The majority of us want to exercise more, yet only 3% of the global adult population are documented gym members and more than 50% of those don’t go very often. That’s lots of gym memberships going to waste! Perhaps the latest crop of wearables can help remedy the situation.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

These devices remove the burden of manual tracking of workouts. By identifying your exercises and recording reps and sets, your workouts are showcased in unprecedented detail. Some even go as far as guiding you on form.

Whether you are just a beginner or a hardened gym buff, there is an activity tracker to suit you. Read on for our selection of wearables to help take your gym session to a new level. All of these were tried and tested by our in-house team.

Jump to

Beast | Push Band | Atlas |  Gymwatch | Skulpt Chisel | Moov Smart Coach | Fitbit Charge 3 | Garmin Vivosmart 4

Beast

The Beast sensor is configured as a small magnet which allows it to be easily plugged on barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, gym machines or to the body itself. The device shows in real-time how much you are pushing, rep by rep, whether you are lifting weights, using a machine or performing bodyweight exercises. 

Beast utilizes something called Velocity Based Training. This takes out the guesswork on how much load you should be adding or removing on a particular set. It also tells you if you should move on and try a new exercise altogether by using the measurement of the bar speed and work to understand the force production.

The gizmo tracks your improvement and helps you train better. You can chose to visualize Speed, Power or Strength and monitor your performance live while working out. 

Moreover, it gives you an overview of all workout data, keeping a diary of your performance. Out of all the devices we tested for tracking your reps and sets, this is one of the best.

Read hands-on review

thisisbeast.com*

PUSH Band 2.0

Push promotes its strength band as the first scientifically validated wearable to provide true objective insights about your performance in the weight room. This is an activity tracker plus mobile app that sends real-time weight-lifting data to your smartphone.

The wearable can be attached to your body or the barbell to detect exercise repetitions. This is another device that uses the concept of Velocity Based Training to let you know whether to keep pushing or to hold back.

After we figured out how to use PUSH, it became simple. With a glance of the stats it was easy to see how we were performing on the day. If the velocity for a particular set was high, it’s time to increase the weight. A slowdown indicates that fatigue is setting in. You’ll become more focused on each and every rep.

According to the company’s website, Push is already in active use by many professional teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and AF. PUSH is water-resistant so you don’t need to wash it often. Just put it on and lift.

Read hands-on review

trainwithpush.com*

Atlas Wristband 2

Atlas is an inexpensive wearable that tracks and identifies different activities, evaluates form, counts reps and sets and calculates the calories you burned. The company originally raised $629k on crowdfunding site Indiegogo to fund development. It is now on generation 2.

With a single on-wrist device, Atlas can monitor your body in 3D. It can tell the difference between push-ups and triangle push-ups, bicep curls and alternating bicep curls and squats versus dead lifts. The tracker also has the ability to automatically detect and count over 70 of the most popular exercises. Not to worry if your favourite exercise is not in the database. You can teach Atlas to recognise new ones.

The gizmo logs your workouts with very little user action and keeps track of your heart rate so you can see how each movement affects your body. The on-wrist display gives you live feedback on the type, speed and quality of your exercises as you’re working out which means you can leave your phone in the locker for added convenience.

Read hands-on review

Amazon*

Strenx by Gymwatch

Strenx by GymWatch measures strength and motion across fitness exercises, including machines, free weights and bodyweight. The sensor records the full range of motion of an exercise, determines every strength component, repetitions and detects incorrect execution to help ensure exercises are performed properly and desired fitness goals are reached.

The device is worn as an armband or on the upper leg and provides you with real-time verbal feedback. The user inputs the activity type using the smartphone app. The gadget then calculates your rate of motion and, should you overextend yourself, tells you that you’ve done something wrong.

It should be noted that Strenx can only calculate the movements for the limb that it’s wrapped around. The battery level is a decent 30 days, which should cover your workouts for a while.

