11 Best Fitness Trackers for Small Wrists

Despite its old-school digital watch design, the Garmin Instinct Solar fitness watch is relatively compact, albeit slightly on the thick side.

It’s packed with lots of useful features and is especially good for outdoor activities. This fitness tracker is tough, rugged, and, best of all, gets its power from the sun.

Pros

• Easy to read LCD display
• Very long battery life
• Built-in GPS
• 30+ activity tracking modes
• Built-in optical heart rate sensor
• Compatible with heart rate chest straps
• Available in five colors
• Very tough and rugged
• Very accurate GPS system
• Easy to use
• Highly water and dustproof

Cons

• Data fields are pretty small
• No music storage
• You cannot add extra apps/modes
• Strap only comes on one size

Buyers Guide

Consider the following before parting with your hard-earned money and buying a fitness tracker…

Price ranges – you can buy an activity tracker for less than $100, more than $1000, and everywhere in between. Budget-priced activity trackers don’t have as many features, are usually less accurate, and have shorter battery lives.

But, if you are an occasional exerciser or don’t need precise activity feedback, these may not be disadvantages.

On the flip side, more expensive fitness trackers are typically packed with features and last a long time between charges. However, you could end up paying for features and modes you never use and don’t need.

Decide why you want a fitness tracker, develop your wish list of features, and then set your budget. That way, you should have no problem finding the right product for your needs.

Sizes – some fitness trackers are bigger and thicker than others. If you’ve got small hands or slender wrists, a large fitness tracker could look out of place and could even be uncomfortable.

A lot of trackers are available in two sizes but still offer the same functions. Make sure you check the tracker’s size and look for pictures of them being worn to get an idea of how the watch will look on your wrist. 40 mm or less is a good size for people with smaller wrists.

Strap size – most fitness trackers, have adjustable straps suitable for all wrist sizes. Just cinch the strap in so it fits snugly but not too tightly.

Some models come with two traps, one large and one smaller, so you can use the one that fits best. You may also be able to buy an aftermarket strap if you want a shorter one. Either way, you should have no problem getting a strap that fits even the slimmest wrist.

Display size – the bigger the watch, the larger the display will be. That said, some fitness trackers have larger displays than others. It all depends on how much of the watch front is the display screen and how much is the watchcase.

A bigger display screen is generally easier to use, and you’ll be able to more information about your workout.

That said, if you’ve got great eyesight, you’ll probably have no problem with a smaller display. Users with less than perfect vision may benefit from a larger display.

Heart Rate Monitor – most activity trackers have built-in optical heart rate sensors. They detect the blood flow through the back of your wrist to measure your pulse and heart rate.

Optical heart rate sensors are reasonably accurate, but that accuracy depends on things like the number of optical sensors, the position of your wrist, how well the watch fits, the presence of moisture, and the activity you are doing.

If you want 100% heart rate accuracy, look for activity trackers compatible with wireless heart rate chest straps, usually sold separately. This measures the electrical activity of your heart and is as accurate as an EKG.

Additional features – modes, apps, and features vary from model to model. GPS (global positioning system) is helpful if you want to accurately track your workouts or use your tracker for mapping or navigation.

Other useful features to look for include sleep monitoring, different activity tracking modes, navigation, weather station, music storage, third-party app compatibility, waterproofness (as opposed to water resistance), and things like altitude and air pressure.

Needless to say, very few people need all these features, so think about what you need your tracker to do, and then look for the product that best meets your requirements.

Battery and Charging – activity tracker batteries can last anywhere from a couple of days to two weeks or more. It depends on the quality of the battery, how power-hungry the apps/modes are, and how often/long you use your tracker.

Most will provide at least a few days of use in standard watch mode before needing to be charged. However, in use, you may be limited to 20-40 hours before needing to charge.

Most activity trackers are charged via USB cable, but there are wireless charging options, and some even have solar charging.

Bottom Line

While you probably don’t NEED a fitness tracker to get fit and lose weight, they’re a valuable addition to your workout armory. Using a fitness tracker makes it easier to monitor your progress and work toward your goals. They can be very motivating, and it’s often interesting to see the various metrics of your workout, such as calories burned or peak heart rate.

Some activity trackers can take you through workouts, such as interval training, and you may even be able to race yourself by replaying a previous activity.

All these amazing functions invariably mean that most fitness trackers are pretty big. After all, there is a lot of tech to cram into what is essentially a wrist-mounted computer. Because of this, a lot of people find fitness trackers intrusive, ungainly, and even uncomfortable. But, to get the most from a fitness tracker, most are best worn 24/7.

The good news is that there are plenty of slimline designs that are ideal for people with smaller wrists and hands.

Use the information in this guide to find the best fitness tracker for small wrists. While most are bigger and thicker than the average fashion watch, there are still some slimline models that are light, slender, and less bulky. Visit the Fitness Equipment Reviews homepage for more expert product reviews & fitness resources.