When I started playing games in VR, I had no expectation to get in shape. During the first Friday night I owned my Oculus Rift – full of excitement – I plunged headlong into the SUPERHOT VR. And when I smashed SUPERHOT’s idyllic orange bad guys, something occurred to me. I started sweating. I took off my headset and checked the activity log on my Apple Watch. I had burned 300 calories in the last hour. My heart rate averaged 140 BPM.
Since then I have become aware of my daily activity. With the activity log on my fitness tracker, I know what type of workout each of my games gives me. I even collect data that tells me how my metabolism changes with my body weight. This then helps me decide when it is time to change my training plan, add or remove certain games, or increase the level of difficulty in my favorite games. Every day I walk or jog about 3 miles in addition to my VR training. This is recorded in my activity log, where I use this data as the basis for everything I do in VR that day.
Then how does this apply to you? Not only can a good fitness tracker help you plan your week based on data you’ve gathered about your games, but you can also use that data to keep yourself motivated and reach your fitness goal as I started have. The best thing about your fitness tracker is that ideally you can use it to record any physical activity. Now that you understand the importance of having a fitness tracker while playing in VR, how do you start choosing the best one for you?
This article gives you a decent selection of fitness trackers based on a few key criteria. Note: Since VR is a stationary exercise, you don’t need a GPS or a pedometer on your device. Most of all, you want a tracker that excels Activity tracking and Heart rate tracking. I’m not including the Apple Watch on this list because it can categorically do so much more than just track your fitness. Let’s begin:
Image attributed to Amazon
The LETSCOM ID130PlusHR is available on Amazon for a whopping $ 29.98 and includes everything you need to get started.
In addition to monitoring your heart rate and calorie consumption, you also get automatic sleep tracking and live notifications from your phone. The core functions include:
- iOS and Android support via VeryFitPro
- programmable alarms,
- Remote control of your phone’s camera
- Support for multiple sports (for up to 14 sports)
- 0.96 inch OLED display
- a hook for your phone’s GPS
One user stated that the battery cycle lasted over 8 days in a single cycle without the charge dropping below 18%. As for water resistance – IP67 – you can get away with it if you bring it near water. But I would recommend not swimming or diving in the water while wearing this device.
Best budget heart rate monitor: Wahoo TICKR X ~ $ 80
Image attributed to Amazon
The Wahoo TICKR X is known for both its flexibility and its accuracy. The battery life is reported to be around 12 months per charge, which is generally less for HRMs, but is still very good for a device that you use frequently. You can sync it with over 50 apps on your iPhone or Android device, including Nike + Run Club and Strava. While it doesn’t have a GPS under the hood, it does work with Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT +. This allows GPS information to be obtained from other devices such as GPS watches, smartphones and tablets. You can even do both at the same time.
If you have another ANT + enabled device – like a running clock – your watch can show your TICKR X’s display while the device is also syncing with your smartphone. The TICKR X doesn’t even require you to have your phone or tablet with you while you’re using it. It contains built-in memory that can be synchronized with your connected smart devices at any time.
Unlike the regular TICKR (not the X edition), the TICKR X is both waterproof and sweatproof – submersible up to 5 feet of liquid. Note: A major complaint that is common in user reviews is related to a bug that appears to be affecting the experience of the TICKR X Companion App on Android devices. This problem can be worked around by using one of the other compatible apps. I recommend starting with Nike + Run Club.
Image attributed to Amazon
The Fitbit Charge 2 is currently said to be the one mostly correct Activity tracking watch on the market, according to some of the hugely supportive Amazon reviews, with a proprietary heart tracking feature called PurePulse Continuous Tracking. During the day, the Fitbit Charge 2 detects your calorie consumption as well as your heart rate, movement and breathing patterns. It even notifies you when it is determined that guided breathing exercises are required. The OLED display also shows you notifications for texts, calls and calendar notifications. As you sleep, it tracks your movements and gives insights on how to improve your sleep regime.
Unlike the TICKR X, the Fitbit Charge 2’s companion app is one of the features fans of the device will love to use. You can also connect it to any fitness app available for your iOS, Windows 10 or Android-based smartphone. As a device that you want to use every day when you are not at home, you can enjoy the battery life of the Fitbit Charge 2 – 5 days charging time per cycle. It’s also reputed to be one of the most convenient wrist-mounted fitness trackers out there, with interchangeable straps that can be purchased online.
While it doesn’t have a built-in GPS, it does display information from your phone’s GPS on the screen. One thing you don’t get with the Fitbit Charge 2 is the freedom to bring it near water. It will withstand the sweat from your workout, but it is not waterproof and may not survive immersion.
For what the Fitbit Charge 2 is (an all-in-one fitness tracker), it is important that you get heart rate tracking right. Remember, this is where most of the calorie burning data comes from. The Fitbit Charge 2 received my best-in-class recommendation due to the aforementioned PurePulse heart rate tracking. It measures your blood flow to get as close as possible to the accuracy of a dedicated HRM.
If you don’t keep track of your VR workouts, it will be difficult to figure out how much workout you’re getting from VR. Sometimes seeing the results of one workout can be enough to motivate you to move on to the next workout. Whenever you exercise, you always want to work towards a goal. And the difference between being motivated to do a workout every day and giving up completely is to track your fitness results and view the data.
What’s the point of playing a game if there are no points or goals? Training can feel the same way. And this is where a great fitness tracker can save the day. Hopefully you now have a few options to play with. You can work out with a budget fitness tracker, a dedicated heart rate monitor, or a nice all-in-one tracking watch. Just remember not to worry about a built-in GPS, pedometer, or even water resistance – unless you plan on using your fitness tracker outdoors as well.
How will you track your daily fitness results? Let us know in the comments.
Follow us on social
Stay up to date with the latest VR fitness news
This article may contain affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and buy a product, we may receive a small commission to help publish it. More information here.
Comments are closed.