We test dozens of wearables and fitness trackers every year. Only the very best, newest, and most innovative make it into print. But there are tons of updated or niche products that are worthy of your attention, too. Here they are.
Upright Go 2 ($100)
This little pod is annoying—in a good way! You stick it to the back of your neck, either via adhesive or a necklace (sold separately for $20), and when you slouch, it vibrates, reminding you to sit up straight. It can be infuriating, but posture is extremely important for the long-term health of your neck and back. The app also features daily coaching and exercises for further improving your posture. —Brent Rose, wearable tech tester
Garmin Venu 2 ($400)
Somewhere in between an Apple Watch and a Garmin Fenix lies the Venu 2. It’s a full-fledged smartwatch with downloadable music, Garmin Pay, and GPS for when you want to leave your phone at home. It has a vibrant and bright touchscreen and 11-day battery life. It tracks your vitals 24/7, including heart rate, stress, respiration, sleep, and pulse oximetry. What it doesn’t have is offline maps or as many activity modes as the Fenix, and some of the slicker smartwatch features you’d find in an Apple Watch. —B.R.
Fitbit Ace 3 ($80)
This little band helps you ensure your kid (age six and up) is getting enough exercise and rest. An eight-day battery life means it’s always counting your little one’s steps and active minutes, evaluating their quality of sleep, and reminding them to move with fun incentives for hitting goals. It’s also waterproof to 50 meters and comes with interchangeable straps kids will actually want to wear. The updated Ace has a better display than version 2, as well as several more days of battery life, but we didn’t think it was a big enough evolution to make our shortlist. —B.R.
Suunto 7 Titanium Watch (from $399)
This watch has it all—more than 70 different sport modes, access to a full suite of Google apps, built-in offline outdoor maps, a wrist-based heart rate monitor, and advanced sleep tracking and analysis. It comes with an ultra-soft microfiber wrist strap and a 48-hour battery life. The Suunto 7 has been out for two years now (this is simply an updated version, with a lighter weight titanium body), which is why it didn’t earn one of our limited print slots. —Svati Narula, women’s running tester