Early spring is a perfect time to refresh our wellness toolkit. The days get longer, the weather gets warmer and our fitness motivation, often dormant during the winter months, starts to flicker back to life. Plus, it's also when lifestyle purchases can be made on a relatively tight budget.

The Amazon Big Spring Sale and other similar March shopping events are awash with discounted health and fitness products, making it easy to snap up huge deals on everything from running shoes and beginner-friendly exercise equipment to air purifiers and smart scales.

As with everything in life, though, not all that glitters is gold. While many spring deals can indeed help you save some serious money, certain products may be better left on the virtual shelf until even bigger discounts come along later in the year. We test fitness tech for a living and have covered all major shopping events over the last four years, so trust us when we say we know a thing or two about navigating spring sales.

In our experience, the key here is to know what to shop for. With that in mind, we have rounded up five health and fitness products that may be worth adding to your cart, and the two that can be given a miss. We hope this list will help you shop with confidence and get the most value out of your spring wellness upgrades.

What to buy during spring sales

BUY: Old-but-gold fitness trackers

If your New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside, a new fitness tracker might be the accountability partner you need. Spring is an excellent time to buy wearable tech. With new models often announced in the fall, March sales offer significant markdowns on the previous generations of devices.

Our tip: Look for deals on older smartwatches from renowned brands such as Apple, Garmin and Fitbit. While these old-but-gold fitness trackers may not have the allure of a brand-new release, they tend to be just as reliable for casual fitness tracking as their newer counterparts. What's more, it's unlikely they will see significantly bigger discounts later in the year.

If you are not a fan of bulky wrist-worn wearables, consider smart rings instead. These tiny fitness trackers are stylish, unobtrusive and comfortable to wear all day, making them a perfect alternative. More importantly, smart rings tend to get significant discounts around late March and early April, and since they don't go on sale nearly as often as smartwatches do, it's a good idea to take advantage of spring deals while they last.

Our tip: Look for models from high-end brands, such as Oura and Ultrahuman. They may not be the most affordable smart rings out there, but they last longer and perform better than their cheaper counterparts.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: The best deals on fitness trackers
• Related: The best anti-Amazon fitness tracker deals

BUY: Activewear (especially running shoes)

Spring sales are a perfect opportunity to refresh your sports wardrobe, especially if you are looking for a new pair of running shoes or gym shoes.

In late March, many shoe brands discount last season's collections heavily to make space for the new inventory. Again, older models may not be as trendy and snazzy as the brand-new ones, but do not let fashion dictate your choices here. The technology in a shoe from six months ago is likely just as good as the one released yesterday — and when it comes to footwear, performance and comfort should always take priority over looks.

Our tip: If you want to save as much as possible, head to Amazon and other major online retailers — they usually have a huge stock of last-season running shoes that they want to shift ahead of the summer. However, these online giants offer mostly basic, highly popular models that tend to sell well even at full price. If you are looking for more unique designs or sizes, you may find better (albeit more expensive) deals directly on brand websites.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: Top running shoe deals
• Related: The best anti-Amazon deals on running shoes

BUY: Travel-friendly exercise equipment

Early spring is the best time to find discounts on portable exercise equipment, such as resistance bands, all-in-one gyms and yoga mats. That is because the summer holiday season is still months away, and demand for travel-friendly kit remains relatively low. If you intend to maintain your exercise routine throughout the warmer months, now is the time to lock in the prices before they inevitably go up.

Our tip: Resistance band sets are undefeated in this category. They are lightweight, take up zero space in a suitcase and can be used for everything from glute activation to upper-body mobility training.

Other great picks include sliders (flat discs used for core work on carpet or hard floors), jump ropes and Pilates bars.

• Related: Top spring sale deals on workout equipment and fitness essentials

BUY: Air purifiers

Air purifiers are a sought-after buy all year round, but they are in a particularly high demand in late spring when the sudden rise of pollen wreaks havoc on hay fever sufferers. If you have been thinking of investing in one of these appliances, now is the time to take the step. Spring sales are perhaps the last opportunity to find good deals on air purifiers, with prices tending to go up sharply in April and then remain relatively high until at least the Prime Day sale in July.

Our tip: When choosing an air purifier, do not be guided by price alone. Check if it has the right specs to suit your needs and preferences, and whether it has been independently certified to validate its air-cleaning performance. The best air purifiers for allergies tend to feature True HEPA filters and come with the Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification mark.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: The best air purifier deals

BUY: Electric toothbrushes

Spring sales are a good opportunity to invest in your dental health — you can save a good deal on electric toothbrushes, water flossers or dental care products like toothpaste or teeth-whitening strips. The deals may not be as spectacular and plentiful as those seen during Prime Day or Black Friday, but they can still bring a lot of relief to a tight budget.

Our tip: The best electric toothbrush deals tend to be found on Amazon, Target and Best Buy.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: Huge savings on dental care products

What NOT to buy during spring sales

SKIP: Premium cardio machines

It might be tempting to look at a 20% discount on a high-end treadmill, exercise bike or rowing machine and think you are getting a good deal. However, unless you absolutely need it right now, March is not the best time to buy large fitness equipment.

Major appliances like these see their steepest discounts during Amazon Prime Day in July and the Black Friday shopping events in November — often as much as 40-50%.

SKIP: Smart scales

The deals available on smart scales may look massive, but do not judge a book by its cover. Some of the most popular models — such as the budget-friendly Renpho Elis 1 or the premium Runstar 8E SmartScan Pro, for example — tend to be discounted all year round. In fact, they tend to be slightly more expensive during sale events, while still under the guise of a "deal."

Hold off buying a smart scale for now, unless you don't mind missing out on any significant savings.

While full-frame cameras dominate the conversation for astrophotography, many APS-C and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) systems punch far above their weight, and the smaller sensor sizes mean they’re lighter to carry when out and about. Despite their small size, some models can certainly compete with the best cameras for astrophotography.

Choosing the right APS-C or Micro Four Thirds camera for astrophotography is less about headline specs and more about understanding how you shoot at night and what you want to get out of your images. Sensor size plays a role: APS-C generally offers cleaner high-ISO performance than Micro Four Thirds, but stability, usability and lens choice matter just as much. Plus, they're often more affordable than full-frame models, making them a good choice as a beginner astrophotography camera.

Here are some standout APS-C and MFT bodies for astrophotography, each with its strengths depending on your priorities.

The quick list

The best APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras for astrophotography we recommend in 2026

Best overall

Sony’s A6700 brings the benefits of a modern APS-C back-illuminated sensor and refined handling into a body that’s versatile and happy to take on a range of different types of photography. The 26-megapixel BSI sensor delivers low noise at high ISO, which is critical for night sky work, especially if you’re shooting wide panoramas where dynamic range and clean shadows matter. Built-in 5-axis IBIS (stabilization) is a boon for those “between” shots that can be accomplished handheld, such as twilight landscapes or moments when you’re switching between tripod and handheld work.

From an ergonomics perspective, the user interface and menus are comfortable to navigate in the dark, and the electronic viewfinder makes focusing on bright stars a breeze with focus magnification. It’s also nice to see a vari-angled touchscreen, which is a great addition if you’re pointing your camera at the night sky but still want a good handle on your settings. While there’s no dedicated astrophotography mode or built-in tracking, the overall imaging performance and flexibility make this camera a high-value choice if you want great star photos plus everyday photography in one body.

• Read the full Sony A6700 review on our sister site Space.com

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Best for deep-sky

Canon’s EOS R7 sets itself apart primarily through its 32.5-megapixel sensor, which gives you lots of headroom when cropping into star fields or capturing large panoramas without losing fine detail. The high pixel count means you can isolate constellations or nebula regions while retaining enough resolution for prints or tight crops. If you’re adamant about printing large reproductions of your photos, this is the setup we’d investigate. The stabilization here is also noteworthy: when paired with compatible RF-S or RF lenses, Canon quotes up to eight stops of correction.

Autofocus performance, especially Canon’s Dual Pixel system, isn’t usually top of the list for astrophotography, but as a strong everyday shooter, it works well. High pixel density demands precise focus, as tiny errors in focus show up quickly in star images. Also, a quick word on ergonomics — Canon’s dial and joystick system isn’t for everyone, and we also don’t love the fact that it does away with a top dial, which means navigating different modes can be tricky. Perhaps not a dealbreaker for night sky photographers, but some may find it annoying in day-to-day life.

While we awarded it an impressive 5 stars in our full Canon EOS R7 review, it's worth noting that Canon's wide-angle lens lineup is extremely limited, making it a tricky purchase if you're solely focused on wide-angle astrophotography. If, however, you're a deep-sky enthusiast and want to take advantage of the extra reach from the 1.6x crop factor on a full-frame long telephoto lens, the R7 is well worth it.

• Read our full Canon EOS R7 review

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Best battery life

The Fujifilm X-S20 quietly ticks all the boxes for astrophotography and more. Its APS-C X-Trans sensor captures clean, detailed night skies, and its excellent battery life, with an estimated 800 shots per charge, means you can comfortably plan lengthy night sessions without constantly swapping power packs. A real plus when you’re out in the wild, away from mains chargers.

Fujifilm’s renowned color processing also means more pleasing base files to work with, which is great if you like to share astrophotography without heavy post-processing. Its aesthetic might not be for everyone, and Fujifilm’s color science has a distinctive look that won’t suit every astrophotographer straight out of the camera.

Fuji’s lens lineup, especially the fast, wide primes that are ideal for astrophotography, can be more expensive than those of its rivals, so budget carefully for glass. If you’ve already partially invested in a different lens ecosystem, we’d perhaps recommend looking elsewhere, as you might find yourself reaching a dead end quite quickly in terms of availability and finance.

Generally, though, there’s a lot to recommend this option, and we especially like the crisp, limited noise images and how the camera deals with low-light scenarios across the board.

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Best for enthusiasts

The Nikon Z fc won plenty of attention for its retro styling, but beneath the classic dials lies a modern APS-C mirrorless camera that can handle most of what an astrophotographer can throw at it. It’s a small camera and its 20.9-megapixel sensor won’t match some of its rivals for sheer dynamic range or noise control at very high ISOs, but it’s plenty capable for a range of different nightscapes.

There is a trade-off to be had in the lack of in-body stabilization. Most modern astrophotographers work primarily with a sturdy tripod for long exposures anyway, so the absence of IBIS isn’t a dealbreaker, but it does remove the flexibility for handheld low-light frames that other cameras in this guide offer. Adding to that, there’s nothing in the way of a grip or any other ergonomics that make it easy to use in the dark. It’s a small device and it can sometimes be a bit clumsy to operate. It’s also worth doing your research on lenses, too — Z-mount lenses can be found, but there are fewer on the market than with other systems.

Where the Z fc shines is in its handling experience. If you love physical dials and control layouts, and a design that invites you out shooting, this camera is rewarding and fun to use. Just be prepared to pair it with fast glass if you take astrophotography seriously, and be aware of its relative lack of weatherproofing compared to other options.

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Best entry-level APS-C

With a 20.9-megapixel APS-C sensor and classic Nikon color science, the Nikon Z50 is an excellent starting point for budding dark sky photographers, and it sits at an appealing price point, too. It produces images with good detail and noise performance when used on a stable tripod for long exposures, and for Milky Way and landscape astrophotography, it does the job well, especially when paired with a fast, wide prime. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t ship with any form of stabilization, which could be a factor if you plan on doing handheld low-light work.

One of its biggest advantages is value for money, and this lets you invest more in lenses or support accessories like tripods and star trackers. For beginners or those building their first astrophotography kit, we think that this balance between performance and affordability makes it a very good entry point.

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Best astro features

The OM-5 Mark II is one of the most practical cameras for astrophotographers who like to step into the backcountry. Its weather-sealed body and impressive stabilization (quoted up to 7.5 stops) mean you can confidently shoot in all conditions.

Micro Four Thirds sensors don’t compete directly with APS-C for high-ISO noise performance, but the OM-5 makes up for it with portability and handling. Compact wide-angle lenses are among the smallest and lightest available, letting you carry a complete astro kit without weighing you down too much. We’d have liked to see a double SD card slot and slightly better battery life (it’s rated for about 310 shots per charge), but the size and lack of weight of the camera mean its strong suit is portability

For astrophotographers who value flexibility and enjoy travel photography too, this is a great option — the OM-5 Mark II strikes a superb balance between performance and real-world practicality. Plus, it has Live Composite, Starry Sky Autofocus and a Night Vision mode, all of which are fantastic for astrophotographers.

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Best for handheld low-light work

The Panasonic Lumix G9 II is the brand’s flagship Micro Four Thirds body on the market now. With a 25.2MP sensor and excellent IBIS (up to eight stops), it handles night sky shooting and everyday photography with equal confidence.

Combine excellent resolution and color rendition with advanced autofocus and excellent usability, and you get a camera that feels more modern across the board than many rivals.

The body is larger than some compact options we’ve listed here, but that can be a plus at night as more substantial cameras often balance better on tripods and feel more secure under gloves and in poor weather.

If you want one MFT camera that handles astrophotography, landscapes, wildlife, timelapse and video without compromise, the G9 II should be right at the top of your list.

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Best for video

The Panasonic GH6 is a powerhouse for astrophotographers who think in both stills and motion. It has a high-resolution sensor and plenty of rich video options, including 5.7K and 4K 10-bit shooting, making it ideal for night timelapses, astro documentaries and immersive night footage. If you’re a content creator or like to combine stills and video, we’d look no further than this.

While its body is larger and more complex than many stills-focused MFT models, this is precisely why creators who shoot motion love it: you don’t have to compromise on either side of your workflow. For astrophotography stills, the sensor delivers enough detail, and for video, it provides superb dynamic range and color depth, as well as internal recording in Apple ProRes 422 HQ and 422, pre-installed V-Log/V-Gamut and 13+ stops of dynamic range via Dynamic Range Boost.

If part of your astro process includes long night timelapses, behind-the-scenes night videos or content creation alongside still images, the GH6 is one of the most compelling cameras on offer today.

• Read our full review of its successor, the Panasonic Lumix GH7

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Best budget used model

Although it uses slightly older tech now, this remains a strong astrophotography option thanks to its excellent stabilization and handling. Its 20.1MP sensor isn’t the latest available from OM System (formerly Olympus), but the combination of a good choice of sharp lenses and in-body correction makes it comfortable to use both on tripods for long exposures and handheld for dawn/dusk scenarios.

