The best fitness trackers for women to help you achieve your fitness goals and keep you motivated this winter

When gyms up and down the country shut up shop for the first time last year, I bid farewell to my beloved spinning classes and group yoga sessions, and replaced them with running/walking/at-home workouts. And in lieu of an instructor stood meters away from me, yelling at me to stay focused, I found my motivation to dwindle.

Enter: the humble fitness tracker. In a bid to keep me motivated and smashing my fitness goals, my hunt for the best fitness tracker for women began. I find nothing more motivating than data. I'm data-driven: egged on by numbers and kicked up the butt by percentages. So the results have been nothing less than incredible. There's nothing like a little friendly competition with yours truly, and constantly trying to one-up myself on the distance-front has been all the motivation to pound the pavements that I need.

Even now the gyms are open again, my activity tracker remains firmly on my wrist. So if you're finding it hard to get up off the sofa and exercise, investing in one of the best fitness trackers could be the difference between a spirit-lifting 5km jog and a night in front of Netflix. Here's everything you need to know.

Are fitness trackers worth it?

Yes, provided you opt for something which monitors the data that'll motivate you. Of course, there are now countless options on the market which track everything from your steps and heart rate to calories burned, sleep and much more. Seriously, these fitness watches get swankier with every new release.

Before you start shopping, make a note of what it is you want your fitness tracker to monitor. Most options will have a step counter, heart rate monitor and sleep tracker, but if there’s anything else you’d like to prioritise then take stock. If you want the tracker to flash up with your emails and texts, choose one with a larger screen. If you don’t do much high intensity exercise but burn calories with walking, something simple which just shows steps would probably suffice.

What is the best fitness tracker 2021?

The million dollar question: which fitness tracker should you buy? We’ve done the legwork for you and hunted down the best fitness trackers and running watches for every workout style and budget. Some are good for running, some are waterproof (swimmers, we’re lookin’ at you) and others are great for the HIIT workouts you’ve been doing in your living room.

Fitbit, unsurprisingly, tends to come out top time and time again in terms of their overall performance and value for money. They’re not only really sleek and stylish, but functional and accessibly priced, too. We love the Fitbit Versa 3 was the best fitness tracker for overall experience. It comes in under £200, is one of the few Fitbit models to have built-in GPS and has a battery life of six days. It also boasts all the features you'd expect from a comprehensive fitness tracker, from step count to heart rate monitor, 20 different activity modes, menstrual cycle tracking and water resistance up to 50m. So yes, you can take it swimming.

The Fitbit Inspire HR Health & Fitness Tracker (similar to the above just without GPS and any ability to strap it to your sports bra) is the best fitness tracker for a no-frills experience. Coming in at just over £100, it offers you the chance to track your steps, distance and calories burned. Whether you run, walk or cycle, it's great, and heart rate stats are also visible (hence the HR name).

Is Fitbit or Garmin better?

Garmin’s devices offer tough competition for Fitbit. The Garmin Forerunner 45 is the a great fitness tracker for runners, because it allows you to set up training programmes for events like a 5k or a half marathon. Generally speaking, Fitbit has the edge in terms of simplicity and style, but Garmin beats Fitbit on complexity of data and heart rate stats.

Want more fitness content? We've found the best running trainers on the market, the best running jackets to keep your warm and the best at-home fitness equipment if you'd rather work out indoors. Oh, and here are the basics you need to start running if you've never jogged a mile in your life. (Dw, you're not alone).

For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.

Scroll for our full pick of the best fitness trackers for women in 2022 to make your life easier and healthier.