If your fitness program isn't personalized, chances are that you might have problems with missing results or, worse, injury.
So you've signed up with the latest cool app that claims to deliver personalized workouts and promise results. You have been following diligently for two months, but are slowly getting bored and skeptical because you are not seeing the results you expected.
Continue reading
If your fitness program isn't personalized, chances are that you might have problems with missing results or, worse, injury.
So you've signed up with the latest cool app that claims to deliver personalized workouts and promise results. You have been following diligently for two months, but are slowly getting bored and skeptical because you are not seeing the results you expected.
Continue reading
Flying through the air for most of your workout can be the most liberating thing you can do.
Paula Van Kuren opened Fitness By Paula in June as the post-pandemic era of the gym rush began. We think it might just be a refreshing starting point for those looking to break out of quarantine and move again.
Continue reading
Flying through the air for most of your workout can be the most liberating thing you can do.
Paula Van Kuren opened Fitness By Paula in June as the post-pandemic era of the gym rush began. We think it might just be a refreshing starting point for those looking to break out of quarantine and move again.
Continue reading
“The Fitbit Versa 3 is so comfortable and works so well that you forget you're wearing it until you need it. Best of all, it has all the fitness tracking features you could want. "
Very convenient
Easy to use
Comprehensive health tracking
Battery lasts a week
Side key is awkward to press
I put the Fitbit Versa 3 on more than 10 days ago and pretty much forgot it was on my wrist, which means it stayed there 24 hours a day, silently tracking my movements, sleep and exercise. The way it has slipped into my everyday life testifies to its simplicity and good design, and while it isn't exactly a smartwatch, it is definitely a step above basic fitness trackers. Let's dig deeper into this excellent wearable.
The Versa 3 is more of a watch-like fitness tracker than a full smartwatch. My trial version has a simple black strap, made of a material that feels similar to the synthetic rubber used for Apple Watch sports bracelets, attached to the black aluminum case. It's a 40mm case and only 12mm thick, so it can be worn under a cuff without disturbing, and the weight of 42 grams makes it completely inconspicuous.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The straps are easy to remove with a single push of a button and a short or long strap is included. I stayed with the short strap that fits my 6.5 inch wrist, has a hole left over, and minimizes the amount of extra strap to stow it away. This went a long way towards making the Versa 3 so comfortable to wear. It's lightweight and doesn't get particularly hot or sweaty, and I was able to wear it overnight to keep track of sleep.
There is a single button on the side of the case that acts like a rear control, but it's not a physical button, more of a touch-sensitive panel. It's placed low on the case and awkward to find and squeeze, and I still spend a few seconds looking for it. The 1.58-inch AMOLED touchscreen has a resolution of 336 x 336 pixels and is sharp and very bright. The size is just right, it's easy to interact with, and information is clearly displayed and legible in most lighting conditions.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Fitbit gets almost everything right with the Versa 3, aside from the overall design. The basic shape and lines are conventionally not attractive and I would not wear them and flaunt them. The sleek look and color choices will put it above a fitness band for some, but since it's in no way overtly stylish, I'd rather go for the black stealth model and keep its existence under the radar.
It's hard to imagine what other features most people will need to keep track of their health and activity beyond what the Versa 3 has to offer. It has a heart rate sensor on the back, can monitor blood oxygen levels (SPo2), check skin temperature and more, plus has GPS, is swimproof and offers a variety of workout tracking modes, some with automatic detection. What it doesn't have is an electrocardiogram (EKG), which comes with the more expensive Fitbit Sense wearable.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
My selected watch face shows heart rate, steps and calories burned, that's all the data I need at a glance. There are other, more comprehensive watch faces out there as well, though I struggled to find one that I thought looked good. To see more details, either select the Today app or simply swipe up on the screen to see step count, distance traveled, floors climbed, active time and sleep values. If you choose to manually add the calorie intake, water consumption, and even core temperature, these will also be shown. Everything is clear, concise and easy to find.
