Are wearables legit? We stress-tested the best fitness trackers and had an expert weigh in

Forget fancy handbags and designer jewelry. Today’s hottest accessory is a sleek, slim fitness tracker that can tell you everything from how well you slept to how stressed you are.

And it’s not just serious biohackers, health nuts, or celebs who wear fitness trackers. Every day, health-conscious people are embracing the trend, too. It is now estimated that a third of Americans use some form of wearable.

Brands like Oura, Garmin, Apple, and Samsung dominate the market, but a growing number of emerging companies are also competing, each offering its own unique features and designs.

Even politicians have jumped on the wearable trend. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked debate after suggesting that every American should wear one, arguing that these devices provide the insights people need to take charge of their health and well-being.

“My vision is every American is wearing a wearable within four years,” the Secretary of Health and Human Services told a House subcommittee back in June. “It’s a way of people taking control over their own health. They can take responsibility.”

Today’s top fitness trackers can monitor everything from heart rate and sleep cycles to stress levels and blood oxygen, with some even tracking glucose responses to meals and making predictions about women’s menstrual cycles.

The Post consulted Gary Brecka, a famed human biologist and biohacker who founded Ultimate Human, for more insights into the wearable trend and what to look for in a fitness-tracking device.

Are fitness trackers worth it?

“Wearables have become popular because people are finally realising that health is not just about how many steps you took or how many calories you burned,” Brecka explained. ” The real value is in understanding how your body is responding to sleep, stress, training, recovery, travel, alcohol, food and daily habits.”

For Brecka, the benefit isn’t the data itself. The health entrepreneur says the most important aspect of wearables is how they influence people’s behavior.

“The benefit is when that data changes behaviour,” he shared. “A wearable should help you see patterns in your physiology — heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep quality and recovery — so you can make better decisions before the body has to shout at you through fatigue, injury or illness.”

Below, The Post has pieced together the ultimate guide to the top wearables of 2026 — featuring models backed by Brecka, as well as brands that have been stress-tested by the Post Wanted shopping team.

Best Fitness Tracker Ring: Oura Ring 5

The Oura Ring 5 is one of the latest additions to the fitness tracker category, featuring a slimmer, more refined design without sacrificing performance.

Oura claims the fifth-generation ring is 40% smaller than previous models, while still delivering impressive health-tracking capabilities. But it’s the sleek aesthetic and lightweight, comfortable design that truly set it apart from some of the bulkier smartwatches, making it a favorite among both experts and our team.

“I like how this wearable is inconspicuous and blends in as a piece of jewelry,” shared Brecka.

Designed to be worn like jewelry, the Gen 5 tracks up to 50 health metrics with what the brand calls “research-grade accuracy.” Plus, with a battery life of up to a week, you’ll rarely need to take it off. It’s also waterproof up to 100 meters (rated IP68) and designed to withstand the heat of saunas or hot tubs.

“These do a good job tracking sleep data, especially with skin temperature readings,” Brecka added. “They’re a lot less focused on the recovery metrics, though, which is something I need to track with all of my travel and high-impact physical activity.”

We’ve tested the Oura Ring 5 ourselves and were impressed by how easy the app is to navigate. The $6/month subscription is an added cost; however, the insights are quite valuable. Every day, users receive updated Sleep, Stress, Activity and Readiness scores, providing a snapshot of performance and recovery.

Personally, it’s helped me tailor my workouts and diet by showing when my body needs more rest and when it’s ready to push harder. I also enjoy tracking my long-term progress. The ring even estimates your cardiovascular age and allows you to compare metrics with friends through the Circles feature.

The Oura Ring 5 also expands on the brand’s Symptom Radar feature, with metrics for daytime and nighttime blood pressure as well as nighttime breathing. My ring has actually detected the early signs of a cold before my symptoms fully set in. That, to me, is the real selling point of the Oura Ring 5.

Set up: To set up your Oura Ring, download the Oura app and set up an account with your email. Then, place the ring on its charger until the LED blinks blue. Next, enable Bluetooth on your phone and follow the prompts to personalize your ring and activate your membership.

Weight: 2-2.7 grams | Color Options: 6 options | Battery Life: Up to 7 days | GPS: No | Waterproof: Yes

Best Screenless Fitness Tracker: WHOOP 5.0

WHOOP isn’t just another smartwatch. The sleek, screen-free band is powered by a subscription-based health optimization platform, with memberships starting at $199/year.

It’s more expensive than some other subscriptions, but it’s designed to provide 24/7 biometric data to help users optimize both their physical and mental health. Experts like Brecka say they appreciate that the platform is focused on overall wellness rather than simply tracking activity.

“I like WHOOP 5.0 because it is built around recovery, sleep, strain and HRV rather than trying to be another smartwatch,” said Brecka. “The value is in passive, continuous tracking that helps you understand how your body is responding to training, sleep and stress, so you can make a better decision about whether to push or recover,” he explained.