Read hands-on review

Amazon*

Skulpt Chisel

Skulpt products measure metrics that you wouldn’t normally measure with more ‘traditional’ fitness trackers. Rather than monitoring daily activities, or counting your reps and sets, Skulpt measures muscle quality and body fat percentage.

The device tracks 24 different muscles on your body, providing the fat percentage and a rating of the muscle’s fitness for each muscle. You can then view a ‘heat map’ on the app to conveniently track your strongest muscles and identify those that need improvement. Skulpt claims that Chisel is five times more accurate than bioimpedance scales, and three to four times more accurate than measuring with callipers.

Essential reading: Devices that help you keep tabs on your body fat

The device will give you greater insight and enable you to measure the result of your fitness achievements, to better understand when you are losing fat and gaining muscle. The app will even suggest actual workout routines based on the MQ and fat % of your individual muscles. Next time you head off to the gym, you will have a clear understanding on exactly which muscles you need to place most focus on.

Read hands-on review

Amazon*

Moov Smart Coach

Moov is a one of a kind wearable fitness coach that actively monitors your activity and advises you in real time how to get the most from your workout. Similar to many other fitness trackers, the gizmo tracks your daily activity and sleep — but rather than steps, Moov measures movement within 3D space.

The device essentially translates your exact movement into real-time coaching, both through audio and on screen, and advises you whether you are performing your exercises correctly. It does this through use of the 9 axis motion sensing system – including an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer to learn the wearer’s form and correct any issues that may lead to injury.

Moov pairs with an app to train users on five sports — running, cycling, swimming, cardio boxing, and a seven-minute bodyweight workout which you can perform at home as it doesn’t require the use of any weights. The tracker has been tailored to each individual activity, so offers separate exercise programs.

Amazon | Moov*

Fitbit Charge 3 or Versa range

Fitbit’s flagship fitness tracker features exercise modes that provide real-time stats, helping you get the most from your sweat sessions. This includes multi-sport modes for tracking specific workouts like runs, biking, weight-lifting and yoga. Because the process is automatic, you will get credit even if you forget to log a workout.

Charge 3 doesn’t count things like reps or the amount of weight that you are lifting, but you can use its exercise mode to track your heart rate and calories while you lift weights. You also get a snapshot of your fitness level using a personalised Cardio Fitness Score. The value is based on your estimated VO2 Max that is calculated using your user profile and resting heart rate. The Cardio Fitness Level shows how you compare to those of the same age and gender, and ranges from poor to excellent. Plus you get bar charts of your fat burn, cardio and peak heart rate zones.

If don’t mind spending a bit more cash, you can always opt for one of the devices in the Versa range. They also track how much you’ve exerted yourself in the weight-room.

Read hands-on review

Amazon*

Vivosmart 4

The Vivosmart 4 takes across all the features of its predecessors (apart from GPS), but adds more sophisticated fitness tracking tools. This includes a blood oxygen sensor and something Garmin calls Body Battery energy monitoring. The metric uses a combination of stress, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep and activity data to let you know when to push hard, when to rest.

Thanks to Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology, you still get 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and the wearable automatically tracks activity including steps, floors climbed, calories burned, intensity minutes, sleep and more. It also features smart notifications to keep you connected while on the go.

When you start a strength training activity, the device will capture your exercises, reps and sets along with your work and rest times so you can leave the notebook at home. That data gets pushed to Garmin Connect during your next sync so you can review your workout in even greater detail.

An alternative to the Vivosmart is the Vivosport. Released last year, the ultra-slim tracker comes built-in GPS. Garmin’s strength training activity has also made it onto its high end sports-watches.

Read hands-on review

Amazon*

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

*Disclosure: We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

The post Boost your gym and strength session with one of these wearables appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

The most high spec in the lineup is Vivoactive 3, a Jack of all trades GPS smartwatch which throws Garmin Pay into the mix along with a beautiful new design. Vivomove HR is a beautiful hybrid smartwatch with activity tracking, wrist-based heart rate, notifications and a touchscreen display. Finally, Vivosport is a smart wristband with GPS and wrist-based heart rate. While the first two were widely expected, the third came as a bit of surprise.