We also like the body’s ergonomic design, and its excellent weather sealing gives you confidence if you often shoot in the wild — a frequent reality at dark sky locations. The reliability and build quality are why many outdoor photographers still choose this model long after its release, and we’d be happy to forgo the latest tech in favor of great performance when on location.

Plus, with OM System's 'Starry Sky Autofocus' up its sleeve, you don't have to worry about ending up with blurry, out-of-focus stars. We tested this feature out when we reviewed the OM-1 Mark II, and we found it to be surprisingly effective. Plus, Live Composite shooting enables you to effortlessly create star trail images.

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Best APS-C and MFT cameras for astrophotography: comparison

Best APS-C and MFT cameras for astrophotography: Frequently Asked Questions

Latest updates

How we test

We test astrophotography cameras by focusing on the factors that matter most in low-light shooting. That includes high ISO noise performance, dynamic range in dark scenes and how well the sensor retains color and details in shadows.

We also assess long-exposure reliability, heat management during extended shooting sessions and in-camera features that either help or hinder astrophotography.

Handling is equally important. We consider the ergonomics in cold conditions, menu clarity in the dark, battery life and lens compatibility, which is particularly important with APS-C and MFT cameras.

We love working out to the music blasting through our earbuds, and we are far from alone. Walk into any gym, and you can bet half of the people there will be lost in their own little audio world. Look around outside, and you will see that most runners and cyclists rack up the miles while listening to their favorite tunes, too. Sports earbuds and workout-friendly headphones have become an absolute must-have for fitness enthusiasts.

The best part? Science suggests that this can actually be a good thing. When we interviewed several prominent experts in psychotherapy, clinical psychology and fitness coaching, they all agreed: music can help make your workouts feel easier and more enjoyable, and in some cases, can even help you improve your exercise performance.

As Helen Wells, a Thailand-based psychotherapist, succinctly put it: "Music acts as a healthy distraction." Want to know more? You can find more insights in the FAQs section below.

That said, there is no single best sports earbuds model that we would recommend to everyone. Runners have different needs than swimmers, swimmers want different things than triathletes, and neither of those may need what a gym-goer would. Hikers may not even want the traditional earbuds and prefer one of the best bone conduction headphones instead. With that in mind, we have curated our list of the best models based on intended activities and sought-after features.

You can trust our judgement here — as experienced fitness professionals, we have gone through countless sports earbuds and can tell whether something is worth the money or not, plus we made sure we tested every model to the same standard for maximum objectivity. We hope that these sports earbuds will help you truly unleash the power of music.

Best sports earbuds: Quick links

Best sports earbuds and workout-friendly headphones 2026: Tried and tested by a personal trainer

Best budget sports earbuds

We have gone through dozens of sports earbuds in our lifetime, and admittedly, many were rather budget-friendly. We have a knack for losing them while traveling or damaging them during workouts, so we have learned the hard way to keep them affordable. In our experience, earbuds under $50 tend to fall into two categories: they are utterly mediocre or so surprisingly good that you keep and cherish them forever. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are definitely in the latter camp. These earbuds cost $69 and are frequently on sale for less than $50, but they can easily compete with models two to three times the price.

Sound quality is the biggest factor here. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 sound surprisingly rich and bass-heavy for the price. These earbuds have a real kick to them and can motivate you to push that little bit harder, whether you are lifting weights or racking up the miles on a home treadmill. If you would rather tone down the bass, though, you can always adjust the sound settings in the Nothing X app (that said, some may still find these earbuds a bit too bass-heavy even with the tweaks.)

Next, we have the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes. While the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are not nearly as good at modifying background noise as some of the more premium models, they still perform surprisingly well. These earbuds did just as good a job of keeping us safe on a running track as they did blocking the incessant noise of a crowded gym. That's no mean feat, given how affordable they are.

Lastly, the looks and durability. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are rated IP55, meaning they are both dust- and sweat-proof, and they feel quite sturdy too. We must have dropped them at least a dozen times and they still work fine. We are also big fans of their vibrant color palette — most budget-friendly earbuds are only available in black, so it is refreshing to see something this funky.

On the other hand, the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 may not be a good fit for everyone. These earbuds are admittedly pretty chunky and those with small ears may find them either uncomfortable to wear or not secure enough to withstand those more intense workouts. They do not come with any helpful ear hooks or stabilizers, either.

Second-best

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Best value sports earbuds

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 earbuds may not have the military-grade durability of the Raycon Impact or the waterproof credentials of the H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro, but they are well-built, sound well and come with a good selection of app-based sound settings. They fit exceptionally well, too. These earbuds stay securely in place, whether you run outdoors, dance your heart out in a Zumba class or hit your weightlifting PBs in the gym. The cherry on top? The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 cost less than $100, making them one of the best-value picks on the market.

They also perform well when it comes to noise-reduction settings and battery life. The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 are effective at reducing background noise without cutting you off from the outside world, and they last up to 12 hours on a single charge (52 hours with a case.) Now, that is not something we see often in such reasonably priced earbuds.

The only downside? The chunky design. The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 are much bigger and heavier than the Beats Powerbeats Fit, for example, and some people may find these earbuds slightly uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods. The charging case is also unusually big — so much so that you may struggle to fit it in your pocket.

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 are not particularly customizable, either. These earbuds are only available in black, and the earhooks that keep them in place are relatively rigid. If you prefer something more colorful and pliable, you may need to consider a different model. However, this is a relatively minor infraction and not something we would fret about at this price point.

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Best sports earbuds for secure fit

Can't seem to keep your earbuds in when working out? We have been there. There is nothing more frustrating than having to pick your buds up off the gym mat after a particularly complex yoga pose, or being forced to dive underneath the treadmill to retrieve them every time you finish a lung-busting sprint. The good news is that it does not have to be this way — we may have finally found something that can survive our back-breaking exercises.

The Beats Powerbeats Fit do indeed, as the name suggests, fit well. These earbuds are quite small and feature four ear tip sizes, so they sit securely in the ear no matter its size. More importantly, they come with pliable in-ear wingtips instead of the traditional ear hooks. These wingtips do not rest on the top of your ear, but rather twist into it, snuggly locking the earbud in place.

This unusually snuggly design works like a charm. Whether we lifted weights, went on an indoor bike or did an intense bout of HIIT, we could easily forget we were even wearing the earbuds. The Beats Powerbeats Fit have never fallen out of our ears or forced us to constantly adjust them back into place, therefore allowing us to focus on the music and movement in place.

These earbuds not only fit well, they also sound great — with a good balance of bass and treble, and enough detail and richness to satisfy the needs of audiophiles. The Beats Powerbeats Fit are also exceptionally portable. The charging case was so small that it could easily fit in a pocket of our gym leggings.

If there is anything we would complain about, it would be their ANC mode. It is just not as good as we expected it to be. The Beats Powerbeats Fit cost around $199.99, and as one of the more expensive options in this guide, it is fair to expect them to have better background noise reduction. We also noticed considerable sound leakage on these earbuds. In fact, it was more noticeable than in the far more affordable CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2.

We also need to mention some app connectivity woes. We are not sure whether these issues had something to do with our Android phone or the earbuds themselves, or both, but our testing unit seemed to disconnect constantly from the Beats app. We also had a hard time trying to reconnect them.

Second-best

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Best sports earbuds for durability

The Jabra Elite 8 Active — "the world's toughest earbuds" and one of the handful of models that scored a full five stars in our at-home tests — have now sadly been discontinued. So, what's the next best thing? Going by the specs alone, we would suggest the Raycon Impact. True, we can't vouch for their sound quality or real-life performance as we have not tested them personally, but they are perhaps the closest match for the impressively durable Elite 8 Active.

To start with, these earbuds are IP67-rated, which makes them fully dustproof and capable of withstanding submersion in water up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) for 30 minutes. The Raycon Impact are also certified to the U.S. Military Standards for ruggedized electronics (MIL-STD-810G), meaning they can withstand extreme temperatures, shocks and high humidity levels. To top it off, they come with up to a whopping 90 hours of battery life with a charging case, the longest of all the models mentioned in this guide. No matter how you look at it, these are some truly impressive stats.

At the same time, the Raycon Impact are surprisingly affordable for what they have to offer — they cost $149.99 and are often on sale for less than $120. To put that into perspective, the Jabra Elite 8 Active used to be priced at a rather steep $229.99.

However, this price difference could be a reflection of poorer functionality. The Raycon Impact are only available in black, for example, whereas the Jabra Elite 8 Active came in four different colors. Also, if the online user reviews are anything to go by, the sound quality on these earbuds can be somewhat underwhelming. A handful of buyers also complained about their touch controls being slow or not functioning properly.

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Best earbuds for noisy gyms

Tired of the gym noise ruining your workouts? We understand. There is nothing more frustrating than exercising to the tune of terrible gym playlists or the piercing clank of weights. However, we may have found a solution to this problem — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) earbuds.

These earbuds fit well and come in a wide range of funky colors, but more importantly, they have the best noise-reduction features of all the models mentioned in this guide. The Quiet Mode, for example, almost completely tunes out the combined background hum of cardio machines, gym music and conversations between your fellow gym-goers. The Aware Mode, on the other hand, allows you to hear your surroundings, but it still filters out sudden, loud noises (such as a heavy barbell dropping on the floor). You can tweak the noise reduction settings further via the Bose app.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) earbuds not only excel at ANC, but also sound exceptionally well. We liked their deep bass, high-clarity vocals and overall great sound balance. If you are an audiophile, you should not be disappointed.

That said, we would only recommend these earbuds for gym use. While they are sweatproof, they are not waterproof enough to withstand the demands of outdoor exercise. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) earbuds are also relatively expensive.

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Best alternative to AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is an excellent workout companion; there is no two ways about it. These earbuds are highly resistant to sweat and dust, they sound and fit exceptionally well, and they even feature live translation and a built-in heart rate sensor. They are by no means perfect, though. For example, they lack in-depth EQ customization and many of their advanced features require an Apple ecosystem. So, what's the best alternative here? If you have an Android phone and love to play with the sound settings, we would recommend the Status Audio Pro X earbuds instead.

True, the Status Audio Pro X does not translate languages or measure your heart rate, and it is just as pricey as the Apple AirPods Pro 3, but the trade-off is still worth it. These earbuds thoroughly impressed us with their sound quality, unconventionally stylish design and the sheer scope of their audio customization features. The bass is deep, the highs are crisp, and if there is still anything that you would want to tweak, you can easily do that in the app. It is an audiophile's dream.

The Status Audio Pro X is also very workout-friendly. These earbuds are highly resistant to dust and sweat, and despite their slightly chunky design, they fit surprisingly well. We found them very comfortable to wear and hardly ever had to adjust them mid-workout. The cherry on top? They are easy to grab with sweaty hands.

The downsides? The Status Audio Pro X does a great job of reducing background noise, but its ANC features are no match for the Apple AirPods Pro 3. Also, these earbuds do not have earhooks or stabilizers, so they may not be suitable for contact sports or movement-heavy activities.

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Best headphones for hikers

Long hiking trips offer a perfect opportunity to ditch your day-to-day headphones and focus on the natural world around you instead. But what if you also want to catch up with your favorite podcast or finish that audiobook that you never seem to have time for? This is where bone conduction headphones can come in handy.

Unlike earbuds that cut you off from the outside world, these open-ear headsets keep you fully aware of your surroundings. This way, you will not miss the precious sounds of wildlife or trees rustling in the breeze, and you will keep yourself alert to any potential dangers on the track (oncoming traffic or wild animals, for example.) Bone conduction headphones do not cause nearly as much “listening fatigue” as earbuds, either, mostly because they work by passing sound through the bones in your jaw and skull, not through the air and directly into your eardrum. Plus, their wraparound design does not exert any pressure on the ear canal. You can wear bone conduction headphones for hours on end and not feel any discomfort.

The reason we prefer bone conduction headphones to other open-ear models mentioned in this guide is that they tend to be more reliable on the tougher stretches of the hike. Unlike the small earbuds, they are too big and secure-fitting to be blown off by strong coastal winds, get lost in a muddy creek or fall off during vertical rock climbing. You can easily forget you are even wearing them and focus entirely on the world around you.

While there are plenty of good bone conduction headphones out there, there is one model that truly steps up the game for us. We are talking, of course, about the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. We must have taken them on at least 10 hiking trips, long and short, and they have always enhanced our hiking experience rather than gotten in the way of it (like many other headphones did in the past.) They are durable, light and comfortable to wear, and above all, they have arguably the best sound quality of all the bone conduction models that we have tried so far.

The only real downside to the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is the price — $179 is pretty steep for bone conduction headphones, even if they are as good as these.

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Best earbuds for runners

When it comes to running outdoors, we have two personal favorites: the aforementioned Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 and the Shokz OpenFit Pro. Both of these open-ear headphones can do a great job keeping you alert and entertained, and both offer great build quality and workout-friendly design. That said, it is the latter that narrowly wins the competition here.

To start with, the Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds sound way better, especially when it comes to complex or bass-heavy music. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones boast excellent sound quality for a bone conduction set, but they are simply unable to compete here. Noise reduction is another aspect that tipped the scales for us. Bone conduction headphones are physically unable to muffle any unwanted background sounds. The Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds, on the other hand, feature an innovative noise reduction mode.

Of course, no open-ear headphones will ever be as effective at blocking out noise as over-ear headphones with ANC. The Shokz OpenFit Pro can, however, filter out a good chunk of it — and we can attest to that. These earbuds came in very handy whenever we wanted to tone down the mechanical whirl of the treadmill at high speeds, or reduce the traffic noise coming from the high-speed road next to our track. That little novelty made a tangible difference to the quality of our running workouts.

Fit is another factor that scored highly in our books. The Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds do not feature a rubber-coated band that can get in the way of ponytails or head covers. Instead, they rest on the ear and are kept in place with earhooks and optional silicone stabilizers.

Still, the Shokz OpenFit Pro may not be a good fit for everyone. Some people, especially those with smaller ears, may find these earbuds too bulky and loose-fitting for comfortable wear. The price can also be a bit off-putting. The Shokz OpenFit Pro cost $249.95, making them the most expensive earbuds in this guide.

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Best headphones for water sports

All of the earbuds mentioned above are great in their own right, but none of them are suitable for water sports. If you want to listen to your favorite tunes when doing laps in a pool, competing in a triathlon or kayaking in rough water, you need bone conduction headphones with a solid waterproof rating — ideally, IPX7, IPX8, IP67 or IP68. The best models come with a durable frame, adjustable fit and decent internal storage (Bluetooth does not work underwater so all of your music, ebooks and podcasts need to be downloaded onto the headset in advance.)

