I’m trying to find a smart device to help me track how much stress I deal with every day. I’d prefer something affordable, or maybe something I could buy used online if the new models are too expensive.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: It would be great if it also tracks temperature and breathing rate, but that’s not a dealbreaker. I’m also allergic to a lot of materials, so it needs to be made of medical-grade silicone, leather, or hypoallergenic metals.
The Garmin Venu 3 could be a good choice. The case, including the back, is made from a polymer resin, so it shouldn’t cause allergies. Garmin’s stress tracking is based on heart rate variability (HRV), and it also monitors baseline temperature. Stress is displayed as a 3-minute average in the app.
Fitbit is another option and tracks stress too (not sure if it uses HRV, temp, or a mix—they don’t specify). Keep in mind, you need a premium subscription for detailed stats. Just note that stress tracking doesn’t always directly reflect anxiety levels.
I’m looking for the same thing, and from what I’ve found, the Apple Watch seems to be a good option.
Quincy said:
I’m looking for the same thing, and from what I’ve found, the Apple Watch seems to be a good option.
I actually had an Apple Watch for a while, but it caused allergy breakouts on my arms. It was really frustrating. Right now, I’m using a Bellabeat Leaf, but it doesn’t track stress or heart rate.
@Lennox
You could try Samsung or Huawei devices. For something budget-friendly, look into the Haylou RS4.
@Lennox
You might want to check out the Oura Ring 4. It’s small and should be less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
About the breathing rate tracking—it’s not very accurate. My watch tracks it, but I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine with a mask that also tracks my breathing rate. The watch numbers are usually way off. Wrist-based tracking just isn’t reliable for that.
@Vero
Watches measure breathing rate by analyzing blood flow, while CPAP machines use air pressure, so the CPAP will always be more accurate.
Here’s how I handle it: If my watch gives me a bad sleep score in the morning, I’ll check my CPAP data to see if there were leaks or apnea issues. Sometimes my CPAP report looks fine, but my watch shows poor recovery because it considers things like heart rate variability, which CPAP machines don’t track. However, I’ve never seen a case where my CPAP shows bad results and the watch doesn’t. If there was a bad mask fit or high apnea levels, it always reflects in my sleep tracking too.
It’s pretty cool how closely the sleep times from my watch align with my CPAP data.