Garmin is definitely not one to be left behind. The news follows hot on the heels of Fitbit’s Ionic smartwatch release, and yesterday’s news on Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro and Gear Sport. Fitbit, Samsung and perhaps Apple with its Apple Watch Series 3 expected to launch on September 12th, definitely have something to worry about. Garmin has been making leaps and bounds with its activity trackers.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets for 2017

The three new devices have certain commonalities. All sport a touchscreen and will provide you with fitness tracking basics, so think steps, calories, distance, heart rate, activity, floors and sleep. Smartphone notifications will keep you connected to your loved ones, plus you have music control, find my phone and other standard smartwatch features.

All three will also dish out information on VO2Max and your fitness age. To keep you calm, there is all-day-stress monitoring along with workout tracking for gym rats. These two features made their debut in April with the introduction of Vivosmart 3. In September, they will also for the first time become available for Fenix 5 and Foreruner 935.

Finally, Vivoactive 3 and Vivosport come with built-in GPS. This will provide you with GPS based distance, time and pace for more precise tracking of your activity.

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Vivoactive 3 is the successor to the Vivoactive HR, a Swiss knife of activity trackers. In our review, our main gripe with this device was its chunkiness and retro-1980s look. While this may not be so much of a problem for men into fitness, Garmin has realised that it needs to introduce a less bulky form factor if it is to appeal to a larger demographic. And on that count, the Vivoactive 3 does not disappoint. With a classy new design, it closely resembles Garmin’s Fenix and Forerunner line.

Apart from the design, the main news here is the inclusion of Garmin Pay, a first for the company. Which means Garmin customers can finally pay for purchases with their timepiece. The new functionality is enabled by FitPay and supports Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards from major issuing banks.

There are 15 built-in sports profiles, including new ones for snowboarding, cardio, yoga, eliptical and stair stepper. Vivoactive 3 will also let you mix it up by creating customized workouts.

Other new features include VO2Max and stress/workout tracking. Unfortunately Garmin has opted not to include other Firstbeat metrics such as Recovery, Training Load and others. In all likelyhood, this is not due to technology but so that the new device does not eat into sales of the more advanced, and much more pricey Fenix 5 and Forerunner 935 line.

Starting at $299.99, the fitness watch comes in three colours, black/stainless, white/stainless. It will be available from Q4 2017.

Read more

View on Amazon.

Garmin Vivomove HR

Mechanical watch lovers may not be so keen to join the technology craze, but there is a solution. Hybrid watches are traditional looking timepieces that combine style with behind the scenes digital smarts.

Garmin’s first generation Vivomove is a smart looking hybrid device designed with simplicity in mind and the second generation timepiece looks to be no different. The stylish watch has a circular body, no digital crown and swappable bands. As the name implies, Vivomove HR throws heart rate tracking into the mix. So far the only hybrid timepiece to track heart rate is Nokia Steel HR.

The watch also has the ability to show smartphone messages on a tiny and discreet screen along with info on your activity. You can even send quick replies to messages via the touch screen.

There are two versions to choose from, the sleek Vivomove HR Sport ($199.99) and the more upscale Vivomove HR Premium with leather straps and a full steel body ($299.99). Both will be available in Q4 2017.

Read more

View on Amazon.

Garmin Vivosport

For those who prefer to workout with a slim fitness band, Garmin has come out with Vivosport. This is a device with some pretty decent specs under the hood. In terms of fitness tracking, it actually includes everything you get with Vivoactive 3 minus some of the apps for individual sports.

The device can be seen as an upgraded version of Garmin’s popular Vivosmart 3 and Vivosmart HR+ trackers. In a sense, with the inclusion of GPS and a snazzy new design, Garmin has taken the best from these two devices and come up with an entirely new fitness band.

