up to 5 ATM and therefore suitable for silvers who prefer to swim or aqua jog.
5. Fitbit Inspire 3
Fitbit’s Inspire 3 is one of the pricier watches on our list, but comes with the functions to justify its asking price of $148.
It boasts the usual health and fitness trackers along with smart watch functionalities like call, text and app notifications (when near a paired mobile phone).
The fitness tracker also features an advanced sleep and stress monitoring system coupled with a smart alarm that rouses you at an optimal sleep stage, leaving you feeling better rested and ready to tackle the day.
