By now, as is the case with almost any electronic product, we have concluded that the “one size fits all” model no longer works in our era.
In other words, customization options have become the rule, not the exception, to meet the needs and expectations of each individual person. This applies to fitness trackers and their choosing, especially for men.
Upon mentioning fitness trackers, Fitbit has to be mentioned in the same sentence, as they take the lead in this part. When attempting to choose a Fitbit, several factors have to be taken into consideration, including, but not limited to: features, design, and utility.
In this guide, we examined a few of the Fitbit prime availabilities on the market, dissecting their features very carefully, to reach the conclusion that these are the best Fitbit for men.
- The 7 Best Fitbit for Men in 2020
- 1. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best Overall Fitbit for Men
- 2. Fitbit Charge 3 – Best Battery Life
- 3. Fitbit Ionic – Best for Built-In GPS
- 4. Fitbit Versa Lite – Best Value Fitbit for Men
- 5. Fitbit Inspire HR – Most Affordable Fitbit for Men
- 6. Fitbit Inspire – Back to Basics
- 7. Fitbit Flex 2 – Best for Swimmers
- How To Pick a Fitbit For Men
- Types of Training the Fitbit Supports
- Health Tracking Features
- Music Storage
- Design
- GPS
- Battery Life
- Accuracy
- How to Choose Fitbit Size for Men
- Final Words
The 7 Best Fitbit for Men in 2020
1. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best Overall Fitbit for Men
The Fitbit Versa 2 distinguishes itself through Amazon Alexa and Spotify support, offering a blend of smartwatches and entry-level fitness trackers. If you have been searching for this hybrid option, then your search ends here.
It offers many metrics and advice regarding fitness and workouts, in a very easy to comprehend manner that makes it quick to understand and act upon. Among the fitness features are the sleep tracker, heart rate tracker, and exercise monitoring.
Moreover, you gain access to your smartphone notifications as well as a range of third party applications. It also has the ability to store and play 300+ songs from the device, Spotify and Pandora, as well as access to an app store.
With the special edition model, you can also get support for contactless payments with Fitbit Pay.
As for battery life, it provides up to four days of battery.
The main downside, however, is the lack of built-in GPS in this tracker.
What We Like:
- Easy to use
- Amazon Alexa and Spotify support
- Color touchscreen
- Storage of music
What We Don’t Like:
- No offline Spotify playback
- Connected GPS
- Lacks Fitbit’s ionic large display
Final Verdict
If you want the best of both worlds without having to let go of features from either fitness trackers or smartwatches, then the Fitbit Versa 2 is the best deal you can get. With its smartwatch like features, yet costing less than the Apple Watch or the Android Wear and further offering the elements of fitness trackers, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a safe bet.
2. Fitbit Charge 3 – Best Battery Life
The Fitbit Charge 3 basically incorporates all of the features of the Fitbit Versa, yet adapting to a more traditional fitness band style. The focus here is more on fitness rather than on the smartwatch features. Therefore, it’s a matter of priorities.
The essential features of the Fitbit Charge 3 are the Pure Pulse Technology for heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking (through your phone, not built-in),swim-tracking,sleep-tracking, and access to the Fitbit application. In the special edition version, you are also granted access to Fitbit Pay.
Display-wise, among the Charge series, the Charge 3 has a significantly bigger screen.
In terms of smartphone options, you practically only get access to your notifications.
What We Like:
- Attractive design
- Bigger touch screen than predecessors
- Heart-rate, activity and sleep tracking
- Waterproof
- Excellent battery life (almost seven days)
What We Don’t Like:
- No built-in GPS
Final Verdict
The Fitbit Charge 3 is an approachable type of Fitbit for those who don’t have the strongest of relationships with fitness, yet are looking for a Fitbit that can keep them on track with the basics and take them to the next level, like bikers or runners. Moreover, the design is neat!
3. Fitbit Ionic – Best for Built-In GPS
The distinguishing feature of the Fitbit Ionic from the rest of its competitors is primarily its customized workouts accompanied by step by step coaching. Reaching your fitness goal is a must, not an option, with this Fitbit. Accordingly, if you’re after a fitness dedicated smartwatch, this is it.
Adding to that, it features a built-in GPS that allows you to track your pace, distance, and routes. Sleep-tracking, heart-rate tracking, and swimming tracking are also an option! Overall, it provides more fitness features than what most fitness trackers have to offer.