The H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro are one of those top picks. What sets these headphones apart from other waterproof models is that they are rated beyond IPX8, meaning they can be used up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters underwater for an unlimited amount of time. They also come with unique playlist-building features, swimming plugs and a hard traveling case. Plus, they have 8 GB of internal storage — equivalent to around 2,000 songs or 35 full-length audiobooks.

We found the H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro quite reliable and comfortable to wear. The fit is snug and secure, but not overbearing or difficult to adjust, and we had no issues with muffled sound or the headset sliding off underwater. True, these headphones can produce some slight skull vibrations when listening to bass-heavy music, but that is something we observed with most of the bone conduction models we have tested.

The downsides? Priced at around $199.99, the H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro are pretty expensive for bone conduction headphones. Short battery life is another — up to 6 hours in memory mode, playing the songs stored on the headset, or up to 9 hours in Bluetooth mode. If you are looking for headphones to take on multi-day camping trips or sporting events, they may not be the best option for you.

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Best sports earbuds: Comparison

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Best sports earbuds: Contributing experts and product testers

Best sports earbuds: Frequently Asked Questions

Best sports earbuds: How to choose

Choosing the right sports earbuds is less about impeccable sound and more about finding a reliable workout partner. You want something that complements and enhances your active lifestyle, not actively impedes it. Prioritize comfort, safety and functionality — everything else is secondary. Most importantly, always opt for a wireless headset. Cables get in the way, snag on equipment and can even become a choking hazard, our experts agreed.

A good fit is another critical factor, Jason Smith, a London-based personal trainer and nutritional advisor and the founder of Fit in Midlife, an online fitness coaching service for middle-aged adults, told Live Science by email. "All too often, I see people trying to retrieve earbuds from underneath a treadmill or similar as they fall out through a mixture of sweat and impact. It is essential to find a pair that feels snug but comfortable to wear," Smith said.

Ideally, look for designs that include some form of ear hook, wingtip or silicone stabilizers. These accessories latch into the folds of your ear to create a secure, locked-in feel and prevent frustrating mid-workout adjustments. If there are none, find the right fit by trying on all the ear tip sizes included in the package — most sports earbuds come with at least three.

Next, consider the right level of waterproofness. As we mentioned before, all sports earbuds should be sweatproof at the very least — this means they are rated IPX4 and higher. If you tend to train outdoors in rainy conditions, aim for at least IPX7. The right waterproof rating is not just crucial for the longevity of your earbuds, but also a big factor for personal comfort. "Foam-covered buds or overhead earphones with no sweat protection will end up dripping with sweat and stink long after your workout is complete," Smith said.

Look into the sound settings of your earbuds, too — particularly whether they offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes. "Many gyms have loud pumping music. If you would rather listen to calming music, a podcast or audiobook, it is best to block out the bass," Smith said. Transparency mode, on the other hand, comes in handy when it comes to your safety and situational awareness, as this feature allows you to hear the world around you without having to remove an earbud or interrupt your workout.

"Ambient awareness is critical for outdoor training. If you’re running or cycling on roads, you must be able to hear traffic. Avoid full noise-cancelling in those situations," Simmons said.

Lastly, the sound quality. While this aspect is highly personal — we are big fans of bass-heavy earbuds, for example, while others may prefer something more balanced — some models tend to perform better than others. If you are unsure whether the sound quality of the earbuds you are considering is good enough, browse through their online reviews to get a sense of the general user feedback.

What about looks? Yes, aesthetics matter, though understandably not to the same extent as the factors we discussed above. "If you feel good wearing your earbuds, that counts. You want to feel confident when you train," Simmons said.

Best sports earbuds: How we tested

We love music and we are passionate about fitness — we basically live in sports earbuds. We must have tried dozens, if not hundreds, of different models throughout our lifetime, and we are always on the lookout for the next best thing. We know which products are worth the hype, and we would not recommend anything we would not happily use ourselves.

That said, we all have different ear shapes, preferred sports, hearing sensitivities and ideas as to what constitutes good quality sound, and we need to account for that if we want to stay balanced and objective. As such, each and every model in this guide was assessed according to the same three criteria:

Design. We look into the fit, waterproofness and durability of the earbuds in question. We also check how customizable they are (for example, how many ear tip sizes they come with) and whether they are sufficiently comfortable to wear and secure-fitting during intense workouts. Plus, we note if they came with any useful accessories, such as a charging case or swimming buds in the case of waterproof bone conduction headphones.

Features: We look into the overall functionality of the tested earbuds. We check their volume range, sound customization settings (the ANC and transparency modes, for example) and, if applicable, app-based features (a sound equalizer, for example).

Performance: We assess their sound quality, Bluetooth connectivity and battery life, and test the effectiveness and clarity of their ANC and transparency modes. This is also where we give our verdict on the overall user experience.

Finally, we weigh these factors against the price of the earbuds in question, and give a final score out of five.

Latest updates

Yoga is now a popular form of exercise in the West, and one that doesn't need much equipment to get started. However, knowing exactly what you need to go to your first yoga class, or even to practice at home, can still feel overwhelming at the start — especially when there are so many yoga props you could buy. This is why we've put together our recommendations on what the must-haves are for a yoga beginner, and which items you can consider buying later.

One of the most obvious things you will need is one of the best yoga mats, but it can also help to have some yoga blocks to make the postures more accessible to you. As a beginner, you want to keep your practice simple, so using yoga blocks can be a real benefit.

Of course, there are many other useful yoga props available, but we recommend only buying these once you've established a regular practice. Here are the must-haves we suggest for beginners to yoga.

• Related: Does yoga count as exercise?
• Related: 8 benefits of yoga
• Related: Pilates vs yoga: How do the two practices affect the body?

What to buy as a yoga beginner: Yoga mats

While, technically, you could practice yoga on any floor, having one of the best yoga mats makes it much easier to hold postures like downward dog, as they provide extra grip. We don't know if you've ever tried doing downward dog on carpet, but it's definitely more of a workout!

One of the main things you'll need in a yoga mat, as a beginner or otherwise, is good grip. Alignment lines can also be helpful as you learn the postures and where to place your hands and feet. The alignment lines can help you find the right distance between hands and feet, but they are only there as a guide — it's important to listen to what feels best in your body.

Other than grip, you will also want to consider how much padding a yoga mat offers you. Anything between 4 and 6 millimeters should offer sufficient padding, but when you start yoga, you'll find your joints are more sensitive before they get used to the pressure placed on them in certain postures. Therefore, consider a thicker yoga mat or having a blanket nearby for postures where your joints are not as happy.

Here are our recommendations for the best yoga mats you can buy as a beginner.

What to buy as a yoga beginner: Yoga blocks

For beginners to yoga, props are essential — your body will not be accustomed to the postures, and things will feel tight. Having props available will make your introduction to the practice easier. There are many forms of yoga props available for purchase, but we recommend starting with yoga blocks. These are versatile as you're able to use them for both seated and standing postures.

There are different types of yoga blocks available, so it's important to know the distinctions between them. While most yoga blocks are known as such, you can also get something called "yoga bricks." These are thicker than yoga blocks, which tend to be thinner and wider. Yoga bricks are great for standing postures to bring the floor closer to you, while yoga blocks are better suited for seated postures, especially if you have a pelvic tilt when sitting on the floor, which means it's hard for you to sit with a straight spine. Depending on your budget, you may want to get one of each. However, you can use either for both standing and seated postures if you're restricted by finances.

Another consideration is the material the yoga blocks are made out of. You can get yoga blocks and bricks made out of cork or EVA foam — both offer good support, so it's really down to personal preference and the impact on the environment, with cork being the more eco-friendly option.

Here are our top recommendations for yoga blocks.

• Related: Can yoga fix your posture?
• Related: Is yoga strength training?

What to buy as a yoga beginner: Fitness trackers

Some of the best fitness trackers can be used to track your yoga practice. As a beginner, you may be more interested than an experienced yogi in understanding how yoga is impacting your fitness. With a fitness tracker, you can track how many sessions a week you are doing, how long you are practicing for in each session, your heart rate throughout yoga classes and calories burned. This can give you an idea of how yoga is helping your fitness journey and the impact it might be having on your overall health.

While some fitness trackers can be really expensive, you can also track your yoga classes with one of the best budget fitness trackers. In fact, we can recommend the Motorola Moto Watch Fit as the best fitness tracker for yoga.

If you're looking for a fitness tracker for other exercise and not just yoga, you may want to invest in one of the best Garmin watches, where you will get a lot for your money.

Here are our favorite fitness trackers for tracking your yoga practice.

• Related: Can yoga help you lose weight?
• Related: Does yoga build muscle?

What not to buy as a yoga beginner (right away)

It may feel like you need a lot of equipment to be able to practice yoga, but in reality you can get started on very little. We've outlined the must-haves you need to get started as a beginner, but as you develop a more regular practice, you may feel you need more props and items, which is a natural progression. This is where our list of non-essentials come in — you can buy them now or wait until you're more familiar with the practice.

Once you've been practicing for a while, you may want to consider specific yoga workout clothes, a yoga chair, a yoga bolster or even a yoga belt. While these are great to have, we would argue they are not essential for a beginner and can be bought over time. You can, of course, get them at the start of your yoga journey, but they are not necessary.

To start with, you can practice yoga in any comfortable workout gear, but in time, you may prefer to get some yoga pants. These are comfortable to wear and can help prevent your feet from slipping down your leg in balance postures like tree pose.

When it comes to other yoga props such as a yoga chair, yoga bolster and yoga belt, these can help you to explore the postures with added support and ease. While they are not must-haves for beginners (many postures can be adopted without the need for props), they can be useful once you've built up a regular practice to help you target areas in your body that feel resistant to the postures without the extra support.

For example, a yoga chair can help make some backbends or seated postures more accessible. A yoga bolster can help to relieve upper back discomfort in some more reclined backbends, or can be used to support you in postures like child pose. And a yoga belt can help make shoulder or hamstring stretches more accessible.

What to buy as a yoga beginner: The bottom line

Yoga is one exercise where you don't need a huge amount of equipment to get started, but as your practice develops, you may find you want to invest in more yoga props to help support your body and deepen your practice. We recommend starting with the basics and expanding your collection over time.

Some of the best star and night sky projectors are those that are genuinely useful STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teaching and learning tools. In a classroom or even a home-learning setup, they can help visualise big ideas, enable children to practice observation skills and spark enquiry-led activities that go beyond the realm of space and into how we deal with scientific problems more generally.

When it comes to buying one of the best star projectors on the market, if you’re buying for younger children, the sweet spot is often a projector that’s robust, easy to operate and paired with prompts that can turn visually impressive starscapes into learning opportunities. For teens and adults, look for sharper optics, better coverage, quieter operation and more flexibility. Things like timers, accurate rotation and fine focus allow greater control, so the projector can double as a calm, distraction-free tool for independent study or planetarium-style demos.

In this article, we’ll dive into a collection of some of the best star projectors for a learning environment, detailing the pros, cons and what to look for with each product.

The quick list

The best STEM star projectors we recommend in 2026

Best overall

POCOCO’s Galaxy Projector is a streamlined projector that focuses on projection quality and a straightforward, classroom-friendly control layout. In our previous four-star POCOCO Galaxy star projector review, we noted the simple three-button operation (power, rotation, sleep timer) and the absence of extra gimmicks, which is beneficial when trying to keep attention on the learning qualities of a projector rather than what else it can offer.

The biggest draw is the high-quality photographic look that comes from the included dicks. POCOCO markets an optical setup with multiple lenses and high-resolution discs, and in practice, the better discs can look impressively crisp for the money. We think that the result is a projection that feels closer to a mini exhibition than a novelty toy. In a STEM learning environment, this makes it ideal for small-group discussions, as the images are clear

If you want a smart-home experience, voice control or built-in soundscapes, this isn’t for you, and because the content is disc-driven, expanding the curriculum often means buying more discs. But in return, you get a device that’s easy to set up, predictable to run and genuinely effective for inquiry-led STEM activities with high-quality, realistic images.

• Read our full POCOCO Galaxy Projector review

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Best for current night sky

The National Geographic Astro Planetarium has clearly been designed with education in mind, so some of its features get our tick from the word go. The planetarium approach is excellent — the device is designed to project stars/constellations in a way that supports discussion of what’s visible on a given day and time, rather than simply bathing the room in a decorative nebula. In practice, that makes it much easier to build activities around prediction and observation.

With a projection area of around 5.25 x 7.4 feet (1.6 x 2.2 meters) at 6.5 feet (2 m) distance and 190-lumen output, it’s more capable than many toy-grade units, but we found that, like most slide/disc systems, the experience depends heavily on the disc quality and your room conditions. It does need quite a darkened, blacked-out space to get the best out of it.

It's nice to see some quality-of-life features, which will help when you’re using it for calm-down corners or sensory-friendly learning time. You can also connect it up to music and it comes with its own FM radio, which is a nice touch for home bedroom users. For educators, the overall package is easy to justify. It’s not the most premium projection you can buy, but it’s well-suited to be ready for the classroom straight out of the box.

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Best for classrooms

Govee’s Galaxy Star Light Projector is best understood as a smart room tool rather than a traditional planetarium, but that can be a big advantage in STEM environments that need flexibility. Control options are a highlight — this includes app and voice control and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s non-scientific in the sense that it’s more about the effects than a true replication of the night sky, but you can set up scenes for different contexts — a calm ‘night sky’ for a space story session, for example, or a brighter dynamic aurora with RGB and effect controls in the app.

There are built-in sound setups, including preset white noise options and Bluetooth speaker functionality, which can support sensory-friendly environments or winding-down routines after active learning in an educational context. The speaker won’t rival other audio-first devices, but from a practical perspective, the level of sound and visual control helps educators manage attention and sessions remotely and with ease.

You won’t be buying this to teach constellations with precision, but it’s an immersive piece of kit. If we were to have one criticism, it’s that the motors are quite noisy. It’s best enjoyed in a larger environment, rather than your bedroom or living room.

• Read the full Govee Star Light Projector review at our sister site Space.com

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Best on a budget

The Brainstorm Deep Space Home Planetarium & Projector’s headline feature is its set of NASA image slides. In the box, you get three discs containing 24 colour images in total, which are projected up to roughly 3 feet (1 m) wide in a dark room. There’s also information about each colour image accessible online with a “secret code” you can enter — especially useful for classroom or learning environments. We enjoyed the hands-on learning experience during our full Brainstorm Deep Space Home Planetarium review.

