It’s the start of a new year and that means it’s time to start hitting those fitness goals. If you’re able to read these words without flinching the morning after the traditional overindulgence, you’re probably well along the road toward improved fitness for 2025. If things are a little blurry, you might need some assistance.
Assistance in the form of one or more fitness trackers. These are distinct from smartwatches in that movement comes first. Some will offer notifications and messaging but mostly they’re about getting out and burning calories. Start 2025 by strapping some accountability to your wrist. These options offer something for every manner of goal-setter.
Xiaomi Smart Band 7
Small budget but large fitness goals? Xiaomi’s super-affordable tracker has everything you could want on your wrist (okay, within reason), spicing up the transaction with a 1.62in AMOLED display. As with most Chinese-made trackers, the battery lasts up to two weeks between charges (we’ll be surprised if you get less than ten days), and it’ll survive up to 50 metres underwater before caving in. That’s more than you can say for yourself. It’s not especially advanced — it’ll track 120 exercises but you won’t use it that extensively — but that’s a good thing. This is for the uncertain fitness fanatic who isn’t convinced they won’t be doing the couch and doughnuts thing again by 15 January.
R1,200 | Buy it here
Fitbit Charge 6
Okay, this is a weird one to include. Google yanked away South Africa’s access to Fitbit devices late last year. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy them, it just means that after-sales support sucks a little more. You can still have one of these excellent trackers on your wrist and it can still be bought locally. It’s just… unofficial. Worth it, though. Fitbit’s Charge 6 is an upgraded version of the excellent Charge 5 and offers a broad range of workout tracking and about a week’s worth of uptime. Sleep, heart rate, and blood oxygen tracking are all about average and Fitbit includes dedicated GPS access if you’re serious about your distance tracking. Despite being an all-round slick product, it’s still really only for casual fitness tracking.
from R4,400 | Buy it here
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch series constitutes one of the best fitness devices on the market. The Watch SE is more advanced than just a ‘tracker’ but in Apple terms, this is a pretty bare-bones system. Sleep, movement, and GPS tracking are all major focuses but it’ll also do most of what you’d expect from an Apple Watch. That’s how you’ll have to justify the price, which is far above that of a mere fitness tracker. But it’s got Uncle Tim’s little logo and that typical Apple attention to build quality. That’s worth a couple of thousand extra. Right?
from R6,000 | Buy it here
Oura Ring
Not every tracker has to fit on your wrist. Smart rings are a burgeoning niche and while Samsung has declined to release the Galaxy Ring in South Africa, that doesn’t mean you can’t have one or more versions of the form factor. Oura has one of the most impressive examples of finger-mounted fitness but you’ll to hard-pressed to buy one locally. Amazon will happily ship one over from the States, starting at R6,500 inclusive of shipping, customs, and tax. If you’d like the equally sensor-filled and arguably better-fitting Oura Gen 4, expect to pay in excess of R10,000 (again, with customs and tax included).
from R6,500 | Buy it here
Garmin Vivosmart 5
Any time you plump for a Garmin wearable, whether it’s a Fenix, a Forerunner, or one of its fitness bands, you’ll know you’re getting the very best tracker the company is capable of wielding. If you’re planning on taking up running and little else, skip this one and snag an only somewhat pricier Garmin Forerunner 55. If you’re still undecided but are fairly certain you’ll stick with the whole ‘healthier you’ thing in 2025, the Vivosmart 5 will give you a broader range of options while you figure out your goals. It’ll piggyback on your phone’s GPS, which isn’t ideal at this price, but the other on-device tracking of workouts, sleep, and more make up for it.
R3,300 | Buy it here
Withings Scanwatch 2
Here’s another hard-to-find option in South Africa but the fashion-conscious might want to look into grabbing one from overseas. Yes, Amazon will send you a Withings Scanwatch 2 if you ask nicely (and foot several thousand bucks first). Its main selling point is the 30-day battery, loads of sensors, and the sort of looks you just don’t get from something cheaper. You could also opt for a full-fat Apple Watch at this price, but the undercover analogue design makes this fitness tracker a winner over its sweatier brethren. For all its stealthy presentation, this is also one of the most advanced options on offer, with sleep apnea and ECG tracking available out of the box.
R7,700 | Buy it here