Furthermore, if music is your priority, it has storage space for 300+ songs, and you can download songs from Pandora.
Serving the basic functions as well, it gives you push notifications from applications, can provide you with calendar alerts, enables you to set up reminders, and allows for contactless payments with Fitbit Pay, in addition to notifications from calls and texts.
Design and hardware-wise, it has a big color display and a long battery life that can run for days, which is a competitive advantage over most smartwatches.
What We Like:
- Personalized workout plans
- Exercise and activity tracking
- Long-lasting battery life (up to 5 days)
- Splendid screen display
- Lightweight
- Built-in GPS
- Music storage
- Contactless payments through Fitbit Pay
- Waterproof
What We Don’t Like:
- Application shortage
- Relatively slow operating system
- The complex music transfer process
Final Verdict
The Fitbit Ionic’s activity tracking and personalized workouts are among the best you’ll find in the market from any Fitbit tracker. Therefore, if you prioritize fitness yet still need the essential smartwatch functions, then it’s for you.
4. Fitbit Versa Lite – Best Value Fitbit for Men
In terms of best value, the Fitbit Versa Lite wins in this regard.
Costing less than the Versa 2 and only a little more than the Fitbit Charge 3, the Lite edition is guaranteed to include almost all of the features anyone will seek either a smartwatch or a tracker for.
Besides, it has a diverse library of applications, clock faces, and it suits any fashion trends.
As for features, it includes connected GPS, a color screen, long battery life, sleep tracking, activity tracking, and water resistance.
However, it doesn’t include Fitbit Pay, doesn’t track swimming, and doesn’t have storage for music. Yet, it still is the cheapest full-fledged smartwatch on the market, combining the availability of third party applications and an incredible operating system.
What We Like:
- The broad library of applications
- Color options
- Affordable
- Easy to use user interface
- Comfortable to wear
- Waterproof
- Excellent battery life
What We Don’t Like:
- GPS not built-in
- No swimming tracking
- Lack of music storage
Final Verdict
If you’re a fan of the Versa but still considering the price tag, the Lite edition is for you. They’re remarkably similar to each other, minus a couple of features that are not deal-breakers for the majority of people, such as the lack of music storage and the connected GPS.
5. Fitbit Inspire HR – Most Affordable Fitbit for Men
One of the best-looking designs you can find on the market, the Fitbit Inspire HR, is reasonably affordable yet comes with an almost comprehensive set of features, including heart rate monitoring, activity monitoring, sleep tracking, guided breathing exercises, and connected GPS.
Inspired from its name, the Fitbit Inspire HR strives to keep you healthy through helping you build healthy habits and track your progress. It even celebrates your achievements with you! It’s a companion as well as a tracker.
Not just that, the Fitbit Inspire HR has an excellent battery that lasts for around five days, and it’s waterproof.
Smartwatch features include alarms, reminders, and access to notifications.
In essence, the Fitbit Inspire HR is a more streamlined version of the Fitbit Charge 3, but slimmer and more discrete, with a smaller battery than that of the Fitbit Charge 3.
What We Like:
- Premium design
- Affordable
- Tracks resting heart rate as well as workout heart rates
- Waterproof
- Excellent battery life (5 days)
What We Don’t Like:
- GPS not built-in
- No swimming tracking
Final Verdict
If you’re the practical, fitness-minded type of man, you’ll find the Fitbit Inspire HR just on point, covering the necessities with worthwhile extras that can come in handy. If you’re a swimmer who needs to track pool activity, however, you’ll need an upgrade.
6. Fitbit Inspire – Back to Basics
In essence, the Fitbit Inspire is a cheaper alternative to the Fitbit Inspire HR for those who aren’t concerned with having a heart rate monitor on their watch. It also doesn’t incorporate a GPS. That said, the Fitbit Inspire serves its purpose very well, being a basic activity tracker.
The Fitbit Inspire includes sleep tracking and activity tracking, with a battery that lasts up to five days. In addition, smartphone notifications, reminders, timers, alarms, and calendars are included.
It’s worth mentioning that the design of the Fitbit Inspire is exceptionally attractive, with numerous accessories to help you further enhance the look. It’s also very lightweight and comfortable to wear.
