What is the perfect wearable gadget for a walker? It can vary. Some walkers don’t need as advanced and fancy a tracking tool as, say, a marathon trainer. On the other hand, some walkers may look for a bigger, fancier screen that’s better suited to controlling a wider array of leisure features such as an easy-to-use podcast, radio or music player as they amble along contentedly.
ne thing is for sure: most walkers will want something more than simply a step-counter, which comes included with every smartphone sold these days.
So here are three options for different types of walkers.
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The Fitbit Charge 5 includes a colour touchscreen
The Fitbit Charge 5 includes a colour touchscreen
1. Fitbit Charge 5
€159, Curry’s
Good for:the gadget minimalist
Fitbit’s main calling card is that it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a computer on your arm – it’s a slim band that discreetly tucks around your wrist. Its most recent Charge 5 model includes a colour touchscreen, more advanced health sensors and a slightly bigger battery. While its basics (step counting and long battery life) are still there in spades, the Charge 5 (right) has added a few more advanced features such as stress-testing (through a skin activity sensor) and ECG measurement. Its built-in GPS also means it will work with any smartphone fitness app that gives you a map summary of where you have been. And there are basic smartphone-synced notifications, too, if you want them on. Its only real drawback is that the screen is still necessarily small and thin due to its slim form.
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Apple Watch can be used for contactless payments if you’re set up on Apple Pay
Apple Watch can be used for contactless payments if you’re set up on Apple Pay
2. Apple Watch
From €219
Good for: the media-addled stroller
As well as some excellent walking, fitness and health features of its own, this device adds additional ‘smart’ features you might appreciate. For example, if you’re set up on Apple Pay (which is easy to do on your iPhone), you can just touch your Apple Watch (left) against a shop’s contactless card reader to pay for anything. It’s also great as a music and podcast player, compatible both as a controller and a download repository for Apple Music, Spotify or Audible. And its screen is by far the best in terms of tapping and visibility. You can even make and take calls (if your smartphone is in your pocket), thanks to its microphone and speaker.
The Apple Watch’s big relative downside is battery life: because of its advanced features and great screen, you’ll rarely get more than one to two days per charge.
3. Garmin Forerunner 55
€179, Curry’s
Good for:the stat junkie
For those who want their exercise gadget to flex between their walks and an occasional jog or run, this is the next step up from a traditional slim Fitbit. Garmin’s Forerunner 55 (below) is a really good mid-range, wallet-friendly option for those dipping their toe in the great outdoors. As well as walking exercises and tracking, it has an expansive range of ‘regular’ exercise and fitness routines, from running, biking and swimming to things such as yoga and pilates. It has superb battery life (around 10 days if you go easy on the GPS) and supports a lot of what Garmin’s pricier fitness training watches offer at under half the price. This is basically a ‘lite’ version of Garmin’s excellent high-end fitness watches.
