Wearable fitness technology is a vital tool for enhancing firefighters’ performance and wellbeing. These innovative gadgets, which include fitness trackers, smartwatches with health monitoring functions and even smart fabrics capable of tracking physiological metrics, offer members a comprehensive overview of their health status in real time.
By monitoring vital signs such as heart rate, sleep quality and activity levels, these devices empower firefighters to make informed decisions about their fitness routines, stress management and recovery periods.
The adoption of wearable fitness tech in the fire service reflects a proactive approach to wellness, emphasizing the importance of fit and healthy firefighters.
Check out our top 10 list of wearable fitness tech gadgets below – starting from the most expensive to most affordable options. Did we miss your favorite wearable? Email us your go-to gadget at editor@firerescue1.com.
BUDGET: $200-$400
10. Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon - Smart Ring
The Oura Ring is a discreet yet powerful tool for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of personal health and wellbeing.
The smart ring is designed for health and wellness tracking, offering a comprehensive look at your sleep, activity, stress and heart rate. It monitors over 20 biometrics and is compatible with both iOS and Android – allowing for integration with popular health apps. The ring has a battery life that can last up to 7 days on a single charge, providing a week of continuous health monitoring without the need for frequent recharging.
9. Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 extends advanced health, safety and activity features, offering temperature sensing, ECGs on demand, irregular rhythm notifications, detailed sleep stage tracking with REM, core or deep sleep stages, and insights into both physical and emotional wellbeing. It also delivers workout metrics and has safety features like fall detection and crash detection, connecting to emergency services when necessary.
8. Garmin Vivoactive 4
The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is designed for fitness enthusiasts who seek a comprehensive approach to monitoring their health and fitness. It offers a wide range of features including body energy monitoring, animated workouts directly on your wrist and Pulse Ox sensors. Its sensors are capable of tracking over 20 biometrics, ensuring personalized health data. The battery life? Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode and up to 6 hours in GPS and music mode.
7. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Need an Apple Watch on a budget? Look no further. The Apple Watch SE includes essential health and safety features like fall detection, crash detection, emergency SOS, and notifications for irregular heart rhythms and abnormal heart rates, but does not offer the more advanced features found in the Series 9, such as ECG and temperature sensing.
BUDGET: $200-$100
6. Fitbit Versa 3
The Fitbit Versa features sleep stage tracking, a daily readiness score for workout or recovery days, built-in GPS for phone-free activity tracking and active zone minutes for exercise effort recognition. It includes enhanced heart rate monitoring with PurePulse 2.0 and boasts over 6 days of battery life.
5. AMOVAN Smart Ring
Not ready to commit to an expensive smart ring? Then this AMOVAN Smart Ring might be the choice for you. The AMOVAN Smart Ring acts as a fitness and sleep tracker, measuring exercise data, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels and stress – without a subscription fee. It’s compatible with Android and iOS devices and has a battery life of up to 4 days.
4. Fitbit Charge 5
The Fitbit Charge 5 enhances workout routines with a daily readiness score, stress management through an EDA sensor and heart health tracking with ECG capabilities. It monitors vital health metrics like SpO2 and skin temperature, as well as built-in GPS for real-time pace and distance tracking. It offers up to 7 days of battery life, 24/7 heart rate monitoring and sleep quality insights.
BUDGET: $100 or less
3. Fitbit Inspire 3
The Fitbit Inspire 3 offers a suite of health and wellness features, including a daily readiness score to gauge your physical readiness, active zone minutes to monitor exercise intensity and 24/7 heart rate tracking. With over 20 exercise modes and automatic exercise recognition, it motivates you to stay active.
For stress management, it provides a daily stress management score, mindfulness and relaxation breathing sessions, along with notifications for irregular heart rhythms and SpO2 levels. It also offers automatic sleep tracking, a personalized sleep profile and a daily sleep score. It boasts up to a 10-day battery life.
2. Samsung Galaxy FIT 3
The Samsung Galaxy FIT 3 monitors sleep stages, snoring and blood oxygen levels, providing a sleep score and coaching for improved rest. It tracks daily activity, workout performance and health progress, which can be reviewed in detail through the Samsung Health app. With up to 13 days of battery life and a quick charge feature, the Galaxy FIT 3 keeps users connected and focused on their fitness goals without frequent charging.
1. Xiaomi Mi Band 7
The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 features an AMOLED screen, always-on mode, continuous blood oxygen monitoring and battery life of up to 14 days under optimal usage conditions. Its fitness and health monitoring features include 120 sport modes, 24-hour heart rate and blood oxygen sensor monitoring, as well as sleep monitoring.