Vivosport has a suggested retail price of $199.99, and is available from Q4 2017.

Read more

View on Amazon.

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

The post Garmin introduces a trio of new Vivo devices at IFA appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Moov is a company which has consistently taken an innovative approach to activity tracking. The outfit has now come out with HR Burn, a heart rate monitoring chest strap. It joins the EKG-accurate HR Sweat, which was announced back in October.

HR Sweat is due to start shipping any day now, while HR Burn will be available from mid March. Both devices can be purchased from Amazon or the Moov website.

The third generation trackers build on the advanced 3D motion tracking and real-time audio coaching functionality of Moov’s other devices. HR Sweat and HR Burn take this a step further by adding technology to monitor your heart rate.

“We want everyone to be able to get the most out of their workouts and having accurate heart rate measurements is a crucial part of that. Despite current wearables, boutique gyms, and other devices that claim to provide heart rate measurements, accuracy is not always reliable,” says Moov.

“So, the team at Moov discovered the best combination of technology and placement for detecting the most precise read on pulse in the form of Moov HR.”

The more interesting of the two is HR Sweat. The tracker is embedded in a sweatband or swim cap to get what Moov says is a more accurate pulse reading than from your wrist or chest. The information is then relayed to the smartphone app which provides real time feedback and coaching based on your heart rate.

The tracker will guide you to get the most out of your workouts and keeping burning those calories hours after your workouts. Simply follow the voice coaching which will keep you in the correct heart rate zone.

Workouts are adjusted with variety and intelligence to get you the right intensity. For example, there is a high-intensity interval program. This is an exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. Varying the intensity of effort exercises the heart muscle, providing a cardiovascular workout, improving aerobic capacity and permitting the person to exercise for longer and more intense levels.

HR Sweat uses technology that is not too dissimilar to wrist based heart rate sensors. The tracker shines a LED light to illuminate the skin and measures changes in light absorption. The amount of light absorbed by the tissue is affected by the perfusion of blood that occurs as blood pulses through your body. The wearable uses these changes to determine your heart rate.

Essential reading: Heart rate zone training with wearables

Research has shown that the forehead is one of the best places on the body to measure heart rate with this type of technology. In fact, the device was benchmarked for accuracy at the Human Performance Lab at the University of California-San Francisco. Moov says, results rivaled medical EKG equipment.

In terms of design, the sensor slips into a sweat-absorbant headband. It also comes as Moov HR Swim, the exact same technology in the form of a swim cap. This means you can get reliable heart rate data during those pool sessions.

In terms of battery life, expect to get six hours of continuous use, one week with daily use and one month of standby.

It is worth noting again, just like most chest straps Moov HR Sweat and Moov HR Burn are only heart rate monitors. So don’t confuse them with the Fitbit Charge 2 or Garmin Vivosmart HR. They will not track your activity stats. But you can combine them with Moov Now/Moov Classic, which are worn on the wrist or ankle. They work seamlessly together with the smartphone app to give you a more complete workout experience.

Amazon | Moov

Check out the official video below.

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

The post Moov releases HR Burn along with the ultra-accurate HR sweatband appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

In the looks department, new live workout screens have received a revamp, and now present a better user experience with more targeted advice. Post-workout reports show more granular data and improved performance measures.

Essential reading: Torch fat quickly with interval training – a beginners guide

The new app also brings six heart-rate based HIT circuit workouts that rely on body weight exercises, and two high intensity running workouts. When it comes to cardio, high intensity workouts are definitely the best way to strip off body fat. For those may not be familiar with the concept, it involves intervals of high-intensity exercise followed by low intensity or complete rest.

The app is designed to work with Moov Now, a one of a kind fitness wearable. The device essentially translates your exact movement into real-time coaching, both through audio and on screen, and advises you whether you are performing your exercises correctly. It does this through use of the 9 axis motion sensing system – including an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer to learn the wearer’s form and correct any issues that may lead to injury.