What We Like:
- Waterproof
- Affordable
- Smartphone navigation
- Easy navigation
- Attractive design
- Long-lasting battery life
What We Don’t Like:
- Lacks heart rate monitor
- Lacks GPS
Final Verdict
Although the Fitbit Inspire may not offer numerous features compared to the other alternatives, it excels in the features that it does offer. If you’re looking for a sophisticated and stylish Fitbit that also provides basic activity tracking at a reasonable cost, you won’t feel the urge to shop for a more expensive alternative.
7. Fitbit Flex 2 – Best for Swimmers
If you’re a swimmer looking for a Fitbit that can lap count underwater, then the Fitbit Flex 2 is for you, the first of Fitbit trackers to offer this option with water resistance to 50m and connected to the Fitbit app.
A customizable Fitbit with interchangeable bands, the Fitbit Flex 2 is a smaller tracker with a slicker design that can even be worn as a pendant. That’s how subtle the design is.
Also,it’s easy to use and includes the basic tracking features, including staying connected to your phone and all its notifications, activity tracking, silent alarms, and sleep tracking. With the Fitbit Flex 2, you can expect a battery life of 5 days.
What We Like:
- Swim-tracking underwater
- Customization options
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Slim Design
- Unique vibration patterns
- Easy to use
- Excellent battery
What We Don’t Like:
- Slow to charge
- No heart-rate monitoring
- Doesn’t involve GPS
Final Verdict
The Fitbit Flex 2 is mainly for swimmers who are looking to track their activity under the depth of the waters while also gaining access to essential functions of a smartwatch, or hardcore athletes who want a subtle, lightweight activity tracker. Furthermore, it’s ideal for those who enjoy slim wristbands that can be easily hidden among other wearables.
How To Pick a Fitbit For Men
With the increasing number of choices on the market, it may be challenging to choose the best Fitbit for men. Some offerings are produced to be suitable for both genders, while others are for children, and a few others are more likely to be ideal for a particular gender.
Upon attempting to choose the best men’s Fitbit, it is best first to narrow down the top options that there are for men in general, as we just did, and then further narrow it down to meet your needs.
Below are some of the factors that can help you decide on your best option:
Types of Training the Fitbit Supports
If you are purchasing the Fitbit with the aim of training and activity support for a particular workout or activity, you need to understand in depth what types of training each Fitbit supports.
For instance, as we have discussed throughout the article, most of the Fitbit for guys are water-resistant up to 50m. Yet, out of these, only the Fitbit Flex 2 and Fitbit Charge 3 offer swim-tracking underwater.
Similarly, if you are sealing the deal with the belief that the Fitbit will offer you a workout plan that you will simply follow, then you need to check whether this is the focus of that particular Fitbit. Among the Fitbits we reviewed, the Fitbit Ionic seems to be the go-to concerning personalized workouts.
Accordingly, understanding what your expectations are out of your Fitbit will undoubtedly help you filter the list.
Health Tracking Features
Some Fitbits for men are more inclined towards features pertaining to health more than fitness, while others are quite the opposite. Therefore, if you are seeking specific health-tracking features, your pick must be the Fitbit that combines the most health-related aspects.
Taking heart rates as an example, if you are paying particular attention to your heart rates and want to monitor your rate continuously, then you shouldn’t be opting for the Fitbit Inspire, which doesn’t include heart-rate tracking features. Instead, you should head to the Fitbit Inspire HR.
Likewise, if you’re particularly interested in tracking your sleeping habits and understanding more about your sleeping process, then you need to ensure that the Fitbit you choose incorporates accurate sleep-tracking. The Fitbit Versa 2 takes the lead in this aspect.
This should be the thought-process you take when considering the features most important to you, and this list goes on. Health tracking features offered by Fitbits for men could also include calorie tracking, breathing exercises, oxygen level determination, and more.
Music Storage
Believe it or not, music is an essential factor for many men and must be included in their Fitbit.
If you’re one of the men who would abandon the entire workout if you don’t have access to music, then pay particular attention to this point, since it’s not guaranteed that a Fitbit for guys includes music storage.
The Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa series both include a music application that allows you to both store and play music of your choice, excluding the Fitbit Versa Lite.
Design
There are two types of men: those who prefer the bulky design, and those who prefer the minimalistic one. Make sure to choose the design that best appeals to you.
Depending on your preference, the choice will basically be made for you. If you’re the minimalistic type, the Fitbit Flex 2 is your ideal option, so simple that it can be worn as a pendant. The Fitbit Inspire HR is also a less-traditional Fitbit looking tracker.
