Table of Contents
New year, new you, as the saying goes. Working as an expat can be a challenge when it comes to your fitness and a fitness watch might be exactly what you need. You may have had to leave a beloved sports club or yoga class behind and don’t know what’s available in your new location. A fitness activity tracker can give you the motivation to join a new class or pick up a new sport. Find more details on fitness watches below.
What is a fitness activity tracker?
It is a wearable device that looks much like a watch or bracelet that you wear on your wrist. They are designed to track your movement, calorie output, heart rate and some track your sleep patterns. Most fitness watches are designed to work alongside an app you install on your smartphone.
Although initial studies on the benefit of fitness activity trackers provided mixed results, the devices have become much more sophisticated in the last few years
What does an expat need in a fitness activity tracker?
Moving to a new country for work often presents some challenges, one of which are feelings of isolation, particularly if you are used to having a full and active social life at home. Wearables can offer some short term assistance in alleviating these feelings through exercise, while you settle in to your new home.
Three things you should look out for in a fitness activity tracker are:
- Personalised goal setting: taking 10,000 steps a day was a standard goal on a fitness tracker. It is a fantastic goal to have and indicates you are moving lots in your day to day life but if you are only taking 3,000 steps a day when you start, it may be a little ambitious. Having the ability to set your own goals should help you stay on track.
- Social network connection: for competition with or support from friends and family, no matter where they are in the world. This is particularly useful in the early days of an expat assignment. Haven’t found a running group in your destination yet? Run against your buddy from home using your fitness watch until you do.
- Easy to read and understand reporting: this is key to monitoring and understanding your progress. The early fitness activity trackers often had confusing or complex reporting that was difficult to understand and interpret. However, most activity tracker apps today focus on simplicity when it comes to reporting.
Fitness activity trackers for expats
Although there are a huge range of options when it comes to fitness activity trackers, we have chosen four we believe would be good options for someone working abroad*. Find some of the best fitness trackers below:
1. WHOOP 5.0
Best for: expats focused on sleep, recovery and building healthy routines abroad
A screen-free fitness tracker that quietly monitors your body 24/7, making it useful for expats adjusing to a new lifestyle , work schedule, climate or time zone.
Pros
- Trakc sleep, recovery, stress and strain
- No screen, so fewer distractions
- Long battery life, 14+ days
- Helpful for understanding how travel, stress and routine changes affect your body
- Comfortable for 24/7 wear
Cons
- Requires a paid subscritpion
- No screen or smartwatch feature
- Can feel expensive over time
2. Google Fitbit Charge 6
Best for: expats who want an affordable everyday fitness tracker with Google features
A simple tracker for expats who want health tracking, workouts, GPS, Google Maps and Google Wallter without buing a full smartwatch.
Pros
- Tracks activity, sleep, heart rate and stress
- Built-in GPS for walks, runs and exploring new places
- Up to 7 days battery life
- More affordable than most smartwatches
Cons
- Some features nees Fitbit Premium
- Works best if you use Google services
3. Garmin Vivosmart 5
Best for: expats who love to swim
Do you feel most at home in the water? Then this may be the fitness activity tracker for you. Not only is it waterproof, it has a great battery life so you don’t have to worry about charging it all the time either.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Activity and sleep tracking
- Stress tracking with guided breathing exercises
- Compare yourself to other Garmin users in the app
- Great battery life
- No subscription needed for most features
- Easy to use interface
Cons
- Small screen
- Display isn’t as sharp as some offered by other manufacturers
- No built-in GPS
- No contactless payments
4. Moove now
Best for: expats on a budget
Money a little tight? Then this may be the fitness tracker for you. Although it doesn’t have a screen on the wearable as most others do, once you install the app it will track a lot of data. It is also waterproof, so no worries if you want to bring it to the pool.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Integrated workouts in app with useful tips
- No charging
- Low cost
- Can sync data through Facebook
Cons
- No screen on the wearable
- Little tricky to set up
- Need to change battery every 6 months
- No Google Chromecast integration so must watch workouts on phone
- No indication of how to improve metrics that are ‘out of ideal range’
5. Garmin Forerunner
Best for: expats who are serious athletes
Love to run? This series of wearables may be the right one for you. There are a variety of different models, each one offering something slightly different, from essential running data to advanced running metrics. Although pros and cons vary by model, below are some that are applicable to most.
Pros
- Audio prompts to move if you have been still for too long
- Tracks important running data
- Large easy to read screen
- Smart notifications when you pair it with your smartphone
- Water resistant
- Great battery life (two weeks with constant use)
- Lots of data to analyse
- Nice design
Cons
- Some models cannot be used for multi-sports
- The app can provide an overwhelming amount of data
6. Apple Watch Ultra 3
Best for: expats who travel, stay active and want extra safety features abroad
A premium smartwatch for expats who want fitness tracking, navigation, helath tools and easy connectivity whie living in a new country.
Pros
- Waterproof up to 100 meters
- Does more than just track your fitness; takes calls, plays music and show notifications
- Provides encouragement, reminds you to match or better your previous day’s activity
- App has integrated workouts
- Learns your habits and gives useful health insights
- Built-in GPS, maps, compass
- Big and bright screen
Cons
- New features may shorten battery life
- Expensive
- Takes a while to get used to the interface
- Works best with iPhone
As well as monitoring your fitness while you are working abroad with one of our recommended fitness activity trackers, don’t forget to look after your health with international health insurance from Allianz Partners, International Health. You can also find more information about expat fitness and how expats can prioritise fitness in their new busy lives in our expat exercise blog.
Are you moving abroad?
Before venturing to another country, make sure you have a health insurance plan you can rely on
Meet the author
Allianz
At Allianz Partners, Health, our blog is crafted by a team of experts dedicated to providing valuable insights and guidance on global health and insurance topics. With a focus on expatriates, international businesses, and individuals navigating healthcare abroad, our authors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every article.
We aim to deliver practical advice, industry updates, and actionable tips to help you make informed decisions, whether you're exploring international health insurance, managing employee health plans, or staying informed about the latest healthcare trends. Trust our blog to be your go-to resource for navigating the world of global health and insurance.
If you are a member and have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article please contact our helpline today to find assistance.