WHOOP tracks key health metrics, including respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen, using that data to generate a daily Recovery Score that reflects your body’s readiness to perform. It also offers tools and resources so users can better manage stress and anxiety.

Brecka does have one consideration with WHOOP and other wearables that provide a single score. “What I would always watch with any wearable is over-reliance on a single score,” he warned. “The trend matters more than one bad morning.”

Fortunately, WHOOP goes beyond recovery by also emphasizing well-being. Its AI-powered WHOOP Coach provides real-time insights into cognitive and emotional stress, helping users identify patterns and potential triggers. It also recommends science-backed breathing exercises designed to calm the nervous system and support recovery.

Another standout feature is the impressive battery life, offering up to 14 days of continuous tracking on a single charge. The WHOOP 5.0 is also IP68-rated, water-resistant and submersible up to 10 meters, with a recommended operating temperature range of 15 to 140 degrees.

It’s a solid choice for anyone who wants a streamlined, screen-free wearable that delivers actionable health insights, especially if you’re willing to pay a premium.

Set up: Charge the WHOOP sensor for about 15 minutes prior to pairing. Then, download the WHOOP app, create your account and select your membership plan. Then, pair your new HOOP via Bluetooth. Note that you must slide the battery pack or charger onto the Whoop strap to put it into pairing mode.

Weight: 26.5 grams | Color Options: N/A | Battery Life: Up to 14 days | GPS: No | Waterproof: Yes

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is considered one of the best smartwatches for serious athletes, runners and those focused on optimizing performance. It features an advanced, optical Elevate Gen 5 sensor, which delivers accurate heart rate monitoring across your workouts.

“A really great wearable, but a very high price point,” notes Brecka. “I like the Garmin Forerunner for endurance running and activity tracking. For someone not training for a triathlon, it may be a bit overkill and a bit expensive.”

Garmin watches can require a bit of a learning curve, as navigating the interface involves a 5-button layout for scrolling and starting/stopping tracking. However, for users who are serious about training, the depth of features and performance insights can make that adjustment worth it.

The watch automatically calculates your default heart rate zones, while also allowing customization zones for different sports, such as running, cycling or swimming. Users can manually adjust maximum and resting heart rates to set goals and personalize their training sessions.

While the heart rate tracking is quite accurate on its own, the 970 is also compatible with Garmin chest strap heart rate monitors for even more precise heart rate data.

GPS tracking is another standout feature of the Garmin Forerunner 970. The watch offers built-in Multi-Band GNSS for accurate navigation in both dense cities and remote trails. And, with full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions, it offers reliable, easy-to-follow navigation. It even has a built-in LED flashlight.

As for battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 970 lasts an impressive 15 days when it’s in smartwatch mode and up to 26 hours in standard GPS mode. The brand notes that this specific model requires more power than some other Garmin models due to it’s significaly brighter AMOLED screen.

While comparing Garmin watches to Apple smartwatches, our team found Garmin ranked much higher in durability. The 970 features a large, easy-to-read screen with a titanium bezel and sapphire display built to withstand scratches and dents. It’s heavier than some other watches, but still comfortable for everyday wear.

For those after a hardcore training device that can be taken just about anywhere — think everything from triathlons to treks through the wilderness — the Garmin 970 may be your best bet.

Set up: First, make sure the watch is charged, and then turn on the watch by holding the light button. Next, select your language and scan the on-screen QR code. From there, new users will be directed to download the Garmin Connect Mobile App to create an account. Then, you can link your Garmin via Bluetooth.

Weight: 56 grams | Color Options: 3 options | Battery Life: Up to 15 days | GPS: yes | Waterproof: Yes

Most people are already familiar with the Apple ecosystem and the very robust Apple Watch family.

These smartwatches are designed to be easy to navigate and integrate seamlessly with your iPhone, offering calls, texts, app use, Apple Pay and even Siri for answers to simple questions. For anyone looking for an all-around smartwatch that can handle needs beyond fitness tracking, it’s a great option.

The Ultra 2 still packs pretty advanced health features, such as the Vitals app for overnight tracking, ECG readings, a temperature sensor for cycle tracking and detailed Sleep Stages monitoring. However, Brecka says this watch lacks some of the insights that more serious health enthusiasts may desire.

“I like the Apple Watch because it has a lot of great data collection, but doesn’t give you as much of the actionable advice” he explained.

“If you’re really tuned into these metrics, what they mean, and how you can improve them, this is a great option. But if you want some more guidance, this could end up just being more data collection than anything life-changing.”

While it may not provide the most detailed guidance compared with some fitness-focused competitors, the Ultra 2 does offer impressive safety features, including an 86-decibel Siren, Emergency SOS with satellite capabilities, Crash and Fall Detection and Backtrack that can help you retrace your steps.

Battery life is another area where the Ultra 2 falls behind some competitors, offering just 36 hours of normal use and 72 hours in low power mode. It reaches about 80% charge in an hour — and frequent charging may be a drawback for anyone who values continuous tracking.

