Why You’re Better off Without Wearables

Wearables are all the rage these days. You can hardly hit the trails without seeing joggers staring down at their wrists. They’re supposed to help and motivate you to live a healthier life, but they don’t always work that way.

They’re Expensive Junk

That watch that counts your footsteps probably cost you between $20–50. That’s money that could’ve been better spent signing up for a new outdoor aerobics class or gym membership. Wearables might tell you how many calories you’ve lost, but they don’t actually physically suck the fat from your body.

They’re Not Accurate

Wearables have as much as 22 percent variation in the number of step counts compared to actual observations of the exact amount of steps taken. So, basically, the notion that they accurately track your steps is baloney.

You Probably Have a Smartphone

Smartphone fitness apps have been proven to be as accurate, if not more so, than wearables at measuring a person’s fitness level and step count. What’s most alarming is that many of these fitness apps are free and they’re almost all certainly cheaper than the cost of a wearable. This is proof that buying a wearable is a waste of your money.

You Probably Won’t Use it

Twenty-five percent of people stop using their wearables within three months of buying it. The number only increases after that. There isn’t much point in purchasing something that’s likely to end up in the back of your desk drawer collecting dust.

Fitness Should be Fun

Getting in shape shouldn’t feel like a chore, but when you throw numbers into the mix you’re only going to get depressed when you don’t reach your predetermined goal. Forget the technology at home and just hit the trail. You’ll spend less time looking at your wrist and more time enjoying the sights around you.