What once served the sole purpose of tracking steps is now a fashion statement. Yep, the fashionable fitness tracker is on the rise, and for good reason: ugly ones fall by the wayside.
A survey showed 50 percent of users lose interest in their wearables and cite aesthetics as one of the top reasons for returning them. The strategy consulting firm Endeavor Partners, which works in the field of digital devices, came up with these numbers after surveying 6,223 U.S. adults, Tech Republic reports. Dan Ledger, principal at Endeavor Partners, pointed to Metawatch CEO Bill Geiser's theory about attractive wearables as a good example.
"Bill's whole thesis is that you can have the greatest product in the world but if it doesn't have the right design aesthetic, no one is going to wear it more than a week," Ledger said.
He has a point. As Jennifer Jolly wrote in a New York Times Well blog post, "I have tried the vast majority of current activity tracking gadgets and have eventually abandoned most of them. That’s not to say they didn’t perform their duty. The problem was that they didn’t match my outfit."
The new focus on fashion should come as no surprise: all the way back in January, Wired declared 2015 the "year wearables will stop being so ugly."
“When the first activity trackers started coming out, that sporty look was what people wanted. Now we’re moving away from that,” Garmin media relations associate Amy Noury told Wired.
Want a little guidance when it comes to good-looking wearables? Here are some options.
Misfit Swarvoski Shine, $249
The Swarvoski Shine comes with a pendant, chain and sport band and tracks sleep quality, daily activity and syncs with smartphones.
Bellabeat Leaf, $119
The Bellabeat Leaf bills itself as the "world's smartest piece of jewelry." It tracks sleep, breathing, stress, physical activity and ovulation cycles. It can be worn as a necklace, clip or bracelet.
Tory Burch for FitBit, $175
The Tory Burch FitBit collaboration is pretty perfect for the fashion-forward. "Transform your tracker into a super-chic accessory for work or weekend, day or evening," the product description reads. Combined with the powers of the FitBit, how can you turn that one down?
Of course, for some people, looks are the last thing on their mind when it comes to tracking their walks, runs and sleep. But it's certainly good to know that there are options for the fashion-minded people out there.
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