Alongside the image slides, it can project rotating star or constellation patterns, which makes it flexible — you can run a short “mini planetarium” moment, then switch to imagery for deeper explanation. Add the night light dome, and the device also turns into a cool night light, so it’s also useful for kids’ bedrooms.

What’s quite nice about the Deep Space Home Planetarium & Projector is that it’s not trying to be a precision astronomy instrument. It’s geared much more towards use as a STEM engagement toolkit than an accurate star chart, so it deserves a place in this list. It’s less ideal for older students who want fidelity, but for primary school settings, clubs or family learning, it’s robust, intuitive and built around content that encourages curiosity instead of just ambience.

• Read our full Brainstorm Deep Space Home Planetarium review

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Best interactive

As you can imagine from the name, Clementoni’s Science Lab Star Projector is aimed squarely at learning rather than mood lighting or atmosphere enhancement, which makes it easy to justify in STEM environments. It’s positioned for ages 8+ and uses a high-resolution, ultra-bright LED projection. With an accompanying free app and augmented-reality star maps, there are features here that can turn passive viewing into structured learning.

The STEM value is in the bridge between what’s on the ceiling and what learners can do next. A guided layer is especially useful when it comes to identifying objects and building vocabulary around key features in space. The AR/maps are particularly helpful for older kids who want to validate what they’re seeing and connect it to real sky knowledge.

If you’re thinking about a classroom environment, you’ll need to consider your school’s device policy — if students can’t use phones or tablets, you may not get the full benefit. But even without the app, it can still function as a stimulus tool for observation and discussion, especially when paired with printed supporting materials. One word of note is that power is typically via AA batteries, and we found they don’t last too long, so it’s worth budgeting for rechargeables.

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Best sleep aid

This is one of the most flexible disc-based projectors available for STEM learning for the money, and its strength lies in content variety. With 13 interchangeable projection films covering planets, galaxies, nebulas and constellation-style star fields, it provides an excellent ready-made visual library that can support multiple points of learning.

In practice, each disc can become the focus of a short activity. The inclusion of a manual focus ring is particularly valuable in STEM contexts, as it encourages learners to actively adjust the image and think about optics, sharpness and projection distance rather than passively watching. The projector includes 360-degree rotation and built-in timers, allowing learning to be tightly structured. USB-C power is another practical plus, making it easy to run from power banks or charging hubs without worrying about disposable batteries.

As with most disc projectors at this price point, some images are more illustrative than accurate and there’s no app or AR layer to guide interpretation. For primary to early secondary STEM learning, the Mexllex strikes an excellent balance between affordability, usability and educational flexibility.

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Best for young kids (3+)

Discovery’s planetarium-style projectors are often sold as a 2-in-1 experience — stars and planets — with a simple slide-disc system that’s easy for younger learners to operate with minimal supervision. In STEM settings, that simplicity is a feature and it’s nice to see good functionality without complicated extra tech or the need to connect to any further devices.

The set includes three discs with 24 slides in total, which gives you enough variety to run multiple short sessions without repeating the same content every time. It does feel a little cheap in terms of build quality, however, and like many affordable projectors, it won’t deliver the crisp, photographic realism of higher-end disc systems.

An older or more educated audience may notice this quickly. But if you have, teach or look after younger children and your priority is engagement and accessibility, it can do the job well. As a budget-friendly “first planetarium,” it’s best used as a guided teaching prop rather than a precision astronomy tool.

• Read the full Discovery Space Projector review over at our sister site Space.com

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Best STEM star projectors: comparison

Best STEM Star Projectors: Frequently Asked Questions

Latest updates

How we tested the best STEM star projectors

We test each star projector the way families would at home. That means checking how easy it is for kids to set up and operate, how clearly it displays stars, constellations and planets, and whether it's fun, relaxing and educational.

We also assess its brightness, colors, timers and extra features. With these observations, we can recommend models that are both engaging for learning about the night sky and enjoyable for a relaxing bedtime.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, making it a perfect time to talk about the teeth and gums of our little ones. This annual event, launched by the American Dental Association in 1981, aims to raise awareness about children's oral health and the importance of establishing an effective brushing routine. And what better way to take care of your kid's pearly whites than by presenting them with an electric toothbrush?

Both manual and electric toothbrushes can keep their little teeth squeaky clean, true, but the latter has the unique ability to transform a boring daily chore into a fun adventure. Electric toothbrushes can also help children develop a better brushing technique and teach them healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Some high-end models even come with gamified features and apps that monitor their brushing progress. No matter how you look at it, a manual toothbrush simply cannot compete here.

That said, picking the best electric toothbrush for kids is anything but easy. These days, they can range anywhere from Disney-branded spinners and app-connected premium picks to novel U-shaped models that promise full-mouth cleaning in less than 30 seconds. The confusion is real.

Do not worry, though: We are here to lend you a helping hand. We reached out to dental care experts and asked them to share their top tips for buying an electric toothbrush for kids. Below, you will find everything you need to know to pick a model that is effective, age-appropriate and that your child will genuinely enjoy using.

• Related: Best electric toothbrushes 2026
• Related: Best water flossers 2025

1: Choose a brush designed for your child's age

This is probably an obvious tip to begin with, but it is essential nonetheless: Choose a toothbrush that is designed for your child’s specific age range. The reason is simple — a 3-year-old will have different needs than a 6-year-old, and a 6-year-old will have different needs than a preteen. A toothbrush that’s too big, powerful or complex for their age can do more harm than good, and even discourage them from using it altogether.

Excessive brushing intensity that irritates gums and makes brushing uncomfortable can really put kids off the idea of regularly cleaning their teeth, Dr. Fazeela Khan-Osborne, the founder of The One-to-One Dental Clinic in London, U.K., and a former pediatric dentist and school inspector, told Live Science by email.

This brings up an important question: Exactly when should your child make the switch from a manual toothbrush to an electric one? As Dr. Nora Albaldawi, principal dentist and orthodontist at the Beautiful Smiles dental clinic in Leicester, U.K., told Live Science, there is no fixed date here. The best practice is to introduce an electric brush from around age 3 — but only when the child can tolerate the vibration, she said.

Children aged 3 to 6

When choosing an electric toothbrush for a 3-year-old, do not fret about smart frills and sophisticated designs. Toddlers are simple creatures, and the toothbrushes designed for this age range fully reflect that. Look for models that have extra-soft bristles, intuitive, one-button controls and are more geared towards introducing the "buzzing" sensation than deep cleaning.

Size is another key factor. "Start by matching the brush to the child’s age and mouth size, so the head is no wider than the two front teeth," Albaldawi said.

The only feature that you really need at this stage is a built-in pacer. The best toothbrushes for kids have a 2-minute timer that causes the brush head to pause or buzz every 30 seconds, to signal to a child when they should move the brush to a different part of the mouth.

"Most kids simply do not have an internal sense of how long they should brush, and a timer takes the pressure off parents constantly reminding them," Dr. Jasveen Singh, a board-certified pediatric dentist at the Pediatric Dentistry and Beyond clinic in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, told Live Science by email.

Children aged 6 to 9

Once your child reaches the age of 6 or 7, you can start experimenting with more advanced models. Most importantly, look for models that feature a reliable pressure sensor and an automatic shut-off. "[These features] allow the child to brush effectively and efficiently without worrying about brushing too hard and possibly damaging the developing gums," Khan-Osborne said.

Bristle softness is still an important factor at this stage — children aged 6 to 9 need delicate brush heads so their young enamel and sensitive gums are shielded from excessive brushing.

Children aged 10 and older

As permanent teeth come in, the focus shifts from fun play to effective cleaning and plaque removal. Children aged 10 and older can start transitioning to toothbrushes with more "adult" features, such as multiple cleaning modes and purpose-specific brush heads.

The brushing intensity, however, should still stay relatively gentle. Toothbrushes with overly strong or aggressive vibrations can be overwhelming for younger kids and teens with sensory sensitivities, our experts agreed.

2: Don't forget about fun features

As most parents can attest, getting kids to brush for a full 2 minutes is not a walk in the park. However, the right toothbrush can flip this script on its head — simply by making brushing fun. In the battle to keep your kid's teeth clean and healthy, engagement matters just as much as brushing performance, Singh said.

"[Fun features] can dramatically improve consistency because they give children a reason to want to brush. When brushing feels interactive or playful, kids are more likely to stick with it long term," Singh said.

Now, that does not necessarily mean that the toothbrush has to be particularly high-tech or prohibitively expensive. Simple features, such as flashing LED lights, sounds and reward stickers, can be just as effective as apps and interactive games at keeping your child engaged and entertained. Models based on kid-friendly characters or superheroes do particularly well here.

"Always opt for a fun design or pattern — we want children to be excited to brush their teeth," Dr. Sam Jethwa, a former president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the founder of the Bespoke Smile dental clinic in London, U.K., told Live Science.

3: Account for your kid's individual needs

An electric toothbrush can have all the best features possible, but if your kid can’t hold it comfortably or is scared of its sound, it will likely be left unused. Comfort and ease of use are of paramount importance for establishing a brushing habit, and it is important to note that these qualities can look different to different children. Before you decide on a particular toothbrush, make sure it suits your kid's individual needs.

For example, many children (and toddlers in particular) struggle with fine motor skills. If your little one has not yet developed good hand-eye coordination, pay close attention to the handle. It should be easy to control, light and chunky enough for small, uncoordinated hands to hold securely. Ideally, it would also be durable enough to withstand an occasional drop to the floor and covered with a non-slip material, our experts agreed.

"Try to do a store test if possible," Dr. Nicole Khalife, a dentist and owner of the Lux Smiles NYC dental practice, told Live Science by email. "Have your child hold the handle, turn it on briefly if the store allows it, and see if the sound or sensation is uncomfortable for your child. If they recoil, you have learned something before spending your money," Khalife said.

Noise level is another factor to consider. Electric toothbrushes vary significantly in terms of volume and the type of sound they produce. Some have a high-pitched whirr, while others are a lower, quieter hum. "A frightening noise can create early dental anxiety, while a gentle or low-power mode and a quiet motor help younger children tolerate vibration," Albaldawi said.

If your child is sensitive to sound, try to test the toothbrush in-store. If that is not possible, look for audio and video clips that can give you a sense of its noise level — many parents and reviewers post them online, either on parenting forums or in the user review sections of the toothbrush in question. These steps may sound overly precautionary, but they could also save you some money in the long run.

"If your child is anxious, sensitive to vibration, or has a strong gag reflex, the best choice is the one your child can tolerate," Khalife concluded.

4: Consider long-term costs

The upfront cost of an electric toothbrush is only part of the financial picture. Most kid-friendly models do not come with spare brush heads, and these will need to be replaced every three to four months. A budget-friendly toothbrush may also not be so budget-friendly if your child keeps breaking it, forcing you to buy new ones.

The main take here is to think beyond the initial cost. Factor in the ongoing price and availability of brush head replacements, consider the toothbrush’s build quality, and you should avoid any unpleasant surprises later down the line.

Replacement brush heads: Check how much they cost and how readily available they are. Some brands offer convenient subscription services that mail you new brush heads on a schedule, while others require you to remember to buy them at the store or online.

Quality: It is difficult to assess the safety and durability of a toothbrush you have never used before — but this is exactly why third-party certifications exist.

"Look for an independent evaluation that is not just written to sell the product," Khalife said. "The easiest shortcut is the ADA seal of acceptance. It is not the 'best toothbrush award', but it means that the product has met the ADA's safety and efficacy requirements for its intended use," Khalife said.

Similarly, you can look for the Oral Health Foundation's 'Approved' sign, Albaldawi added.

5: Compare the prices

Last but not least, do not buy an electric toothbrush without having a look around for the best offer. Kid-friendly models tend to be relatively budget-friendly, especially when compared with their "adult" counterparts, but their prices can vary widely depending on the retailer. The pricing of a specific product may also heavily depend on the cartoon character it depicts: for example, a toothbrush with a Star Wars or Disney character may be more expensive than the same toothbrush with an original design).

We would also advise caution when it comes to big discounts and too-good-to-be-true deals. Many electric toothbrushes are "on sale" for most of the year, so whenever possible, check their price history (if you are shopping on Amazon, for example, use the CamelCamelCamel website) to see whether you really are getting the best value for your money.

The bottom line

Buying an electric toothbrush for your child is an investment in their long-term oral health. By focusing on age-appropriate design, engaging motivational features and sensible long-term costs, you are not just buying a colorful gadget — you are choosing something that will help them build lifelong habits and keep their teeth healthy for years to come.

“I always encourage parents to think beyond just whether it looks fun and focus on how the brush will feel and function in a child’s mouth. A toothbrush that is gentle, predictable, and engaging helps set the foundation for a positive relationship with oral care that can last a lifetime,” Singh concluded.

Running is a very simple sport — at least, so the theory goes. Yet the world of running kit has become increasingly complex and increasingly expensive in the last few years.

Shoes have reached new pricing peaks (a $500 racing shoe you can only wear once, anyone?) and gadgets have gone wild, with devices measuring everything from skin temperature to your carbohydrate usage. For beginner runners, it’s a bewildering array of choices and products that all claim to be the one thing that will really improve your running.

Take it all with a hefty pinch of salt, because there really are only a few running "must haves" — and even these don’t need to be expensive. The rest fall mainly under the umbrella of "nice to have, but hardly essential."

After all, the most important way to improve your running is simply to run more — though when it comes to kit, from the best Garmin watches for tracking your progress to the top treadmills for home training, we can certainly help navigate those choices.

Good running shoes

Firstly, and most importantly, when we say good running shoes, we mean good for you. We are all individuals, with our own unique style of running, called our "gait." So the best running shoes for you are the kind that best support your body's individual mechanics.

Unfortunately, that does sometimes mean that, while you love the look of a particular pair or brand, you might find they just happen to torture your toes. It’s best to get to a specialised running shop and have your gait analysed by an expert who can recommend the type of shoes you need. Once you know that, you can shop around a bit online, too.

Most people fall into one of three categories: they may overpronate (meaning the foot turns inwards when it strikes the ground), underpronate (meaning it turns outwards), or run in a "neutral" way. A good shoe choice will counteract any exaggerated movement, helping to prevent injuries.