All this has been timed ahead of next week’s release of the company’s HR heart rate-tracking headband, Moov HR Sweat. Embedded in a sweatband or swim cap is a sensor that Moov says brings more accurate pulse readings than from your wrist or chest. Moov HR Sweat will guide you to get the most out of your workouts and keep burning those calories hours after your workouts. Simply follow the voice coaching which will keep you in the correct heart rate zone.

Source: MacRumors

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

The post Moov app gets an overhaul ahead of heart rate-tracking headband release appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Moov has announced a partnership with MapMyFitness and Strava. This means, you will now be able to add your Moov workouts to your MapMyFitness regiment and be able to go on a Strava ride or run with some added coaching.

Indoor Cycling is now available as well. Whether you’re cycling in your living room or with others in a class, Moov move will assist you tracking your ride, calories burned, and more.

If you are an iOS user and want to be one of the first to use these features, now is the time to apply. The company says, Android integration is coming soon.

“We are excited to welcome Moov Now as the latest device to integrate with Strava,” said David Lorsch, VP of business development at Strava.

“We are committed to helping athletes improve across a variety of sports, so Strava is a natural fit for Moov users.”

Moov (view on Amazon) has carved out a niche for itself in the crowded fitness tracker market. This is a one of a kind wearable fitness coach that actively monitors your activity and advises you in real time how to get the most from your workout. Similar to many other fitness trackers, Moov tracks your daily activity and sleep — but rather than steps, it measures movement within 3D space.

Moov pairs with an app to train users on five sports — running, cycling, swimming, cardio boxing, and a seven-minute bodyweight workout which you can perform at home as it doesn’t require the use of any weights. The tracker has been tailored to each individual activity, so offers separate exercise programs.

The company has also launched a range of new coloured bands (pictured above). You can choose between Sunrise Orange, Berry Pink or Sky Blue – all available for $9.95.

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

The post Moov partners with Strava and adds different colour bands appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Moov Now is a one of a kind wearable fitness coach that actively monitors your activity and advises you in real time how to get the most from your workout. Similar to many other fitness trackers, Moov tracks your daily activity and sleep — but rather than steps, Moov measures movement within 3D space.

The original Moov launched in 2014. The wristband, was built by former Apple employee engineer Nikola Hu with cofounders Meng Li and Tony Yuan. The 2015 edition is an upgraded version of the original. Moov’s latest wristband is like a personal trainer on your wrist – it offers real-time coaching feedback, and support for running, swimming, cardio boxing, and bodyweight workouts.

Design

The Moov Now is a slick looking device which in some ways resembles the Misfit Shine. It is, however, slightly bigger and not as discreet as the Misfit wearable. The Moov Now is 44% smaller than the original, has holes for “breathability”, and features a redesigned strap and much improved battery life. It is available in four colors: Aqua Blue, Fusion Red, Blizzard White and Stealth Black.

The hardware is composed of an accelerometer, a gyroscope to detect rotation, and a magnetometer that detects direction of movement. Moov works on its own but can be used along with a Bluetooth heart-rate strap.

The wearable’s modular design allows for Moov to be worn where it is most beneficial for each sport it tracks. For example, you can wear it on your ankle or shoe for running, or on your wrist while kickboxing or swimming.

Battery life is up to six months – a substantial upgrade from the 24 hour battery life in the original version. It’s nice not having to charge it, but you will need to eventually manually replace the battery. The batteries are however dirt cheap.

Ease of use

The device pairs with an app to train users on five sports — running, cycling, swimming, cardio boxing, and a seven-minute bodyweight workout which you can perform at home as it doesn’t require the use of any weights. With the help of its mobile app and a pair of headphones, the Moov is able to provide the benefit of real-time coaching. The tracker has been tailored to each individual activity, so offers separate exercise programs.

