I’ll admit it: I used to think wearable health tech was reserved for marathon runners, Silicon Valley founders and the sort of people who genuinely enjoy cold plunges. Fast forward a year, and I’m checking my sleep score before I’ve even turned on my coffee machine in the morning.

Longevity has officially gone mainstream. Rather than waiting until something feels off, we’re becoming increasingly interested in understanding our bodies in real time, from how well we’re recovering to whether yesterday’s second espresso really was a good idea. The latest generation of health trackers promises insights into everything from stress and heart rate to sleep quality and recovery, helping us make small tweaks that (hopefully) add up to healthier, longer lives.

Although no tracker can replace common sense (or your GP!), the right one can make healthy habits feel a little more intuitive. Whether you’re looking to optimise your workouts, improve your sleep, or simply understand yourself a little better, these are the longevity trackers worth knowing about.

Although no tracker can replace common sense (or your GP!), the right one can make healthy habits feel a little more intuitive.

Tamara, Contributing Beauty Editor

The one I’m using

NOWATCH
£356

If there’s one wearable that’s genuinely changed the way I think about wellbeing, it’s the NOWATCH. Unlike almost every other tracker on the market, it doesn’t have a screen. At first, I questioned how useful that would be, but it turns out that’s exactly the point.

Instead of constantly checking notifications or obsessing over closing rings, the NOWATCH quietly collects data in the background, measuring stress, sleep, heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature and recovery without demanding your attention every five minutes. There’s something incredibly liberating about wearing a health tracker that doesn’t constantly ask for it.

The accompanying app is beautifully designed and gives genuinely useful insights rather than overwhelming you with graphs. What I’ve found most valuable is its focus on stress and resilience. It doesn’t just tell me I’ve had a restless night; it helps me understand how meetings, travel, alcohol, or even late dinners affect how my body recovers. I’ve become much more aware of the difference between feeling busy and actually putting my body under physiological stress.

I’ve become much more aware of the difference between feeling busy and actually putting my body under physiological stress.

Aesthetically, it’s also leagues ahead of its competitors. There’s a huge range of faces and straps, which means people often mistake it for jewellery rather than a health tech accessory, making it something I actually want to wear every day.

Perhaps most importantly, it encourages healthier habits without making wellness feel competitive. There are no flashing achievements or daily streaks to maintain. It quietly nudges you towards better choices while allowing you to stay present, which feels refreshingly different in a world that’s constantly vying for our attention. It’s become my favourite way to keep tabs on my health without becoming obsessed by it.

Other trackers worth having on your radar

While my NOWATCH has become the wearable I reach for most, it’s far from the only longevity tracker making waves. Here are a few others worth considering, depending on what you’re looking for…

Best for… fitness enthusiasts & recovery nerds

If you’ve ever wondered why elite athletes, founders and high performers swear by WHOOP, spend a week wearing one and you’ll quickly understand. Unlike traditional fitness trackers, WHOOP focuses almost entirely on recovery. Each morning, it analyses sleep, heart rate variability and resting heart rate to calculate how prepared your body is for physical exertion. Rather than encouraging you to push harder every day, it often recommends doing less a surprisingly refreshing approach. Its strain score has completely changed the way many people train, encouraging smarter exercise instead of simply chasing calorie burn. It isn’t the prettiest wearable, but if performance is your goal, the insights are among the most advanced available.

Best For… Sleep Optimisers: Oura Ring

Tiny but surprisingly powerful, the Oura Ring has become something of a celebrity favourite, and with good reason. If sleep is your priority, few devices do it better. Every morning, it delivers detailed insights into sleep stages, readiness, and recovery, making it remarkably easy to identify habits that either support or sabotage your rest. Its discreet design is another bonus. Looking more like a piece of jewellery than a tracker, it’s easy to wear day and night without thinking twice.

Best for… everyday health tracking

The Apple Watch remains one of the most comprehensive health trackers around, particularly if you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem! Alongside fitness tracking, it monitors heart rate, activity, workouts, sleep, and overall wellness, while seamlessly integrating with countless health and fitness apps. It’s also one of the few devices that genuinely bridges productivity and wellbeing, meaning it works just as well in the office as it does in the gym. It’s perhaps less specialised than some of the newer longevity-focused devices, but if you want one wearable that does a little bit of everything and also lets you answer a call while walking the dog, it’s hard to beat.

Best for… data lovers

While Garmin has long been associated with endurance athletes, its latest smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular among anyone interested in longevity. Packed with advanced metrics including Body Battery™, training readiness, stress monitoring, sleep coaching and recovery insights, they offer one of the most detailed pictures of your overall health. Yes, there’s a lot of data to get your head around, but if you’re someone who enjoys diving into the numbers and understanding every aspect of your wellbeing, Garmin is hard to fault. It’s the tracker for those who like their health metrics comprehensive rather than simplified.
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