Tracking workouts is similarly easy and all options are accessible through the workout app. I followed a walk with the Fitbit Versa 3 and the Apple Watch SE, both with GPS. The Versa 3 showed a total distance of 1.58 miles, 243 calories burned, and an average heart rate of 97 beats per minute. The Apple Watch SE recorded 210 total calories burned, a distance of 1.6 miles, and an average heart rate of 99 beats per minute. Both wearables showed the same GPS data, but the Versa 3 lost the signal once. The differences between them are minimal, and at all other times they have remained consistent with each other.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Compared to Apple's fitness app, the Fitbit app is far more comprehensive and offers many details for the more committed exerciser. However, it's also accessible to someone who just wants the basics. For example, the GPS maps show heart rate zones and pace where you've worked the hardest, but it's all under a different tab and not mixed up with general data.
For more detailed information, you'll need to pay for Fitbit Premium, the subscription service for $ 10 per month. For most people, however, this won't be necessary. Watch faces are another area that can be further paid, with many of the watch faces paying a small fee before you can use them.
I've used the Versa 3 connected to the Fitbit app on an iPhone 12 Pro, and it's also available for Android phones. I keep coming back to the fact that Fitbit is so easy to use and that continues with the software. The Versa 3's app and UI itself don't take time to learn, aren't hampered by weird UI options, and are largely reliable too. However, the Versa 3 fell over once and got stuck on the dial. It had to be placed on the charger and held down for it to restart which then fixed the problem. The connection between the Versa 3, the app and my iPhone 12 Pro was great and syncing only takes a few moments.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
However, it is not a smartwatch. While the Google Assistant will respond to my voice and do what I ask and the Versa 3 will take calls, it is terrible at providing notifications and never really feels like a connected part of my smartphone like the Apple Watch does . Notifications don't interact and even though I've played with the settings several times, it still doesn't properly warn me of all incoming messages.
There are many additional features that add value, including Fitbit Pay, Spotify online only playback and offline Deezer support, a Find My Phone notification, and some short animated “coaching” workouts to follow. Before you check out the community aspect of the Fitbit app, you can challenge friends and join groups based on a common health goal. Perhaps the best part is that all of this is optional and none of the features are endlessly pushed as something you should be doing. Again, it adds to the Fitbit's overall friendliness, and you can get involved as you wish without pressure.
The battery life is better than most smartwatches, but not as good as most fitness bands. The Versa 3 lasted seven days with all-day heart rate monitoring and overnight wear, but without the always-on screen. It takes less than an hour to charge with the included proprietary magnetic charging base.
The Fitbit Versa 3 is priced at $ 230 or £ 200 and is available now at Fitbit, Amazon and other retailers.
The Fitbit Versa 3 is perhaps one of the most comfortable fitness wearables I've ever worn on my wrist. It's a true wear-and-forget device, not just from a hardware perspective, but also from its simple and effective day and night fitness and health tracking tools. As good as that is, it works against the Versa 3 too, because the boring design won't necessarily flaunt you.
Not really noticing the Versa 3 also highlights another of its strengths: comfort. It stays reliably connected to my phone, produces helpful and easy-to-read statistics, and has useful features that I might actually want to use, including the Google Assistant and call assistance. The GPS works fine and is another feature you don't need to “think” about, it only works when you need it.
The Fitbit Versa 3 is hugely appealing, provided you can live with the faceless design, and is really one of the few wearables that you can wear around the clock without any discomfort. The friendly, comprehensive functionality contributes to its attractiveness. However, you can find almost anything the Versa 3 does for a lot less money, or get something much better looking that is a real smartwatch for not much more.
If you're not worried about the Fitbit Versa 3's smartwatch design but love the fitness tracking aspects including GPS, then the Fitbit Charge 4 for $ 130 would be a cheaper alternative. If you want a smartwatch more than a fitness bracelet, the Apple Watch SE is our recommendation for iPhone owners, while Android owners should take a look at either the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 or the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3.
If the prices of all of these alternatives are too high, the Honor Band 6 and Xiaomi Mi Band 6 can both be found for around $ 50 and offer many of the same features. No, the software isn't as slick as Fitbit's, but you won't mind the price.