A good running watch

I know a few exceptionally good runners who only use an old-school digital Casio. So there's definitely no obligation for runners to go high tech if all you care about is keeping an eye on the time and how long you’ve been running for.

However, many people do like to track their runs, and for beginners it can be really motivating to see progress, either in times getting quicker or distances getting longer. And, of course, you might want to share with friends or fellow runners on social media — and for that, you do need something a bit more advanced.

But even the cheaper running-focused smart watches now offer complex metrics, many of which you will probably never look at (how many people really need to know about their ground contact time?).

Here are a few suggestions, but you can also work out your budget, then check out our full guide to the best running watches to find what would work best for you.

Good running socks

Socks are similar to shoes in that if you suffer from tender toes or are prone to blisters, then ones that work for you will be worth every penny.

Just because someone you know can buy those super cheap multipacks online doesn’t mean you can get away with it. I certainly can’t. But whether you prefer a thick or double layer of padding, or a thin-but-reinforced sock, is entirely down to personal preference.

It can also be dependent on weather conditions. Thicker socks might be suitable for icy weather, whereas in the heat, you might want a thinner sock.

Cold weather running gear

January — right in the depths of winter — is a popular time to either start running or pick up a lapsed running habit. But if there's one thing that will send you scurrying back indoors, it's the wrong gear. Frozen fingers or icy ears aren't just an annoyance — they can sap your motivation and lead you to give up.

You could, of course, go wild with any number of items of running apparel, from expensive jackets to buffs to polar fleece-lined ear warmers. But the most important thing is simply to make sure that you are well enough dressed for winter running to keep you motivated — and warm.

Always bear in mind that you will warm up during your run, so don't overdo it. From long experience, I'd say it's often the accessories that make the big difference, so here are a few products that are worth every penny.

A good night's sleep

OK, you can’t — alas! — purchase a guaranteed night's shut-eye. But if there’s one thing that will improve your running and your recovery, it’s getting enough good quality sleep. So anything that helps is, in my view, worth your money.

If you suffer from noisy neighbors or just have the ears of a bat and wake at the slightest sound, you might want to try sleep headphones. Most of us, after all, wouldn't put a price on a good night's rest.

For more sleep headphones, see our guide — and for more recovery aids for those tired and aching muscles, check out our guides to the best foam rollers and the best massage guns.

The non-essentials

Expensive supplements

Probably the best supplement you can spend your money on is vitamin D. Around a billion — yes, a billion — people in the world are vitamin D deficient, and governments around the world urge us to supplement it, particularly in climates where the dark winters are long and you spend a lot of time indoors. But many people don’t. Vitamin D deficiency can leave you feeling exhausted and lethargic, so it’s a no-brainer, really.

What you probably don’t need are super high-end supplements with unproven ingredients that offer vague but untested benefits. If you have a deficiency, then you should absolutely address it (vegans, for example, are more likely to have a B12 deficiency as it’s mainly found in meat and dairy products). Anything else is probably an optional extra.

You also don’t need protein powder after every run, whatever the ads might say. Being actually protein-deficient is almost vanishingly rare, so as long as you eat a decen,t balanced diet, and can eat relatively soon after your run, save yourself some money.

Gels and drinks — and a vest to carry it all in

As a very rough rule of thumb, you don’t need gels until you are running for 60-90 minutes or more. Before then, your body has enough glycogen stored to provide you with the carbs you need. So if you are just starting out on your running journey, it really is something you don't need to think about.

In winter, you probably don't need to worry too much about dehydration, either. Beginner runners are unlikely to be doing distances that require any water to be carried with them, at least to start with.

Of course, everyone is different, but generally speaking, if you are running a few miles, then it's far more important to be hydrated beforehand. Don't drink huge amounts of water just before you run, though — just top up throughout the day. No one likes running with a stomach full of sloshing liquid.

When it comes to vests, they are actually really useful, even for short runs, if you need to carry a phone, keys and more. But you definitely don’t need one to carry gels and sports drinks if you are only running shorter distances.

Expensive race shoes

Since Nike first introduced the carbon plate to the world of racing shoes, they have exploded on the scene. Do they give an advantage? The science — and a lot of world records — suggests yes, but potentially at a cost.

That might be financial (they are expensive) or it might be physical (some carbon-plated shoes are simply not suitable for certain types of running gait, even if they are “the fastest”).

So if you can afford them and have a big race goal, by all means, go for the best type for you. But — barring a decent amount of test running in them to check they won’t cause issues — save them for race days.

High tech gadgets

From lactate monitors to devices for measuring skin temperature, there's a wide array of tech now available for runners. And many of these gadgets are marketed or hyped on social media, with the line that they are used by the fastest runners or the top Olympians.

Which may well be true, but ask yourself — are you actually an Olympian? Do you need the most minuscule of marginal gains that such monitoring might give you? Is running your full-time job? If the answer is no, then you can probably save some money. They might make for a fun luxury present, but they most certainly aren't essential.

Garmin makes many of the best fitness trackers. There are dedicated models for divers, hikers, mariners and even truck drivers. But the number one audience for these watches? Runners.

Any Garmin watch available will make a decent run tracker. A great one, even. Some are truly made for the job, though, and some others shine in a specific style of running discipline. For example, we don’t think Garmin’s lowest-end watches are ideal for triathlons, because the ones a step or two up have modes designed to track the entire event. Those who take part in multi-day running events or epic ultramarathons will also need to consider battery life more than most.

But it’s also important to find a watch you can simply get on with, as England Athletics coach Stuart Sahan, who offers personalised run coaching over at Run Fit Coach, told us. “From a runner's perspective, ease of use is key. A good watch should show clear pace, time, and heart rate without being overcomplicated,” he said.

Here, we’ll take a look at the top recommendations among current Garmin watch models for 2026. From the best Garmin watches for tight budgets and beginner runners to the one we’d don for an ultramarathon, there’s something for every type of runner.

• On the hunt for running footwear? Don't forget to check our guide to the best running shoes

The quick list

The best Garmin running watches we recommend in 2026: Tried and tested by a running enthusiast

Best Garmin running watch for beginners

The best affordable tech makes you ask, “Do most people really need any more than this?” That was the impression the Forerunner 165 left.

This watch can easily take you from not running at all, through the 5K distance, to training for and completing a marathon. And it’s all because Garmin got so many of the essentials right with this watch.

First up, while it doesn’t have the latest GPS and heart rate tech, it does provide reliable stats and data 99% of the time. It’s still fairly recent hardware. You can also use Garmin’s daily Suggested Workouts to effectively act as a running coach — minus a real coach’s monthly fees!

And while the Forerunner 165 doesn’t have the very longest battery life in the family, we found it can last around a week of solid use — Garmin claims up to 11 days for lighter use. The OLED screen is lovely, too. It’s colourful and just as sharp-looking as the far more expensive watches, just lacking the next-level brightness of the Forerunner 570 and 970.

Where’s the catch? While it comes in some fun colors, the Forerunner 165 isn’t the most luxurious watch. Its casing is Garmin’s basic (but surprisingly resilient) “fibre-reinforced polymer.” Fancy plastic, basically. And the glass isn’t as scratch-resistant as that of higher-end watches.

You also miss out on on-watch maps, and have to pay a supplement to get music support, which only gets you 4GB of room for tracks — like an MP3 player from 2007.

The Forerunner 165 also lacks some of Garmin’s most useful stats, Training Load and Training Readiness. These really help balance a truly packed exercise schedule. But the watch does have the next best thing: Body Battery balances your sleep, stress and activity to signal when you may be getting run-down.

This will also feed into the workouts the Forerunner 165 suggests. Can you ignore these? Of course, but one of the real strengths here is how close you can get to a digital personal trainer if you embrace the 165’s features — albeit a trainer who won’t shout you off the couch.

• Read more: Garmin Forerunner 165 review

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Best Garmin running watch for ultramarathons

The last couple of years have seen Garmin invest heavily in OLED screen tech and smartwatch features. But the Garmin Enduro 3 is here for those who prefer a slightly more traditional style, and would rather prioritise battery life.

It uses a large, 1.4-inch (35 mm) transflective MIP screen instead of OLED. Put it next to an OLED and its colors will look quite dull, the image a little low-resolution. But it has one massive advantage. The Garmin Enduro 3’s screen gets clearer in direct sunlight, while using no additional power. It feeds off sunlight rather than competing with it. Thanks to a solar element in the screen, its battery is even charged while under sunlight, leading to battery life of up to 90 days.

That’s in ideal conditions without masses of GPS usage. But this is still our number-one recommendation for multi-day events, running holidays and ultras. Battery life is also far more consistent than the trendy OLED crowd, as only music playback is a real battery killer here.

The Enduro 3 has 32GB storage for tunes, podcasts and audiobooks. And that room can also be used to store map data. There’s enough room for many countries’ worth here, although we do prefer the presentation of maps on Garmin’s OLED watches.

In other areas, the Garmin Enduro 3 is a high-spec watch. It has excellent 10ATM water resistance, and a Sapphire screen covering for top-tier scratch resistance. And despite being fairly large, with a 2-inch (51 mm) diameter, everyone we showed the watch to commented on how light it feels. At 2.2 ounces (63 g) with strap, it’s suitable for all-day, all-night wear, although we typically prefer something a little daintier for sleep tracking.

Garmin classes this as an adventure watch. It’s ideal for an outdoors life, and can help out in the dark too, thanks to its integrated LED flash. But it’s just as capable for simple run tracking as the core Forerunner models. Our takeaway from a few weeks living with it is how low-maintenance it is, with almost zero upkeep required.

• Read more: Garmin Enduro 3 review

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Best Garmin running watch for triathlons

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is a great all-round running and fitness watch, but it does have some skills tailored for triathletes.

First up is the all-important multi-sport mode. There are specific triathlon and duathlon profiles, and you can create your own additional modes if your particular event is a little different from the norm.

Garmin Coach, which you access through the Forerunner 970’s Connect phone app, also lets you sign up to a training plan designed to best prepare you for the rigors of a triathlon.

What stood out most when we used the Forerunner 970 in person, though, was its brightness. This watch has an exceptionally bright screen, making Garmin’s best-ever showcase for one of the company’s best-ever features, its map support.

Maps could become invaluable for the more adventurous triathlons, where the run or cycle sections are the kind in which it’s possible to get slightly lost. The Forerunner 970 has a superb activity screen (among many) that displays map data and stats on a single screen too.

We have found this newly supernova-style screen can shorten battery life from the quoted 15 days. But we’re not talking about anything close to the limited stamina of the Apple Watch series.

The 5ATM water resistance is strong enough for surface-level swimmers. But if you’re a swimmer first and a triathlete second, we’d recommend the Fenix 8 instead as it has much better water resistance.

New for this generation of Forerunners, the 970 introduces extra features to further optimise your training. It was the first watch with Garmin’s Running Tolerance, designed to let you keep at the bleeding edge of your limit without excess risk of overtraining or injury.

You can also hook it up to a Garmin HRM 600 chest strap to see Running Economy metrics, which can signal whether you need to put more effort into your form.

Garmin’s other higher-end watches can arguably make just as good triathlon trackers. But as of early 2026, none of them can display your stats mid-race with quite the clarity of the Forerunner 970.

• Read more: Garmin Forerunner 970 review

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Best Garmin watch for trail running

The Fenix 8 is generally considered the flagship of Garmin’s line-up. Sure, you can get more expensive models, but they tend to be specialists for fields like diving, hunting or for mariners.

What marks this out from the rest? It’s not only available with hard-but-light titanium metal highlights and a scratch-resistant Sapphire crystal, it competes with the Apple Watch Ultra on water resistance. As well as a 10ATM rating, it is certified for dives at a depth of up to 131 feet (40 metersU).

The watch actually has special buttons made for the job: ones that use haptic feedback instead of an actual clicker mechanism to avoid water ingress. Why do you need those for trail running? You don’t, but it’s all part of the Fenix 8’s tougher-than-most personality.

We also like the Fenix 8 for its long battery life, despite using a once highly power-sapping OLED screen. And this display is ideal for navigating by map. As with all the top Garmin watches, the Fenix 8 can store vast areas of map data on its internal storage. This can be used not just to display pre-planned routes, but to navigate on the fly, searching for points of interest or just picking a waypoint on the Fenix 8’s screen. The watch is smart enough to be able to calculate routes with no additional help from your phone.

And, a trail running favourite, you can judge your effort by running power rather than pure pace. While we tend to rely on heart rate when considering effort level during a workout, running power takes into account both the terrain and your speed. And you don’t have to wait for your heart rate to catch up before figuring out whether you’re pushing too hard or not.

We find the Fenix 8 typically lasts for more than a week of at least moderately heavy real-world use. It outdoes a Forerunner 970 here, if not the legendarily long-lasting Enduro 3. One of the neat parts to the Fenix 8 family, though, is how many members it has. You can get MIP screen versions, as well as the OLED style we reviewed, and a lower-cost Fenix E. Garmin has tried to cater for most folks just within this series.

In September 2025, Garmin further filled out this series with Fenix 8 Pro watches. These have satellite messaging and there’s an incredibly bright microLED version too. But as they are extremely expensive, and there are additional subscription costs for satellite services, the standard Fenix 8 is likely a better fit for many.

• Read more: Garmin Fenix 8 review

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Best budget Garmin watch for runners

The Garmin Forerunner 55 isn’t a watch we actively recommend to huge numbers of people these days, not since the Forerunner 165 arrived. But it’s still a worthy watch that at the very least deserves some context.

It has been around since 2021, making it the longest-standing model in the current Forerunner range. And its enduring popularity isn’t a fluke.

This is a no-nonsense watch that isn’t too large, lasts up to two weeks off a single charge and provides the key features most runners need — and some more for good measure.

For example, despite being a bottom-rung runner’s watch the Forerunner 55 will still provide you with daily suggested running workouts. And you can get a more structured workout plan through the free-to-use Garmin Coach feature in the Garmin Connect app on your phone.

The Forerunner 55 uses an MIP screen, the kind that used to be found in just about every Garmin watch. This style isn’t natively lit but gets clearer as the ambient light level increases. And there is of course a front light to let you see the display in the dark.

It’s this tech that will provide long and stable battery life even if you are about and about most of the day. That would put additional strain on the battery of an OLED Garmin watch, whose screens need to get brighter in sunny environments.

What are the issues? The Garmin Forerunner 55 doesn’t have a barometric altimeter, so can’t track the stairs you climb each day. It’s a stat we think the less obsessive runners who want some of the fitness tracker flavour will miss.

