Rapid advancement happening in the field of wearable technology is revolutionizing the healthcare industry. More and more people are using wearable devices that could track various markers of their health. One such important marker is sleep. If you want to know what is the best sleep-tracking bracelet, please read till the end. I will start with what exactly sleep trackers are, why you need them, and finally, list some popular sleep trackers. You will then be able to compare and choose the one you like.
What are sleep-tracking devices?
Devices that track our bodily functions when we are asleep are known as sleep-tracking devices. There are different types of sleep-tracking devices that are out there on the market, starting from sleep-tracking bracelets that you can wear on your finger or wrist to bedside sleep trackers that you can keep on a bedside table or even devices that you put under your mattress or bed sheet, also known as Bed sensors. These days, there are even watches that records sleep patterns.
Sleep trackers generally track things such as the body movement of a person while he or she is asleep. Another important thing is that most modern trackers monitor heart rate. It also tracks the following
Duration of Sleep: These devices can track your duration of sleep. They do so by tracking the time one is inactive in bed.
Quality of sleep: Quality of sleep is very important along with duration. Sleep tracking devices detect the interruption to one’s sleep and let the user know when he or she is waking up during sleep.
Different phases of sleep: Also known as sleep cycles such as REM sleep. However, many experts say that sleep trackers cannot track sleep stages correctly. For that, a proper sleep test needs to be performed in a hospital or laboratory setting.
Some sleep trackers even record environmental factors. They might track the temperature of your room or the amount of light your room gets.
Why do we need to track our sleep?
So what is sleep? Well, it is a physiological phenomenon that is necessary for our body. Sleep rejuvenates the body and is necessary for the health and well-being of every individual. It repairs our DNA. Lack of sleep could lead to various health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It’s even linked to obesity and diabetes.
Sometimes, even if someone thinks he or she is having a good night’s sleep, in reality, might be suffering from conditions like sleep apnea which if untreated, could become fatal.
You definitely need to track your sleep if
- During sleep at night, you frequently wake up.
- Feel too sleepy during daytime
- Looking forward to optimizing performance and improving your fitness.
I am going to list six different sleep trackers below which are widely purchased
Fitbit Sense
Fitbit Sense is a Smartwatch that also tracks your sleep in detail. I think it’s the best Fitbit is offering right now. It has an ECG sensor that tracks the electrical signals of your heart and lets you know if you have any signs of atrial fibrillation. It also has a stress monitoring function which is really useful. It helps you in measuring your stress level and keeping it under control. Fitbit Sense estimates sleep stages by detecting movement and heart rate patterns.
Fitbit Sense can also measure your Oxygen saturation level during the night, thus helping you to check if you have any signs of Sleep Apnea.
Skin temperature can also be measured with this device.
If you are conscious about your health and want to put an eye on your sleep and heart health, this is the best device for you.
Pros
- Contains ECG
- Good battery life
- The band looks good and is very comfortable to wear.
- You will be able to make virtual friends with whom you could do challenges.
Cons
- Needs to sign up for premium support to use the ECG facility after six months trial period is over.
- To use the music function, you need to sign up for paid services like Spotify, Pandora, or Deezer.
- The Heart rate monitor is not perfect.
Garmin Venu 2
One of the notable advantages of Garmin Venu2 over Fitbit Sense is its significantly longer battery life. Along with tracking sleep, it also tracks blood oxygen level, stress level, and respiration
Pros
- Cost-effective. Value for money. Cheaper compared to other brands such as Apple Watch
- Don’t have to pay for a monthly membership to use features such as Oxygen saturation
- Simple to navigate
- Accurate sleep and run tracking
- Lightweight compared to Fitbit and other brands.
Cons
- Tracking steps is not totally accurate
- The setup and configuration process is a little bumpy(not smooth) and time-consuming.
- No ECG
Oura Ring 3
It’s a ring and not a watch. People can wear it on their fingers. It comes with a subscription, the first six months for free, and after that $6.99. Data is more accurate compared to, for example, an apple watch. Also for tracking sleep, it might be very uncomfortable to wear a smartwatch while sleeping. So in that regard, Oura Ring 3 could potentially be a better alternative.
Pro
- Gives you a sleep score.
- Sleep score is better than many other devices as it includes data such as heart rate variability and body temperature.
- Overall, excellent if you want to buy it for tracking sleep
- You can get the silver and black versions for $299, but for the stealth and gold option, you have to pay $399.
Cons:
- Has Monthly subscription
- The Blood oxygen saturation monitor is not enabled yet
Polar Vantage V2
It is a smartwatch. The Polar watch has a plastic body and is lightweight. You can use it with a free online tool called Polar Flow which is used to plan and then follow up on your training and workout. It analyzes your progress in physical activities and sleep.
Pros
- It has a stylish design.
- It is pretty comfortable to wear.
Cons
- High Price. Starts from $499.95
Biostrap Active Set
Biostrap Active set is a personal health monitoring suite. It comes in a box. The box contains
- EVO Biosensor
- Wristband strap (Black, Ivory or Navy)
- HRM (Cheststrap or Armband)
- Activity Pod
- Activity Clip
- Single Slot Charger
- USB Cable
- Quick Start Guide
Pros:
- Biostrap is the only sleep tracker that tracks leg movements which can be beneficial for detecting conditions such as restless leg syndrome and Periodic limb movement disorder(PLMD).
Sleepon Go2sleep Tracker
It is a smart wearable ring, an AI-powered fitness bracelet. Even though it is a small device, it could improve the quality of your life and well-being. The battery is good and can give back-up of up to 3 days once it’s charged (which takes probably around two hours).
Pros:
- Much cheaper than all the other options listed above. Only costs $99
- Helps you detect and control sleep apnea
Cons:
- It’s designed to be used during the night only while you are sleeping. People generally don’t use Sleepon during activities such as exercise.