Based on our testing, Apple still offers one of the most intuitive and easy-to-navigate interfaces available, so it’s a particularly strong choice for users who aren’t as tech-savvy. The watch functions more like a personal assistant than a health coach, but for some users, that might be more suited to their lifestyle.

Weight: 61.4 grams | Color Options: 2 colors | Battery Life: Up to 72 hours | GPS: Yes | Waterproof: Yes

Not all smartwatches are built equal, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra may be proof that a truly rugged design can win over customers, especially serious athletes, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Ultra is engineered to survive tough outdoor conditions with a sleek, amored titanium frame that is designed to withstand falls, bumps and pressure. It’s IP68 water resistant, suited for depths up to 100 meters, functions at altitudes from -500m to 9,000m and temperatures ranging from -4 to 133 degrees.

The super-bright display is a major highlight. Sleek sapphire crystal glass delivers up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, making your data easy to view in any environment and from different angles. And, the adaptive display automatically shifts to a red-light mode in low-light conditions.

In terms of fitness-tracking, it offers a few advanced metrics, such as Functional Threshold Power (FTP) ideal for cycling, a Multisport mode for triathlons and an enhanced BioActive Sensor for essential health tracking, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and sleep apnea detection.

While the Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in durability and design, battery life is one of its shortcomings. Its 590mAh battery typically lasts up to three days, depending on settings and usage.

“It’s a well-built smartwatch, but because it’s a smartwatch and not a dedicated tracker, the battery life is shorter than I’d like,” admits Brecka. “With full GPS running, it has to come off and charge every day.”

As far as the GPS goes, you can easily track your workouts and map routes as it’s supported by multiple satellite systems that allow tracking even in challenging environments with trees overhead. So for outdoor enthusiasts, the Samsung Ultra is still a smart bet.

Weight: 60.5 grams | Color Options: 4 colors | Battery Life: Up to 72 hours | GPS: Yes | Waterproof: Yes

Wearables FAQ

The Post consulted Gary Brecka to answer frequently asked questions about wearables and provide insight into which brands are best suited for different goals, fitness levels and health-tracking needs.

Which wearable brand owns the recovery and longevity market?

“I would not give that market to the company with the biggest screen or the most notifications,” explained Brecka. “The company that wins recovery and longevity will be the one that turns passive biometric data into simple, accurate and actionable guidance.”

Brecka says that there are a few brands that do this particularly well.

“WHOOP is very strong because it was built around recovery, strain, sleep and heart rate variability from the beginning. Oura is very strong because it is passive, discreet and particularly useful for sleep and recovery.”

He adds that Apple, Samsung and Google have enormous scale, but scale only matters if the data becomes useful.

“The winner will not be the device that gives people the most numbers. It will be the one that helps them understand when to push, when to recover, when to sleep, and when something in their physiology needs more attention,” he concluded.

Are screenless wearables the future of wearable technology?

“Yes, I think passive tracking is where this is moving,” shared Brecka. “The best wearable is the one that does not constantly pull you back into a screen. It should quietly collect the data, especially overnight, and then give you a few signals that actually matter.”

He stresses that “invisible cannot mean vague” — the data still need to be accurate and the wearable should still offer explainable guidance for users to optimize their health.

Are we approaching a future where wearables become an extension of our healthcare?

“Yes, directionally, but we have to be careful with the language,” Brecka warned. “A wearable is not a doctor, and it should not pretend to diagnose complex disease from a single score. But it can become an early warning system.”

He stresses that wearables are not a replacement for healthcare, but a complement to it. For example, some wearables provide early warning signs of sickness, so users aren’t waiting until “the body is already in crisis.” In that sense, wearables can help support traditional healthcare.

“The future is a wearable that notices a meaningful change in your physiology, puts it in context, and then helps you decide whether that requires a behaviour change, a lab test or a conversation with a clinician,” he explained/.

How much of today’s wearable data is actually actionable? Which metrics truly matter, and which are mostly engagement features?

According to Brecka, most people do not need more data. Rather, they need data that has been interpreted properly. He considered heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep quality, sleep consistency, and respiratory rate to be some of the core metrics.

“And, where available, oxygen saturation or heart rhythm data in the right context,” he added. “HRV is important because it gives you a window into the autonomic nervous system — the balance between stress and recovery.”

Brecka says that readiness and recovery scores can be useful, but they are only summaries. The real value is the trend underneath the score. He mentions that stress scores, badges or readiness numbers might become more of an “engagement feature” if they don’t change user behaviour.

“The question should always be: does this metric help me decide whether to train, recover, hydrate, sleep earlier, reduce stress, or seek medical advice?” proposed Brecka. “If it does not lead to a better decision, it is just another number.”

Do you think subscriptions are truly worth the cost, especially for those who take their health seriously?

“A lot of the subscriptions will come with actionable advice. I think this is absolutely worth it,” explained Brecka. “If it’s just a subscription to collecting data without helping you understand what to do with that data, it may not be worth it. Always check what is included with the subscription before you purchase!”

This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to the viral Oura Ring to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable toddler by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.