If you’re looking for a fitness tracker for your ice hockey games, you have dozens of options available.
However, that doesn’t mean all options are created equal.
Tracking your fitness and performance for hockey is much different than running, jogging, or lifting weights.
You need to make sure you get a fitness tracker that works best for ice hockey.
Nowadays, most activity trackers will track your heart rate, calories burned, recovery details, and a wide range of other metrics.
For hockey, you need to make sure your tracker is both comfortable and durable.
In this article, we’ll show you the 3 best fitness trackers for ice hockey in 2023 so you can pick the right one.
For more hockey gear performance tips don’t forget to check out our other popular articles on How to Make Your Skates More Comfortable and How to Prevent Your Visor from Fogging Up.
Let’s dive in.
Best Overall: Apple Watch Series 7
The Apple Watch Series 7 is the best overall fitness tracker for ice hockey in 2023.
Apple doesn’t disappoint—allowing you to track your hockey games and overall fitness far better than any competitor with their latest model.
Pros
- Best choice for iPhone users (great compatibility)
- Very durable (doesn’t scratch easily in your gear)
- Fits well under your gloves
- Cellular connectivity (LTE)
- Most accurate fitness tracker
- Blood oxygen app
- ECG app
Cons
- Not best syncing for Android phone users
- Very expensive
| Fitness Tracker Features | Apple Watch Series 7 Ratings |
| Comfort | 9.5/10 |
| Customization | 8.5/10 |
| Weight | 7.5/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 9/10 |
| Health & Fitness Analytics | 9/10 |
| Durability | 9/10 |
| Performance | 9.5/10 |
| Aesthetics | 9/10 |
| Cellular Capability | 10/10 |
| Price | 6.5/10 |
| Overall | 86.5/100 |
Apple is known for their smartphones and their computers.
However, they’ve made a splash into the fitness tracker market in recent years with the Apple Watch.
If you want a hockey smartwatch that doubles as an activity tracker, then the Apple Watch Series 7 is the best choice available.
While most fitness tracker options focus primarily on fitness and activity tracking, the Apple Watch does all of that and more. They have a wide range of features you can use on and off the ice.
The Apple Watch Series 7 tracks your heart rate, calories burned, recovery, resting heart rate, sleep and more.
It has a simple intuitive interface that’s very easy to navigate.
Plus, you can download a range of fitness apps to help you improve your hockey training and overall conditioning.
One major advantage to using an Apple Watch over other fitness trackers is its compatibility and synchronization with iPhones. If you own an iPhone, it’s basically a no-brainer to get an Apple Watch for your fitness tracker.
It syncs easily with your phone (to receive texts and calls), with your accounts, apps, and more. Plus, it syncs with your health data in your iPhone health app, giving you a much bigger picture of your overall health.
Perhaps the biggest benefit overall with the Apple Watch Series 2 is the fact that you can get cellular data on your watch (for an extra cost). This means you can leave your phone at home and still make and answer calls just using your watch.
Something that’s frustrating with a lot of fitness trackers is when you wear it under your glove, it can rub on your tracker and click buttons. This is annoying as it can end or pause your workout, or other random commands.
With the Apple Watch Series 7, when you start a workout, simply turn your phone into “Water Lock” mode and you won’t automatically turn on your touch screen.
The biggest downside to getting the Series 7 is the price. It’s much more expensive than other trackers and is even more expensive if you add on the cellular data ability. Also, it’s not the best choice if you’re an Android phone user.
However, this is the best all around fitness tracker for hockey players when it comes to accuracy in tracking, using it during a game, and the features beyond the tracking outside of your hockey games.
Runner-Up: Garmin Vivoactive 4S
Our second favorite fitness tracker for ice hockey is the Garmin Vivoactive 4S.
It’s one of the best options if you aren’t an iPhone user and don’t need cellular capabilities—and we rated it 76 out of 100 overall.
Pros
- Comprehensive analytics and charts
- Stress tracking
- Hydration tracking
- Advanced sleep monitoring
- Great GPS tracking capabilities
Cons
- A bit bulky under your gloves
- More expensive than most fitness trackers
| Fitness Tracker Features | Garmin Vivoactive 4S Ratings |
| Comfort | 8.5/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 |
| Weight | 9/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 8/10 |
| Health & Fitness Analytics | 9.5/10 |
| Durability | 8.5/10 |
| Performance | 8.5/10 |
| Aesthetics | 9.5/10 |
| Cellular Capability | 0/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
| Overall | 76/100 |
The Garmin Vivoactive 4S fitness tracker is a great premium activity tracker for hockey players to break down different workouts outside games.