The Fitbit Versa 3 feels very durable from the strong strap to the aluminum housing and is waterproof up to 50 meters. The bracelet is easily interchangeable but uses proprietary fittings. Fitbit has regular software updates, and the latest versions have added new features that probably won't change for a while, which makes the Versa 3 great value for money if you want to use it long term. There's no reason to believe it won't take more than two years.
Yes. It's far fetched to call it a smartwatch, and the design is a bit bland, but otherwise this is a brilliant fitness tracking wearable that you'll love to wear and use every day, all day.
Editor's recommendations
Training people for fitness, nutrition, health and wellness requires emotional intelligence. Successful personal trainers abound in EI.
The pandemic taught us an important lesson: everyone has an opinion, and people in the fitness industry seem to have a lot more than most business people. And it wasn't really much fun to watch because I don't really need a personality dump from a trainer or coach, just training and coaching.
Continue reading
Training people for fitness, nutrition, health and wellness requires emotional intelligence. Successful personal trainers abound in EI.
The pandemic taught us an important lesson: everyone has an opinion, and people in the fitness industry seem to have a lot more than most business people. And it wasn't really much fun to watch because I don't really need a personality dump from a trainer or coach, just training and coaching.
Continue reading
Honor Band 6 review: just what a fitness tracker should be
"It's exactly what a good fitness tracker should be – inexpensive, not too big, and with an emphasis on full health monitoring features and some welcome extras."
Compact and light
Excellent sleep tracking
Useful smartwatch-like notifications
Very inexpensive
USA import only
No always on the screen
It's probably best to think of the Honor Band 6 not as a simple fitness tracker as it counts more than just your steps, but for a lot less money than a smartwatch. All of the health monitoring sensors and technology you'd expect are inside, and Honor has added some smartwatch-like features, just like the Honor Watch ES. Does this make the Honor Band 6 a desirable hybrid device or is it a messy amalgamation that doesn't really know what it's supposed to be? I found out.
The Honor Band 6 is shaped like the Honor Watch ES, only smaller and less complicated, and that does it just right. The Honor Band 6's plastic case features a 1.47-inch touchscreen on the front, a single button on the right, and Honor branding on the left. It's chunkier than the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2, but because it's very light, it'll never bother your wrist. Despite the taller 11mm profile, I've worn it with shirts and overnight without any problems, and the solid strap has plenty of holes in it to make adjustment easier.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
There are three colors available – black, gray, and pink – but the incognito black or gray goes best with this. It's not particularly stylish, but because it doesn't try too hard, it's not offensive to the eye. All the time I wore it, I didn't want to hide it under my sleeve out of embarrassment, but I didn't want to show it off either. Most of the time, I've forgotten it's there until somehow it reminds me.
The small, simple body comes closer to a traditional fitness tracker and so much the better.
It may not sound like it, but that's a compliment. Honor's decision to bring Band 6 closer to the smartwatch and further away from a basic fitness band was a risky one. Design can quickly become overwhelmed and in the end it doesn't serve anyone very well. That's what happened with the Watch ES, but the Band 6's small, simple body gets closer to a traditional fitness tracker and so much the better.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The screen is a winner. The 194 x 368 pixel resolution makes it sharp enough to be conveniently viewed and read, the thin frames keep it from looking cheap, and it's very responsive and easy to press because of its well-assessed size. Unfortunately, there is no screen available so either press the button or the screen to activate it, or raise your wrist. Gesture recognition is quick and accurate, but it's annoying that the screen doesn't wake up automatically to show notifications when they arrive.
The Honor ribbon 6 does the design of a hybrid fitness tracker right, but what about the functionality? With its big screen, the Honor Band 6 has more smartwatch features than you can expect at this price point. I connected it to an Apple iPhone 12 Pro using the Huawei Health app and it has proven to be reliable at showing notifications even though there is no way to interact with them. However, the text shown is clear and extensive. It has a variety of general features, including the weather, a stopwatch, a timer, and the ability to ping your phone if it's misplaced.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The focus remains on fitness. It's not that drastically different from Honor fitness bands I've tried before, but that's not a negative. There are 10 different training modes – including running, walking, biking, swimming, rowing, and elliptical training, plus a free training mode – for indoor and outdoor use that covers all common basics. However, the list looks anemic alongside fitness products from Amazfit, which often have more than 100 different training modes. The question is how often do you go climbing, surfing, or kayaking? If the answer is never, then the Honor Band 6's 10 modes will likely be just fine.