The Forerunner 55 also has an older-generation heart rate sensor. While decent, this gen was slower to react to changes and could at times put out some questionable BPM numbers during the first few minutes of a run.

We’d recommend the Forerunner 165 if you can afford it, but there’s still some charm to this older model.

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Best Garmin running watch for comfort

Want a Garmin watch that doesn’t feel or look like an outright “runner’s watch”? Pick up a Vivoactive 6. It’s exceptionally light at just 1.3 ounces (36 g) with strap, has a moderate diameter of 1.65 inches (42 mm), and its 10.9mm thickness is similar to that of an ordinary watch.

You wouldn’t mistake it for one, thanks to its eye-catching OLED screen, but there’s a sense of minimalism here we instantly appreciated. A big part of that is the relative lack of buttons.

A classic Garmin is operated using five side buttons. The Vivoactive 6 only needs two, because you largely control it with the touchscreen.

While we found this occasionally led to our accidentally ending an exercise after just taking a short road-crossing break, you get used to the switch of control styles after a while. And there are few other Garmins we’ve preferred to use for sleep tracking, just because the Vivoactive 6 is such an innocuous presence on your wrist.

Despite clearly aiming for mainstream appeal, the Vivoactive 6 does have solid runner’s cred. Its heart rate hardware is the same as the Forerunner 165’s. It is of course a full GPS watch, and with music storage as standard, you can leave your phone at home if you want.

It’s swim-ready thanks to 5ATM water resistance, and can last for more than a week if you don’t use the Always-On screen mode.

Caveats? The Vivoactive doesn’t have classic Daily Suggested Workouts for running — just walking — or an altimeter, which counts the flights of stairs you climb each day.

But you can send planned routes to it for breadcrumb-style navigation. Getting such a useful feature in a watch with a clear lifestyle angle is excellent, and should dramatically lengthen how long it takes you to outgrow the Vivoactive 6 as you develop as a runner.

• Read more: Garmin Vivoactive 6 review

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Best Garmin watches for runners: comparison

Contributing experts & product testers

Best Garmin watches for runners: Frequently Asked Questions

Latest updates

How we tested these Garmin running watches

How we test the best Garmin watches for runners

There are an awful lot of Garmin watches to pick from. But answering just a few core questions can whittle down that number massively. Let’s get to it.

Do you need maps? Only fairly expensive and high-end Garmin watches have on-watch maps. It’s a great feature that lets you download entire landmasses of map data to your watch. But plenty of people may actually end up just as happy with “breadcrumb” trail navigation, where you work out a route on your phone and send it over to the watch wirelessly.

Do you want OLED or MIP? These are Garmin’s two main screen types. MIP is the battery-saving old guard, OLED the newer kind. And only the Enduro range is yet to get an OLED entry. We like OLED gloss, but you can’t beat Garmin MIP watches for length and consistency of battery life.

Do you need 10ATM water resistance? All Garmin watch water resistance looks good on paper. 5ATM means a watch can withstand depths of 50 meters. But it doesn’t mean it can withstand the additional pressures of movement at that depth. We feel more comfortable recommending 10ATM watches to committed swimmers, while the Fenix 8 is even prepped for diving at up to 40m depth. Will a 5ATM Forerunner 970 die if you take it in the pool? Absolutely not, it’s designed for pool swimming. But don’t take one scuba diving.

Do you want athlete-geared stats? Garmin watches become more serious tools when stats like Training Load and Training Readiness enter the picture. These are available in the Forerunner 265 and up. They can be used to more accurately judge when you are at risk of exercising too much, or if you are slacking (over the period of a week, for example) without realising. It makes your watch feel more like a personal trainer, minus the expense. But many people own these high-end watches and make no good use of these stats.

How much do you care about smartwatch features? A proliferation of smartwatch features is one of Garmin’s most recent trends. This saw watches like the Forerunner 570 gain a speaker and mic, letting you take calls and talk to your phone’s assistant. If you’re not too fussed about these, it’s a good reason to consider an older model in a sale. Find the Forerunner 965 cheaper than the Forerunner 570? It’s arguably an altogether more capable watch.

The main purpose of a dehumidifier is to draw in damp air, remove excess moisture and release drier air into the room. Sounds simple enough, so surely you just go for the one that removes the most water per day according to the label, right?

Well, unfortunately, as with most things, it's not quite that simple. Several factors will come into play that will vary from house to house — there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

Houses, workplaces, basements, studios or anywhere else you might want to use a dehumidifier are all unique environments. The size of the room will vary, as will the existing levels of damp or condensation, the room temperature and the climate. A dehumidifier that performs well in a warm living room might struggle in a cold underground basement, for example.

So, what should you look for when buying a dehumidifier? It's difficult to say without knowing your exact circumstances and reason for buying, but hopefully this guide will help you choose.

Here at Live Science, we have tried and tested a plethora of dehumidifiers and have identified which models are best for which purpose.

Reason for purchase

It might sound silly, but why are you looking to purchase a dehumidifier? Common reasons people consider a dehumidifier include condensation on windows, mold growth, a damp or musty smell, damp patches on walls, or difficulty drying clothes inside during the winter.

Do you just need to manage air moisture, or do you need to dry a room that's been damaged by flooding or damp? Are you looking for a way to dry your laundry faster, or do you need to prevent condensation from forming to prevent damage to your loft or conservatory? The answers will help narrow down your choices.

The two main types of dehumidifier

Consider which environment your dehumidifier will be put to work in, as it will help you decide which type of dehumidifier to buy. There are two main types:

For warmer environments, a refrigerant dehumidifier (or compressor dehumidifier) would be most appropriate. These use a fan to draw in moist air and pass it over coolant-cooled coils. The air is warmed, dried, and recirculated back into your home.

A desiccant dehumidifier, on the other hand, uses a heated, absorbent material to draw moisture from the air, which collects in a water tank that you need to empty periodically. These perform better in cold environments such as garages and conservatories.

In short, if your dehumidifier is in a fully heated room, a refrigerant is appropriate; in a cooler space, a desiccant is better and more efficient.

Understanding the labels

As we mentioned earlier, dehumidifiers are often labeled by how much water they can remove in 24 hours. For example, the GE APER50LZ, which we reviewed back in 2022, claims to remove 50 pints (28L) per day.

As a rough guide, a 8-12L model would be best suited to a 1-2 bedroom apartment, a 12-20L model would be ideal for a 2-3 bedroom home, and a 20+L model would suit large homes or very damp spaces. The example given above is therefore best suited to a large home or a very wet space. In a smaller room, this large unit might be unnecessarily costly to buy and run.

This statistic is therefore only really useful for an apples-to-apples comparison. Also, be mindful that these stats are often collected under lab conditions, not in real-world environments. They should be used as an indicator and not as gospel.

Pick the right design

Aside from the amount of moisture the dehumidifier can remove, other design factors are important. It's no good having a dehumidifier that does its job perfectly but causes other nuisances.

Noise

Noise is a key factor we consider when reviewing each model, and is acknowledged throughout our buying guides. The Honeywell TP50WKN is described as having inoffensive noise levels, whereas the GE Dehumidifier APER50LZ, a larger unit, is described as having moderate noise levels. It goes without saying that if you don't want to be distracted while working, sleeping or entertaining, you'll want a quieter model, whereas this might not be as important if the unit is somewhere with hardly any footfall.

Tank size/drainage

The larger the tank, the less frequently it needs to be emptied, but a smaller tank size will typically be found in a more portable and compact machine. Again, your decision will depend on the dehumidifier's location, ease of access, and how far you need to walk to the drain/sink to empty it.

Continuous drainage, if the dehumidifier supports it (as opposed to a tank you empty), works in one of two ways. Gravity drainage, as in the Honeywell TP50WKN, means water flows downward through the hose. The hose must discharge to a drain/sink/bucket that is lower than the dehumidifier's outlet. The alternative is pump-assisted drainage, which does the opposite. Water is pumped upward through the hose, as found in the GE Dehumidifier APER50LZ. Handy if you want to run the pipe out the window or into a standard sink.

In short, if you can empty the tank regularly and don't need to run the dehumidifier continuously, you can likely make do with a model that has only a water tank. If you have very damp rooms or require 24/7 hands-off operation, and have a suitable location for the drainage pipe, continuous drainage may require less maintenance and make more sense.

Portability

As you've probably established by now, some units are designed to be left in one place (typically the larger ones with continuous drainage). Some are more suitable for moving from room to room. Some units have handles and/or wheels, like the LG UD501KOG5, which can make even heavier units easier to move from A to B. Check these things before making a purchase.

Features

We recommend that if you have a unit with a water tank that needs to be emptied, you purchase a unit with an auto-shutdown feature, which stops the machine from running once the water tank is full. Otherwise, you can end up with a bigger mess on your hands than you started with!

Some dehumidifiers have "smart" features. For example, the Honeywell white TP50WK Energy Star actively monitors your space, adjusting modes based on the moisture level it detects.

Some models have auto-start, which means that if there is a power cut, they will automatically resume when power returns, without requiring manual intervention. Other models will have dedicated modes, like laundry mode; some will come with apps that alert you when the water tank is full or let you set schedules and control the unit remotely.

As we continue reviewing dehumidifiers, we will update our best dehumidifiers guide to include the models we recommend. No doubt we will start to see more features cropping up on newer units.

Consider the maintenance costs

The initial investment of buying a dehumidifier isn't the only cost: you will also need to account for the price of energy to run the appliance.

While it may cost more up front, you'll likely save more over time by buying an Energy Star-certified model. These models have undergone testing to ensure they meet strict energy-efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Department of Energy. In our best dehumidifiers guide, you can clearly see which models have an Energy Star rating.

The final thing to check is the dehumidifier's warranty. Our favorite dehumidifier, the Honeywell White TP50WK Energy Star, includes a generous 5-year warranty, while the GE Dehumidifier APER50LZ offers only a 1-year limited warranty.

January is peak season for fitness sales, with major discounts on gym memberships, fitness trackers, activewear and beginner-friendly exercise equipment. No wonder — it is a perfect opportunity for retailers to clear inventory and capitalize on all those "New Year, New You" resolutions.

For an exercise novice, however, this endless sea of workout gear and gadgets can be downright overwhelming. But if that is you, do not worry! You do not need a gym's worth of exercise equipment, a high-end Garmin watch or a professional athlete's wardrobe to begin. Starting simple is often the most effective strategy for a long-term lifestyle change — not to mention that it is much easier on the wallet.

With that in mind, we rounded up a list of essential, science-backed purchases for a beginner, prioritizing ease-of-use, safety and versatility. Plus, we sprinkled in some fitness deals to help your post-Christmas budget go that little bit further.

Here’s what to buy (and what to skip) to launch your fitness journey in strategic fashion — and save yourself some money in the process.

The essentials: Gear that gets you out the door

Before investing in a premium running watch or one of the best rowing machines, focus on the basics. Buying the right footwear and workout clothing is an essential first step on your fitness journey. This is not about fashion; it is about comfort and safety.

Footwear: Your most important investment

This is your non-negotiable purchase. Appropriate footwear helps you maintain good foot health, reduces the risk of injuries and boosts your overall well-being, according to a 2024 review published in the journal Applied Sciences. Choose shoes that are stable, comfortable to wear and suitable for your intended activities.

That said, do not get bogged down in premium brands and ultra-specialized shoes. Start with a quality pair of all-purpose trainers or cross-trainers. The best beginner-friendly options have a good balance of cushioning and stability for a mix of gym workouts, walking, jogging and low- to moderate-intensity aerobics. Good looks are just the cherry on top.

Workout clothing: It is all about comfort

Workout clothing should help you withstand the demands of intense exercise, not actively impede your attempts to get fit. Look for synthetic, moisture-wicking fabrics like polyester or spandex — they help regulate body temperature and prevent sweat from lingering on your skin, while cotton, for example, holds sweat and can cause chafing.

Then, focus on freedom of movement. A well-designed piece of activewear will allow for freedom of movement and not slip off or irritate your skin during intense workouts. Start with a few core pieces to build a rotation: a few tops and bottoms, several pairs of sports socks and, for women, a couple of good-quality sports bras.

Again, there is no need to invest in premium brands and highly specialized activewear; affordable lines from major retailers work perfectly fine. Comfort here is key — if you feel good, you are more likely to get moving.

The best retailers for finding deals on beginner-friendly workout clothing:

• Puma: Now up to 60% off on Puma Essentials and Puma Elevated Essentials
• Adidas: End of Year Sale with up to 60% off on shoes and activewear
• Reebok: End-of-Season Sale with up to 50% off selected styles
• CRZ Yoga: A budget alternative to Lululemon, now with up to 81% off on yoga pants, leggings, tops and jumpsuits
• Target's All in Motion: A highly-rated line of affordable workout clothing, running shoes and exercise equipment
• Amazon's Aurola: Soft and versatile workout tops and bottoms for under $35

The home-gym starter pack: Simple, space-savvy exercise equipment

While you may be tempted to splash out on a premium treadmill or super-smart exercise bike, hold off on the big purchases for now. You can build remarkable strength, endurance and mobility with basic, space-savvy equipment too, and at a much lower cost. A yoga mat, adjustable dumbbells and resistance bands, for example, are very beginner-friendly, offering maximum versatility with a minimal footprint.

If you are not entirely sure how to use them, look up beginner-friendly home exercise video tutorials or join an online fitness class. January fitness sales are not just about physical gear — many fitness apps and services are discounted, too, or offer free taster sessions. There is also plenty of good-quality content that is entirely free of charge.

Fitness trackers: A source of useful data and exercise advice

A well-chosen fitness tracker can provide a lot of valuable feedback and positive reinforcement in the early stages of your fitness journey. Counting your daily steps, tracking an active workout and reviewing your past activities can help you make more sense of your workouts and general progress.

Training by "feel" is hard for beginners, and continuous heart rate measurements provide objective data on your efforts. It helps you understand zones: are you in a moderate, fat-burning zone or pushing into high intensity? This ensures your easy days are genuinely promoting recovery and your hard days are truly effective.

Moreover, the goal-setting and "closing your rings" features (a visual representation of your progress towards your daily exercise goals) leverage gamification, and this in itself can be a powerful motivator. Not to mention, many fitness trackers come in handy outside of the gym or running track, too.

However, do not get swayed by the trends here. A basic Fitbit, Garmin or Apple Watch SE will track steps, heart rate, sleep, and active minutes just as well as the more advanced and expensive models. They also tend to be more beginner-friendly in terms of their user interfaces and the language they use to describe your fitness stats.