For example, for running or walking, the device needs to be strapped to your ankle. There are workouts for brisk walking, pace running, sprint intervals, distance running and open training. The wearable’s motion sensors track the position of your feet in real-time, allowing Moov to deliver data and provide real-time coaching feedback. This is something that is not offered by competing fitness bands. Not only does it coach you on pace, the Move also tries to correct bad form. Workouts can be adjusted for various fitness and experience levels. After a workout you are provided with a range of statistics including steps per minute, range of motion, impact score, elevation, pace, distance, calories burned, and a map of your run via the GPS on your phone.

The Moov Now takes a similarly detailed and motivational approach to most of the rest of its workouts. The seven-minute workout for is done using your own body weight. The workout includes several levels so you can push yourself to progress up the level intensity. The levels include variations of jumping jacks, planks, lunges, squats, push ups and crunches. There is a demonstration video for each exercise, and a motion gauge to indicate whether you’re performing the exercises correctly.

The Cardio Boxing workout supports two Moov Nows, one on each wrist for a more complete workout experience. The sensor will tell the smartphone app if you’re not punching correctly, making sure you get a full workout. Are your feet in the correct position? Are you keeping your hands up and striking as prompted?

The Moov Now is also waterproof down to three meters, so you can also wear it in the pool. The swim program doesn’t provide real-time coaching understandably – you couldn’t have the phone in close enough proximity for that to be possible. Once you are out of the pool, however, you can check data on lap times, flip-turn times and stroke rate. The feedback also provides advice on how to improve your swimming technique.

Use of information

While step counts and calories burned offered by most fitness trackers remind you to get out and get active, Moov is able to do much more as it can measure a far wider range of motion. The device essentially translates your exact movement into real-time coaching, both through audio and on screen, and advises you whether you are performing your exercises correctly. It does this through use of the 9 axis motion sensing system – including an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer to learn the wearer’s form and correct any issues that may lead to injury.

In addition to tracking the frequency and duration of your workouts, the device also tracks the number of minutes you were active, and the amount of sleep and “restorative” sleep you’ve had. Sleep tracking is a function that wasn’t available in the original version of the device.

Motivation

The Moov is a wearable fitness coach that actively monitors your tendencies, advises you on how to get the most from your workouts, tracks your progress, and motivates you to ahieve your fitness goals. The adition of real-time feedback places Moov in a category of its own in terms of the information that it can provide.

Moov has been designed to find your limit, whether it be endurance, power, strength, or cardio and push you to improve. Coaching includes, for example, warnings when your cadence falls behind target, along with tips and reminders to help you maintain or improve your technique. This ends up being more important than it sounds, since poor technique can cause injury.

If you’re looking for something to provide that extra boost of motivation – the Moov Now is a great companion. Check out the official product video.

Overview

The verdict

These days, keeping fit is rapidly becoming the trendy thing to do, and there’s a whole range of gadgets and fitness trackers aimed at helping you reach your goals. In this crowded market, Moov has carved out a niche for itself. The truly novel feature of the device is real-time coaching feedback in a wide variety of exercise programs. The device tracks your movements, analyzes them and gives you a comprehensive report on how you are doing, after, as well as during the workout.

The original model was meant to be worn only during workouts so was not intended to be used as a standard activity tracker – in contrast, the Moov Now is designed for all-day use. While it does not measure steps like a Fitbit or Jawbone, the Moov Now will measure your activity level and active time, in addition to automatically tracking your sleep at night.

Moov Wearable Fitness Coach Gadgets & Wearables may get a commission

Even in this niche, some improvement, especially in the software side and in terms of an interface to track progress and compare similar workouts, would be necessary for it to be a mature product. A heart-rate monitor and a screen on the device are definitely features we would like to see in the future.

All in all, this fitness tracker aims to teach you the concepts of a healthy life.  It provides a fun way to work out and will appeal both to the average person trying to become more active, and the hard-core fitness enthusiasts aiming to improve their technique.

We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

The post Review: Moov Now – your personal coach appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.