The Band 6 recognizes workouts automatically or can be started manually in a very short time. The menu is navigated by swiping and tapping, while the physical button on the side of the case acts as the home and back button. It's smooth and fast, and I had no problem controlling the Honor Band 6 on my wrist.
Data-rich exercise records are displayed on the watch. Distance, pace, speed, cadence, steps, step and heart rate are recorded during a walk and presented in an easy-to-read format. It's annoying that these records on my iPhone couldn't always be easily synced to Huawei Health, making it difficult to build historical trends.
In addition to normal fitness tracking, the Honor Band 6 measures heart rate, blood oxygen content (SPO2) and stress. It also tracks sleep and has an app for breathing exercises. You can choose to have constant heart rate and stress monitoring, but the SPO2 values must be recorded manually. How do the results of the Honor Band 6 compare to the Apple Watch Series 6?
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I recorded a 55 minute workout with both of them. The Honor Band 6 claimed I took 3,058 steps and burned 417 kilocalories with an average heart rate of 120 beats per minute. The Apple Watch showed I took 5,738 steps and burned 380 kcal with an average heart rate of 122 beats per minute. Throughout my use, the Honor Band 6 has underestimated the number of steps compared to the Apple Watch. The difference is considerable, but it may not affect overall health statistics as heart rate and calorie expenditure are very similar.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Blood oxygen measurements are taken quickly, and the results are consistent with those from the Apple Watch. The usefulness of the feature outside of sleep tracking or mountaineering is questionable, but it's always good to have more health-related data to spot any discrepancies. The Honor Band 6 also features a menstrual cycle tracker.
The sleep tracking is excellent and Huawei's TruSleep is one of the best systems I've used. The automatic sleep detection is very precise and assesses my sleep and wake times correctly on most days, even if I don't get out of bed immediately. The data provided is detailed – duration, stages, and breathing – and assigns a sleep score with guidance on how to improve your sleep patterns.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The combination of all of these statistics helps build a complete picture of your overall health with minimal financial outlay. The Huawei Health app shows all the collected data in a clear and precise way. The Huawei Health app is available for iOS and Android. It's easy to set up and sync, and the app provides plenty of information, as well as ways to customize the clock with different watch faces.
Honor claims the Band 6's battery will last 14 days before it needs to be charged. However, this is either optimistic or it depends on when all features are turned off. During my time with it, the battery has dropped about 10% every day when using heart rate and stress monitoring and tracking my sleep. If you add a workout every other day, you get a maximum of 10 days of one fee. That's still decent, but not what Honor says.
The Honor Band 6 is available in the UK for £ 45 / US $ 62 through Amazon. Although Honor stated that Band 6 would come to the US through their own online store, it has not yet done so, so US buyers will have to use an import service. For example, it's $ 52 on AliExpress.
I found the Honor Band 6 very easy to live with and its wide range of features is useful. It is crucial that it is not overwhelmed with pointless features like the Watch ES's personal trainer or a clunky design. It maintains the simplicity of a regular fitness tracker while integrating an attractive screen and simple but helpful smartwatch-style functions. Trying to be everything to everyone is usually not a good product, and the Honor Band 6 does the right mix.
It has just the right level of complexity when it comes to health monitoring, with easy-to-use features (some of which are automated) and enough sensors to provide an informative view of your daily health. It won't satisfy the hardcore athlete, but it's more than enough for ordinary people. This is the Honor Band 6's strong point – it does what a good fitness tracker should do without messing with features that don't matter at this price point.
Honor hasn't raised the price above $ 100 either, which is where smartwatches appear that look like watches. Instead, it's the kind of fitness tracker that you should buy instead of the mostly terrible cheap smartwatches available on Amazon. It's a different world in terms of build, polish, and performance. Only availability affects the Honor Band 6, but if you are ready to put in the effort, it is definitely worth it.
