Best fitness bands you can buy in India

I am looking for a fitness tracker band, but I'm puzzled by the different features and which one might be right for me. Kindly suggest a few options.

Depending on your budget, you could pick from a simple tracker without a screen, to a full-scale watch with GPS and a heart rate monitor... The Mi Band (Rs 999) lacks a display screen, but you can connect it to the Mi Fit app (for Android and iOS) to monitor your physical activity, calories burnt, sleep quality and wake time. When used with a phone, the band can track your walking route using GPS.

And while it works with all handsets, you get extra features when used with a Xiaomi phone: The Mi band vibrates just before your morning alarm sets off to wake you gently and buzzes when you have incoming calls. This band is good for those who own a Xiaomi handset and need a feature-packed device without breaking the bank.

The GetActive Tapp (Rs 4,999) connects to its app on smartphones and an online dashboard. It calculates the number of steps and calories burnt. On the web dashboard, you can view records by day, month and year; add and compete with other GetActive users - and the service even awards virtual badges for completing fitness milestones. The 'badges' make the service goaloriented - and the fact that you can add friends to your profile makes it very competitive.

With the Goqii band (Rs 3,999 for three months - Rs 11,999 for one year) you are allotted a personal trainer who discusses your fitness goals, diet and your medical history with you to create a customized fitness regimen. The band displays the number of steps taken, the distance covered in kilometres and calories burned. Users are encouraged to log details of their sleep time, their water intake, and also post pictures of the food they've consumed.

Trained coaches use this information to suggest changes in lifestyle. Goqii's subscription works well for users who need motivation to exercise. Daily conversations with coaches along with real-world advice make this service ideal for those who want to change their lifestyle, but need constant encouragement and guidance.

The TomTom Runner (Rs 12,500) comes with proprietary GPS technology for precision tracking of running routes. It connects with the TomTom MySports Connect software on the PC where you have to key in your age, weight, height and gender for more accurate data analysis. Besides, it comes with a heartrate monitor that lets you keep an eye on your ticker while you exercise.

The Runner comes with different training modes including Goals (where you can enter the distance you want to cover, the time you want to run, or calories you want to burn) and Zones (that calculates your pace, heart rate and more). Users can also sync this device with the TomTom MySports app on their phones. This sporty-looking wristwatch is geared for the serious outdoor fitness enthusiast, who might perhaps also use the collected data to work along with professional trainers.