How to choose which fitness watch features are for you

Technology blends. That is why phones, once only used to call and message people, are now as important as cameras. It is how televisions have become ‘smart’, and speakers do much more than just blare out music. So, it’s hardly a surprise that fitness watches, once used just to count your steps and calories, can now make calls and ping notifications. The lines between a smartwatch and a phone are blurring and blending. And, with so many features being introduced, how does one decide which ones to care about, and which ones to ignore?

Mithun Ghosh, a production manager with some of the top sports leagues in the country, has had a radical fitness journey ever since he bought himself a Garmin smartwatch. In fact, having the right watch helped him go from 120 kgs in 2019 to 92 kgs currently. One of the primary reasons he could be so committed in his workouts was less distraction, and more information.  

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“Not only have I kept the notifications off, but I also learnt to know exactly which features in the watch to focus on. I like my fitness watch so much that it is now part of me – and it is my main motivator to cycle, swim, run, and even lift,” says the 40-year-old.

He says that the features he cares about the most have also grown as he got fitter. “It starts with the steps and the calories burnt. But a watch can also tell you what you are not doing, as much as it can tell you what you are doing right,” he says. Ghosh went from beginner to advanced level in the space of a few years, and his most used features (apart from steps and calories burnt) are – heart rate, water intake, elevation gain, and strength activities.

“My smartwatch tells me how many push–ups I did, how much I benched, how many deadlifts I did, and how many squats I completed,” he adds. Having used smartwatches from Fitbit and Apple in the past, Ghosh is now committed to his current watch.

Going old school

Footballer Robin Singh continues to stay fit even after his playing days. The former Delhi Dynamos, Bengaluru FC, and India national team striker is a heavy user of his stopwatch. It is easy to forget that the simplest feature can sometimes be the difference maker. Not that there isn’t a stopwatch on the phone, but reaching out for the phone automatically means you might be tempted to drag down the Instagram notification showing a funny cat meme. 

Singh’s requirements are clear-cut. “The features I need are heart rate, step-counter, stopwatch, a long-lasting battery, water-proof capabilities, and last but not the least, music control. My smartwatch can make phone calls and it has a compass and a wallet, but these are not required if the purpose to use one is to track activity. In fact, you need as little distraction as possible when you’re in the gym or running or swimming,” the footballer-turned-broadcaster says.

Fitness first, smart features secondary

In the end, it might not come down to features – but your goals. Knowing why you are buying the watch is the first step. A decent formula to apply would be – purpose first, purchase second. This will also help you set a budget to dictate if you want the wearable to track activity, look good (the watch market is still dominated by ornamental watches), or use it as an extension of your phone.