The Honor Band 6 is very affordable, and it's difficult to find a competing fitness tracker with the same features for the same price. The $ 50 Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is our affordable fitness tracker. It's not as feature-rich as the Honor Band 6, but it's more readily available.
Outside of the US, the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 will likely be the biggest competitor as it offers very similar features. While the final price has not yet been confirmed, it will likely cost about the same as the Honor Band 6.
The plastic housing, the strong silicone band and the water resistance of 5 ATM ensure that the Honor Band 6 does not break so quickly. Even if treated roughly, it should prove to be durable. Provided the software is kept up to date and the Huawei Health app is supported, the Honor Band will last 6 years.
Yes. The Honor Band 6 is an affordable, feature-rich fitness tracker that also manages to take advantage of some helpful smartwatch-like features.
Editor's recommendations
The key to effective fitness and training is knowing yourself. The power of introspection enables you to develop a deep understanding of everything that you will learn on your journey.
Danny Kavadlo is an authority on calisthenics and fitness with his brother Al Kavadlo.
As he puts it, “It's important to understand that even with a final program, you should always be ready to improvise. Nobody you've ever met can make an accurate program. There will always be a need for intuition in training. "
In other words, it's up to you to figure out what works.
The world of fitness is an automatic filtering machine that separates enthusiasts from casual trainers. This separation does not mean discrimination, but it is just the way it is.
The enthusiast and the casual trainer don't think the same thing, they don't live the same thing, and most importantly, they don't have the same beliefs.
Here's an example: An occasional trainer will always look for motivation around them, but in the case of Al and Danny:
They say, "F ** K motivation. Everyone can train if they are motivated! It works when you are NOT motivated, which leads to success. It's the same professionally. "
The rules of the game are pretty simple; You have to show up and invest your time. Another level of discipline and strength that perfectionists seek is called true strength. Danny and Al describe true strength beyond the physical.
This statement is not intended to discredit those people whose goal it is to look good or to do what is necessary to be healthy.
However, by 2021, the true meaning of the words strength and health has evolved into a crude and philosophical form.
If reading this still doesn't inspire you, this is where you should go. Danny describes physical strength as follows: “For me, true physical strength is the ability to move freely in this world. It is both pound for pound strength and absolute strength. A combination of strength, balance and mobility. "
While many of us may not include balance or mobility in our training, those aspects are certainly part of the equation when it comes to long-term fitness.
For us, strength building isn't just about lifting heavy weights, running ultra marathons, or scoring the most points. It's about self development and the desire to move beyond your limits to see how far you can go.
It's about accepting the challenge ahead and taking it in as a lesson. Hence, no program can change your life. You have to adapt it to your own needs and situations.
Regular exercise or training is essential. It regulates your blood circulation, eliminates toxins in your body, and helps you clear your mind. However, if you are willing to go deeper and immerse yourself in the mindset, you will learn so much more about yourself and develop more than just physical strength.
According to Danny, "I would also include spiritual strength, emotional well-being, compassion and a willingness to help others, and be physically adamant."
Unfortunately, the future of the fitness industry may be uncertain right now. Many people view it as a luxury when it should actually be an essential business.
Danny Kavadlo says, “While I am saddened by the devastation in the industry, I am more saddened by the general health devastation these mandates bring: children out of school, depression, domestic violence, suicide, alcoholism and substance abuse. People need to exercise now more than ever and, ironically, it is advised against in the name of health. "
If you're reading this, I hope your next steps are to sign up for the gym, spend an extra hour each day researching your health, or get creative with your regular programs to test yourself . You may not need a gym to do this.
Al Kavadlo adds: “We do not discourage it! In fact, Danny and I talked about the virtues for years without going to the gym! Anyone who thinks they can't work out without a gym is crazy! You don't need a lot or nothing to get in shape! "
Danny and Al Kavadlo's book, Get Strong, focuses on explosive calisthenics. It's an amazing guide that will help you develop strength, agility, and combat-ready reflexes using only your body weight.
