STACK #252 October 2025

TECH FEATURE

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BAND ON THE RUN

Not all health and fitness wearables are about checking texts or step counts.Tracker bands are different.They’re stripped back, distraction-free, and built to help you understand how your daily habits can shape your long-term health. Words Scott Hocking The rise of health and fitness tracker bands

insights and guidance to help you optimise fitness, recovery, and overall health. WHOOP bands (see page 36), for example, break things down into three factors: strain (how hard you push yourself), recovery (how ready your body is), and sleep (the foundation for good health). They also require a monthly subscription to access data and insights.

WHOOP One

WHOOP Peak

WHOOP Life

Polar Loop

T hink about how often you glance at your smartwatch. Texts, emails, weather updates, and chasing numbers – more steps, faster runs, and bigger lifts. But what if your wearable wasn’t about notifications at all? What if it was just about your health, energy, and recovery? That’s where health and fitness tracker bands – such as those offered by WHOOP, and the new Polar Loop – come in. They’re the quiet achievers of the fitness wearable world, with no flashing screens, no buzzes or pings – just a primary focus on key health metrics, and insights that can help you to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle.* Less flash, more focus While smartwatches do almost everything and smart rings offer a more discreet profile, tracker bands primarily understand your health and help

you to improve it. The difference is clear the moment you slip one on – there’s no display calling for your attention. Rather, they are designed to disappear into your routine, quietly collecting data in the background while you get on with life. All the metrics and insights live in the companion app, where you can see what really matters – sleep performance scores, stress readiness, and how prepared your body is to take on the day. How do they work? Don’t be fooled by their simple and streamlined look. These little bands are packing sophisticated sensors that can continuously monitor physiological data – including sleep, stress, heart health, and on some new models VO2 max and blood pressure – providing

The Polar Loop band, on the other hand, is all about living smarter, not harder – balancing activity with rest, offering smart coaching features and personalised programs, and no monthly fee (see page 38). The point isn’t just racking up steps – it’s helping you understand what your body really needs for better wellbeing. A tracker for everyone Sure, elite athletes love these bands. WHOOP has been spotted on the wrists of pro golfers, cyclists, and even NBA stars. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to be training like an Olympian to get what you need from one. For example, parents trying to juggle kids, work, and late nights might suddenly

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*While health and fitness tracking devices provide accurate readings, they are not intended to replace advice from a GP or health professional.