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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Laura Forsyth

Best calorie burn tracker: Watches and monitors to keep on track

Best calorie burn trackers - (Wahoo)

Wearable fitness trackers have changed the way we approach health and fitness, especially when it comes to tracking calorie burn. Whether you're training for an event, trying to lose weight, or simply having an at-home workout on your lunch break, these devices can provide real-time insights into the energy you're burning. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best one?

Here’s what you need to know about selecting the right calorie burn tracker and how these devices can help keep you motivated while achieving your fitness goals.

Why should you use a calorie burn tracker?

Calorie tracking isn’t just about weight loss, it’s also about understanding your energy balance. By knowing how many calories you burn during both rest and activity, you can make informed decisions about nutrition, recovery and exercise intensity.

Active versus resting calories

Fitness trackers typically separate calorie burn into two categories:

The best trackers combine these insights, providing a comprehensive view of your daily burn.

Key features to look out for

When choosing a calorie burn tracker, prioritise features that align with your fitness routine and goals. Real-time tracking is essential as it allows you to see calories burned instantly during workouts, helping you adjust your effort to stay in your optimal range.

Heart rate monitoring is another key feature, providing more accurate calorie calculations, particularly during high-intensity activities. For those who enjoy a variety of exercises, look for multi-sport modes that cater to activities like running, swimming and cycling. A user-friendly interface and seamless app integration are also important for tracking progress and interpreting data effortlessly.

Finally, consider battery life. Devices with extended battery performance are ideal for monitoring activity throughout the day without constant recharging.

How do calorie burn trackers help you reach your goals?

Calorie burn trackers are invaluable tools for reaching your fitness goals by providing accurate, actionable insights. By showing how many calories you burn, they allow you to fine-tune what you are eating and your workouts for optimal results.

Over time, the data they store helps you identify patterns, such as how different activities or lifestyle changes impact your progress, enabling smarter adjustments. Many trackers also monitor heart rate variability, offering insights into recovery and helping you avoid the risks of overtraining, ensuring a balanced approach to fitness.

How we tested

To find the best calorie burn trackers, the ES Best Shopping team put each device through testing across various workouts. We focused on activities that demand precise, live tracking, such as HIIT sessions, where rapid heart rate changes require instant updates, and treadmill sprints or running, where consistency and accuracy during high-impact movement are key.

We also tested during spin classes to assess how well each tracker handled continuous motion and varying intensity levels. Finally, we wore the devices throughout the day to evaluate their ability to monitor resting calories, steps and general activity. By examining real-time heart rate monitoring, ease of use, comfort, battery life and app integration, we made sure that our recommendations reflect the best tools to support your fitness goals.

Best calorie burn trackers at a glance

Read on for more.

Myzone MZ-3 Heart Rate Monitor

Best for: overall live tracking

The MZ-3 Heart Rate Monitor is the best live calorie-burning tracker I've used over the years. After trying various models with arm straps, I’ve found that the chest strap offers the most accurate tracking, showing my effort levels and calories burned on-screen in real-time. Whether I’m working out at the gym or outdoors, the MZ-3 provides precise readings, so I’m always on track with my fitness goals.

What sets it apart is the integration with Bluetooth, ANT+ and analogue, allowing you to sync with multiple devices, including cardio machines like Life Fitness and Zwift. Plus, its built-in memory lets you exercise phone-free for up to 16 hours, which is handy for uninterrupted workouts.

Buy now £129.99, Amazon

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus Heart Rate Strap

Best for: multi-device compatibility

The Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is a must for those serious about training. Unlike wrist-based trackers, the HRM-Pro Plus delivers ultra-accurate readings directly from your chest, offering precise metrics on heart rate, stride length, ground contact time and more. It connects via Bluetooth and ANT+ to your Garmin device, gym equipment and even fitness apps like Zwift, making it incredibly versatile.

Key features include five ATM water resistance, making it perfect for triathlons, and a long-lasting battery that can be replaced easily, providing up to a year of daily use. It’s lightweight and comfortable, with a flexible strap that fits a wide range of body types, and it even offers advanced running dynamics. If you're looking for an accurate, durable, and feature-rich heart rate monitor, the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is the ideal choice.

Buy now £129.00, Currys

Polar Verity Sense Optical Heart Rate Sensor

Best for: comfort

The Polar Verity Sense has excellent freedom of movement and accuracy. Unlike bulky alternatives, its small, lightweight design makes it incredibly comfortable, whether I'm running, swimming, or doing any other activity. The sensor is just five grams, but it delivers powerful performance with Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, so I can sync it with my phone, sports watch or gym equipment for real-time data tracking.

It features a swimming mode to track metrics in the pool, a heart rate mode for live data broadcasting, and a recording mode to save sessions for later review. With up to 30 hours of battery life and the ability to broadcast up to 150 meters, it’s perfect for both indoor and outdoor training. Plus, with its large memory capacity, I can store up to 600 hours of training data.