What NOT to buy (right away)

The allure of a shiny new machine is strong, but impulsive buys often become expensive clothes racks. Here are some tips on how to avoid costly mistakes as an exercise beginner.

Hold off on major equipment. Do not start by buying an expensive treadmill, elliptical, or full home-gym system. Use your foundational gear or a gym trial for one month at least. If you have consistently stuck with your routine, then research what machine would best suit the activities you have genuinely enjoyed.

Avoid over-specialization. You do not need cycling shoes until you are sure indoor cycling is your go-to sport. Similarly, you do not need Olympic weightlifting shoes for general strength training. Let your sustained interest guide niche purchases, not the other way around.

Beware of fads and "quick fix" gadgets. If a product promises insane results with minimal effort, it is likely selling a fantasy. Sustainable fitness is built on consistent effort, not electrical muscle stimulators, ab belts or dodgy supplements. Stick to the good-old healthy diet and regular workouts, and you will be primed for success in 2026.

The bottom line

The goal of your initial purchases is not to equip a pro athlete from the get-go, but to minimize barriers to exercise and help you establish healthy habits. Every item should make it easier to say "yes" to your workout and harder to make an excuse.

This New Year, invest first in the basics that support consistency. Let your proven dedication over weeks and months, not your initial January enthusiasm, guide your future investments. Your journey starts not with the fanciest gear, but with the first step taken in the right shoes.

We hope that our list will help you do just that.

While finding the perfect Christmas gift is never easy, shopping for a nature lover can be particularly tricky. Outdoor enthusiasts find their joy not in possessions, but in experiences: a peaceful hike in the forest, a challenging mountain summit or a long session of birdwatching. If you want to give them something genuinely useful and meaningful, aim for gifts that either enhance their knowledge of the natural world, solve a practical problem they face outdoors, or support their safety and well-being when they embark on adventures in the wild.

So, what should you look for then, exactly? We will lend you a helping hand here. Our nature-loving expert reviewers have curated the best gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiasts on your holiday list. Whether they are seasoned backpackers, casual weekend hikers, or dedicated birdwatchers, these 22 items will provide them with the tools and inspiration to fuel their passion for the natural world.

Navigation tools: GPS watches and handheld devices

For the explorer who wants to track their journey and navigate the wilderness with confidence, a good GPS device is a must. While these take various forms, by far the most popular are wrist-worn fitness trackers — and for a good reason. Many high-end models, such as some of the best Garmin watches, for example, can not only map a route and track elevation gain, but also monitor training load during a hike and even predict weather changes. If you are considering a GPS watch for your loved one, look for features that align with their favorite activities. For example, long battery life will come in handy during multi-day treks, topographic map support is useful for off-trail navigation, while specific sports modes for trail running, Nordic walking, or rock climbing will help them be more meticulous with tracking their fitness stats.

That said, wrist-worn devices are not for everyone. Many nature enthusiasts prefer handheld devices, mostly because they tend to have a longer battery life, more advanced navigation features and a bigger, more detailed screen. If your intended recipient loves venturing to the most remote corners of the planet, a handheld GPS may be a more suitable option for them than a watch.

• Related: How to choose the best smartwatch for your loved one, according to an expert: The ultimate Christmas gift guide

Trail cameras

If you want to photograph and observe local wildlife in their natural habitat without disturbing them, get a trail camera. Trail cameras are weatherproof devices that live outside for longer periods, usually attached to a tree, with motion sensors that trigger the camera to start recording when it senses that an animal has come close to it. A true wildlife camera is likely out of budget as a gift, so these automated devices are the next best thing.

Binoculars

Binoculars are a fantastic lightweight companion for a variety of outdoor adventures. Many compact binoculars are small enough to fit in your coat pocket, and the best binoculars for birdwatching need clear and detailed optical quality to track birds in flight.

A pair of 8x42s is perfect for bird-watching, but if you're buying for someone who would prefer to observe objects not on Earth, a pair of the best stargazing binoculars with a higher magnification will be better suited.

Books and guides

Sometimes the best adventures begin in an armchair. For an outdoor enthusiast, a well-chosen book can fuel their passion and provide a huge source of inspiration for future adventures. There are plenty of options to consider here, and the choice will ultimately depend on what your recipient is likely to enjoy the most. Frequent travellers, for example, tend to like trip planners and detailed guidebooks to places they dream of visiting, complete with trail maps, local lore and good-to-know tips. Nature lovers appreciate beautifully designed photography books that showcase the majesty of our planet and field guides for identifying birds, trees, mushrooms or celestial constellations. Kids, on the other hand, are typically big fans of colorful books filled with fun facts about animals.

• Related: Best science books for kids and young adults

Outdoor clothing and accessories

Any nature lover knows that what you wear can make or break your outdoor experience. Warm clothing, especially outerwear pieces, such as fleece jackets, waterproof ponchos and insulating mid-layers, come in very handy during the cold winter months, and this alone makes it an excellent Christmas gift. Under two conditions, that is: the gifted clothing has to be the right size, and it has to suit the lifestyle and preferences of the recipient.

If you are unsure about their size and needs, aim for accessories instead. Socks, hats and gaiters are a much safer bet than clothing, but they are equally indispensable when it comes to ensuring comfort and safety. Besides, who does not need a new pair of socks? Exactly. Not to mention, accessories tend to be considerably easier on the wallet than large pieces of outdoor wear.

Hiking essentials: Power banks, headlamps and water bottles

Every outdoor enthusiast has a pack full of essentials, but there is always room for a thoughtful upgrade or a clever tool they have not thought of or discovered yet. This category is perfect for filling those practical gaps. For example, a powerful, lightweight headlamp with a red-light mode (to preserve night vision) may be a game-changer for setting up camp after dark or reading in a tent. A compact, high-capacity power bank ensures their phone or GPS stays charged at all times, and even if they already have one of those, every nature lover will easily find a way to make use of another one. Other good gift ideas may include a personal water filter, a versatile multi-tool, or a waterproof, foldable sitting pad that can be a lifesaver for when the weather on the trail is less than ideal.

With Christmas less than two weeks away, now is the time to focus on gift shopping. But what should you buy for the gym enthusiast in your life? The standard sweater or scented candle may not cut it, and finding a gift that complements their passion can be truly daunting if you are not versed in an active lifestyle. The best fitness gifts are those that show you understand and support their dedication to self-improvement. They should either enhance their training, optimize their recovery, or simply make their gym life a little more efficient and enjoyable.

Confused? Do not worry. We have curated a list of the 23 best fitness gifts, blending practicality, innovation, and a touch of luxury to help your favorite athlete level up their training routine in the New Year. You can trust us here — we have worked in the fitness industry for more than a decade now, and know a thing or two about what constitutes a great fitness gift. With these ideas, you can skip the guesswork and give your loved one something they will truly make use of.

• Related: The best gifts for nature lovers and outdoor explorers

Massage guns and recovery tools

Forget basic foam rollers — the real game changers for post-exercise stiffness and muscle knots are percussion massage guns. These powerful handheld devices deliver targeted percussive therapy (rapid pulses or vibrations to the muscles), helping to alleviate soreness, increase blood flow and improve range of motion after intense workouts. If your loved one trains hard for a sporting event and/or tends to struggle with DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), giving them one of the best massage guns will show that you care just as much about their rest and well-being as you do about their effort.

• More buying advice: Theragun vs Hypervolt: Which is best?

Running headphones and sports earbuds

Every fitness buff knows that the right soundtrack can turn a good workout into a great one. Noise-cancelling headphones are a perfect gift for a gym lover — they will block out the clanging weights, distracting conversations and underwhelming gym playlists, immersing them fully in their own auditory zone and helping them achieve their best. Make sure that the headphones are fully sweatproof, with a customizable fit and a good battery life, and, most importantly, are compatible with your intended recipient's phone.

Mind you, if your fitness lover is more of an outdoor than an indoor exerciser, they may prefer one of the best bone conduction headphones instead. They have an open-ear design that allows for situational awareness, making them a better choice for runners and hikers. They are also the only headphone type that can be used underwater — if your loved one is a swimmer or triathlete, they will surely appreciate it.

Gym essentials: Gym duffle bags, water bottles and towels

An active lifestyle is not cheap, and not just because of the steep gym membership costs. The devil is in the details: you may need a reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated between sets, a towel to wipe out your sweat from the cardio machines, an ultra-grippy yoga mat to help you step up your Pilates sessions, a gym bag to keep all your bits and pieces in one place... The list goes on. This is why gym essentials make for fantastic gifts. If you can give your fitness-obsessed loved one something that will help them cut the costs of keeping fit, they will not be disappointed.

Fitness trackers: Smartwatches, skipping ropes and swimming goggles

It is not just Garmin watches and smart rings — these days, fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, from innovative digital skipping ropes that count your jumps to smart goggles that measure your stroke rate and other vital stats when doing laps in a pool. Choosing the best fitness tracker for your loved one can be a daunting task, but it is worth the effort. Gym lovers love to keep track of their workout endeavours, and they will always appreciate a gift that helps them make sense of their fitness stats and identify areas for improvement.

• More buying advice: How to choose the best smartwatch for your loved one, according to an expert: The ultimate Christmas gift guide

Fun fitness gifts: Games and trinkets

Fitness gifts do not have to be serious, quite the opposite. The tongue-in-cheek presents are a particularly good option if your loved one already has every possible gym item available, or if they are in dire need of workout inspiration. This Christmas, bring a smile to their face with a fun music boxing machine, fitness board game or a set of coasters shaped like weight plates.

Many of the best fitness trackers can perform well in the water but there are nuances to what they can do. The main difference is their water resistance rating, ideally with you wanting more than 5ATM (submersible up to 50 meters) and even some of the best budget fitness trackers can offer this. Some will be able to offer you customizable workouts, track your strokes and pace and give detailed data, whereas others will only be able to track your swimming distance through GPS.

Leo Gebbie, a Wearables Analyst, told us that more advanced smartwatches can offer deeper insights, which "can help more advanced swimmers to better track their performance in the water. Smartwatches with GPS also tend to offer an open water swimming mode." However, Leo warns against their accuracy: "The GPS signal is essentially lost every time the watch dips below the water, meaning it is far harder to obtain a smooth track of where a user has swum."

We've narrowed down our favorites to help you choose a fitness tracker to suit your swimming routine. Garmin watches haven't made an appearance in this guide, especially as we haven't personally reviewed their best fitness tracker for swimming, the Garmin Swim 2. But if a Garmin is what you're after, our best Garmin watches guide may be more relevant.

The quick list

The best fitness trackers for swimming we recommend in 2025

The best fitness tracker for swimming overall

The Polar Grit X is a solid fitness tracker that we mainly tested for runs and workouts but it does have great water resistance up to 100m. It has a range of battery life depending on what you're using it for, with the most being 100 hours in power-saving mode. Of course, if you're using it for open water swimming, you will be using the GPS and this brings it down to 40 hours which is still more than adequate, albeit a bit of a pain. Although it has a Gorilla Glass screen and stainless steel bezel, it's light weighing only 64g.

Price: The Polar Grit X is one of the more expensive fitness trackers out there, even though it is now considered an older model. It normally comes in around the $379 mark which sounds steep but it still packs a punch and is worth the investment if you don't mind not having the latest fitness tracker tech.

Water resistance: The reason we've rated this as the best overall is because of its amazing water resistance. You can wear this fitness tracker down to depths of 100m which means it is suitable for many types of swimming and what's even better, it is wearable in both pools and open waters.

Accuracy: What's surprising about this fitness tracker is its accuracy even though it is not the latest release. We tested it in runs and workouts and found it had decent stat accuracy with our reviewer commenting that for heart rate and location tracking, it worked "if not perfectly". It also performed well during our test workouts in recording our distances and locations, performing similarly to the Garmin Forerunner we tested against. For swimmers, the Polar Grit X can track your swims and identify your swimming style from four types with Polar noting that 'Freestyle' is the only swim style recognised for open water swims. The tracker can also record your times, pace, distance and rests for each swim.

However, one thing it lacks compared to newer models like the Garmin Epix 2, is multi-band GPS. Multi-band GPS uses different frequencies to reduce the errors caused by obstacles such as tall buildings or trees. This technology can help fitness trackers' accuracy when you're in more challenging environments. As the Polar Grit X doesn't have this, it's worth bearing this in mind if you swim in disused quarries or remote locations as accuracy may be affected.

Battery life: The Polar Grit X has various battery life depending on what you're using it for. For swimming, the GPS will be enabled so you can expect a mediocre battery life of 40 hours before it needs charging.

Design: The Gorilla Glass and stainless steel bezel make the Polar Grit X a highly durable fitness tracker that will last a long time. Even though it has the stainless steel bezel and Gorilla Glass screen, it remains light at 64g meaning it won't become too cumbersome while swimming. We also noted in our review that there was minimal use of color for the display and that sometimes the interface wasn't that intuitive so this is something to bear in mind if you lack patience.

Read more: Polar Grit X

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The best budget option

Xiaomi are a great option for anyone looking for a budget fitness tracker. We previously rated the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 quite highly, but have since tested the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 and can see where improvements have been made (and awarded it four and a half stars out of five in our review). The Smart Band 10 offers running courses, real-time underwater heart rate monitoring and sleep improvement plans — things that were not covered by its predecessor. Of course, the interesting one there for swimmers is the real-time underwater heart rate monitoring. Plus, it has 5ATM water resistance so you know it’s safe to swim with it on.

Price: This fitness tracker is unbelievably cheap for what it offers, coming in at $45. That’s staggering when it offers 150+ workout modes, 5ATM and 21-day battery life plus so much more.

Water resistance: With water resistance of 5ATM, you can safely swim with this fitness tracker on your wrist. In reality, this means the tracker can withstand pressure to the equivalent depth of 50 meters, which is more than sufficient for your average swim. While you can wear this watch for open water swimming, one thing to be mindful of is the fact that it doesn’t have its own GPS, so it will rely on your smartphone’s GPS. More expensive models have their own on-board GPS, therefore tracking may be a little more inaccurate if open water swimming.

Accuracy: As noted above, open water swimming tracking may be slightly less accurate than pool swimming due to the lack of independent GPS. However, we generally found the workout tracking on this fitness tracker to be accurate and, although we haven’t tested it in the water yet, we expect it to be good at capturing your lengths and turns in a pool.

