Not to pull a Sarah Koenig on "Serial" on you, but . . . there’s no one clear-cut answer here. I didn’t want to leave you hanging, though, so I decided to give some guidance on who I think each tracker is perfect for.
If you’re on a budget: Even with the app renewal fees after your first year of membership, the $12 Pivotal Living band is the most affordable option out there. And for basic step counting, it definitely gets the job done.
If you’re more concerned with how it looks than anything else: Although I couldn’t get the Withings Activité POP to work myself, as I mentioned, the online reviews don’t reflect that other people had this issue—and I loved the coral-pink color.
If you never want to charge it: The Misfit Shine comes with a replaceable coin cell battery that lasts for up to six months, so you don't have to worry about plugging it in once every few days—and can wear it to track your every movement.
If you want advanced tracking features . . . and to be able to see your exact step count on your wrist: While other devices have various symbols that indicate roughly how close you are to hitting your step goal, the Fitbit Charge HR has a screen that lets you check in on your precise progress throughout the day.
If you want more context for the numbers to really improve your health: The "Up" app that works with your Jawbone Up 3 provides personalized tips like “Your REM sleep is most likely to be disrupted in the morning, so it may be a good idea to put in ear plugs before you hit the hay."
If you want a smartwatch . . . and one that doubles as a conversation starter: People will come up to you and ask you what you think of the Apple Watch (apple.com/watch) all the time when you wear one. There’s no way around it. And I also liked that the watch buzzes to remind you to stand for at least one minute of each hour.
If you want a smartwatch . . . but don't want to look like you’re an extra on Star Trek: Everyone who saw me in the Moto 360 commented on how impressed they were that it looked like a real watch. And now that Android Wear works with iOS, anyone with a smartphone can use it.
Still can't decide? Lumoid lets you rent fitness trackers before buying them—and “Wearable Boxes” lend you up to five devices (including the Apple Watch and the Moto 360) for two weeks. There’s no fee if you buy a tracker through the site—and $25 for the box if you decide to return all of them.
Keep in mind: Anything that gets you moving more has done the job that a fitness tracker is supposed to do — and since all of these will have you walking laps in your living room to try to hit 10,000 steps, the one that appeals the most to you (and that you'll therefore be most likely to wear) is your best bet.