If you are already fairly fit and have no problems with pull-ups, Danny suggests, "At least ten rigorous pull-ups before you start building, but each case is different."
Training my body to build muscle has completely changed my perception of body mechanics and the exercise regime. It's been enjoyable and I hope you get the same value or even more than what I won.
First of all, remember to breathe.
Al says, "It is recommended that you exhale when doing the negative phase of an exercise and inhale."
Breathing exercises not only help you activate your core, but also help you recover.
The key to effective fitness and training is knowing yourself. The power of introspection enables you to develop a deep understanding of everything that you will learn on your journey.
Danny Kavadlo is an authority on calisthenics and fitness with his brother Al Kavadlo.
As he puts it, “It's important to understand that even with a final program, you should always be ready to improvise. Nobody you've ever met can make an accurate program. There will always be a need for intuition in training. "
In other words, it's up to you to figure out what works.
The world of fitness is an automatic filtering machine that separates enthusiasts from casual trainers. This separation does not mean discrimination, but it is just the way it is.
The enthusiast and the casual trainer don't think the same thing, they don't live the same thing, and most importantly, they don't have the same beliefs.
Here's an example: An occasional trainer will always look for motivation around them, but in the case of Al and Danny:
They say, "F ** K motivation. Everyone can train if they are motivated! It works when you are NOT motivated, which leads to success. It's the same professionally. "
The rules of the game are pretty simple; You have to show up and invest your time. Another level of discipline and strength that perfectionists seek is called true strength. Danny and Al describe true strength beyond the physical.
This statement is not intended to discredit those people whose goal it is to look good or to do what is necessary to be healthy.
However, by 2021, the true meaning of the words strength and health has evolved into a crude and philosophical form.
If reading this still doesn't inspire you, this is where you should go. Danny describes physical strength as follows: “For me, true physical strength is the ability to move freely in this world. It is both pound for pound strength and absolute strength. A combination of strength, balance and mobility. "
While many of us may not include balance or mobility in our training, those aspects are certainly part of the equation when it comes to long-term fitness.
For us, strength building isn't just about lifting heavy weights, running ultra marathons, or scoring the most points. It's about self development and the desire to move beyond your limits to see how far you can go.
It's about accepting the challenge ahead and taking it in as a lesson. Hence, no program can change your life. You have to adapt it to your own needs and situations.
Regular exercise or training is essential. It regulates your blood circulation, eliminates toxins in your body, and helps you clear your mind. However, if you are willing to go deeper and immerse yourself in the mindset, you will learn so much more about yourself and develop more than just physical strength.
According to Danny, "I would also include spiritual strength, emotional well-being, compassion and a willingness to help others, and be physically adamant."
Unfortunately, the future of the fitness industry may be uncertain right now. Many people view it as a luxury when it should actually be an essential business.
Danny Kavadlo says, “While I am saddened by the devastation in the industry, I am more saddened by the general health devastation these mandates bring: children out of school, depression, domestic violence, suicide, alcoholism and substance abuse. People need to exercise now more than ever and, ironically, it is advised against in the name of health. "
If you're reading this, I hope your next steps are to sign up for the gym, spend an extra hour each day researching your health, or get creative with your regular programs to test yourself . You may not need a gym to do this.
Al Kavadlo adds: “We do not discourage it! In fact, Danny and I talked about the virtues for years without going to the gym! Anyone who thinks they can't work out without a gym is crazy! You don't need a lot or nothing to get in shape! "
Danny and Al Kavadlo's book, Get Strong, focuses on explosive calisthenics. It's an amazing guide that will help you develop strength, agility, and combat-ready reflexes using only your body weight.
If you are already fairly fit and have no problems with pull-ups, Danny suggests, "At least ten rigorous pull-ups before you start building, but each case is different."
Training my body to build muscle has completely changed my perception of body mechanics and the exercise regime. It's been enjoyable and I hope you get the same value or even more than what I won.
First of all, remember to breathe.
Al says, "It is recommended that you exhale when doing the negative phase of an exercise and inhale."
Breathing exercises not only help you activate your core, but also help you recover.
