Wearables can be broken down into fitness trackers, smartwatches as well as accessories like cameras and even bluetooth devices that help us interact better with our smartphone’s features and technology or track our devices. Here are some great gifts for him in the wearables department.
Fitness trackers are ideal for the holiday season. Not only do they help us refocus towards our health goals and post-holiday pound shedding, they also bring clarity to our progress in various ways. Fitness trackers have become increasingly more complex, they have more sensors and features to accurately capture physical activity, sleep, food intake, heart rate and even GPS location information.
More importantly, Fitness trackers don’t have the burden of being multifunctional devices like smartwatches do, they now last multiple days instead of just one day, many have become more durable and can now be used while swimming or in more extreme conditions. The following are some fitness trackers that have impressed me this year.
Fitbit Charge 2Â is a gift he’ll wear everyday
An improvement in terms of both design and functionality over previous Fitbit Charge devices, the Fitbit Charge 2, which was reviewed here in depth, hits the sweet spot for me on a number of levels.
The size is now sleeker and less obtrusive yet large enough to take the place of a watch, the OLED tap display is clear and there are a selection of watch-faces to choose from to change things up a bit. The Fitbit Charge 2 takes customization to another level with a range of accessory bands, there are even dressier leather bands that give this tracker a bit more pizzazz and flavour so it can be worn outside of the gym.
The quick access to various exercises (I have mine set primarily to walk, elliptical and gym) makes it easy to start an activity without much fiddling around. The notifications (good for calls and text messages) are very basic but enough to keep you connected without sucking you into a vacuum of icons and screens. I do like the built-in heart rate monitor, the breathing app that helps you focus on relaxing and the sleep tracking functionality that’s made a difference in my routine.
Give him a TomTom Spark Music + Cardio
Understated and elegant, the Tom Tom Spark 3 is all business and is actually one of the most mature products in the market. Looking back to Tom Tom’s collaboration with Nike +, this is easily the first fitness wearable sold on a mass scale.
The Tom Tom Spark 3 Cardio + has 3GB of onboard storage and a music player which makes it possible to store around 500 songs or other types of audio content such as podcasts, audiobooks or whatever helps you exercise, meditate or relax.
Being able to have the combination of fitness tracker, music player and watch in one device is convenient, specially for more serious runners or cyclists. Tom Tom’s software is easy to use and tracks activity accurately plus the Route Exploration feature helps break off repetitive running and cycling routes by offering alternatives.
After having used the Tom Tom Spark 3 Â Cardio + for a few weeks, I value its rugged build and great battery life.
Its great the you can shower with it and rinse all the sweat away and it looks good as new even after a rigorous workout of outdoor run.
The ability to play music without having to carry a smartphone is huge and Tom Tom delivers on this promise.
This makes the Tom Tom Spark 3 Cardio + valuable as more than just a top-tier fitness tracker but also as a standalone music player.
He’ll record his life on the iON SnapCam
Don’t get caught fumbling for your phone or camera while the perfect shot gets away. The iON SnapCam Lite attaches to your clothes with a clip or magnet and all it takes to snap a shot or shoot video is a mere tap.
And despite being barely visible and weighing less than an ounce, the iON SnapCam Lite captures amazing clarity in both photos and videos.
A different type of wearable, the iON SnapCam is ideal for ‘lifeblogging’ or for quickly taking shareable images and videos while on trips.
At 1.5 inches square and weighing less than an ounce, the SnapCam Lite attaches directly to your clothes with a clip or magnet. It has a 0.5 second boot up time and one-touch technology means you’ll never miss a shot and can manage up to 2 hours of HD 720p video recording on a full charge.
Give him a Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker to find anything
Here’s a useful device that’s on the fringe of being a wearable but has definite benefits.
The Tile Mate Bluetooth tracker uses bluetooth and a smartphone app that . Stick one in your backpack, attach one to your laptop, or stash one in your purse to help you track items that you tend to lose.
Use an app on your phone to find your misplaced items, or use Tile Mate to make your lost phone ring.
Attach, slide, or stick Tile Mate onto anything you don’t want to lose, and use your phone to find the item when you’ve misplaced it.
You can ring your lost item and it will play a loud tune for easy location if the Tile Mate is within a 100-foot Bluetooth range; you’ll hear it even it’s buried under couch cushions or in a purse which is where most lost keys end up over 80 per cent of the time.
To find a lost phone, press the button on your Tile Mate and the phone will ring, even if it’s on silent. The compatible app automatically records the last time and place you saw your item, so you’ll know where to search for it first.
Let the community help you find your lost item by selecting “Notify when Found”; every device running the Tile will be on the hunt for your item, but privacy ensures no one knows you’ve lost this item
There are various clever ways to ti use th Tile Mate. Put a Tile in your car and a Tile Mate in your backpack, and your phone will tell you if you’ve left home without your backpack. You also get Four preset ringtones are included for your choosing.
These are some useful wearable gifts for him worth considering this season.
