When I tested the fitness-tracking abilities of the Pixel Watch 3, I found that the Hevy watch app was miles better than any of the watch’s native strength-training features. But it does give you a wrist-based interface to track the lifts you’re doing, and the watch app updates the phone app and vice versa. Hevy also works with the iPhone and Apple Watch, and of course you can use it just on a phone. The most effective strength training program is any program that applies progressive overload consistently over 8+ weeks. Progressive overload — gradually increasing training stress through added weight, more reps, or reduced rest — is the primary driver of muscle growth and strength gains, according to research in Physiological Reviews (2023).

Garmin’s New Features for 2026 – Every Q1 Feature Detailed.

Remember to always prioritize proper form, technique, and safety when performing strength exercises. Heart rate tracking is available on the Forerunner both during activities and normal wear of the watch. We compared live heart rate data against a Polar chest strap monitor and noticed minimal discrepancies between the two.

How to Connect Your Apps in Peloton App Settings

Tell it you ran 8 miles yesterday, and it adjusts session intensity and exercise selection accordingly — pulling volume away from legs and shifting focus to upper body or core. Apps that visualize overload progression over 8+ weeks give you measurable proof your program is working — a signal that no subjective “feel” of effort can replace. Free apps are great for starting out — but once you’re serious about tracking progress, a dedicated logging tool becomes essential. Hevy also includes a social feed where you can follow other lifters and share workout logs. Reddit’s r/Fitness community frequently recommends it alongside Strong as the two best pure logging tools. The free tier covers core logging features; Hevy Pro ($2.99/month or $23.99/year) unlocks unlimited custom exercises, unlimited routine history, and detailed analytics.

• To learn more about tracking your max lifts, see our guide to personal records.
• One might ultimately call the Venu 3S a perfect everyday smartwatch in that it covers ample ground and looks downright sleek in the process.
• It’s not limited to injuries, either—you can use it to track chronic health issues or even mental health.
• The Clip Out is an independent Peloton news site with reporting, analysis, and community insights.
• The Apple Watch Series 10 can still provide helpful fitness tracking capabilities if you’re only looking for a basic monitoring setup.
• Open-water swim tracking, seamless tri transitions, solid rep detection in strength mode.

Workout Tracking

The Garmin Forerunner 55 also monitors sleep very accurately, with duration and quality recorded every night you wear the watch to bed, but you won’t be able to see these insights on your wrist. My only gripe with the 265 is that there are no onboard maps, unlike the Forerunner 970, which is arguably a running watch with more features, but it’s also almost double the price. Is a General Purpose Training app without automatic rep detection and counting.

I’m fortunate to have a few of these wearables on hand, and I appreciated the ability to use the program regardless of which one I wore. Setting up and starting the program takes place primarily on your smartphone using the Connect app. Discover SetSync, the revolutionary feature that automatically syncs your completed sets back to LiftTrack for seamless progress tracking. “App just works with the watch which is all I was looking for. There’s a bunch of other features like theset sync which really make the subscription worth it imo.” Follow the workout on your watch and log reps and weights as you go. Experience the intuitive interface that makes creating and tracking workouts simple.

How we tested the best Garmin watch

However, this also means it’s lighter and more budget-friendly than the premium Venu 4, so weigh up the Garmin Venu 4 vs Vivoactive 6 before deciding on one or the other. The Vivoactive 6 will suit you if you enjoy a little bit of everything, from running to paddleboarding, and like to keep an eye on your health through daily movement, better sleep, and keeping an eye on your stress. It comes in sleek colours and is a more budget-conscious alternative to the Venu 4.

Standout Features

For triathletes, brick workouts, and full triathlons can be automatically tracked, including your transitions. Five months later, I’m getting a better sense of what I think Garmin hopes this feature can be. I’m now told that my ground contact balance during runs is suboptimal and I should consider some strength training and to work on my running form. However, the app doesn’t suggest what that training should entail, or the exercises that could help to address that suboptimal GCT. Given that this is the one Connect+ feature tagged as a beta, I imagine it could look different in a year’s time. The Garmin Vivoactive 6 hits just the right balance with robust fitness features, smartwatch capabilities, long battery life and a reasonable price all packed within a subtle design.

Explore Exercise Library

Marko founded Gadgets & Wearables in 2014, having worked for more than 15 years in the City of London’s financial district. Since then, he has led the company’s charge to become a leading information source on health and fitness gadgets and wearables. The system recognises that effort and heart rate are more important than the exact sport. But it also gives guidance if your activity type might not be sufficient to hit how to lift without weights the right training intensity. Fitness Coach lets you complete workouts in any compatible activity profile. So if you’d rather use an elliptical, go for a hike, or walk hills instead of running, you can do that.

Building a LiftTrack Workout for Your Garmin

If you’re a cyclist, you can choose between prebuilt cycling plans and Garmin Cycling Coach, which adapts based on your health, recovery and performance metrics. Before using this feature, you need to record and sync at least two running or cycling activities for one week. Then, when you open the “run” or “bike” activity, you’ll see the daily suggested workout notification. Compatible with all Garmin devices, the Garmin Connect mobile app puts your daily activity and health data in one convenient place. Load it up to follow your progress or compete with previous accomplishments as you continue along your fitness journey.

What began as a personal mission to build muscle and feel stronger has grown into a space where I share tips, workouts, and honest advice to help others do the same. Hevy syncs with Apple Health, which means your workout data flows to the Apple ecosystem — but Hevy does not have a native Apple Watch app for standalone logging. For anyone considering beginning later in life, see our guide on starting strength training as a senior for a comprehensive overview of programming considerations.

Things to Consider for Garmin Watches

Caliber’s structured programs highlight the Big Three compound lifts (squats, deadlifts, and bench press) from day one, because these movements build the most muscle across the most muscle groups per unit of time. Research from NIH PMC (2021) confirms that compound, multi-joint exercises optimize both strength and hypertrophy outcomes more efficiently than isolation work for untrained individuals (study on compound movements). Our team evaluated both apps over six weeks using real training sessions, and the difference is clearer than any spec sheet suggests. Hevy wins on simplicity and speed; Strong wins on data depth and precision. Nike Training Club, Nike’s free fitness app featuring guided workouts across strength, cardio, and mobility categories, is the only option on this list that is completely free — no paywall, no subscription, no catch. Men’s Journal (2026) ranks it as one of the best free workout apps for beginners.

Daily Use

I’ve yet to see a cheap fitness tracker as good as the Garmin Forerunner 55. It knocks many of the best Fitbits out of the water when you look at features and affordability side by side. Designed for new runners, this watch covers the basics, tracking almost 20 workout types and logging nightly sleep with ease. The Garmin Connect settings screen goes further than a simple on/off toggle. It shows an auto-import switch, an option to select which activities to import, and a separate toggle for exporting Peloton activity to Garmin Connect.