Buy now £86.50, Polar

Wahoo Trackr Heart Rate Monitor

Best for: real-time tracking

Thanks to an advanced detection algorithm, this heart rate monitor ensures real-time accuracy, so you can stay in the optimal training zone and track your progress. Whether you're doing high-intensity intervals or long endurance sessions, the Wahoo Trackr is useful.

With a rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering over 100 hours of use under ideal conditions, you can go for weeks without worrying about running out of power.

Designed to withstand even the sweatiest runs or bike rides, this monitor is rated IPX7 for water resistance, meaning it can handle being submerged up to one metre deep for 30 minutes. The redesigned strap creates a decent amount of comfort with a side closure, providing flexibility and securing the sensor pod in place without any hassle.

The Trackr is fully compatible with a wide range of devices and apps, including Apple Watch, Zwift, STRAVA, Nike Run Club, Peloton and more.

Buy now £79.00, Sigma Sports

Suunto Smart Heart Rate Belt

Best for: multisport athletes

Bikers, swimmers, climbers, martial artists and triathletes will find this heart rate belt especially beneficial. It pairs effortlessly with the free Sports Tracker app for Android, iOS and WatchOS. The package includes a black size M belt, with additional sizes (S, M, L) available separately.

Featuring R-R memory, the belt can store heart rate data when the watch is out of range, ideal for team sports or other activities where wearing a watch is impractical.

The Suunto Smart Heart Rate Belt delivers accurate heart rate data while ensuring comfort, making it perfect for multisport athletes. Unlike wrist-based heart rate monitors, it works well in sports where wrist movement can interfere with accuracy, allowing you to track heart rate while wearing your watch on top of your sleeve or even without it.

Buy now £69.00, Suunto

Coospo Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap

Best for: budget buy

This Coospo budget version device is designed to offer precise tracking with its advanced sensor chip. Ideal for those looking to monitor real-time heart rate and calorie burn, it helps you stay on track with your fitness goals.

The monitor features a five-colour LED light system, which changes colour based on your heart rate zone, ensuring you stay in the optimal zone for peak performance. It also supports heart rate variability (HRV) to give you a comprehensive view of your fitness progress.

With dual connectivity options, Bluetooth 5.0 and ANT+, the H9Z easily syncs with smartphones, GPS devices, gym equipment and sports watches. A rechargeable battery offers up to 50 hours of use, and the comfortable, adjustable chest strap creates a secure fit during exercise. The strap can be adjusted from 25 to 36 inches too.

Buy now £34.98, Amazon

Coros Heart Rate Monitor

Best for: arm-worn tracking

If you prefer an arm-worn device, the Coros Heart Rate Monitor could be the one for you. This one is designed specifically for sports and activities, offering an alternative to chest straps while providing precise heart rate tracking.

The soft, breathable fabric band is more comfortable to wear than a chest strap and is easy to clean by removing the sensor. The band adjusts with a buckle, allowing a secure fit from 9.4 to 16.9 inches (24-43cm), providing flexibility and ease during workouts.

With an advanced sensor housed in a durable, scratch-resistant cover, the Coros monitor ensures accurate heart rate data. It offers 38 hours of battery life during use, with 80 days of standby time. The monitor also features wear detection, powering on and off automatically when worn, and it pairs with up to three Bluetooth-enabled devices like sports watches, indoor trainers, and phones.

Buy now £69.00, Amazon

Scosche Rhythm 24 Waterproof Armband With Heart Rate Monitor

Best for: swimming

Another one for those who prefer an armband heart rate monitor, the Scosche Rhythm 24 Waterproof Armband offers both advanced features and a comfortable fit. This Bluetooth-compatible monitor is perfect for a variety of workouts, including swimming, running and high-intensity training, with a waterproof rating of IP68.

It tracks heart rate, steps, and calories burned, and even detects aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. The Rhythm 24 also monitors heart rate variability (HRV) and offers data storage for up to 13 hours of workout time before you need to sync it with your devices. The device transfers data three times faster than standard Bluetooth during active sessions.

Equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the Rhythm 24 lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge. Its soft, adjustable neoprene armband fits upper forearms, biceps and triceps - offering maximum comfort without slipping.

Buy now £79.49, Amazon

Verdict

Whether I’m working out at the gym or training outdoors, the MZ-3 Heart Rate Monitor connects well to my phone, cardio machines and gym screens. It makes every workout feel personalised and efficient.

One of my favourite features is the built-in memory; so there’s no need to carry my phone around to track my progress. The MZ-3 stores my data so I can simply strap it on and focus on the workout without distractions. Plus, it syncs well with the Myzone app, allowing me to engage with other connected users.

Whether I’m aiming for specific MEPs or pushing my limits, the MZ-3 keeps me on track with reliable, real-time data; making it the best for achieving fitness goals.

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