Best Sleep Monitors To Track & Improve Your Sleep
We bet if you could, you’d be working out every chance you got, right? Many have the brilliant idea to cut back on some snooze time to get up earlier for an extra workout. Good idea, right? Wrong. No matter how passionate you are about sport, your body still needs efficient sleep to recuperate. Consider it the time for your battery to charge and get ready for the next day.
As a serious athlete, monitoring your sleep can play a big role in improving your performance and getting more out of your routine. Sleep plays an important role in how we function during the day and how we perform our daily activities. Too little sleep can result in grogginess and decreased energy levels and in turn, affect your training. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best sleep monitors that can help you hit the sheets as hard as you hit the gym.
| PRODUCT | DESCRIPTION | RATING | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Fitbit Alta HR Fitness WristbandGathers in-depth data and insights on sleep patterns | £££ | Check Price | |
  | S+ by ResMedPartner app that plays music you can fall asleep to | £££ | Check Price | |
  | POLAR Unisex M400 GPS Watch with Heart Rate MonitorPartner app allows you to track all sports and sleep activities | £££ | Check Price | |
  | Emfit QS HRV Sleep Monitor – WhiteComprehensive graphs on sleep activity and recovery during sleep | £ | Check Price | |
  | Misfit Ray Fitness and Sleep MonitorSix-month battery life and includes accurate activity tracking | ££ | Check Price |
POLAR Unisex M400 GPS Watch with Heart Rate Monitor
Partner app allows you to track all sports and sleep activities
£££
Emfit QS HRV Sleep Monitor – White
Comprehensive graphs on sleep activity and recovery during sleep
£
Misfit Ray Fitness and Sleep Monitor
Six-month battery life and includes accurate activity tracking
££
Make the Most of Your Zs with These Sleep Monitors
Imagine knowing exactly when you sleep poorly and seeing how it affects your daily routine and training efforts. Imagine being able to notice a pattern and then making the necessary changes to ensure you get enough sleep for your body to rest, recuperate and function optimally.
That is exactly what you will be able to do if you buy any of the products we are about to introduce you to. Let’s jump right in!
1. Fitbit Alta HR Fitness Wristband
Even though the Fitbit Alt HR is a fitness tracker, it tracks your sleep patterns too. It offers the convenience of an all-in-one tracker and ensures you stick to your fitness goals every step of the way. The Fitbit Alta HR Fitness Wristband tracks your activity, calories burned, steps taken and distance covered.
It also features a heart rate monitor which is responsible for tracking your heart rate throughout your day, even while exercising and relaxing. Let’s get back to the important stuff; the sleep monitor breaks your sleep patterns up into light, deep and REM sleep while providing detailed graphs and advice on how to get the most out of your Zs.
Fitbit is known for its superior fitness trackers and monitors, but what sets the Alta HR apart from others is its lightweight design. With this handy activity and sleep tracker, you will be able to get the rest your body needs to ensure you improve your workout.
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2. S+ by ResMed
This little wonder is a bit different than some of the other sleep trackers we’ve reviewed. It’s a freestanding unit that conveniently sits on your nightstand. Do you experience difficulty when trying to fall asleep? Simply download the app and let the S+ play peaceful music that will help you fall asleep.
The S+ features a smart alarm that will wake you up at the best time, assuring your body gets the rest it needs to function optimally throughout the day. Did we mention that it monitors your room’s conditions too? This handy device will tell you if your room is too warm or not dark enough for the best sleep environment.
To ensure it provides accurate stats and analyses, the device includes a feature that tracks how your daily routine affects your sleep. Questions about your workout routine and caffeine intake will be taken into account when providing you with some tips on getting enough rest to perform optimally.
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3. POLAR Unisex M400 GPS Watch with Heart Rate Monitor
Our third entry is the Polar M400. Even though its sleep monitor is not a key feature, the fitness tracking alone makes it a great buy. It is a great all-rounder that will track your steps, heart rate, activity and inactivity while providing you with handy hints and tips on how to increase your performance. We’d say that this is a great buy for a professional athlete.
Getting sufficient rest is necessary when you exercise and train regularly, and this will greatly impact your performance. By using the features on the Polar M400, you will be able to track your performance and see how it impacts on your sleep routine and vice versa.
