Best Fitbits for running, swimming and walking

Bianca Barratt

Updated 18 February 2019 at 9:07 am

These days, you can find a fitness tracker to monitor pretty much everything.

From how much you slept, your running splits and calories burned to what you ate and how your ticker’s doing — it's all possible with a fitness tracker.

The most globally famous company to bring us these nifty little devices is, of course, FitBit, which has earned its reputation as one of the most reliable wearable tech companies out there.

The brand now has several fitness devices available, each one offering slightly different benefits. The great thing about this is that there’s almost certainly a device to suit your needs — but where to start?

A good place to start is by figuring out what you actually want it for - and it’s worth being totally honest with yourself here.

Prone as we are to put all our hopes and dreams on a tracker to transform us into fitness gods and goddesses, the reality is that these devices can’t actually do the work for us. They can, however, monitor our own efforts and, in doing so, encourage us to sleep more, move more and eat a healthier diet.

They’re basically the tech equivalent of an overbearing mother.

So whether you’re looking to get your 10,000 steps in each day, monitor your running and cycling PBs or just want to work out why you feel so tired every morning, we’ve got the inside plug on the best Fitbits to buy in 2019.

Fitbit Charge 3

Best Fitbit for: serious swimmers

With all its bells and whistles, the Charge 3 is the tracker equivalent of Jarvis the robot in Iron Man. It’s got a seriously impressive list of features, such as a 24/7 heart rate monitor, a calorie tracker, sleep monitor and can be linked up to your phone so you can see incoming calls and texts.

Water resistant up to 50 meters, it’s the best option for serious swimmers and it’ll deliver helpful, personalised insights after each workout session. The screen (which is slightly bigger than the Charge 2’s) is spacious enough to not feel cramped but is still streamline enough to not feel bulky on the wrist. We’re fans of the blue grey/ rose gold option as it looks a little less severe than the black.

The only downside we can see is that it doesn’t have a built in GPS system, so can’t be taken out for a run without your phone. Available in other colours.

£129.79 | Amazon | Buy it now

Price compare at John Lewis and Fitbit

Fitbit Ionic

Best Fitbit for: runners

Hurrah! Finally a Fitbit that can track GPS. The Ionic was Fitbit’s first smartwatch (and quickly followed by the Versa) and is one of the only models to offer navigation, so can actually be taken out without a phone - excellent if you’re a runner looking to cut own on all the bulky accessories.

The build quality of this one feels a little more sophisticated than that of the Versa, though its design is slightly retro — great for some but not as upmarket-looking as some of the other smartwatches out there. It does, however, feel more likely to withstand a tough workout or swimming session thanks to its robust design.

It can hold up to 2.5GB of storage, so you can easily load several playlists or keep a log of previous workouts. Thanks to the incorporation of its own operating system, Fitbit OS, it can run independent as well as third party apps - something that most other contenders can’t do. The display measures almost 1.5 inches and is surprisingly clear and detailed for its size.

It does claim to hold its charge for up to five days but realistically you’ll need to plug it in after three. Available in other colours.

£218.98 | Amazon | Buy it now

Price compare at Currys and Fitbit

Fitbit Flex 2

Best Fitbit for: technophobes

OK - you might take one look at the Flex 2 and think it looks more like a locker wristband than a piece of tech, but hear us out. Sure, it doesn’t have a screen but if you think about it, this could actually be a plus - especially for the technophobes amongst us.

Despite its diminutive size, it still does all the usual tracker stuff, from exercise and sleep to calorie and step counting. So how exactly does it work? All the tracking is logged on the device but all the info you’ll receive comes through the app on your phone, which connects via bluetooth.

Another good swimming option, the Flex 2 is waterproof up to 50 metres, so if you happen to be heading out for a scuba diving session, take it along for the ride. You may have noticed the little flashing lights, which convey by a sort of morse code, various nuggets of information. It’s worth taking 10 minutes to figure out what the sequences mean, or you’re likely to spend its lifespan staring bewilderedly at your wrist every time it flashes.

It’s big plus points are its weight (or lack thereof) and five day battery life. The only things really holding it back are the time it takes to charge - you’ll need to leave it to replenish its battery overnight - and the popper fastening, which is a little less secure than a proper buckle. Available in other colours.