If you prefer the large-sized Fitbits, then you would like the design of the Fitbit Charge 3.
However, make sure you don’t judge only based on their appearance. Make sure wearability is considered along with the design, to ensure that the Fitbit is comfortable to wear as well.
GPS
Runners and cyclists generally prefer to have a GPS on their Fitness, to get access to accurate tracking of routes along with distance and pace details.
Some Fitbits include a built-in GPS, which is ideal since the mobile device won’t be needed. However, other Fitbits include only a connected GPS, in which case the phone must be connected to acquire a GPS connection. On the other hand, other Fitbits don’t include a GPS at all.
Hence, you need to decide on whether you prefer the GPS to be built-in, which the Fitbit Ionic offers, or the connected GPS, as is the case with the Fitbit Versa 2 and Lite, Fitbit Inspire HR, and Fitbit Charge 3.
Battery Life
Fitbits have different battery lives from each other. However, the majority can last at least up to a few days.
If you’re a man who prefers to have a long-lasting battery, then the battery life should be a key element to consider when narrowing down your list.
Tip: Also, take note of how long the Fitbit takes to charge!
Accuracy
A fitness tracker is only as effective as the level of its accuracy. What’s the point of having a fitness tracker that tracks every aspect of your life, yet provides you with the wrong numbers?
In general, 10% is an accepted error range, but higher than that, you should begin to doubt the validity of the functions of your chosen Fitbit.
While there are no specific criteria to measure the accuracy of your Fitbit, it’s safe to depend on reviews regarding this matter.
It’s also worth mentioning that with a brand like Fitbit, continuous improvement is at the heart of their functioning. Accordingly, their accuracy improves with each product.
Despite that, it’s never harmless to conduct your research and compare the accuracy of one Fitbit relative to another in the areas you want to track.
How to Choose Fitbit Size for Men
Fitbits are meant to be worn a lot. By a lot, we mean as much as possible, even when you’re sleeping. Therefore, your Fitbit has to be extremely comfortable during wear, particularly around your wrist, accompanied by the diameter of the watch face itself.
Wrist Size
Fitbits come in two sizes; small and large, which can be confusing for many.
Knowing that, Fitbit broke down wrist sizes based on the distance around the outside of your wrist (the circumference), and connects those with different product sizes. For example, here’s the Fitbit Charge sizing guide. The rest of the guides are also available on their website.
You can further get an X-large size, but it has to be ordered through the website.
Accordingly, if you know your wrist size, you’ll quickly know which size to buy, even if you don’t have the opportunity to try it out.
Tip: If you still feel unsure, you can buy an extra size up and later tighten it with Fitbit’s adjustable band.
Watch Face Diameter
The diameter of the watch face can easily be spotted by just looking at the Fitbit since it’s the most visible aspect.
Fitbits usually range in size between 38-46mm. A diameter above that would generally look odd and would stand out big time.
On the other hand, a diameter below 38mm would be similar looking to jewelry.
Again relating to the wrist size idea, your wrist size will give you the indication of the right diameter watch face for you. If your wrist size falls between 15-16.5cm, your Fitbit diameter should be within 38-42mm.
If your wrist is between 17-19cm, the diameter should be between 44-46cm.
Final Words
The list of the best Fitbit for men can be relative to the needs of each man on his own, mainly noting that each Fitbit tends to excel in one aspect over another.
However, the products mentioned above are those who have been attracting attention among the various available Fitbits.
Ideally, your needs, along with your specified budget, should be sufficient to help you make your call on the best Fitbit for you.
If it were for us, we would judge in favor of the Fitbit Versa 2 for men who are about to enter the world of fitness and are also looking for smartwatch features. This hybrid Fitbit combines the essential elements of both without physically having to pay for the cost of each on its own.
However, if you’re on a tighter budget, we would recommend the Fitbit Versa Lite, which is also a blend between smartwatches and fitness trackers. On the other hand, you have to be ready to let go of music storage and connected GPS.
As for the hardcore athletes, we root for the Fitbit Ionic. With top-notch activity tracking and high-end personalized workouts, this Fitbit is what will support and guide you every step of the way and even goes the extra mile, while also granting you the basics of smartwatches.
For someone who’s looking to get the most features (save the built-in GPS) for the most affordable price, the Versa 2 is an ideal choice.
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