Runners out there will also love the fact that the gadget includes a GPS tracker and that all the stats and data are loaded on the Power Flow app. To review your sleep, activity and health stats, simply go to the app and gain valuable insights on how you can improve your sleep or workout. One thing that sets the Polar M400 apart is the fact that it measures your sleep continuity. While it gathers info on light and deep sleep, the rate it ascribes is based on whether you woke up during the night or not.
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4. Emfit QS HRV Sleep Monitor – White
Our fourth recommendation is another freestanding device with a twist. It’s not a wearable, nor is it placed on your nightstand. Instead, the Emfit QS HRV sleep monitor is a piece of fabric that is placed underneath your mattress. The device measures your heart rate and sleep patterns as you toss and turn while sleeping.
We have to mention that this is not the only use of the device. It is ideal for athletes who can benefit from gaining insights on whether or not their bodies have recovered after the previous day’s workout routine. This wireless device captures all the data and you can review it on the app or website to ensure your body is tip top for another day of training.
The data might be a bit too much to digest, but once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be grateful for this device. It even measures your pulse variability, allowing you to notice when you are more stressed. Having access to these deep insights will allow you to track your performance and reach your training goals.
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5. Misfit Ray Fitness and Sleep Monitor
Moving on to more simpler things, in at our number five spot is the Misfit Ray Fitness and Sleep Monitor. When we say simpler, we mean a sleeker design and more accessible stats. Even though this device does not include a heart rate monitor, you’ll be happy to know that it does track your overall activity. Whether you cycle, jog or do CrossFit, you will be able to gain insights on distance, steps and calories burned.
The device is also water resistant, which means you will be able to wear it all the time. The lightweight and sleek design mean you won’t experience any discomfort while sleeping either. You can set fitness and sleep goals and alarms to ensure your eye is on the target and you reach your fitness goals.
Graphs provided aren’t convoluted and are easy to read and interpret, and the device is partnered with numerous apps. If you are looking for something that will accurately measure your sleep patterns at night and your activity during the day, the Misfit Ray is as good a buy as any other we’ve recommended here. Besides, the batteries last up to six months!
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Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Sleep Monitor
Now that you have some nice sleep monitors to measure up, you are probably wondering which would be best. Let’s take a quick look at some of the deciding factors you should consider before chucking any of these sleep monitors in your basket.
1. Is it Compatible with Other Devices?
Firstly, you’ll have to get something that will work with all your other devices. If you are thinking about buying a sleep monitor specifically, will it be compatible with your smartphone and activity tracker? Will you be able to review stats and compare them easily?
2. Wearable or Freestanding?
This, of course, all depends on your goals and preferences. While a lot of the devices we reviewed double-up as fitness trackers, some are freestanding devices that only measures your sleep patterns. If you want to use one device to measure everything, we recommend investing in a wearable fitness tracker that also tracks your sleep patterns.
3. More Features = More Value?
In most cases, less is more. In this case, however, it depends on your needs and requirements. If you want to include your sleep stats to optimise your athletic performance, you’ll need something that has detailed graphs and more features. If you want to grab some decent shuteye, more features won’t be the deciding factor.
4. Design
We’re not talking about what the device looks like necessarily but rather how the design will impact your daily activities. If you don’t like wearing something on your wrist while you are asleep, then a freestanding mattress strap would be best. If you’re thinking of opting for a wearable, consider whether or not it suits your lifestyle.
Conclusion
That concludes our roundup of the best sleep monitors. Keep in mind that tracking your sleep can have a massive impact on your sleep patterns and your workout performance. Just imagine how much your training can improve once you have mastered your sleep and recovery state.
We’d highly recommend the Fitbit Alta HR, as it acts as an all-inclusive tracker. But then again, we can’t single any one product out as they vary vastly in features and design. We know that you will be able to manage your sleep and recovery time better while noticing an improvement in your training with one of these great products!
Tom Purton is a fitness junkie. Testing the latest and greatest products on the market and writing reviews in the strength, nutrition, running and many more. For more information about the latest reviews check out Ghost Fitness.
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