£49.99 | Argos | Buy it now

Price compare on Amazon

Fitbit Charge 2

Best Fitbit for: those prone to distraction

With its streamlined desigh, the Charge 2 is a little more compact than the 3, offering users a fuss-free fitness tracker experience.

It comes with a slim screen, which shows off all the different control features in a simple, easy-to-read interface. There’s a side button that allows you to move through the different features or, alternatively, you can tap on the screen to do so.

Don’t confuse this with a proper touchscreen, though - it’s not particularly sensitive and has to be tapped in exactly the right spot in order to respond. For those who like to take on multiple workouts, it recognises several different forms of exercise such as running, cycling and weightlifting and if you go into the app you can access different training programs, allowing you to use it as a sort of pseudo personal trainer.

The best thing about this one is that, because of the screen, you can check various bits of data without having to check your phone - ideal if you are easily distracted or are trying to reduce your screen time. Available in other colours.

£84.99 | Argos | Buy it now

Price compare at Amazon and Fitbit

Fitbit Alta HR

Best Fitbit for: those in need of motivation

Fitbit put out the HR as a step up from the Alta with - you’ve guessed it - heart rate tracking. It doesn’t look particularly different from the original model but thanks to the monitoring feature, offers much more accurate fitness data. It also has a buckle strap, making it more secure to wear day-to-day. So who should choose this one?

Well, it doesn’t offer as sophisticated real time monitoring as the smartwatch options, which will display your workout stats on the screen rather than in a phone app, but it’s pretty comprehensive when it comes to the usual calorie, sleep and step tracking stuff and actually offers more in-depth analysis than the original design.

Those fascinated by their sleeping patterns will love the insights they receive, such as quality of sleep during the week versus the weekend. It’s also got a nifty new move reminder feature, so if you’ve been sat in front of the TV for too long it’ll give you a nudge to go out for a walk. The screen itself is slimline and touch sensitive and pretty intuitive to navigate - simply swipe to see the different pieces of data.

This one does automatically recognise different forms of exercise, so if you start running for the bus it’ll track it, but it doesn’t actually allow you to manually start or stop workouts. Don’t really know how this affects you? Basically put, if you’re a serious exerciser, you might want to choose something a little more comprehensive. Available in other colours.

£79.99 | John Lewis | Buy it now

Price compare at Very and Amazon

Fitbit Versa

Best Fitbit for: music lovers

Fitbit’s smartwatch sequel, the Versa is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows. The screen is slim, streamline and touch sensitive, so you can swipe through the apps with speed and ease. It’s great in low light, too, so if you choose to look at it in the middle of the night, it won’t momentarily blind you the way that smartphones tend to do.

It also manages to be large enough to show you multiple pieces of information at once without looking like you’ve strapped a TV to your wrist and offers more extensive monitoring than several of the other models as well as music storage and Fitbit Pay. As with most Fitbit trackers, you can change up the straps to suit your taste if you wish, though you’ll need a bit of patience to do it - it’s quite fiddly and time-consuming. Available in other colours.

£182.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Price compare at Fitbit

Fitbit Blaze

Best Fitbit for: the fashion conscious

The Blaze is one of the most versatile on the list, offering users three different screen sizes and several strap options, including a metal one, which is particularly heartening for all those who don’t particularly like the toy-like look of fitness trackers.

This can be done by removing the screen from the device - something that, annoyingly, you’ll also have to do every time you need to charge it. On the plus side, it’ll keep going for about five days.

The display itself is extremely clear and colourful, making it simple to use and navigate. It also features an in-built gyroscope, so whenever you twist your wrist to see the time, it’ll automatically flash up on the screen - like magic.

This one comes with a heart rate monitor, which has become sophisticated enough to deal with most cardio and HIIT workouts, although it might struggle to accurately record weight training data because of the type of movement. Via the app, you can also set up alarms - so it’ll wake you with a gentle vibration each morning - as well as daily goals, so you can work towards increasing your step count or calories burned. Available in other colours.

£119.99 | Argos | Buy it now