Battery life: This is one of the best features of the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 — a genuine 21-day (or near enough) battery life. We only had to charge it once during our intensive testing period and even then, it had 17% remaining battery. For $45, you won’t be disappointed with the battery life, and when it comes to swimming, even if you go every day, you won’t have to worry about your tracker running out of juice partway through a swim.

Design: The slender and unobtrusive design of the smart band is ideal for those not wanting to feel they are wearing a bulky fitness tracker in the pool. With no external buttons either, there is nothing that will irritate your wrist or be accidentally nudged, leading to inaccurate readings. The straps are also interchangeable, so you can find the perfect one for your swims.

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The best alternative to a watch

The FORM Smart Swim 2 has been classed as the world's first smart goggles and if this is the starting point for this tech, we're excited to see where it goes in the future! There is a small unit on the side of one of the lenses which is where the tech lives. From here, a digital readout appears when you put the goggles on. As soon as you're in the water, the goggles are doing the work. It gives you real-time feedback on your heart rate, split times and distance and so much more. You can personalize this information to suit your needs. The great thing about these smart goggles is that you can focus on swimming while the tech captures all the information.

Price: We'd recommend these smart goggles for serious swimmers looking to improve their technique as they do not come cheap. They sell for around $279 so it's a big investment if you don't go swimming often.

Water resistance: Being a pair of swimming goggles, these are suitable for both pool and open water swims. They come with replaceable eye seals for added comfort and to secure the fit helping to reduce the chances of any water leaking in.

Accuracy: Our reviewer was impressed with the accuracy of the FORM Smart Swim 2 goggles and loved how the second you got in the water, they started tracking automatically. There was no need for her to press any buttons if she paused with it also detecting turns seamlessly. Our reviewer did mention ensuring you get the nose piece to fit properly as this is important for connection and thus accuracy of the data. It comes with 5 interchangeable nose pieces to help you get the perfect fit.

Battery life: These smart goggles have 14 hours of battery life on a single charge which is more than adequate for a swim or even a few! Our reviewer found a ten-minute boost before a swim gave two hours in the pool.

Design: Upon opening, you need to connect the goggles to the FORM app on your smartphone. The app guides you through the process of fitting the nose pieces. Once you're set-up, you can configure the app to show the data you want to see while swimming. The unit can be moved from the left or right eye and the display can be seen for prescriptions up to -3.

Read more: FORM Smart Swim 2

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The best for beginners

With the Coros Pace Pro being made with endurance athletes, runners and cyclists in mind, it more than suffices as a fitness tracker you can use while swimming. With 5ATM water resistance, you can wear this watch in pools or open water. There are various water sports modes you can choose from, such as open water swim, pool swim or flatwater. With endurance athletes as one of the main customers of this watch, it has been designed with triathletes in mind. So why are we recommending it as the best for beginners? That comes down to its easy-to-understand metrics that can be viewed in the app, which are all explained in good detail.

Price: The Coros Pace Pro typically costs around $299. So while being quite pricey for beginners, it is a good investment for those wanting to use a fitness tracker for more than just swimming.

Water resistance: With 5ATM water resistance, this means you can swim in pools and open water to a depth of 50 meters. What this means in reality is that the watch can withstand pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters. And, while 5ATM may not be the best water resistance for an adventure watch such as this in terms of endurance events, it more than suffices for your average swim. You can also wear this watch when showering, in the rain and it can easily withstand light splashes.

Accuracy: Overall, we found the accuracy of the Coros Pace Pro to be good. We mainly tested it during hiking, but found the GPS tracking to be great. This bodes well if you wish to use the GPS tracking for open water swimming. However, we did find that the heart rate measurement may not always be as accurate. When it comes to swimming, the watch uses its accelerometer and internal compass to detect turns when in pool swim mode, and it also captures lengths swam.

Battery life: The Coros Pace Pro offers good battery life with either 20 days when in watch mode or 38 hours when in GPS mode. Depending on what you’ll be using this watch for (and whether or not GPS is important to you), you will get varied battery life out of it. For pool swimmers, GPS isn’t necessary, so you may get the extended 20-day battery life.

Design: While most adventure watches are bulky and sometimes a little uncomfortable to wear, the Coros Pace Pro sets itself apart as we found this light and comfortable on our wrist — a bonus when in the water, too. The display is bright and colorful, with good visibility in various lighting conditions, which is ideal when under blaring swimming pool lights or in bright daylight when open water swimming. The silicone strap was also comfortable to wear.

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The best for subtlety

The Whoop MG has an unusual design compared to other fitness trackers due to there being no screen. This is refreshing as screens dictate so much of our lives — it's wonderful to be allowed to be present during a swim. The lack of a screen wasn't that much of an issue for us, although our reviewer did note it better suits activities where you don't need to check your stats during the session, swimming being one. The Whoop MG is great for swimming as there is no need to faff with buttons and screens before getting in the water, all you need to do is get in and swim. The tracker sends the data to your phone through a Bluetooth connection so you can browse in-depth fitness data from your swim afterwards, perhaps over a coffee.

Price: The Whoop MG is based on a monthly subscription service. You can pay for various memberships with the 24 month membership working out around $16 per month whereas the annual is around $19 a month. However, you can get a one-month trial for free.

Water resistance: This fitness tracker has the lowest water resistance rating of our selection, with it being submergible in depths of 10m. Whoop also say it can only be submerged for a maximum of two hours. This is still sufficient for swimming but ensure your swim as shallow and kept shorter. Our reviewer did test this tracker during a wild water swim and it held up fine. However, Whoop advise it's best used in chlorinated water.

Accuracy: The highlight of the Whoop MG is the strain and recovery scores. We found the strain and recovery scores a good tool for knowing how prepared we were for exercise and for help in adjusting our workouts. There are also individual metrics that the tracker monitors. With all of this data, it helps you to understand yourself better and make better habits. It does more than just monitor your swims — it can let you know how much you can handle in your next swim and which behaviours might be hindering your performance.

Battery life: Whoop states a solid battery life of 7-8 days which, with 24/7 health monitoring, is impressive. It is also more than sufficient for those wanting to take it swimming. We loved how we could charge the battery pack independently of the sensors so you never lose health tracking.

Design: People won't know you're wearing a fitness tracker with the Whoop MG — it's so subtle in its design. The strap is also unlike other fitness trackers being a 'SuperKnit' design. You can tighten or loosen the strap like a rucksack strap before placing it over your hand onto your wrist. Another highlight of the Whoop MG is the daily journal as this helps you log things outside of your exercise to help you see patterns in what you're eating, drinking or doing and how this is impacting your recovery score.

Read more: Whoop MG

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The best for customization

The Apple Watch Series 8 is a great fitness watch for swims. It has a water resistance rating of 5ATM meaning it is water resistant to 50m and suitable for swimming but not heavy-duty watersports or diving. Depending on the exact model of the Apple Watch Series 8 that you get, the weight can be anything from 32g to 52g — a reasonable weight for a swim. The GPS is also good on this watch and although we didn't test it in the water, it should be able to track your outdoor swims with ease.

Price: The Apple Watch Series 8 sells for around $250 which isn't bad considering what this watch has to offer with specialist swimming workout modes.

Water resistance: This watch has a 5ATM water resistance rating meaning you can use it for swimming. Apple says you can use this watch for both pool and open water swimming with its own mode for open water swimming.

Accuracy: The Apple Watch Series 8 has good accuracy in terms of its stats and measurements. Our reviewer particularly liked that there were more mid-exercise statistics offered, compared to previous models, for a deeper dive into your health and workouts. The GPS on Apple Watches is always great which bodes well for any outdoor swims you might want to track.

Battery life: This is where this watch falls short — only 18 hours of battery. This isn't surprising seeing as Apple watches are renowned for lower battery life. There is a low-power mode that turns off WiFi and 4G and the 'Always-on' display mode. It also reduces the amount of notifications from your iPhone. This feature can save you some battery which is why it may suit those wanting to use it for particular workouts, like swimming, or for those not bothered about tracking every second of their day.

Design: We found the watch comfortable to wear with the strap causing us very few problems. Our reviewer was impressed with the graphics with him commenting that the "on-screen graphics are even richer than what you’d see in a high-end Garmin." Sadly, we found the app menu to be overloaded with icon dots and no titles making it harder for those unfamiliar with Apple watches to know what each app does. However, the USP of the Apple watch is the fact that it works with third-party apps so you can plan a swim training session on one app and sync it to your watch for when you're in the pool. Even better, if you'd rather not use third-party apps, you can customize your workouts straight on your watch. Best of both worlds.

Read more: Apple Watch Series 8

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The best multisport watch

Being a close contender with the Garmin Forerunner 970, the Suunto Race 2 is one of the best multisport watches currently available. It has an extensive array of workout tracking features, including various swimming modes such as pool and open water swims and the ability to track over 115 workouts — and even includes those you may never have heard of, such as mermaiding! Plus, it costs less than other premium watches, such as Garmin watches, so there’s plenty to like.

Price: The Suunto Race 2 typically costs around $499, which sounds like a lot, but this watch offers a huge amount for this price. Plus, it’s $250 cheaper than its close competitor, the Garmin Forerunner 970.

Water resistance: While 5ATM is more than sufficient for pool and open water swims, the Suunto Race 2 offers 10ATM. This effectively means it can withstand pressure down to the equivalent of 100 meters. So, not only is it ideal for pool and open water swims, but you can also wear this watch when partaking in various water sports, such as snorkelling.

Accuracy: The GPS navigation on the Suunto Race 2 performed well. This watch has five satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU), which is what places it up with the Garmin and Coros watches. Open water mode uses this GPS to track your swim. We generally found the tracking to be accurate on this watch across both workout modes and sleep. Sadly, some features were less accurate, such as calories burned and step count. Furthermore, the heart rate tracking was a bit iffy at times, which may be a bugbear when it comes to swimming. However, the swimming modes on this watch capture stroke count and heart rate, as well as having extra features, such as SuuntoPlus Swim Sections & Drills, for those looking to enhance their performance.

Battery life: Offering either 18 days in watch mode or 55 hours in GPS mode, the Suunto Race 2 gives you great battery life, which takes the faff out of having to constantly pop it on charge.

Design: With its stainless steel or titanium finish, this watch is durable, making it ideal to wear for a variety of sports. You can also swap and change up the straps, which is a nice customization. We liked this watch’s design as it felt more feminine than other sports watches, with its sleek and elegant design. During our two-month testing period, it never scratched or showed any signs of wear and tear.

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Best fitness trackers for swimming: Comparison

Our expert consultants

Best fitness trackers for swimming: Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best fitness tracker for swimming for you:

Consider where you'll be swimming: Most fitness trackers can handle pool swimming so as long as you have sufficient water resistance for swimming, you can choose any of our favorite fitness trackers in this guide. However, for those of you more likely to engage in open-water swimming, be sure to check the manufacturer's guidance before purchasing. Some fitness trackers perform better in pools than in open water. You will also want to check the GPS function of any fitness tracker you're thinking of buying for open-water swimming. As mentioned by Leo Gebbie, our expert, the GPS signal is lost every time the arm dips below the water so you will want decent GPS tracking to ensure a more accurate distance is captured.

Consider the battery life: You may want to wear your new fitness tracker all day, every day, to track your other health stats as well as your swims. If you're not likely to have anywhere to charge it every day, for example, you're on the go a lot, we suggest going for one that lasts longer. If charging on the go isn't an issue for you, battery life won't restrict you much, apart from having time regularly where the watch can't track your health stats.

Level of swimming: Some fitness trackers are more suited to those partaking in triathlons or undertaking serious training to improve whereas others are sufficient for the everyday person who is looking to increase their fitness. Be sure you choose a fitness tracker based on your level of swimming and the sort of data you will find useful to improve your swimming. The level of detail you may want may be different to someone else. Rather than get carried away in the tech and what the watches can do, consider if you need it to do it for you. Otherwise, we may have a great fitness tracker but you may not be using many of its functions!

How we tested these best fitness trackers for swimming

How we test the best fitness trackers for swimming

Location: All of the fitness trackers in this guide have been tested and reviewed by our expert team here at Livescience. Our reviewers tested these fitness trackers during home workouts, gym workouts, hiking and runs. The Whoop and Form Smart Swim 2 were tested in the water. Although we haven't tested all of the fitness trackers in this guide during swimming sessions, we did our research as to how they performed for others in the water. We can vouch for them being reliable fitness trackers and decent brands with them featuring in our best fitness trackers guide.

Length of time tested for: Our reviewers had the products for a while, with most being tested for over a month during various workouts and worn day-to-day to capture the health stats. The trackers were also worn during sleep. The Form Smart Swim 2 are the exception with them only being tested in the water.

What tests do we do: The majority of these fitness watches were tested in the gym, during home workouts, hiking and runs. The Whoop and Form Smart Swim 2 were tested in the water. The Whoop was tested during a wild swimming session whereas the Form Smart Swim 2 was tested in the pool and open water.

Expertise of writers: All of our reviewers have years of experience in the health and fitness world.

Products we've also tested

Here are some other fitness trackers we've tested. They are all suitable for swimming and as none of the Garmins we tested made it into this guide, we've included a couple below in case you're a big Garmin fan.

Bone conduction headphones have an open-ear design, allowing you to remain aware of your surroundings. While unconventional, this design tweak has some tangible benefits. For example, bone conduction headphones can keep runners and hikers alert to oncoming traffic and other people on the trail. They are also a preferable choice for people with certain types of hearing loss, ear canal issues and those prone to ear infections. The waterproof models, on the other hand, can help swimmers hear sounds underwater. Put simply, bone conduction headphones do everything that even some of the best 'regular' running headphones can't do.

That said, they may not suit everyone. Bone conduction headphones transmit sound through vibrations on the bones of the skull, bypassing the eardrum and directly stimulating the inner ear. As a result, they will not be able to produce the same audio quality or offer the same degree of noise cancellation as in-ear or over-ear headphones, Shruthi Raghavendra Ph.D., a cognitive neuroscience researcher specializing in hearing aids and consumer audio systems, told Live Science. If you want to know about the pros and cons of bone conduction headphones, scroll down to the FAQs section. Not sure where to start? Go to the How to Choose section for more buying advice.

Here are the top 12 air and bone conduction headphones we recommend this spring, from premium headbands designed for swimmers to budget-friendly picks. Most of these products we tried and tested ourselves, while some are highlighted due to their superior specifications and positive user feedback.

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