A Guide to Fitness Trackers for Seniors
Older adults can benefit from the wearable activity monitors that we test for ease, accuracy, comfort, and more
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Have you heard that you should take at least 10,000 steps a day? It’s not a magic number, but a 2019 study in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that the more active you are, the better it is for your health.
Devices that count your steps come in a few forms, including fitness trackers and smartwatches that are worn on your wrist. If you’re considering one of these devices, here’s what Consumer Reports’ testing found and how to choose a tracker that’s right for you. (CR members can also see our full ratings for fitness trackers and smartwatches.)
Tracker or Watch?
Consider features and price: The wearables we test count steps, and smartwatches and some trackers also monitor actions such as pace and heart rate, and alert you to texts and emails. Some watches can even make payments at a cash register.
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Tracking Other Sports
Have an activity other than walking or running that you’d like to track, such as swimming or cycling? You may be able to find a device that caters to it.
We don’t test the accuracy of specialized sports tracking, but swimmers might want to check out our ratings (available to CR members here), which evaluate waterproof claims for accuracy.
Heart Rate Monitors
Want to keep an eye on your heart rate? Some devices monitor it. CR ratings can tell you which are most accurate—the scores vary widely, and not all trackers monitor heart rate.
The American Heart Association has advice on target and maximum heart rates based on your age and exercise intensity here.
The Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm) Aluminum case GPS smartwatch scores "Very Good" for its heart rate monitoring and gets high marks in other categories. At $200, it’s also one of our Best Buys.
Sleep Tracking
Some products provide information about sleep duration and quality when worn at night. At CR, we don’t test this feature. But outside accuracy studies have had varying results.
A 2019 study in the journal Sensors found that several devices did well at noting time in bed—but not at measures such as total time asleep. And other research has found that getting too anxious about tracking your sleep can backfire, leading to worse-quality snoozing.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the January 2020 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
