Why Serious Lifters Are Trading Their Smartwatches for This Screenless Tracker

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If you’re as obsessed with performance as we are, your wrist is likely already spoken for by a wearable. These trackers are often billed as the holy grail of health, with entry-level models counting steps and advanced rigs offering 24/7 heart monitoring and recovery scores that tell you exactly how much you’ve overdone it. The catch? Most of them are essentially bulky second smartphones that tether you to yet another screen.

If you’re like me, the last thing you want in the middle of a heavy set is a digital distraction buzzing on your arm. That’s why I’ve pivoted to the Whoop MG. Its sleek, faceless design delivers elite-level data without the smartwatch baggage, making it discreet enough to disappear under a zip-up. But don't let the minimalism fool you, there’s a reason we named it the Best Wearable for Strength Training in our Men’s Journal 2026 Fitness Awards. While most trackers rely on cardio-based heart rate (which often misses the true strain of a lifting session), Whoop’s specific Strength Trainer feature actually accounts for muscular load, giving you credit for the work the barbell is doing to your body, not just your pulse.

Best Wearable Fitness Tracker for Strength Training: Whoop MG (Life Subscription Plan)

If a diverse mix of sports and fitness has you unsure whether a ring, watch, or other tracker is right for you, Whoop 5.0/MG is worth a look. It’s essentially a screenless wristband tracker, but with accessories, sleeves, and apparel with mounting pockets so you can wear it almost anywhere on your body. Like an Oura ring, it’s meant to be worn 24/7 to capture health metrics such as sleep, heart rate, and fatigue trends. Unlike a ring, the wristband design rarely interferes with lifting, playing basketball, or working with tools, which makes it easier to keep on consistently.

The lack of a screen and automatic activity detection keeps tracking low-maintenance. While this feature is now found in many other devices, Whoop still does it better than most, accurately detecting my activities and pairing it with a clean, intuitive app. A standout feature is the Strength Trainer, which logs sets and reps to better account for the strain of weight training. It’s not perfect (the exercise library could be larger, and it sometimes underestimates fatigue), but it offers far more insight for lifters than most trackers.

The main drawback is the cost and subscription model. The Whoop MG band is “free” with a required 12-month subscription of $359 a year. The Whoop 5.0 can be had for $199/year but lacks some features. For comparison, Oura’s $5.99 monthly fee is far more reasonable, and a subscription-free sports watch can offer many similar features for the same cost. Despite this, if you want a comprehensive 24/7 tracker that handles strength and endurance training with minimal fuss, Whoop remains my favorite all-around device.

Key Product Features

• Sensors: Medical-grade ECG, Blood Pressure, and SpO2
• Battery: 14+ days (wireless charging pack included)
• Design: 7 percent smaller, screenless, SuperKnit band
• Water Resistance: IP68 (waterproof up to 1 meter)
• Strength Features: Muscular load and MSK tracking

Why Trust Me

I’ve spent years testing the latest sport watches, rings, and trackers and logged thousands of miles of biking, running, and hiking in them to assess their real-world utility. For this article, I tested dozens of devices new to me, from the weird and wacky to the everyday and outwardly boring.