At first glance, you’ll notice the major difference between Garmin fitness trackers and competitors is the design. This fitness tracker doesn’t look like a weird gimicky gadget. It’s an elaborate fitness tracker hidden within a cool, luxurious designer-watch package.
Garmin allows you to track a ton of data points and even includes the ability to add in custom workouts specifically designed for hockey players.
If you play competitive hockey (or you’re really invested into your hockey league) and you practice drills on and off the ice, this is a great fitness tracker to improve your game.
You can add in your custom on ice drills and also all your dry land training right into your watch so you can keep up the intensity of your training through the year.
The Garmin Vivoactive 4S tracks your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and more.
However, the main benefit to this Garmin smartwatch for hockey is the Garmin Connect app. It includes a wide range of graphs that let you analyze your health data easily. Plus, the app also includes a wide range of other tools like the GPS maps system.
The Garmin Vivoactive 4S also lets you sign up for training programs to improve your fitness for the next hockey season.
You can track a ton of different workouts—including cardio, strength, and more. You could even use this watch to track swimming for a great cross-training exercise during the summer that reduces stress on your legs and knees.
The major downside to this watch is that it doesn’t have cellular capability (LTE). And, it just isn’t an Apple product—which is why we ranked the Apple Watch ahead of it.
It also is a little bit bulkier than the Apple Watch, which some people find a little uncomfortable during games underneath your gloves.
The Garmin watch is 12.7mm thick while the Apple Watch is 10.7mm.
However, after a few games, most people get used to the fit. And, if you own an Android phone, then this is our top pick for you in terms of compatibility overall.
Best Budget: Fitbit Inspire 2
Fitbit is arguably the biggest fitness tracker brand in the world.
They’re known for their wide range of entry level to top-tier products and slim, sleek design.
If you want a great fitness tracker for hockey, but you aren’t ready to drop a couple hundred dollars yet, then the Fitbit Inspire 2 is a great option.
Pros
- Nice slim design
- More affordable
- Very lightweight
Cons
- Doesn’t fit as well under gloves
- Not as comprehensive as Apple or Garmin options
- Doesn’t have as many sizing options
| Fitness Tracker Features | Fitbit Inspire 2 Ratings |
| Comfort | 7/10 |
| Customization | 7/10 |
| Weight | 9.5/10 |
| Sizing Versatility | 8.5/10 |
| Health & Fitness Analytics | 6.5/10 |
| Durability | 8.5/10 |
| Performance | 5.5/10 |
| Aesthetics | 7/10 |
| Cellular Capability | 0/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Overall | 67.5/100 |
Are you wanting a solid fitness tracker to analyze your calories burned, heart rate, and other metrics during hockey games?
But… you don’t want to spend hundreds on a hockey smartwatch?
Well, the Fitbit Inspire 2 is a great mid-tier fitness tracker.
It’s a minimalistic, durable fitness tracker that lets you track all the essentials: heart rate, calories burned, and more.
And, this tracker also helps you track your sleep. The truth is, poor sleep leads to poor performance come game time. This is especially true if you have super early hockey games at 5 or 6 am. But, this is also important if you play late at night around 10 or 11 pm.
If you have difficulty sleeping at all, then you’ll be glad to know the Inspire 2 also tracks your sleep patterns. It monitors your sleep cycles, so you can better optimize your sleep patterns to get a good night’s rest.
The Fitbit Inspire 2 is also very lightweight. To put it in perspective with the other two picks: the Apple Watch Series 2 is 40 grams (1.41 oz), the Garmin Vivoactive 4s is 32 grams (1.13 oz), and the Fitbit Inspire 2 is 27 grams (0.95 oz).
The biggest downsides to the Fitbit Inspire 2 is that it just doesn’t include as many features as the bigger players like Garmin and Apple.
Plus, the Fitbit Inspire 2 is a bit thicker than other options. To put it in perspective with our other two picks: the Apple Watch Series 7 is 10.7mm (0.42 inches), the Garmin Vivoactive 4s is 12.7mm (0.5 inches), and the Fitbit Inspire 2 is 12.9mm (0.51 inches) thick.
This means it can feel a little bit bulky underneath your gloves while you’re playing.
However, Fitbit is an impressive brand and they’re one of the first major players in the fitness tracker industry.
If you’re wanting your fitness tracker to track the basics—but you don’t want to drop a ton of money, then the Fitbit Inspire 2 is one of the best options available for hockey players.
For more tips on the best hockey gear to use and how to optimize your gear, check out these popular guides: 3 Most Comfortable Hockey Skates for Beginners, Bauer vs. CCM Sticks, and How to Prevent Your Visor from Fogging Up.
Sources
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-7/