How to choose which fitness watch features are for you

Technology blends. That is why phones, once only used to call and message people, are now as important as cameras. It is how televisions have become ‘smart’, and speakers do much more than just blare out music. So, it’s hardly a surprise that fitness watches, once used just to count your steps and calories, can now make calls and ping notifications. The lines between a smartwatch and a phone are blurring and blending. And, with so many features being introduced, how does one decide which ones to care about, and which ones to ignore?

Mithun Ghosh, a production manager with some of the top sports leagues in the country, has had a radical fitness journey ever since he bought himself a Garmin smartwatch. In fact, having the right watch helped him go from 120 kgs in 2019 to 92 kgs currently. One of the primary reasons he could be so committed in his workouts was less distraction, and more information.  

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“Not only have I kept the notifications off, but I also learnt to know exactly which features in the watch to focus on. I like my fitness watch so much that it is now part of me – and it is my main motivator to cycle, swim, run, and even lift,” says the 40-year-old.

He says that the features he cares about the most have also grown as he got fitter. “It starts with the steps and the calories burnt. But a watch can also tell you what you are not doing, as much as it can tell you what you are doing right,” he says. Ghosh went from beginner to advanced level in the space of a few years, and his most used features (apart from steps and calories burnt) are – heart rate, water intake, elevation gain, and strength activities.

“My smartwatch tells me how many push–ups I did, how much I benched, how many deadlifts I did, and how many squats I completed,” he adds. Having used smartwatches from Fitbit and Apple in the past, Ghosh is now committed to his current watch.

Going old school

Footballer Robin Singh continues to stay fit even after his playing days. The former Delhi Dynamos, Bengaluru FC, and India national team striker is a heavy user of his stopwatch. It is easy to forget that the simplest feature can sometimes be the difference maker. Not that there isn’t a stopwatch on the phone, but reaching out for the phone automatically means you might be tempted to drag down the Instagram notification showing a funny cat meme. 

Singh’s requirements are clear-cut. “The features I need are heart rate, step-counter, stopwatch, a long-lasting battery, water-proof capabilities, and last but not the least, music control. My smartwatch can make phone calls and it has a compass and a wallet, but these are not required if the purpose to use one is to track activity. In fact, you need as little distraction as possible when you’re in the gym or running or swimming,” the footballer-turned-broadcaster says.

Fitness first, smart features secondary

In the end, it might not come down to features – but your goals. Knowing why you are buying the watch is the first step. A decent formula to apply would be – purpose first, purchase second. This will also help you set a budget to dictate if you want the wearable to track activity, look good (the watch market is still dominated by ornamental watches), or use it as an extension of your phone. 

The other fact to consider is what kind of a fitness journey you are about to embark on (or already on). Those into running might not need a watch which tracks their lifting and strength. This is where simpler fitness trackers, like the Fitbit Inspire, can come handy. Despite Garmin’s Overrunner’s fantastic GPS capabilities, Fitbits and even the Apple Watch or newer Noise smartwatches can do the job for you. At this point, it is less about the brand and more about how serious you are about adding new activities to your fitness routine.

One cannot ignore sleeping patterns as a sign of fitness as well – not just physical, but also mental. Most watches will offer a stress-level detector but if you are having trouble falling asleep, it is worth asking for a watch which can mark your quality of sleep. While this isn’t entirely based on what you are doing in the gym or while running, it will give you signs of what a bad day or a good day are in terms of your body’s sleep cycle. If this is one of your worries, then know that a long-lasting battery life should be a feature you should look for, especially since you will be wearing the watch overnight. 

Most people wonder if they can be contacted during emergencies while working out, especially if you turn the notifications off on your smart watch. But there is always a phone for that. An interesting study in the journal of ‘Performance Enhancement & Health’ says that using something while working out can impact balance and stability by 45 per cent during a workout. No one wants to tumble on a treadmill and what is the point of making sure your rest time of two minutes between two sets turns into five?

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As smartwatch makers continue to market Bluetooth calling and email notifications, responsible buyers should know what will hamper them and what will help them. A journey to get fitter should not be confused with the need to be connected to your phone all the time. As the popular saying goes, sometimes less is more, and this can certainly be applied when you are choosing which fitness watch to buy.

Pulasta Dhar is a World Feed English football commentator who also loves writing on technology and fitness.