Most popular fitness trackers for runners across price ranges in India

If you’ve been bitten by the running bug and are looking for the perfect digital device to help you track your progress, monitor your health, and stay motivated, while staying connected with your family and friends, a fitness tracker is an excellent choice.

In this article, we will explore the seven best fitness trackers tailored specifically for runners. They are spread across price points, so you can choose the one that fits in your budget.

Garmin Forerunner 945

The Garmin Forerunner 945 is one of the most advanced premium fitness trackers designed to meet the needs of professional athletes and serious, fitness enthusiasts. In addition to activity tracking, the Forerunner 945 offers advanced performance metrics. This is the highlight of this fitness tracker. You get detailed analysis on parameters like stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation, providing valuable insights for runners, especially if you are competing. The Forerunner 945 features rugged build quality that is water-resistant up to 50 meters.

The Garmin Forerunner 945 is available at a price of Rs 46,990 on Flipkart.

Pros:

1. Comprehensive tracking
2. Advanced metrics
3. Battery life
4. Rugged design
5. Extra features

Cons:

1. Price
2. Complex setup
3. Bulky

Apple Watch Series 7

The Apple Watch Series 7 boasts a large, always-on Retina display that offers more real estate than traditional fitness trackers for viewing notifications, and messages. You also get IP6X dust resistance rating, which makes it a solid option for lifestyle wear as well. You get an optical heart rate sensor, ECG functionality, and blood oxygen level monitoring. The watch also incorporates an accelerometer, gyroscope, and altimeter for precise activity tracking.

Workout options include running, cycling, swimming, and yoga, apart from fall detection and trend mapping, which ensures not just good health but also long-term wellness.

The Apple Watch Series 7 is available at a starting price of Rs 53,900 on Flipkart.

Pros:

1. Stylish and practical design
2. Advanced tracking
3. Durable and dust resistant

Cons:

1. Price
2. Average battery life
3. Compatibility

Playfit Strength

The Playfit Strength is a full-touch, circular fitness tracker with an IPS display. It offers IP67 water and sweat resistance, ensuring durability during various activities. The affordable tracker also supports Bluetooth calling for taking calls on the go. It also has 24-hour heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, for detailed workout analysis.

The stainless steel dial adds a sleek and premium look to the tracker. With multiple exercise modes, users can track and monitor their workouts effectively. In terms of battery life, the Playfit Strength offers active time of up to 4 days and a standby time of 15 days.

The Playfit Strength is available at a price of Rs 3,499 on Amazon.

Pros:

1. Full-touch circular display
2. Water and sweat resistance
3. Bluetooth calling
4. Heart rate and SpO2 monitoring
5. Long battery life

Cons:

1. Display quality
2. Limited customisation

Fitbit Charge 4

The Fitbit Charge 4 is a sleek and lightweight fitness tracker that is known to be one of the most precise and high-quality options in the market. It has a unique, grayscale OLED display that provides clear visibility of notifications. You get 24/7 heart rate monitoring and built-in GPS for proper workout tracking. The Charge 4 also offers a variety of exercise modes, allowing users to track specific activities and receive real-time data. Additionally, the Fitbit fitness tracker provides smartphone notifications, guided breathing exercises, and music control, among other premium features.

The Fitbit Charge 4 is available at a price of Rs 7,999 on Croma.

Pros:

1. Accurate activity tracking
2. Built-in GPS
3. Continuous heart rate monitoring
4. Sleep tracking

Cons:

1. Limited display functionality
2. Limited ecosystem
3. Battery life

Polar Vantage V2

The Polar Vantage V2 is a unique, multi-sport watch with accurate tracking, advanced performance analysis, and smart features for serious fitness enthusiasts. Further, you get precision GPS and GLONASS tracking, for accurate running, cycling, and swimming tracking. Advanced features like running power, Training Load Pro, Recovery Pro, and FuelWise, make it the premium tracker that it has come to be. The Vantage V2, with its minimal display, offers a long battery life for your extended training sessions. It also provides features like smart notifications, music controls, and compatibility with popular fitness apps.

The Polar Vantage V2 is available at a price of Rs 93,096 on Amazon.

Pros:

1. Accurate GPS tracking
2. Advanced performance metrics
3. Comprehensive heart rate monitoring
4. Long battery life

Cons:

1. Limited touchscreen functionality
2. Limited smart features

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 features a circular Super AMOLED display with vivid colours and a sharp resolution. The watch further comes with advanced fitness tracking capabilities, such as automatic workout detection, heart rate monitoring, and built-in GPS for accurate activity tracking. You also get access to a variety of exercise modes with functionality of real-time coaching and feedback. The Active 2 also supports sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and guided breathing exercises to help users improve their overall well-being. But the best feature about the watch is how it seamlessly connects with Android smartphones (specifically, Samsung), allowing users to receive notifications, respond to messages, and control music playback directly from their wrist. 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is available at a price of Rs 21,000 on Amazon.

Pros:

1. Stylish design
2. Advanced fitness tracking
3. Wide range of exercise modes
4. Health monitoring
5. Seamless smartphone integration

Cons:

1. Limited third-party app ecosystem

Suunto 9 Baro 

The Suunto 9 Baro is a high-performance multisport watch with a focus on precise GPS tracking, long battery life, and advanced fitness tracking for adventures and hikes. It has a solid build quality and a clear, easy-to-read colour display, making it suitable for various environments, especially out in the sun.

The watch boasts of accurate GPS/GLONASS tracking, intelligent battery modes, and an optical heart rate sensor for tracking vitals during workouts. The watch provides comprehensive training features, such as customisable sport modes, interval training, and recovery tracking. It also offers barometric altitude and weather trend information, making it useful for outdoor navigation and weather forecasting.

The Suunto 9 Baro is available at a price of Rs 55,999 on Amazon.

Pros:

1. Durable design
2. Accurate GPS tracking
3. Long battery life
4. Extensive training features
5. Weather information

Cons:

1. Bulky design
2. Limited smart features